Manufacturing Jobs and Recruitment for UK Manufacturers
UK manufacturers need skilled people on every shift, from the production line to the planning office. Bernoullis recruits operators, welders, automation engineers, inventory controllers, production planners and managers across the manufacturing sector. We check skills, tickets, references and right to work before you meet anyone, then present the two or three people who genuinely fit.
Why UK Manufacturers Choose Bernoullis
An empty role on the factory floor costs more than overtime. A missing maintenance engineer can stop a line, a planner who leaves can throw out a whole month of orders, and a new starter who is not safe puts everyone at risk. We check every candidate carefully before you meet them, so the people you hire are skilled, safe and likely to stay.
Recruitment Built Around Safety and Skill
We start with what keeps your site safe: tickets, training records, right to work and references. Only then do we look at experience and fit, so the people you interview are ready to start.
Two or Three Strong Candidates, Not a Pile of CVs
We speak to every candidate about the role, the shifts and the site before we put them forward. You get a short list of people who want the job and match it, which saves your managers hours of screening.
Manufacturing Jobs We Recruit For
From operators starting their first shift to planners running a whole plant schedule, we recruit across the manufacturing industries. Choose a specialism below to see the roles we fill and the skills each one needs.
Looking for work near you? See our manufacturing recruitment locations for every UK region and county we cover.
FMCG Manufacturing
Production, quality, hygiene and engineering roles for food, drink and consumer goods plants.
Pharmaceutical Manufacturing
GMP production operators, quality and validation roles for pharmaceutical sites.
Automation & Robotics
Automation, controls, PLC and robotics engineers for modern production lines.
Automotive Manufacturing
Production, quality and engineering roles for vehicle and component plants.
Welding & Fabrication
Coded welders, fabricators and welding engineers for workshops and sites.
Inventory Control
Inventory controllers, stock analysts and materials coordinators.
Steel & Metals
Process, maintenance and metallurgy roles for steel and metals producers.
Production Planning
Production planners, schedulers and MRP specialists.
The Skills, Tickets and Training We Confirm
On a manufacturing site the right checks are not paperwork. They keep people safe and products right first time. We confirm each candidate’s tickets, training and experience before they reach you.
Trade Skills & Tickets
Proof of the hands-on skills each role needs.
- Welding: coded welds and the processes the candidate has passed tests in.
- Lifting and handling: forklift and other plant licences where the role needs them.
- Electrical and mechanical: apprenticeships and qualifications for maintenance roles.
Safety & Compliance
The checks that protect your people and your products.
- Health and safety: site safety training and a good safety record.
- Right to work: confirmed with original documents or the Home Office online service.
- References: recent employment references from supervisors or managers.
Quality & Systems
The standards and software your site runs on.
- Quality: experience with ISO 9001, GMP or automotive quality standards where needed.
- Lean: continuous improvement methods such as 5S and root cause analysis.
- Systems: ERP and MRP software for planners, buyers and inventory controllers.
The UK Manufacturing Sector: Why Skilled People Are Hard to Find
The manufacturing sector is still one of the largest employers in the UK. Figures from the ONS, summarised in Enginuity’s August 2026 health check, show 2.29 million paid employees in manufacturing in July 2026. Manufacturing vacancies fell by around 1,000 that month, so employers are hiring more carefully, but skilled people are still in short supply.
Food and drink is the biggest of the manufacturing industries. The Food and Drink Federation says it is a £42bn sector employing 489,333 people (Grocery Gazette). Car production fell by 8% in 2025 to 717,371 cars, yet 77% of those cars were still exported (SMMT via the MTA).
That means British manufacturers are competing for the same welders, maintenance engineers, planners and quality staff. We help by reaching people who are not scrolling job boards and explaining your role honestly, so they can decide quickly. For job seekers, that means roles with UK manufacturers that match your skills, your shift preferences and how far you want to travel.
Why manufacturers choose us
- Skills and tickets checked before you see a CV
- Shortlists of two or three, not piles of CVs
- Permanent, contract and temporary roles
- Shop floor, engineering, planning and leadership hires
- Free consultation to understand your site
- Fixed-fee and subscription pricing options
- One 60-day guarantee on every plan
Food, drink & FMCG
Operators, hygiene, quality and engineering roles for food, drink and consumer goods plants.
Pharmaceutical & process
GMP production, quality and validation roles for pharmaceutical and chemical sites.
Automotive & engineering
Production, quality and automation roles for vehicle, component and engineering plants.
The Size of the UK Manufacturing Sector
UK manufacturers employ millions of people, from food and drink plants to car factories and pharmaceutical sites. These are not our figures: they come from the ONS (via Enginuity), the FDF, the SMMT and the ABPI.
Where UK-built car exports went in 2025
Shares of cars shipped abroad. Rest of world is the remainder after the three named markets.
Where a manufacturing career can lead
- Operator, welder or apprenticeLearn the process, the safety rules and the quality checks on the line
- Technician or controllerRun stock, maintenance or quality for a whole area of the plant
- EngineerDesign, automate and improve the process
- Planner or operations managerPlan production and lead the people who deliver it
Sources: Enginuity manufacturing sector health check, August 2026 (ONS data); Food and Drink Federation, as reported by Grocery Gazette, March 2026; SMMT 2025 output figures, as reported by the MTA; ABPI, July 2026.
Permanent, Contract and Temporary Manufacturing Recruitment
Production plans change with orders. We fill permanent roles, fixed-term contracts and short-term cover, so your lines keep running through every peak. Most roles we fill for UK manufacturers are permanent, while sites often add contract engineers for installations and shutdowns.
Permanent hires
Operators, technicians, engineers and managers who will grow with your business. We check skills, references and long-term goals first.
Fixed-term contracts
Contract staff for new lines, machine installs, system launches and planned shutdowns.
Temporary cover
Short-term cover for sickness, holidays and seasonal peaks, once all checks are complete.
How to Hire for Manufacturing Jobs: A Practical Guide
Start with the process, not just the job title. A maintenance engineer on a high-speed packing line needs different experience from one in a heavy fabrication shop. Write down the machines, the materials, the shifts and the systems you use.
Next, confirm what the role really needs. Some jobs need a coded weld, a forklift licence or GMP experience, and others can be trained on site. Being clear stops good people being screened out for the wrong reason.
Then think about the whole package. Manufacturing staff compare pay, shift allowances, overtime, travel and training. A clear offer with a realistic shift pattern will win more candidates than a vague advert, especially for skilled trades where people often have several offers.
Finally, move quickly. Strong candidates often accept within days, so keep interviews short and give feedback fast. A short site visit helps people picture the job and the team.
What we assess
- Trade tickets and qualifications
- Right to work and references
- Experience with similar machines and materials
- Safety record and training
- Quality and continuous improvement experience
- Reliability and fit with your shift pattern
Manufacturing Careers: Find Your Next Role With Us
Whether you are starting as an operator or looking for your next engineering or planning role, we help you find work with UK manufacturers that fits your skills and your life. We explain the site, the shifts and the pay before you apply, and we never send your CV without your permission.
A manufacturing career can take you in many directions, from hands-on trades and maintenance to automation, quality, planning and management. Many British manufacturers train their own people, and skills such as welding and controls carry across the manufacturing and engineering industries. Tell us what you want next and we will do the searching.
New to manufacturing
Operator, warehouse and apprentice roles with employers who will train you.
Skilled trades
Welding, fabrication and maintenance roles across the UK.
Engineering & planning
Automation, planning and management roles for experienced people.
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How Our Manufacturing Recruitment Works
Role briefing
We meet you online or on site to understand the process, the machines, the shifts and the skills each role needs.
Targeted search
We approach people who have done similar work through our network, referrals and job seeker tools.
Skills & checks
We check tickets, training, right to work and recent references before you see a CV.
Shortlist & aftercare
You meet two or three checked candidates. We manage the offer and check in after they start.
More From Bernoullis
Manufacturing News & Guides
Industry news, career guides and hiring advice
Live Vacancies
Browse every role we are recruiting for now
Free CV Checker
Check your CV before you apply
AI Job Matcher
Find roles that fit your experience
Engineering Recruitment
Engineering sectors we recruit for
Mechanical Engineering Recruitment
Mechanical and manufacturing engineers
Pricing
Per placement, fixed fee or subscription
What Bernoullis Is Built On
At our organisation, we are committed to maintaining the highest standards of integrity within the workplace, ensuring that every member of our team exemplifies these principles. We accept full accountability for our actions, demonstrate ownership in our responsibilities, and prioritise safety in all our endeavours, acknowledging its vital role in our success. These core values not only guide us in providing exceptional service to our clients but also contribute significantly to fostering and nurturing enduring relationships with our clients and partners. Our adherence to these principles shapes our organisational culture and propels us to continuously enhance and innovate across all facets of our business.
Manufacturing Recruitment. We Solve Your Equations.
We bring the careful, evidence-based approach that has served employers for more than 20 years to every manufacturing search. Skills, tickets and references come first, so you only meet people who are ready to work.
We Offer a Free of Charge Online Session & Site Visit
We believe talking to the people who run your site is the best way to understand a role. Book a free online session and we will learn about your process, your team and the roles you need to fill, at no cost.
Discover Smart Hiring With a Free Consultation
Talk through your next manufacturing hire with a specialist, with no obligation.
Manufacturing Jobs and Recruitment: Your Questions Answered
What manufacturing jobs do you recruit for?
We recruit for FMCG, pharmaceutical, automotive and steel manufacturers, plus automation engineers, welders, inventory controllers and production planners. Each specialism has its own page with the roles we fill and the skills we check.
Which UK manufacturers do you work with?
We work with UK manufacturers of every size, from family-owned machine shops to large plants that run around the clock. We do not name clients without their permission, but we can share examples of similar roles we have filled.
Do you only recruit for British manufacturers?
No. We recruit for British manufacturers and for overseas-owned companies with UK sites. What matters to us is the role, the site and the team, not who owns the business.
Which manufacturing industries are hardest to recruit for?
Skilled trades such as welding, maintenance and automation are hard to fill across most manufacturing industries. Regulated work, such as GMP pharmaceutical production, also takes longer because candidates need the right experience.
Do you recruit for both manufacturing and engineering industries?
Yes. Bernoullis started in engineering recruitment, so we understand the overlap between the manufacturing and engineering industries. Our engineering sector pages cover design and project roles, while this page covers jobs on and around the factory floor.
Can I find manufacturing jobs without experience?
Yes. Many UK manufacturers take on operators and apprentices and train them on the job. Reliability, a good safety attitude and a willingness to learn matter more than past experience for many entry roles.
Do you recruit shift workers and contractors?
Yes. We fill permanent, fixed-term and contract roles, including days, nights and rotating shift patterns. We explain the shift pattern clearly before anyone applies.
How much does manufacturing recruitment cost?
You can pay per placement, a fixed fee or a monthly subscription. See our pricing page for current options. Job seekers never pay us to be put forward for a role, and every plan includes our 60-day guarantee.
How quickly can you fill manufacturing roles?
Operator and warehouse roles can often be filled within a couple of weeks. Engineers, planners and managers usually take longer, because strong candidates have notice periods.
What makes Bernoullis different from other manufacturing recruiters?
We recruit on evidence, not keywords. We check skills, tickets, references and right to work first, then send two or three strong candidates rather than a pile of CVs.
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