Engineering Recruitment Agency Manchester
Struggling to Recruit Engineers in Greater Manchester?
SimWest Engineering Recruitment helps manufacturing and engineering businesses recruit experienced engineers across Manchester, Greater Manchester and the wider North West.
Whether you need a Maintenance Engineer for a Food & Beverage manufacturing site, a Mechanical Design Engineer for a machinery manufacturer or a Project Manager to deliver complex capital equipment projects for your special purpose machinery business, we provide a focused recruitment service built around technical understanding and targeted candidate search.
Speak directly with our director Stephen Simpson, an engineering recruitment specialist with more than 17 years of experience recruiting across UK manufacturing, machinery and automation.
Discuss an Engineering Vacancy
Speak with Stephen directly: 07508 636 230
Manchester Office: 0161 706 1065
Email: stephensimpson@simwestengineering.co.uk
No completed job description yet? That is not a problem. Send us the job title, location and a brief outline of what you need, and we will contact you for a confidential discussion.
Specialist Engineering Recruitment Across Manchester
Greater Manchester is one of the UK’s most competitive regions for engineering recruitment.
Employers across Food and Drink Manufacturing, FMCG, Automation, Special Purpose Machinery, Packaging Machinery and Capital Equipment are often competing for the same experienced engineers.
Many of the strongest candidates are already employed and do not routinely apply through job boards. Reaching them requires a more targeted approach.
SimWest Engineering Recruitment combines local market knowledge, specialist industry and sector understanding, direct candidate engagement and focused headhunting to identify engineers whose experience is relevant to your machinery, processes and working environment.
We support businesses across:
- Manchester
- Trafford Park
- Stockport
- Salford
- Bolton
- Oldham
- Rochdale
- Bury
- Wigan
- Tameside
- Cheshire
- Lancashire
- The wider North West
Tell Us Who You Need to Recruit
Why Work with SimWest Engineering Recruitment?
Food and FMCG manufacturers, machinery businesses and engineering employers choose SimWest because they want more than a high volume of loosely matched CVs.
We take the time to understand:
- The machinery, systems and processes involved
- The technical experience required
- The working environment and shift pattern
- The immediate challenges the new employee must address
- The type of person who will succeed within the team
- The salary and benefits needed to compete in the market
Our recruitment approach includes:
- More than 17 years of engineering recruitment experience
- Specialist knowledge of Food & FMCG manufacturing, special purpose machinery and automation
- Targeted headhunting and direct candidate engagement
- Access to passive and hard-to-reach engineers
- Detailed technical and motivational candidate screening
- Honest salary and candidate-availability feedback
- Permanent, contract and interim recruitment support
- A six-month replacement guarantee, subject to agreed terms
We focus on delivering relevant shortlists based on capability, motivation and long-term fit rather than application volume.
Speak to Stephen About Your Manchester Engineering Vacancy
Engineering Roles We Recruit Across Manchester
As a specialist engineering recruitment agency in Manchester, we recruit across a wide range of engineering and manufacturing roles, including:
Maintenance Engineering
We recruit engineers and engineering leaders for food, beverage, FMCG, process and wider manufacturing environments.
Typical positions include:
- Maintenance Engineers
- Multi-Skilled Maintenance Engineers
- Electrical Maintenance Engineers
- Mechanical Maintenance Engineers
- Shift Engineers
- Reliability Engineers
- Engineering Team Leaders
- Maintenance Supervisors
- Maintenance Managers
- Engineering Managers
Mechanical, Electrical and Controls Design
We support machinery manufacturers, automation specialists, systems integrators and capital equipment businesses recruiting design and controls professionals.
Typical positions include:
- Mechanical Design Engineers
- Senior Mechanical Design Engineers
- Electrical Design Engineers
- Controls Design Engineers
- Controls Engineers
- PLC Engineers
- Automation Engineers
- Design Managers
Projects, Manufacturing and Process Engineering
We recruit engineers responsible for delivering machinery, manufacturing improvements, capital projects and operational change.
Typical positions include:
- Project Engineers
- Project Managers
- Manufacturing Engineers
- Production Engineers
- Process Engineers
- Continuous Improvement Engineers
- Capital Projects Engineers
- Engineering Project Managers
- Production Engineering Managers
Machinery Manufacturing, Service and Commissioning
We recruit engineers and skilled technical professionals for machinery manufacturers and engineering service businesses.
Typical positions include:
- Field Service Engineers
- Installation Engineers
- Commissioning Engineers
- Controls Engineers
- PLC Engineers
- Automation Engineers
- Mechanical Fitters
- Electrical Fitters
- Machine Builders
Technical Sales Engineers and Commercial Engineering
We also support manufacturers and engineering businesses recruiting commercially focused professionals with strong technical knowledge.
Typical positions include:
- Sales Engineers
- Technical Sales Engineers
- Area Sales Managers
- Business Development Managers
- Applications Engineers
- Proposals Engineers
- Machinery Sales Managers
Which Manufacturing Sectors Do We Support in Manchester?
Our Manchester recruitment activity focuses on technical environments where industry knowledge and candidate assessment matter.
We support businesses operating across:
- Food Manufacturing
- Beverage Manufacturing
- FMCG Manufacturing
- Special Purpose Machinery
- Packaging Machinery
- Automation and Controls
- Capital Equipment
- Process Engineering
- Industrial Manufacturing
- Bulk Materials Handling
- Pharmaceutical Manufacturing
This sector focus enables us to assess candidates against real operating environments rather than relying solely on job titles and CV keywords.
Manchester’s Engineering and Manufacturing Market
Manchester and the surrounding region have a strong and diverse engineering base. Greater Manchester is home to food and beverage manufacturers, FMCG production facilities, machinery builders, automation specialists and global engineering businesses.
Examples of established manufacturing and engineering employers operating in and around Greater Manchester include:
- Heineken UK
- Mettler-Toledo Safeline
- McVitie’s and Pladis Group
- BOBST Manchester
- Lipton Teas and Infusions
- Emerson and Renwick
The variety of businesses operating across the region creates significant competition for experienced engineering professionals.
A Maintenance Engineer with strong electrical, PLC and automation experience may be approached by employers in food manufacturing, beverage production, logistics, packaging and wider FMCG environments.
Similarly, a Mechanical Design Engineer may have opportunities with special purpose machinery manufacturers, automation businesses, process equipment companies and capital equipment suppliers.
This means employers are not only competing with similar businesses. They are competing across several industries for engineers with transferable technical skills.
Demand is particularly strong for engineers with practical experience of automated machinery, PLC-controlled equipment, electrical fault finding, controls systems and machinery design.
To recruit effectively in this market, our Manchester engineering recruitment approach is built around:
- Understanding the technical requirements behind the job title
- Identifying relevant businesses where suitable candidates may work
- Approaching passive engineers directly
- Assessing technical experience and career motivation
- Providing realistic salary and market feedback
- Maintaining candidate engagement throughout the recruitment process
Already Advertising but Not Finding the Right Engineers?
A lack of applications does not always mean the right candidates are unavailable.
The role may be struggling because of:
- An uncompetitive salary or benefits package
- An unattractive shift pattern
- A job title candidates do not commonly search for
- A lengthy or unclear advert
- Excessively broad technical requirements
- A slow interview or decision-making process
- Reliance on active job seekers
- Limited awareness of the employer in the local market
Before starting a search, we provide honest feedback on the vacancy, salary, location and likely candidate availability.
Where appropriate, we can also help refine the job description, recruitment message and candidate profile before approaching the market.
Request a Confidential Vacancy Review
Looking for Available Engineers in Manchester?
SimWest maintains relationships with engineering professionals across Manchester and the wider North West, including candidates who are not actively applying for advertised positions.
Our network includes professionals across:
- Maintenance Engineering
- Mechanical and Electrical Design
- Controls and Automation
- Projects and Manufacturing
- Service and Commissioning
- Technical Sales
- Engineering Management
Tell us what type of engineer you need and we will provide an honest assessment of the relevant candidate market.
Discuss Available Engineering Candidates
Recruiting Without a Completed Job Description?
You do not need a completed job specification before speaking with us.
Some employers contact SimWest when they are:
- Recruiting for confidential roles
- Planning a new position
- Unsure about the appropriate salary
- Restructuring an engineering team
- Assessing whether suitable candidates are available
- Seeking advice before obtaining final internal approval
Send us a rough job title, location and a brief description of the challenge you need the person to solve.
We will contact you to discuss the role confidentially.
Looking for an Engineering Job in Manchester?
SimWest also supports engineering professionals looking for permanent and contract opportunities across Manchester and the North West.
We regularly recruit for positions across maintenance, design, controls, automation, projects, manufacturing, service, commissioning and engineering management.
You can:
Search Current Engineering Jobs
Create an Engineering Job Alert
Do not have an up-to-date CV? You can still register your interest by providing your name, contact details, current job title and LinkedIn profile.
All conversations are handled confidentially.
Manchester Engineering Recruitment: Frequently Asked Questions
Where is SimWest Engineering Recruitment based?
Our Manchester office is located at Adamson House, Towers Business Park, Wilmslow Road, Didsbury, Manchester, M20 2YY.
From Manchester, we support engineering and manufacturing businesses throughout Greater Manchester, Lancashire, Cheshire, Yorkshire, the Midlands and across the UK.
Which manufacturing sectors do you recruit for in Manchester?
We specialise in engineering recruitment across Food and Beverage Manufacturing, FMCG, Special Purpose Machinery, Packaging Machinery, Automation, Capital Equipment, Process Engineering and wider industrial manufacturing.
Which engineering roles are most difficult to recruit in Manchester?
Demand varies according to salary, location and market conditions, but some of the most competitive positions include Multi-Skilled Maintenance Engineers, Electrical Maintenance Engineers, Controls Engineers, Electrical Design Engineers, Mechanical Design Engineers, Commissioning Engineers and experienced Engineering Managers.
Do I need a completed job description before contacting SimWest?
No. A completed job description is not required.
You can send us the job title, location and a brief outline of the experience you need. We can then discuss the position, salary and candidate market with you before a formal recruitment campaign begins.
Do you only recruit candidates who are actively looking for work?
No. Although we advertise vacancies and maintain relationships with active job seekers, a significant part of our work involves directly approaching engineers who are not currently applying for advertised positions.
This targeted approach can be particularly valuable when recruiting for specialist or difficult-to-fill engineering roles.
Do you provide salary advice?
Yes. We provide honest salary and market feedback based on the requirements of the role, location, shift pattern, industry and availability of candidates.
We also conduct engineering salary research across specialist manufacturing markets and provide free salary reports.
Do you recruit engineers outside Manchester?
Yes. SimWest is based in Manchester but supports engineering and manufacturing businesses across the North West and throughout the UK.
How quickly can you recruit an engineer?
Recruitment timescales depend on the role, salary, location, shift pattern, notice periods and availability of suitable candidates. After discussing the vacancy, we will provide an honest assessment of the likely timescale and can prioritise urgent searches where appropriate.
What is the average time-to-hire for a Maintenance Engineer in Manchester?
Based on SimWest’s recent recruitment campaigns, the time required to identify and secure a Maintenance Engineer has commonly ranged from 3 to 5 weeks. Timescales vary according to salary, shift pattern, technical requirements, interview availability and candidate notice periods.
Why Is Engineering Recruitment in Manchester So Competitive?
Greater Manchester has a large and diverse engineering and manufacturing base. Employers across food and beverage manufacturing, FMCG, machinery, automation, packaging and capital equipment therefore often compete for the same experienced engineers, particularly those with transferable electrical, controls, automation and machinery experience.
What happens after I submit a vacancy?
Stephen or another member of our team will contact you directly to discuss:
- The vacancy and reasons for recruiting
- Essential and desirable experience
- Salary, benefits and working arrangements
- The recruitment process and timescale
- Candidate availability
- The most appropriate search strategy
Submitting an initial enquiry does not commit you to starting a recruitment campaign.
Need to Recruit an Engineer in Manchester?
Speak directly with Stephen Simpson for a confidential discussion about your vacancy, salary levels and the availability of suitable engineers.
Manchester Office: 0161 706 1065
Speak directly with Stephen: 07508 636 230
Email: stephensimpson@simwestengineering.co.uk
Discuss an Engineering Vacancy
