With recruitment budgets finalised and Q1 projects kicking off, the competition for high-calibre manufacturing talent is high.
For HR teams and manufacturing leaders, the challenge isn’t just finding people—it’s finding the right people with the right competencies and experience. This is where specialist manufacturing recruitment agencies, such as Sigma Recruitment, become essential partners.
Below, we’ve highlighted a selection of exceptional candidates currently seeking new opportunities across South Wales in the CF, NP, and SA postcode areas. These profiles represent a snapshot of the quality of talent available through Sigma Recruitment.
Featured Candidates for January 2026
1. Leadership & HSE Compliance
Maintaining safety standards and operational efficiency is a top priority for 2026. We are currently representing an HSE Manager (£55k+) with extensive experience in global Medical Device manufacturing and high-risk environments. This candidate is an expert in ISO 45001 and cultural transformation.
We also have an HSEQ Manager (£36k+) available in the NP area, boasting 14 years of leadership and a recently completed MSc in Safety, Health, and Environmental Management.
2. Manufacturing & Production Engineering
Technical troubleshooting and New Product Introduction (NPI) are critical for growth this year. Our current talent pool includes a Production Engineer (£45k+) with 30 years of experience across Aerospace, Automotive, and Plastics, proficient in programming 3 and 5-axis CNC equipment.
In the SA area, we are working with a highly skilled Metallurgist (£50k+) with a BEng achieved with distinction, specialising in ferrous and non-ferrous casting processes and root cause analysis.
3. Maintenance & Skilled Trades
The “engine room” of any plant relies on maintenance. We currently have several Mechanical and Electrical Maintenance Technicians (£45k+) available immediately due to recent redundancies. These are time-served professionals with experience in COMAH environments, FMCG, and heavy industrial setups.
For those requiring precision machining skills, we are representing a CNC Setter Programmer (£45k+) with 15 years of experience with Mazak and Siemens controls on 3- and 5-axis mills.
4. Graduate Talent
For companies looking to build their future talent pipeline, we have a Graduate RF Engineer (£35k+) with an MSc in Compound Semiconductor Electronics and a Software Engineering Graduate (£25k+) proficient in Python, SQL, and Java.
Why Use Specialist Engineering & Manufacturing Recruitment Agencies?
Hiring in the current market requires more than just posting a job advert. Specialist manufacturing recruitment agencies have deep networks and a “ready-to-go” database of vetted professionals who may not be active on traditional job boards.
If you are currently reviewing your hiring strategy, we have several resources to help:
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Benchmark your roles: If you’re unsure of current market rates, our job guides provide detailed information for HR and hiring managers on recruiting for common manufacturing positions.
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Search for specific skills: You can browse our live, searchable database of example candidate profiles to see the type of talent we can source for your site.
Ready to kickstart your Q1 recruitment?
Finding the right fit for your team is about understanding both the technical requirements and the site culture. Whether you need a specialist engineer in Cardiff, a maintenance team in Newport, or leadership in Swansea, as one of the UK’s leading engineering and manufacturing recruitment agencies, Sigma Recruitment is here to help.
Contact us today to discuss these candidates or your wider 2026 recruitment goals.
