When Abstruct Consulting was faced with a need for a Structural Technician with pinpoint technical expertise and cultural alignment, we delivered.
Here’s how we solved specialist talent shortages with precise hiring for Abstruct Consulting.
At a glance
Abstruct Consulting is a UK based practice offering expert structural & civil engineering advice & design services on a large variety of projects
The brief
In late 2023, Abstruct engaged us to assist with a key hire: a Structural Technician to be based in their Sevenoaks office. This was a crucial role within their growing structural team, requiring both strong technical capabilities and a personality fit to mesh with their collaborative culture.
Known for delivering high-quality engineering solutions across sectors like data centres, hotels, and residential developments, Abstruct needed a specialist recruitment partner capable of sourcing top-tier talent in a highly competitive and geographically limited market.
Challenges
Given the specific requirements of the role and the detailed brief from Abstruct, there were three key factors that made finding the right candidate particularly challenging:
- Location constraints: Sevenoaks, while well-positioned, has a relatively limited local talent pool for specialist engineering roles.
- Skill specificity: The candidate needed to have hands-on experience in multidisciplinary environments, especially across complex sectors like data centres and high-end residential.
- Cultural fit: Beyond technical proficiency, Abstruct was seeking someone who aligned with their values and team ethos.
Our approach
To overcome the geographic and skills-based limitations, we took a proactive, relationship-led approach:
- Targeted market mapping: We conducted a thorough market scan to identify candidates with the right balance of technical expertise and location viability.
- Leveraged industry relationships: By tapping into our established network within the structural engineering sector, we were able to engage with high-quality professionals – Including those not actively job-hunting. Our reputation in the market also led to several valuable referrals from trusted contacts, helping us uncover talent that would have otherwise remained off the radar.
- Consultative Partnership: We maintained close communication with Abstruct to fine-tune the profile throughout the process, ensuring alignment on both hard and soft skills.
Outcome
Our focused and agile recruitment process led to a successful placement: a talented Structural Technician who seamlessly integrated into Abstruct’s team and has proven to be a strong contributor, both technically and culturally.
Despite a tight talent pool and geographic limitations, our targeted search and strong industry relationships secured the right hire – fast. That success has since led to multiple placements and a growing partnership focused on building Abstruct’s high-performing team.
As a result of this success:
- We have since placed two additional specialists, continuing to strengthen Abstruct’s growing team.
- We continue to provide ongoing talent advisory support, offering insights into market trends, candidate expectations, and recruitment strategy.
If you would like to know more about how we solved specialist talent shortages with precise hiring for Abstruct Consulting, or how we can help you achieve your hiring strategy needs, please reach out to James Knight – Principal Recruitment Consultant, Infrastructure.
Or, take a look at our dedicated Infrastructure recruitment and career portal to discover the information you need about our services.