RECRUITMENT
Back home – IronBridge Partners MD Ryan Riley .
BRIDGING THE GAP
Education recruitment expert moves north to set up new HQ
WORDS : SARAH DALE PICTURE : STUART BOULTON
An education recruitment business , IronBridge Partners , is hoping to bridge the STEM skills gap by opening a new head office in “ booming ” Tees Valley .
The specialist recruitment agency links schools , colleges and commercial training providers looking for teachers , lecturers , and assessors with skilled educators and STEM and construction professionals looking to transition from industry into the classroom .
Serving the north and the Midlands , IronBridge Partners was launched in July to help plug the UK skills gap by improving the quality of vocational and technical education through the transition of skilled industry professionals into teaching and training roles to pass on experience and skills to the next generation .
“ Our goal is to help address the UK ’ s skills shortage ,” said managing director Ryan Riley . “ If you speak to anyone in construction or engineering , it ’ s almost impossible to source the right level and volume of staff , and I ’ ve witnessed this first-hand .
“ That ’ s why the knowledge and skills of experienced industry professionals are needed more than ever .
“ Before setting up IronBridge , I worked in Jersey for another education recruitment agency , T15 International , for four years . Prior to that I worked in construction and oil and gas in the Middle East , experiencing very similar challenges in staffing some of the world ’ s biggest projects .”
Setting the business up in Darlington gave Ryan the chance to move back home and tap into its “ booming economy ”.
“ I love the North-East and there just seems to be inward investment left , right and centre supporting the region ,” he said .
“ The Treasury is here , the Teesside Freeport is underway , and global companies such as BP and SABIC are investing heavily into major green infrastructure projects . Momentum is building , and the region is returning to where ICI was at its peak .
“ The rise of these new green industries and the increase in inward investment will undoubtedly stimulate economic growth and create jobs . It will also lead to an increase in demand for skilled talent and people with the skills required to fill the roles of tomorrow .”
Having travelled the world , first studying in America , playing professional golf throughout Europe , Asia and South Africa , and then as a recruitment expert in the United Arab Emirates before settling in Jersey , Ryan has finally returned to his northern roots .
“ I ’ m a North-East lad , and if I ’ m buying services off someone , I want to know that they know the local area and can get to the nitty-gritty of things ,” said Ryan , originally from Yarm .
That personal touch of meeting faceto-face over a coffee is crucial to Ryan ’ s
Position – Ryan says Darlington was the ideal place to set up the firm ’ s new HQ .
business ethos .
“ Technology is great , and it ’ s good to have meetings online , but nothing beats that face-to-face contact . You get a better feel of what somebody is about and their requirements . It ’ s important for me to put a face to a name ,” added the dad-of-two .
The firm opened its new head office in Business Central in Darlington , creating six full-time permanent jobs – five from the Tees Valley area and one from Bristol . It aims to boost the headcount to 12 to 15 over the next 18 months .
“ Darlington is perfect . We ’ re across the road from Darlington Station , which puts us less than three hours from London and 30 minutes from Newcastle , and we ’ re close to all the major road links , allowing us to get out and visit clients at the drop of a hat .”
IronBridge Partners is the newest business formed by education recruitment company SmithCorp , which also runs organisations in London , Bristol , Cornwall and Jersey and has invested in its new HQ office space in the heart of Darlington .
46 | Tees Business
If you are looking for a role in education , you require staff , or for more information about our services , visit ironbridgepartners . co . uk