About Us

Our Story

TRS – Talent Retention Solution – was conceived out of a simple but critical need. To help people and organisations deal with change arising from economic / business
restructuring.

This original focus on skills retention and redeployment has evolved.

TRS has transformed into a national talent platform supporting the attraction
and development of people in manufacturing, engineering and technology
sectors, as well as the retention of highly valued skills.

We are a not for profit programme, funded through sponsor and member companies,
trade associations, professional institutions and other stakeholder organisations. TRS i s
free for SMEs.

Our Origins

A strong economy depends upon manufacturing, engineering and technology
industries. These sectors are fundamental to the future of the UK, and their
success relies on the skills and commitment of their people.

How do we attract the people we need in a competitive market?

How do we develop their potential?

And how do we retain their expertise during periods of economic change and
uncertainty?

Balancing the supply and demand for people in manufacturing, engineering and
technology has long been a challenge for the UK. Many are passionate
about solving the skills gap equation and believe it has to be tackled
collectively.

Employers, unions, universities, colleges, trade associations, professional bodies and
the government all have a vital part to play. TRS, is helping to facilitate that
collaboration.

Our Focus Areas

GIVING EMPLOYERS EASY ACCESS TO SKILLED INDIVIDUALS

Our web platforms provide employers with easy, direct access to candidates and are
free to SMEs. Companies like Airbus, Rolls-Royce, BAE Systems, EDF Energy,
Boeing, Leonardo and Siemens use the TRS talent platform to promote vacancies and to
access a pool of prospective employees. To ensure the UK retains valuable skills, the
talent platform is also helping to balance redundancies in one company with recruitment
in another.

CONNECTING STUDENTS TO CAREERS AND OPPORTUNITIES

Building the pipeline of entry-level talent is of vital importance to the UK economy,
and the earlier students engage with potential employers the more likely they are to find
the right opportunities. TRS works with universities and colleges to improve the visibility of
internships, placements and job vacancies. We can also route highly-rated and
assessed candidates who just miss out on opportunities in one organisation
through to other interested employers.

PROMOTING APPRENTICESHIP CANDIDATES TO A NETWORK OF
COMPANIES

As apprenticeships grow in popularity, many employers find their schemes are
heavily over-subscribed. As well as providing a talent platform that enables
employers to advertise apprenticeship opportunities, we’ve created an apprenticeship
clearing house which means that high-calibre applicants who can’t find a place with one
employer can be referred to others in our network.

CONNECTING EXPERIENCED PROFESSIONALS TO EMPLOYERS

Experienced individuals with sought after skills and knowledge in engineering,
manufacturing and technology industries can search for opportunities at a wide range of
highly-regarded employers using the TRS platforms. SMEs can post vacancies and
search for candidates on the platform free of charge.

WORKING WITH EMPLOYERS TO SUPPORT REDEPLOYMENT AND
RESTRUCTURING

At times of economic change and business restructuring, the UK must retain valuable
engineering and manufacturing expertise. TRS has worked closely with Rolls-Royce plc
and companies in the nuclear sector, as well as with unions, to support internal
redeployment and global restructuring programmes that preserve and protect key
skills and minimise redundancies.

DEDICATED WEB PAGES FOR COLLEGES, UNIVERSITIES AND
EMPLOYERS

Within the TRS portal are a number of ‘micro-sites’ – areas focused on participating
employers, colleges and universities. These distil in one place the essential
information that students, apprentices, graduates and professionals are looking for,
saving them from trawling through many different websites. The micro-sites also
make it easy for employers to see what their local colleges and universities are
offering and for academia to keep in touch with developments in industry.

PROVIDING A FORUM FOR SUPPORTERS OF UK PLC

TRS brings together influential voices across the engineering, manufacturing and
technology landscape in the interests of UK plc. We listen to the concerns of
professional bodies and trade associations and work with them to develop and
implement practical solutions to the operational challenges their members face.

Our Team

  • Mary Jane Halstead
  • Katy Kovacs
  • Richard Smith
  • Chris Jarman