Industrial Recruitment Manchester — Nigel Wright Group
Industrial Recruitment in Manchester and the North West: Nigel Wright Group’s Track Record
Nigel Wright Group is a specialist recruitment partner for manufacturers, engineering businesses and industrial technology firms across Manchester and the North West. We deliver executive search, advisory, and specialist recruitment for permanent and interim appointments, from plant leadership to the boardroom. Our industrial clients include ABB, BASF, PPG Industries and Polyflor.
Expertise you trust. Hiring people you value. That promise shapes every industrial brief we take on.
Why Industrial Hiring in the North West Calls for a Specialist Partner
The North West has one of the strongest industrial bases in the country. Chemicals, coatings, advanced materials, engineering and precision manufacturing all compete for the same small pool of proven leaders. Most of those people are already in post, performing well and rarely looking.
When a site director or engineering head leaves, the impact is felt quickly. Output slips, investment plans stall and pressure builds on the people who remain. A fast, accurate hire protects performance.
Our consultants know this market closely. We understand how the region’s industrial employers compete for talent, what draws strong leaders to a business and what keeps them there. Local knowledge, backed by a wider Northern perspective, helps us reach people who are hard to find through advertising alone.
What Industrial Roles Does Nigel Wright Group Recruit?
As an industrial executive search firm and specialist recruiter, Nigel Wright Group fills senior and specialist roles across the full industrial value chain. Typical appointments include:
- Board and executive roles: Managing Director, Operations Director, Engineering Director, Supply Chain Director
- Site and plant leadership: Site Director, Plant Manager, Production Manager, Head of Operations
- Engineering and technical: Head of Engineering, Technical Manager, Process Engineering Manager, R&D leads
- Commercial and support functions: Commercial Director, Finance Director, HR Director, Head of Health, Safety and Environment
- Interim leadership: Interim Operations Director, Transformation Lead, Interim Programme Manager
Are you recruiting?
Chat with our experts now via Live Chat or email us
with your requirements using this link and we'll
respond the same working day.
Industrial Sectors We Support Across Manchester and the North West
Our industrial work covers the sectors that drive the regional economy:
- Chemicals, coatings and specialty materials
- Polymers, resins and composites
- Power, automation and electrical engineering
- Automotive and transport components
- Security products and engineered infrastructure
- Building products and flooring manufacture
Each sector has its own technical language, regulatory pressures and career paths. Consultants who understand that detail ask sharper questions and assess candidates with greater confidence.
Track Record: Industrial Clients We Have Partnered With
Our industrial client list spans global groups and specialist manufacturers with deep roots in the region.
Global Industrial and Chemicals Groups
ABB, BASF and PPG Industries run large and complex groups. Site leaders must hit local targets while they work to group standards and report up through global functions. We look for people with the technical depth and the influence to lead well in that setting.
Specialist Manufacturers and Materials Businesses
Polyflor, Bitrez and TMD Friction each rely on deep technical know-how. Flooring, resin chemistry and friction materials are niche fields, and the pool of skilled people is small. We have worked closely with businesses of this kind to map scarce expertise and approach candidates who rarely appear on the open market.
Engineering and Growth-Focused Industrial Businesses
ATG Access and Contact Originators round out a varied industrial client base across engineering and manufacturing. Growing engineering businesses need leaders who can build structure, strengthen operations and support commercial expansion at the same time.
What Our Industrial Clients Gain
- Access to passive candidates with proven sector experience
- Clear, honest market insight on talent availability and pay
- Shortlists assessed for technical depth, leadership style and cultural fit
- Hires who settle in quickly and deliver measurable progress
What Makes a Strong Industrial Leader Today?
The best industrial leaders blend technical skill with sound commercial sense. They keep sites safe, lift output and bring their people with them. Good leaders also plan ahead, steering a plant through new technology, tighter rules on energy and waste, and shifts in customer demand.
We test for all of this. Our consultants ask how a candidate has led change, built teams and handled pressure on the shop floor. References are probed with care. That extra effort is what Go Further means in practice, and it gives you a clear view of who will thrive in your business.
Three Services Shaped Around Industrial Organisations
Executive Search: Securing Leaders Who Shape Your Future
Board and senior operations roles need a discreet, research-led approach. Our executive search team finds, tests and secures the leaders who will guide your business through investment, growth or change.
Advisory: Expert Insight for Wiser Decisions
Leadership choices carry commercial weight. Our advisory work gives expert insight on leadership and talent, so you can decide with more confidence.
Specialist Recruitment: Connecting You With Talent Others Cannot
Engineering, technical and support roles call for specialist networks. Our recruitment specialists know the North West industrial community well and can move fast on hard-to-fill posts.
Permanent and Interim Industrial Recruitment: When Each Model Fits
Strong industrial businesses use both models to build resilience and keep momentum.
- Permanent appointments suit roles that shape the business over the long term. They work best when you are building a leadership team, preparing for succession planning or adding capability that will anchor future growth.
- Interim appointments suit moments that call for speed and focus. Experienced interim professionals step in quickly to lead change, cover a critical gap or deliver a defined programme, such as a large-scale site transformation or a new plant commissioning.
The two models work together. An interim leader can stabilise operations while we run a permanent search, giving you time to find the right person. That balance of pace and care helps Northern organisations shape their future with confidence.
How We Run an Industrial Search
Our recruitment process is built around partnership and clear communication:
- Discovery: We learn your business, its plans and the challenges the role must address.
- Market mapping: Our research team identifies relevant talent across competitors and adjacent sectors.
- Assessment: Candidates are evaluated for technical capability, leadership qualities and cultural fit.
- Appointment and onboarding: We guide offer negotiation and stay in touch as your new leader settles in.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Nigel Wright Group an industrial recruitment agency in Manchester?
Yes. Nigel Wright Group recruits senior and specialist industrial talent for organisations across Manchester and the North West, covering both permanent and interim roles.
Can you recruit interim industrial leaders at short notice?
Yes. Our interim network includes experienced operations, engineering and transformation leaders who are available to start quickly.
Which industrial sectors do you cover?
We cover chemicals, coatings, materials, engineering, automation, automotive components, security products and building products.
For Industrial Professionals Looking for a Move
Experienced industrial people can also gain from our regional network. Job seekers looking for senior jobs in Manchester and across the North West can register with our team to hear about new job opportunities. Our consultants offer confidential, practical support at every stage of your job search.
Go Further With Your Next Industrial Hire
Nigel Wright Group combines sector expertise, local market knowledge and tailored recruitment solutions to help industrial businesses hire with confidence. Our ambition is to be the driving force behind the North’s most successful organisations.
Speak to our Manchester industrial team today to discuss your next permanent or interim appointment.
Manchester Office
Telephone: +44 (0)161 552 5027
Email: marketingdept@nigelwright.com
Address: The Lincoln, Lincoln Square, Brazennose Street, Manchester, M2 5AD