Recruit expert talent for your consumer and retail business
Whether it's the tech and marketing talent needed for e-commerce, or craft skills for high quality retail goods - the UK is a world leader.
Recruitment agencies
Most of the UK's major recruitment agencies cover recruitment for the consumer and retail sector. Find out more on recruitment agency websites, for example Hays, Adecco, Manpower and Indeed.
You can also use the UK’s trade media, such as Drapers Record for the fashion industry and The Grocer for food retail, to advertise roles.
There are also several tech-focused recruitment agencies for specialised roles in e-commerce. Search tech recruitment websites, including Method Resourcing, Hired, Talent International and Opus Recruitment.
Talent clusters
E-commerce and retail tech
The UK's extensive talent in application software, big data and analytics, artificial intelligence, behavioural analysis and payments technology is spread through the country. However, the largest clusters are in London, South East England and North West England, around Manchester.
Luxury goods and jewellery
Walsall in the Midlands has the largest concentration of leatherworkers in Northern Europe. Around 40% of the UK's jewellery is made in Birmingham's Jewellery Quarter.
Leeds is a centre for beauty products, with a high number of formulation chemists.
Clothing
London is a major global hub for fashion design and high-end retail. Other talent clusters include East Midlands, a centre for the shoe industry, and Scotland and West Yorkshire for production and retail of textiles.
Food and drink
Lancashire has many global food companies, while Leeds has over 700 food manufacturers and is home to 2 major supermarket chains. Dorset and Shropshire are centres for artisan food production.
Household goods
The Leeds area is a cluster for furniture manufacturing. Derbyshire and the Midlands are also major producers, with a large pool of skilled talent.
The Stoke-on-Trent area has a number of internationally renowned ceramics companies, with a ready supply of skilled craftspeople.
Expertise through knowledge transfer
The Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) scheme provides opportunities for innovative consumer and retail businesses who have an idea, but do not have all the talent needed to develop it.
The scheme can link your company with an academic or research organisation, providing you with the services of a graduate as an associate.
A KTP is part-funded by a grant, with a contribution also made by the company.
Find more information on the KTP website.