A Warwickshire-based recruitment firm has launched a new division dedicated to helping the county’s fledgling hi-tech engineering sector to recruit sought-after expertise.

Manufacturing and engineering recruiters Consilium Group has unveiled the specialist team after witnessing a surge in investment within the industry which has been fuelled by a renewed confidence in British manufacturing and Whitehall-led funding.

Experts at the Stratford-upon-Avon recruitment firm are however concerned that the shortage of engineering talent is proving to be an obstacle to growth for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and start-ups in the region’s technology sector – a problem they hope the new division will help address.

Steve Doyle, director of Consilium Group, said: “There are a huge number of small yet highly innovative businesses in the county’s engineering industries who are developing a range of breakthrough products and technology. But with a widening skills gap many are finding it tough to compete in fierce recruitment battles with larger companies, let alone secure the skill-sets that are required to develop the technologies of tomorrow.

“Our new division is all about helping these high-growth SMEs communicate their opportunities and attract highly-skilled engineers. There are many companies across Warwickshire who are innovative and dynamic, but without the right technical skills they can’t fuel their growth. We want to help change that.”

One of the division’s latest clients is Kenilworth-based based high-tech engineering SME, Aeristech Ltd. Consilium, who are also the official recruitment partner to the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC), has placed engineering professionals into the company.

Bryn Richards, chief executive of Aeristech, added: “When we grow we are only interested in the best people who have the right skills. Steve and the team at Consilium appreciate the challenges faced by companies like us and have already helped attract some sought-after engineering talent into our business.”

Consilium Group was formed in 2001 by a team of former manufacturing and engineering professionals. They have gone on to place industry talent into a variety of leading UK and mainland European businesses with clients including Jaguar Land Rover, McLaren and Bosch.

Aside from their base in Stratford-upon-Avon they also have offices in Stourport-on-Severn.

In 2014 the 40-employee firm was voted the UK’s best Recruitment Company to Work for by the Institute of Recruitment Professionals, and also recognised nationally as a top 10 company by the prestigious Great Places to Work institute.