Russell Taylor has expanded its sector portfolio to strengthen its position in the global technical recruitment market.

Via its new Manufacturing Division, the company is enhancing the Russell Taylor brand with a new team of specialist recruiters servicing areas including automotive, aerospace, food, pharmaceutical and science, general manufacturing and fast-moving consumer goods.

The business, with national headquarters in Bromborough, Wirral, already operates on a national and international platform in Construction Management, Technical & Engineering, Construction & Civils Trades and Industrial Trades.

Heading up the division is Martin Willemsen, 37, who brings to Russell Taylor 15 years' experience on a national level in manufacturing and engineering recruitment.

Russell Taylor Group managing director Ben Russell said: “The creation of our new Manufacturing Division now enables us to better serve our clients and candidates in the worldwide technical engineering and construction recruitment market.

“Figures show that manufacturing contributes £6.7tr to the global economy and, contrary to common belief, holds an extremely strong position in the UK. We're currently the 11th largest manufacturing nation in the world - 54 per cent of our exports are manufactured goods and 2.6 million people are directly employed in this sector.

“This new division will make a great contribution to our own business growth and its conception comes at a time of major developments at Russell Taylor which has just had its best ever trading year and seen sales staff double to service demand from clients seeking to recruit staff and candidates looking for jobs.”