Recruiting Engineers in Scotland’s Manufacturing & Energy-Influenced Market
Scotland has a strong manufacturing base across food & drink, FMCG, processing and specialist machinery. However, engineering recruitment is heavily influenced by competition from the oil & gas and renewable energy sectors, which draw from similar technical skillsets.
SimWest Engineering Recruitment supports manufacturers across Scotland, particularly within the Central Belt, helping businesses compete for experienced engineers in a highly contested market.
Manufacturing & Engineering Sectors We Support Across Scotland
The sectors we regularly recruit for in Glasgow, Edinburgh and across Scotland include:
- Food & Drink Manufacturing – Bakeries, Distilleries, Seafoods, Meat Processing etc)
- FMCG Manufacturing – pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, personal care, household products and packaging
- Special Purpose & Bespoke Machinery Manufacturing – design, build, automation, installation and commissioning
While many engineering skills are transferable, each of these sectors presents different challenges around machinery, compliance, automation and working practices. Our recruitment approach is tailored accordingly, ensuring engineers are matched not just on technical ability, but on relevant sector and environment experience.
This sector understanding is particularly important in Scotland’s competitive market, where manufacturing employers are often competing for talent with oil & gas and renewable energy organisations, as well as other high-value engineering sectors.
Competition from Oil & Gas and Renewable Energy Sectors
A significant factor influencing engineering recruitment across Scotland is competition from the oil & gas and renewable energy sectors.
These industries continue to attract experienced engineers due to:
- Strong salary and total package offerings
- Large-scale, technically complex projects
- Long-term infrastructure investment
- Transferable skill requirements across mechanical, electrical, controls and project engineering disciplines
Engineers with backgrounds in maintenance, automation, electrical systems, rotating equipment, hydraulics, controls and project delivery are often highly sought after by both traditional manufacturing employers and energy-sector organisations.
This overlap creates additional pressure on availability for manufacturing and machinery businesses, particularly when recruiting experienced engineers rather than junior or graduate-level talent.
As a result, many Scottish manufacturers find that advertising alone is no longer sufficient to compete with energy-sector employers. Engaging engineers proactively, clearly positioning the role, environment, stability and long-term opportunity, becomes critical to securing the right hire.
Example Manufacturing & Engineering Employers in Scotland
- Diageo (Food & Beverage Manufacturing)
- JBT FoodTech (Special Purpose Machinery)
- AG Barr (Food & Beverage Manufacturing)
- Heat and Control (Special Purpose Machinery)
- Highland Spring Group (Food & Beverage Manufacturing)
Hiring Engineers in Scotland?
If you’re struggling to secure experienced engineering talent in Scotland, SimWest Engineering Recruitment can help you compete effectively.