Recruitment firm rebrands to reflect IT connections

Matchtech Group becomes Gattaca as international business grows

Recruitment firm the Matchtech Group has changed its name to Gattaca, although the core engineering division will continue to operate as Matchtech Engineering.

The Matchtech Group acquired international recruitment firm Networkers International last year. The move has grown Matchtech Group’s overseas operations by almost a third. Around 40% of the work on the company’s books is also now in IT and telecommunications after the acquisition.

The company said the change has been made in order to simplify its structure. The umbrella group Gattaca also contains several recruitment firms for different sectors, including oil and gas recruitment company Cappo and lead IT recruitment brand Networkers.

Brian Wilkinson, chief executive of Gattaca, said the acquisition and rebranding also reflects a growing demand for IT and telecommunication skills amongst its engineering clients.

He said: “We’re seeing a real demand for telecoms and connectivity skills as well as IT. This is really the next stage for engineering. An example is in automation, which moved from valves and levers to electronic control systems a while ago and now those controls are being networked.”

Wilkinson said sectors that are adopting more IT and telecoms include process, manufacturing, defence, rail and automotive, where there is demand for expertise to develop driverless cars and platooning. "Car manufacturers are further ahead than most traditional manufacturing companies. They have been employing electronics and software engineers to work on engine control units and telematics for a while now.”

Wilkinson added he didn’t expect Brexit to impact too adversely on the prospects of British engineers working overseas. “I’m optimistic. British engineers traditionally go to the parts of the world where English is spoken. We comply with visa restrictions and I don’t see why opportunities in those places shouldn’t continue to grow. Equally I see the big projects, HS2 and Hinckley, as an opportunity for us to get more of the people that our industries need from overseas.”