Blog

Dan Martin explores how South West engineering businesses can respond to the region’s growing skills shortage by building long-term talent pipelines through education partnerships, apprenticeships, retention strategies and employer branding.

A comprehensive overview of the UK employment law reset in 2026 and what HR leaders across South West England must prepare for. Insights into HR capability, people governance and evolving workforce expectations.

Temporary and contract hiring is no longer reactive. Discover why flexible workforce strategies are now essential for scaling businesses and how access to trusted interim talent gives organisations a competitive edge.

Explore how Business Support roles have evolved, why AI adoption is essential, and the modern skills employers need to hire top Business Support talent.

The UK Manufacturing PMI has moved back into growth for the first time in over a year. What does this mean for employers and candidates in the South West? Cathedral Appointments explores the data and what it means for recruitment.

Accountancy has transformed more in five years than in the previous fifty. This roadmap explores the five pillars accountants and firms must focus on to stay resilient, relevant and ahead of the curve into 2026 and beyond.

How strong is demand for Business Support staff in the South West in 2025? Dataled insight and practical advice for employers and jobseekers.

In 2025, the era of the one-size-fits-all accountant is fading fast. As automation takes over routine compliance and competition grows louder, clients are searching for something technology can’t replicate: deep sector knowledge, specialist insight, and advice tailored to their world. This shift is fueling the rise of niche accountancy firms — and those who commit to a clear specialism are seeing stronger margins, sharper marketing, and deeper client loyalty. In a market where breadth is easy to find, focus is what wins.

The HR landscape has transformed more in the past three years than in the decade before. As businesses navigate hybrid working, engagement challenges, wellbeing expectations and ongoing organisational change, HR professionals have become central to stability, culture and long-term strategy.

From offshore wind in the Celtic Sea to battery innovation in Somerset, the South West is leading the UK’s green engineering revolution. In this blog, I’ll explores how sustainability and engineering are reshaping the region’s future.

Many businesses underestimate recruitments hidden costs. They see a fee but not the value behind it. Yet using a specialist recruiter is not simply an operational choice, it is a commercial one that protects productivity, reduces risk and strengthens long term performance. For hiring managers the right recruitment partner can reduce cost, improve quality and speed up hiring in a competitive market.

Cathedral Appointments became a certified B Corp in June 2025. Six months on, our commitment to responsible business, ethical recruitment and community impact remains stronger than ever. Becoming a B Corp didn’t change who we are. It simply gave us a framework to measure and demonstrate the positive impact we already make across the South West. Our focus remains people first, community centred and purpose driven. We are proud to continue strengthening the South West economy through responsible recruitment practices that put integrity, wellbeing and long term value at the heart of everything we do.