The Mid-Year Recruitment Reset: What Should You Be Reviewing Right Now?

As July rolls in, the halfway mark of the year offers a natural pause point. For many manufacturing and chemical businesses, it's a time for performance reviews, reforecasting, and evaluating what's working—and what’s not. But while operational and sales strategies often get the spotlight, one area that’s equally critical (and sometimes overlooked) is your recruitment strategy.

Whether you’re scaling, restructuring, or simply keeping pace with demand, now is the perfect time to conduct a mid-year recruitment reset.

Start with Your Leadership Structure

The strength of your senior team sets the tone for everything else—culture, performance, and growth. Take a step back and ask:

• Do you have the right leaders in place for your next phase of growth?
  
• Are any departments lacking direction or momentum?
  
• Could you benefit from succession planning or new perspectives at the top?
  

These aren’t always easy questions, but mid-year is a great time to ask them—before you hit the Q3 and Q4 pressure cooker.

Align Hiring with H2 Goals

Your business goals for the second half of the year will likely shape your hiring needs. Whether it’s launching a new product line, expanding operations, or improving efficiencies, you need the right people in place to make it happen.

We often see clients wait until September to start these conversations—but that can lead to delays and missed opportunities. Starting now gives you time to plan, search, and onboard without the end-of-year rush.

Think Strategically, Not Reactively

We get it—recruitment is often driven by need. A senior leader leaves, a new client comes onboard, or a major shift in business prompts an urgent hire. But the most successful businesses don’t just react—they plan ahead.

This is where strategic hiring comes in. It’s not just about filling gaps; it’s about identifying opportunities to strengthen your team, future-proof your business, and bring in leaders who can drive transformation—not just tick boxes.

The Role of a Specialist Recruitment Partner

At Handley James, we work with SMEs across the manufacturing and chemical sectors to support these exact conversations. As a boutique agency, we take the time to understand not just the role you’re hiring for, but the wider context of your business.

Whether it’s mapping the market, advising on competitive packages, or identifying passive talent who could be perfect for your future plans, we’re here as an extension of your team.

You don’t need to do it alone—and you don’t need to wait until September.

Final Thoughts

The mid-year point is a moment of reflection—but it’s also a launchpad. With the right people in the right roles, the second half of the year could be your most productive yet.

If you’d like to explore how your leadership structure could better support your goals, or just need a sounding board on your hiring plans, we’re always happy to talk.