Isabelle Knight, Packaging Journalist recently interviewed Barry Harding, Managing Director regarding the notable expansion of Blayze Unguem’s presence across the Packaging arena;

“People in Packaging”

Isabelle Knight, Packaging Journalist

As a fourth generation ‘Knight’ involved in the Print and Packaging Industries, Isabelle truly has ink in her blood, choosing to combine this with her passion for journalism after graduating from Imperial College London.

With discussions and insight ranging from new technology, legislative changes and challenges, personnel and training, sector developments and opportunities, she communicates and corresponds with a breadth of influential and visionary individuals and seeks to generally enhance the current mood and climate within both the Packaging and Print Industry.

Barry Harding, MD, Blayze Unguem

Having spent 15 years in Sales & Marketing leadership roles in the Electronics, Automotive, Leisure & Tourism, Banking and Media Industries, Barry took on the challenge of stepping into the Print arena in the late 1990’s, when he was approached to join an ambitious Commercial Print organisation just as it was acquiring and integrating a long established Web Offset Business.

They were bold enough to accept that traditional print sales methodology had to change and in the next three and a half years, they refocussed and repositioned the Business, driving growth by over 50% to nearly £24M.

Read the interview between Isabelle and Barry below…

What led you to turn to Print & Packaging Recruitment?

Having worked with numerous well-known ‘Recruiters’ during my tenure as Sales Director, it was evident to me that few in the Recruitment Business had a true working appreciation of the Print & Packaging Industry, it’s challenges, demands, responsibilities and it’s staffing requirements.

I could see the need to create an Agency with a profound and genuinely deep understanding of the Print & Packaging Business and a far more professional approach to delivering value in an important industry. Understanding the Print & Packaging Industry and providing an unparalleled professional service was always the value proposition for Blayze Unguem and it remains so today.

Over recent years, what is the biggest change you have seen in Packaging?

The Packaging Industry continues to expand and diversify, presenting increased demands on specialised employee skills and experience in order to deliver Business growth and market aspirations. Emerging opportunities aligned with Businesses designing and discovering innovative ways of staying ahead of the competition have been supported with significant investment in new digital technology, accessing new geographic markets and hiring new sources of talent.

One key revolution has been the changing habits of today’s consumers. Business owners within the Packaging Industry are continuing to innovate in order to keep up with their shifting demands, but also to stay ahead of their competition. These changes, paired with the new technology means that in today’s marketplace there are greater opportunities for Packaging Companies to be more imaginative and original than they have ever been before.

Have these Industry changes affected how Blayze Unguem operates?

In order to provide and deliver a comprehensive range of experienced and accomplished professionals to our partnered Client relationships, Blayze Unguem have recently significantly expanded our presence in the Packaging sector via investments in technology and a depth of Packaging Industry experience within our Consulting team.

Aligned with my experience and ethos, the Blayze Unguem team possess highly relevant Packaging Industry experience, both in former practical exposure and recruitment/budgetary responsibility. More so than before, it is vital that we understand the people, the cultures, the skillsets and the challenges associated within this ever changing and evolving Industry.

What skills are Businesses in the Packaging Industry looking for today?

There are numerous external influences affecting the Packaging Industry, meaning that Packaging Professionals of today and the future require an enhanced and broadly tuned attitude and wider skillset.

The current demand for Packaging Professionals is very high and at Blayze Unguem we are currently experiencing strong yet more focussed requests for Professional Sales, Customer Service, World Class Manufacturing and Technical Development Professionals.

Why should Packaging Businesses use a specialist Recruitment Agency?

As a specialist Head-hunter and Business Consultancy, Blayze Unguem provides an unparalleled ability to source and deliver the best talent that is otherwise unseen or un-approached and at the same time we work tirelessly with our Clients in helping them retain their greatest assets.

Over the last decade, Blayze Unguem’s Packaging Division has built extensive experience of delivering in a market where there is a limited resource pool and diverse levels of specialisation. We have an unmatched and in-depth knowledge of the Packaging Industry and more importantly, a true understanding of the difficulties historically facing the Clients when trying to achieve their requirements and this enables us to continually deliver effective solutions.

Blayze Unguem’s Consultants come from a highly evolved Packaging Industry or Professional Search background, and have extensive operational or recruitment experience specifically within this sector, meaning that we understand the challenges our Clients face and therefore the Business and subtle cultural nuances of the personnel that are required.

When you partner with Blayze Unguem we work tirelessly in your best interests, matching exceptional personnel from Chief Executives through to the Factory Floor and supporting you with value added services that you just can’t acquire elsewhere. I and all my Colleagues are passionate about forming long term relationships with both Clients and Candidates, where we can deliver value time and again.

What recruitment methods are you using to find the people you need for your Clients?

Our prime focus is on delivery within a professional search environment, ensuring we continually source outstanding talent for Businesses in the most effective manner. During our relationship with the Client and critically throughout the whole process, we adopt a confidential approach to the market. We always conduct Business via an open and engaged relationship and in a highly communicative way across multiple channels.

The three essential services that we provide are:

• Contingent Recruitment
• Partnered Contingent Recruitment (Exclusive Assignment)
• Executive Search (Retained Selection)

We focus on identifying the highest calibre Candidates in the market, usually in the top 20 percentile of professionals within their chosen vertical market disciplines. Our market maps are continually evolving and updated to allow us to pinpoint the most relevant talent across the active and passive Candidate market.

Why should Packaging Businesses or Packaging Professionals choose Blayze Unguem?

Simply because we work with the best to find the best, so whether as a Business you seek the best your budget can engage, or as a Candidate you seek the best opportunity in the Sector to match your skillset and aspirations, Blayze Unguem confidentially provides the most focussed, confidential and effective access to the best the market has to offer.

Please contact Justin, Chloe or Terry, on packaging@blayze-unguem.com or on 0345 11 22 828 for a confidential discussion regarding how our service can help you enhance the strength and performance of your Business…whether it’s ‘from the bottom up’ or indeed ‘the top down’, we look forward to speaking to you in greater detail.