What are the current priorities for recruitment?
Our business is built on the exceptional skills of our manufacturing and engineering experts, very physical and demanding manual jobs that are increasingly difficult to fill. We’re always looking for talented HGV technicians and welding specialists, something which is becoming more and more critical as valuable members of our existing workforce begin to retire. While working on a refuse collection vehicle (RCV) is challenging, it is also incredibly rewarding, especially with such a visible product, so we’re working to emphasise the many advantages of being involved in these projects to try and appeal to more young people and get them onboard with our mission.
We’re also looking at how we can best support our existing expertise by offering them opportunities to upskill across disciplines through our new Technical Training Centre. Paired with this, we’re increasing the amount of early careers outreach we’re doing within the local community, strengthening our relationships with schools, colleges, and universities, as well as our apprenticeship partners such as Midland Group Training Services (MGTS) to try and be as proactive as possible when engaging with potential candidates.
How does Dennis Eagle support its apprentices?
We’re proud to have a strong cohort of 41 apprentices and counting, from apprentice HGV technicians to supply chain apprentices, stretching across all aspects of the business. We recently invited apprentices from all over the UK to join us at our new Technical Training Centre for a networking day which gave them the chance to meet their peers, hear from previous apprentices, explore our factory, and engage in a team-building exercise.
We’ve been running a highly successful apprenticeship programme for decades, with some of our apprentices having stayed on for many years. Some even celebrated their 40-year milestones with us in 2025. Several of our apprentices have won awards during their time at our factories for their exceptional work, further demonstrating their incredible impact on our business.
What opportunities are there for progression at Dennis Eagle?
A lot. This largely comes down to where we can identify areas for growth within the business, so wherever advantageous we offer significant support with training and upskilling opportunities thanks to the courses available from our Technical Training Centre.
We also have a funding levy available to help our existing employees build on their knowledge, hone their expertise, and broaden their experience through work-based qualifications. This covers multiple areas and disciplines including project management, finance, health and safety, mechanics, engineering, and many others. What’s more, Greenhouse (a system which acts as a central hub for recruitment) gives everyone visibility of the live vacancies across the entire Royal Terberg Group, opening doors they may not have previously considered.
We’re really passionate about helping people reach their full potential here.
Tell us about the trip to Westminster for apprentices?
We took three of our apprentices on a trip to the House of Lords in Westminster for a special showcase event hosted by SMMT. This gave them a good insight into the experiences of other apprentices from across the automotive industry, a deeper understanding of how apprenticeships are evolving within the sector, and even saw them enjoy a tour of the Houses of Parliament and the House of Lords as an added bonus.
Alice Walden
Business Recruitment Partner at Dennis Eagle UK
