Matt Gunn

Primient – Talent Acquisition Business Partner Mar 2022 – July 2025 Privately owned ingredients and agricultural processing business spun out from Tate & Lyle, focused on sustainability, safety, and innovation within the food and industrial sectors. Key Achievements & Responsibilities Led full-cycle recruitment across diverse functions (manufacturing, operations, supply chain, R&D, and corporate) within US business units. Partnered strategically with senior leaders (Plant Managers, Functional Heads, HRBPs) on workforce planning, succession, and organisational design. Designed and implemented inclusive hiring frameworks, embedding best practice in job design, candidate pipelines, and assessment methods to support DE&I goals. Balanced high-volume manufacturing recruitment with specialist and senior-level searches across both Manufacturing and Corporate functions. Built robust talent pipelines through proactive sourcing, networking, and market mapping, reducing reliance on agencies. Mentored junior recruiters and coached hiring managers on interviewing, selection, and candidate engagement. Drove process improvements in ATS, onboarding, and compliance systems through cross-functional collaboration with HR, Operations, Legal, and IT.

Innovative global technology company specialising in consumer electronics, with a strong manufacturing footprint across the UK, Europe, and Southeast Asia. Key Achievements & Responsibilities Embedded recruitment partner to global technical teams (Manufacturing Engineering, Operations, Procurement, Electronics, Quality, PMO), aligning hiring with business and capacity planning. Supported senior leaders across multiple product categories (Floorcare, Environmental, Personal Care) with tailored recruitment strategies. Delivered full-spectrum hiring: high-volume technician/engineer recruitment through to niche, senior, and confidential searches in advanced product development and innovation. Spearheaded recruitment during critical business transformations, including redeployment of 600+ technical staff following the Dyson Automotive wind-down. Led urgent hiring for the Dyson ventilator project (CoVent) in response to COVID-19, placing engineers and manufacturing experts within 30 days. Advanced inclusive hiring by embedding bias mitigation into assessment design and outreach, in partnership with People & Culture teams. Mentored junior recruiters and upskilled hiring managers in candidate engagement, structured interviews, and market intelligence. Contributed to global talent process improvements, enhancing candidate experience, hiring manager training, and direct sourcing playbooks.

UK-based nuclear energy venture backed by Hitachi, aiming to build a new generation of nuclear power stations. Operated in a high-compliance, engineering-heavy, and start-up-like environment during pre-licensing and infrastructure planning phases. Key Achievements & Responsibilities Scaled specialist talent functions in a fast-paced start-up environment, building recruitment capability during rapid organisational growth and regulatory preparation. Delivered end-to-end recruitment for complex technical and regulated roles (e.g., Nuclear Safety Engineers, Reactor Design Specialists, Licensing Experts, Project Controls, Civil/Structural Engineering Leads). Partnered with programme directors, engineering heads, and compliance teams to define workforce plans and bespoke search strategies for confidential, highly regulated positions. Established a direct sourcing model that reduced agency reliance, cut time-to-fill, and improved candidate engagement for niche hiring. Designed, launched, and led Horizon’s first early careers programme (graduates & apprenticeships), from workforce planning and university engagement to assessment centres and onboarding. Collaborated with functional leads and L&D to align early careers programmes with long-term skills needs and regulatory requirements. Built the infrastructure for early careers recruitment, including policies, digital collateral, manager training, and reporting templates. Enhanced employer brand and STEM pipelines through school outreach and community engagement initiatives.

Global energy recruitment firm with strong presence in APAC. Key Achievements & Responsibilities Built and scaled the Drilling Engineering desk across Southeast Asia, placing specialist talent in Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Myanmar, Vietnam, and Singapore. Mentored junior recruiters and supported rapid office growth from 5 to 40+ consultants within 12 months. Negotiated global terms with major clients and strengthened relationships through regular regional stakeholder visits.

Specialist recruitment firm for financial services.

UK-based professional services recruiter supporting mid-large clients across multiple industries.