Keeping it local with Carveco

Every company has its non-negotiables when it comes to hiring for their teams. We worked closely with Carveco to understand theirs and how this impacted delivery.

Who are Carveco?

Software for creative makers - made by creative makers.

Delivering their solutions to a customer base ranging from amateur hobbyists looking to venture into CAD and CNC engineering for the first time, through to more experienced commercial settings - their software products and tools help everyone to get to that next level.

The products are easy-to-use yet immensely powerful. The tools included in Carveco's software portfolio givethe likes of sign-makers, woodworkers, engravers, jewellers (and countless other creatives) the freedom to design and manufacture high-quality 2D or 3D products from their artwork. Not only that, but now they can do it faster than they’d ever thought possible.

A Collaborative Journey to Find Talent That Fits

When Carveco, a leader in design and manufacturing software, approached Applause IT, they weren’t just looking to fill roles. They needed specialists—C++ engineers with the technical capability to innovate and the cultural alignment to thrive in their close-knit team.

Over two successful hiring rounds, Applause IT delivered exactly that, helping Carveco secure exceptional talent, including senior software engineers and a technical project manager. This is the story of how our partnership turned a hiring challenge into a long-term success story.

The Challenge: Niche Technical Hiring Without Sacrificing Culture

Carveco’s software empowers artisans and manufacturers across the globe to bring intricate designs to life. But developing such cutting-edge solutions requires a team with rare technical skills and a creative mindset.

Carveco’s challenges were twofold:

Specialist Roles in a Niche Market: Finding candidates with expertise in software engineering who also shared a passion for craftsmanship.

Cultural Alignment: Identifying individuals who could seamlessly integrate into their dynamic and collaborative environment which meant being on-site with their team in Balsall Common, about 30 minutes from Birmingham city centre.

With the market for technical talent more competitive than ever, Carveco needed a partner who truly understood their industry—and their unique culture.

The Approach: More Than Recruitment, A True Partnership

We started by going beyond job specs, gaining a deep understanding of Carveco’s culture, workflows, and long-term vision. This knowledge guided every step of the hiring process.

By leveraging our extensive network of tech professionals and applying a tailored sourcing strategy, we uncovered candidates who excelled both technically in C++ and culturally. Regular touchpoints with Carveco’s leadership ensured we remained aligned and agile. Feedback loops allowed us to refine the process in real time, ensuring a seamless and efficient journey from search to hire.

We didn’t just sell the roles; we told Carveco’s story to prospective candidates, ensuring they understood and connected with the company’s mission and values.

At Applause IT, we believe great hiring is more than matching skills to job descriptions. It’s about understanding a company’s DNA and finding candidates who not only fit but flourish.

Here’s how we tackled the challenge:

Immersing Ourselves in Carveco’s World
A Strategic Search for Top Talent
Collaborative Communication
Showcasing Carveco’s Employer Brand

The Results: Laying the Foundations for Future Growth

In the first hiring phase, we successfully placed C++ software engineers who brought immediate value to Carveco’s projects. These individuals not only met technical expectations but also quickly became integral members of the team.

Following this success, Carveco returned for a second wave of hiring. This time, there was a different focus: senior roles and a key leadership position needed to be filled. Once again, we delivered, securing:

Two Senior C++ Software Engineers with the expertise to lead innovation.
A Technical Project Manager to drive key initiatives forward.

The result? A stronger, more cohesive team positioned for long-term success and a strong foundation that in time will support the growth of lesser experienced staff who can learn from their colleagues who are now up to speed.

We caught up with their Software Development Manager to find out more.

How long have you been working with Applause IT for?

Since May 2023

What type of roles have Applause IT partnered on?

C++ Software Engineer roles, both graduate level and more experienced. More recently, they have also helped us to hire a Technical Project Manager.

In general, what are the most important features you look for from your agency partners?

In our initial search for a recruitment partner, we looked for good communication, specialism in C++ software engineering and local knowledge/presence. Applause were by far the most proactive in engaging with us and had consultants focused on the type of roles we were recruiting for.

What is it about our service that you like about working with Applause IT?

Patience and perseverance finding candidates that suited, particularly as these was our first open hiring process for the development team, so we were learning our priorities and adapting as we went. George was able to adapt to changes in our brief and help us understand the market.

The communication was also great: we had weekly catchups with George / Alex, interviews were scheduled efficiently, and both we and the candidates were kept well informed.

How do you see the market for hiring for Carveco and in general in the next 12 months?

We’re a small company growing quickly, and I expect we’ll be hiring more software engineers soon in other specialisms.

Client Testimonial

"Alex is a helpful, informed, engaged recruitment consultant who is brilliant to deal with. He puts me to shame to be honest - I'd like to be that organised!"

Technical Director

From our Perspective

We caught up with Alex Pitts who looks after our relationship with CarveCo. Building on an expertise in C++ and embedded software engineering - he's clearly excited to help in the future across a wider scope of technical and digital vacancies.

Working with CarveCo has been enjoyable as well as challenging. As the first agency they have worked with, we have had to tweak the recruitment process as we went along to find the best arrangement for both of us. As all companies do, they had their non-negotiables when it came to candidate expectations - so we worked with them to identify other areas where they would need to be more flexible in order to find that perfect team member.

I would say that the open and transparent feedback between us, is why the partnership has been so successful.

Alex Pitts - Recruitment Consultant