The Testing, Inspection, and Certification (TIC) industry is one of the most vital — yet least understood — sectors powering global trade, public safety, and product innovation. For companies operating in highly regulated markets, TIC services ensure compliance, quality, and trust. But while the industry is growing fast, recruiting the right talent within TIC remains a challenge.

In this article, we break down what the TIC industry is, what’s driving its rapid expansion, and why hiring top talent in this space is more complex than it looks, all from the perspective of a specialist TIC recruiter.

What Is the Testing, Inspection & Certification (TIC) Industry?

At its core, the TIC industry is built around independent organizations that perform services essential for regulatory compliance, product safety, and market access. These services include:

  • Testing – validating product performance, durability, and safety
  • Inspection – auditing facilities, production processes, and systems
  • Certification – confirming that products or systems meet specific international or regional standards

The TIC industry is governed by frameworks such as the ISO 17000 series, which outlines how these activities should be conducted to ensure consistency and impartiality. Companies operating in sectors like aerospace, medical devices, consumer electronics, food and agriculture, and automotive all rely on TIC bodies to test and certify their products before they go to market.

From global certification giants to specialized calibration labs, TIC is the invisible infrastructure that ensures everyday products and systems are safe, legal, and reliable.

What’s Driving Growth in TIC Today?

The TIC sector is undergoing a significant expansion, driven by several global trends:

1. Tightening Regulatory Landscapes

As governments and regulators introduce more complex safety and environmental regulations, demand for third-party verification has skyrocketed. TIC firms are now critical partners in helping companies demonstrate compliance in rapidly evolving markets — especially across healthcare, manufacturing, pharma, and food safety.

2. Sectoral Innovation & Complexity

Industries like:

  • Electric Vehicles (EV)
  • Medical Devices
  • Consumer Electronics
  • Biotech & Agri-food

are becoming increasingly sophisticated. As product design becomes more advanced, the scope and complexity of testing and certification requirements also grows — requiring more specialized expertise from TIC bodies.

3. Digital Transformation

Digitalization is reshaping how testing and inspection services are delivered. Innovations such as:

  • Remote inspections
  • AI-assisted quality control
  • Data-driven certifications

are now emerging across TIC firms. This shift demands a new wave of tech-enabled leadership and technical specialists with both compliance understanding and digital fluency.

Why Is TIC Talent So Hard to Recruit?

Despite growing demand, TIC organizations face a real challenge: finding and retaining the right people. Here’s why:

1. Niche Skillsets

Roles like Test Engineers, Certification Managers, Regulatory Affairs Directors, and Quality Assurance Leads require highly specific knowledge, not just technical, but also regulatory and operational. Most of this talent doesn’t actively search for jobs, making passive sourcing and targeted headhunting essential.

2. Cross-Disciplinary Expertise

TIC professionals often need to operate at the intersection of engineering, science, legal compliance, and client-facing delivery. Finding candidates who possess that rare combination is difficult through traditional recruitment channels.

3. Lack of Awareness

Unlike tech or finance, the TIC industry isn’t widely recognized among jobseekers — even though it’s essential to nearly every sector. This makes attracting younger or cross-industry talent even more difficult.

4. Leadership Shortages

With many experienced professionals retiring or moving into adjacent industries (like CROs or digital quality firms), there’s a growing leadership vacuum in TIC. Companies need help building succession plans and sourcing future-ready leaders.

How a Specialized Recruiter Can Help

Hiring in the TIC space isn’t just about filling a vacancy — it’s about understanding the regulatory environment, knowing where talent sits, and using smart strategies to reach it.

At Velocity Talent, we specialize in recruiting executive, technical, and commercial leadership for:

  • Calibration labs
  • Product testing and certification bodies
  • CROs & CDMOs
  • Scientific instrumentation companies
  • Medical labs and diagnostics organizations

With over 13 years of industry insight and 100+ successful leadership placements, we know how to speak the language of both compliance and growth — helping TIC firms secure the talent they need to thrive in a changing world.

Final Thoughts

The TIC industry will continue to grow as global regulation tightens, technology evolves, and industries demand ever-more-accurate testing and compliance. But that growth depends on having the right talent in place — leaders who can bridge the technical, operational, and regulatory demands of the sector.

If you’re struggling to find your next game-changer in TIC, it’s time to work with a recruitment partner who lives and breathes the industry.

Ready to recruit smarter in TIC?

Connect with James Smethurst and the team at Velocity Talent – the UK’s #1 executive search firm for Testing, Inspection & Certification leadership.
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