Birmingham is home to some of the UK’s most dynamic recruiters – professionals who connect top talent with opportunity while shaping the city’s job market. Here are ten individuals who stand out for their expertise, leadership and impact.
1. Saira Demmer
Saira leads SF Recruitment, one of the Midlands’ largest specialist agencies, and has been credited with steering its significant growth and innovative culture.
Under her leadership, SF Recruitment was named “Recruitment Agency of the Year 2024” at the Recruiter Awards, beating out larger national firms. Judges praised SF’s ability to “buck the trend” with consecutive years of revenue and profit growth. Saira herself is a visible industry voice – she is an Oxford graduate and Women in Leadership honoree known for championing workplace flexibility and employee well-being
2. Nicholas Hopkins
Nicholas is an Associate Director at VIQU, a tech recruitment agency headquartered in Birmingham.
He earned national recognition by winning “Most Inspiring Team Leader/Manager” at the Recruiter Investing in Talent Awards. This award highlighted Nick’s mentorship and high success rates in placing IT contractors. During the COVID-19 crisis, he spearheaded an initiative that placed 260+ volunteer tech staff into the NHS, reflecting his passion for impactful recruitment. Colleagues praise Nicholas for his proactive and honest approach, making him “everything a top recruiter should be.
3. Rebecca Simkiss
Rebecca is the co-founder and joint MD of SimkissGuy Recruitment, a multi-award-winning Birmingham agency specializing in office support recruitment.
Birmingham-born and bred, Rebecca has become “one of the most well-respected authorities on recruitment solutions in the West Midlands” known for her integrity and community work. She was recognized as a finalist for Service Industries Entrepreneur of the Year (Great British Entrepreneur Awards) for scaling SimkissGuy and her philanthropic initiatives. A former chair of Birmingham Future and ambassador for local charities, Rebecca is lauded as an “inspiring businesswoman and a beacon for change” in the region.
4. Tony Gleeson
Tony is a co-founder of Gleeson Recruitment Group, one of Birmingham’s most successful independent recruitment agencies.
Since its launch in 2011, Gleeson has expanded from a 15-person startup to “one of the largest independent recruitment agencies in the UK” with offices in multiple cities. Tony and his co-founders built the firm on a culture of trust and integrity, prioritizing people over sheer KPIs. This approach paid off – Gleeson was recognized as the UK’s “best recruitment company to work for 2023” (per Best Companies rankings).
Tony Gleeson has built a reputation over nearly three decades in fintech recruitment, IT, HR and beyond. His focus on creating a collaborative, people-first culture has not only driven business success but also earned his firm multiple industry awards.
5. Verity Stokes
Verity is Director of Katie Bard, a Birmingham-based division of Angela Mortimer Plc specializing in office support recruitment.
With over 20 years at the firm, Verity has helped thousands of PAs, EAs and graduates find roles. She’s known for her insightful grasp of candidate motivations – for instance, she spearheaded the Blue Book employment market survey, noting the “surprising” rise of ethics and CSR as top criteria for Midlands jobseekers. Verity frequently shares expertise on hiring trends: she’s quoted on how employers must align with candidates’ values to win talent. Having been with Katie Bard since the start of her career, Verity is highly respected by clients and colleagues for her honest advice and dedication to raising standards in recruitment.
6. Scarlett Allen-Horton
Scarlett is a multi-award-winning executive headhunter and founder of Harper Fox Partners, an executive search firm in Solihull (Greater Birmingham).
A finalist on BBC’s The Apprentice in 2019, Scarlett secured Lord Sugar as a business partner and has since scaled Harper Fox into a seven-figure enterprise. She is celebrated for her work in placing senior leaders in the STEM and industrial sectors, with a strong emphasis on diversity and inclusion. Scarlett’s achievements have been featured in The Times and BBC News, and she was invited as a guest speaker at the 2025 Solihull Business Awards. Her influence extends beyond recruitment – she champions women in leadership and serves as an Equality, Diversity & Inclusion advisor and awards judge. With her high profile and track record (including being named one of the UK’s most inspiring recruiters), Scarlett Allen-Horton is a standout figure in the executive search arena.
7. Andrew Sweeney
Andrew is the long-serving co-founder and former CEO of The Best Connection, a major Birmingham-area staffing firm specializing in industrial and driving recruitment.
He helped start the company in 1991 and led it for over 25 years, expanding it into one of the UK’s top 10 staffing providers. The Best Connection, headquartered in Bromsgrove, now has a network of over 80 branches nationwide. Andrew’s leadership philosophy focused on local branch autonomy and excellent client service, which drove the firm’s rapid growth. In 2014, he and co-founder Neil Yorke were honored with a Recruitment International Lifetime Achievement award. Even after stepping back from day-to-day management, Sweeney remains the company’s Lifetime President, providing strategic guidance. His enduring influence and the thousands of jobs filled by The Best Connection under his tenure cement his reputation as one of the Midlands’ most successful recruitment executives.
8. Matt Ellis
Matt is the founder and CEO of Executive Network Group, a cluster of specialist recruitment brands headquartered in Birmingham (and part of Pertemps Network Group).
In 2000, at just 25, Matt launched ENG to focus on critical hire recruitment in niche sectors like Health & Safety, HR, and Procurement. Over the past two decades, he has grown it into a multi-practice group while staying hands-on. Guided by his mantra of “Making Recruitment Better”, Matt emphasizes innovation, data-driven hiring, and a strong internal culture. Under his leadership, ENG has earned industry awards, delivered on complex senior mandates, and produced future recruitment leaders – cementing his status as a key figure in Birmingham’s executive search community.
9. Paul Alekna
Paul is the co-founder and CEO of Workforce Staffing (formerly eResponse), a fast-growing Midlands recruitment and training firm headquartered near Birmingham.
He and his brother Joe started the business in 2003, initially to supply manufacturing and driving staff in Worcestershire. Under Paul’s vision, Workforce has expanded to 9 branches (including Birmingham and Coventry) and now places candidates across industrial, logistics, FMCG and professional sectors. The company’s rise has been notable – Workforce now employs over 100 internal staff and handles tens of thousands of job applications a year. Paul has been recognized for modernizing the candidate experience through technology and in-house training academies, while prioritizing employee development. Workforce has won awards for customer service and been listed in the Midlands Growth 100. Described by colleagues as an inspirational leader and dynamic public speaker, Paul Alekna has firmly established Workforce as one of Birmingham’s top recruitment firms.
10. Rob Markwell
Rob founded Pitch Consultants in 2007, turning it into a leading marketing, PR and creative recruitment agency in Birmingham.
With a background in marketing recruitment, Rob built Pitch with a focus on the creative industries and a mantra of being true brand ambassadors for clients. His tailored approach quickly gained traction. He won the Birmingham Young Professional of the Year Award in the HR & Recruitment category, while his co-founder Ollie earned the same honor in 2009. Under Rob’s leadership, Pitch became known for integrity and quality, supported by initiatives like the “Pitch Talks” podcast. In recent years, Rob has shifted his focus to digital health recruitment, but Pitch Consultants remains a leading player in the Midlands, guided by the values he established.
Summary
These recruiters represent the best of Birmingham’s talent scene. Whether guiding careers or helping businesses grow, they continue to set the standard for recruitment excellence across the region.
This research was compiled by EchoGlobal as part of our ongoing commitment to highlighting outstanding talent in the recruitment industry.