The Recruitment Agency That
Tells You What's Actually Possible
Howard James Recruitment places Secretarial, Administration, Finance, IT, Engineering, Sales, HR, and Marketing professionals across the UK. We work fast, we're honest about the market, and we don't waste your time with candidates that don't fit.
Howard James Recruitment — At a Glance
Permanent, contract, interim and executive recruitment across commercial and professional sectors
Finance, IT, Engineering, Sales, HR, Marketing, Cyber Security, Supply Chain, Property & Construction
Manchester, Birmingham, London, Leeds, Liverpool, Chester, Crewe, Northwich, Knutsford, Wilmslow and more
SMEs, growing businesses, and large employers across the UK — plus professionals at all career levels
A Recruitment Agency That Works the Way Your Business Actually Needs
Howard James Recruitment is a multi-sector recruitment agency with offices across the UK. We work with businesses of all sizes — from ambitious SMEs building their first finance team to large employers running complex, multi-hire programmes.
What sets us apart isn't a list of services. It's the way we work. Our consultants are sector-specific, not generalists. They know their markets, they know the candidates, and they'll tell you what's realistic rather than just what you want to hear.
Whether you need a permanent hire, a contract professional, or an executive-level search, we have the network, the process, and the expertise to deliver — across finance, IT, engineering, sales, HR, marketing, cyber security, supply chain, property and construction.
Fast shortlists, properly qualified
We move quickly without cutting corners. Every candidate we put forward has been spoken to, screened, and genuinely assessed against your brief.
Sector specialists, not generalists
Our consultants recruit within defined disciplines. That means deeper candidate networks, better market knowledge, and stronger placements.
Honest conversations, not sales pitches
We'll tell you when a salary is too low, when a role will be difficult to fill, and when the market has shifted. That honesty saves time and makes for better outcomes.
Local knowledge across the UK
With offices from Manchester to London and Birmingham, we combine national reach with genuine local market understanding.
Support for Employers and Candidates Across the UK
For Employers
Finding the right person takes more than posting a job. We run targeted searches, pre-qualify every candidate, and only send CVs we'd genuinely stand behind. You get quality, speed, and market context — not a stack of irrelevant applications.
- Permanent, contract, interim and executive recruitment
- Sector-specific consultants who know your market
- Full candidate screening before any CV reaches you
- Salary benchmarking and honest market advice
- Retained, contingency and RPO models available
- High-volume hiring solutions for rapid scaling
For Candidates
The best roles don't always appear on job boards. We give you access to opportunities that are unadvertised, alongside honest career advice and real support throughout the process — not just a CV submission and radio silence.
- Access to exclusive, unadvertised roles across the UK
- CV advice and honest feedback on your market positioning
- Interview preparation and offer negotiation support
- Guidance on salary expectations in your sector
- Regular contact — you'll always know where you stand
- Career advice tailored to your discipline and goals
Specialist Recruitment Across 12 Sectors
Our consultants recruit within defined disciplines — not across everything at once. That depth of focus means stronger candidate networks, sharper market insight, and better placements for both employers and candidates.
Accountancy & Finance
Part-qualified to FD level across industry and practice
💻IT & Technology
Developers, infrastructure, data, cloud and IT management
⚙️Engineering & Manufacturing
Mechanical, electrical, production and process engineering
📈Sales & Commercial
BDMs, account managers, heads of sales and commercial directors
🤝Human Resources
HR business partners, advisors, talent acquisition and L&D
🎯Marketing, Creative & PR
Digital, content, brand, communications and creative roles
🔐Cyber Security
Security analysts, architects, penetration testers and CISOs
🔗Procurement & Supply Chain
Buyers, planners, logistics managers and supply chain directors
🏦Insurance & Financial Services
Underwriters, brokers, IFAs and wealth management professionals
📋Business Support & Admin
PAs, EAs, office managers and business support professionals
🏢Facilities Management
FM managers, contracts managers and building services professionals
🏗️Property & Construction
Project managers, quantity surveyors, site managers and developers
What Makes Us Different From Other UK Recruitment Agencies
There are a lot of recruitment agencies in the UK. Here's what we actually do differently — not what we say we do differently.
We only recruit in sectors we know
Our consultants don't switch between finance one week and IT the next. They build deep expertise in one area, which means better candidate quality and more credible market advice for clients and candidates alike.
We tell you what the market actually looks like
If your salary is below market rate, we'll tell you. If a role is going to be harder to fill than you expect, we'll say so upfront. That honesty saves everyone time and leads to better hiring decisions.
We qualify candidates properly before you see them
Every CV we send represents a candidate we've actually spoken to and assessed. We don't forward applications. We put forward people we'd genuinely recommend — with context on why they're right for the role.
We work at the pace the market demands
The best candidates don't wait around. Our processes are built to move quickly — from brief to shortlist — without sacrificing the quality of the search. Speed and thoroughness aren't mutually exclusive.
We have genuine local market knowledge
With offices across the UK, our consultants know their local hiring markets. We understand commuter patterns, salary expectations by region, and which employers candidates are most likely to consider — and most likely to leave.
We stay involved beyond the offer stage
A placement isn't finished when an offer is accepted. We stay in contact through notice periods and early employment to make sure the hire sticks — for the benefit of both the employer and the candidate.
Recruitment Offices Across the UK
We combine national reach with genuine local market knowledge. Our consultants are based in the areas they recruit across — which means real insight into local salary conditions, commuter patterns, and employer expectations.
Visit our branch network page to find your nearest office and get in touch directly.
Let's Have a Straight-Talking Conversation
Whether you're a business with a role to fill or a professional ready for your next move, we'd rather spend five minutes on the phone than have you fill in a form. Tell us what you need and we'll tell you what's possible.