Best 13 Construction Recruiters in the UK
Discover the British top construction recruiters & headhunters, ranked for their expertise in sourcing the best talent and driving success in the industry. ↓
The construction recruitment landscape in the UK has evolved over the years, driven by leaders who specialize in connecting top-tier talent with industry giants. These recruitment professionals have made their mark by offering personalized services, fostering innovation in hiring practices, and delivering high-quality candidates to the sector’s most influential players.
Below is a curated and ranked list of the best construction recruiters in the UK, recognized for their expertise, industry impact, and ability to source and place top-level talent in both traditional and emerging construction markets.
- James Sanders
- James Hughes
- Keeley Davis
- Duncan Bullimore
- Tessa Hollingworth
- Aaron George
- Simon Harris
- Jim Sloan
- Mark Goldsmith
- Chris Peace
- Darren McVicker
- Steve Thomas
- Martyn Makinson
Below we provide more detailed profiles of each recruiter.
James Sanders
James is the founder and managing director of PSR Solutions, which he launched in 2005 to provide “personalised recruitment services” to the construction industry. Under James’s leadership, PSR grew from a Midlands start-up into a nationwide construction recruiter with £65m+ turnover and multiple offices.
He is celebrated for his hands-on leadership and a keen eye for quality – values that have earned PSR awards (including making the Recruiter Hot 100 list). With a background at Hill McGlynn prior to PSR, James brought deep industry knowledge and a vast network, enabling him to supply many of the UK’s top contractors with skilled staff. His philosophy of “quality-driven, bespoke service” still guides PSR’s approach today.
- LinkedIn: James Sanders
James Hughes
James is the co-founder and MD of Sphere Solutions Ltd, which he established in 2005 in Cardiff and grew into a leading construction recruitment consultancy in Wales. With a background at Hill McGlynn, James brought veteran experience to his venture, transforming Sphere into a firm with multiple offices and an enviable client list across residential, commercial, and civil engineering sectors.
He’s praised for combining big-agency expertise with local knowledge, making Sphere a top choice in Wales and the South West. James has 25+ years in construction recruitment and remains very hands-on – known for personally nurturing client relationships and mentoring his recruiting team.
His leadership has been crucial in Sphere’s consistent growth and industry recognition (the company has won regional business awards for its service).
- LinkedIn: James Hughes
Keeley Davis
Keeley is one of the UK’s top-billing construction recruitment consultants, having risen from trainee to Director over 19 years with Fawkes & Reece. Specializing in senior appointments (civils, building, housebuilding), she developed a reputation for excellence – even becoming an award-winning permanent recruiter during her consultancy years.
Keeley now leads a business unit of 50+ consultants and heads Fawkes & Reece’s executive search division. Her success is attributed to a passionate, honest approach and deep sector knowledge, which earns her the trust of both candidates and major contractors. Having personally placed numerous directors and managers in construction firms, she’s considered a go-to recruiter for high-level roles.
- LinkedIn: Keeley Davis
Duncan Bullimore
Duncan oversees Hays’ construction and property recruitment business across the UK, providing strategic leadership to over 400 specialist consultants. A veteran who joined Hays in 1994, Duncan has decades of experience connecting top construction talent with Britain’s building industry.
Under his guidance, Hays Construction & Property has become the sector’s largest recruitment team with unmatched geographic coverage. He is regarded as one of the best due to his longevity and ability to adapt Hays’ services to the industry’s evolving needs – from boom times to Brexit uncertainty – all while delivering consistent results. Duncan frequently shares insights via articles and industry events, positioning Hays at the forefront of construction hiring trends.
- LinkedIn: Duncan Bullimore
Tessa Hollingworth
Tessa leads Randstad’s construction, property & engineering recruitment arm in the UK, heading a team of about 200 staffing specialists nationwide. With 22+ years’ experience across various recruitment sectors, Tessa is known for her inclusive, supportive leadership style and her push for innovation in tackling clients’ hiring challenges.
She recently took the helm at Randstad CPE and has been instrumental in driving initiatives around diversity and flexible work in construction hiring. Tessa’s proven track record includes building high-performing teams and delivering talent to some of the UK’s largest infrastructure and building projects. Her peers regard her as a top recruiter for combining big-agency resources with a personal, partnership-based approach to clients.
- LinkedIn: Tessa Hollingworth
Aaron George
People-centric recruitment is the key to building long-term relationships and aligning with industry trends.
Aaron co-founded Amida in 2009 as a values-driven recruitment agency for the construction, engineering & property sectors. He remains Managing Director and owner, steering Amida’s growth across the UK and internationally (with offices also in Asia-Pacific). Aaron is highly regarded for his people-centric approach – he’s described as “a solid recruitment partner” with great understanding of both candidates and clients.
Under his leadership, Amida has built a strong reputation in sustainable construction and consultancy recruitment, aligning with modern industry trends (like green building and infrastructure development). Aaron’s focus on quality and long-term relationships has made him a trusted advisor to many construction firms seeking talent.
He’s also active in sharing industry insights, reflecting his status as one of the leading voices in UK construction recruitment.
- LinkedIn: Aaron George
Simon Harris
Simon is an industry leader in construction recruitment, recently appointed as MD of Skilled Careers to drive its next stage of growth. He has an extensive track record of delivering innovation and scaling recruitment businesses in construction, property, and engineering. Prior to Skilled Careers, Simon spent years at a major firm (Randstad CPE), where he honed his expertise in placing technical professionals.
Colleagues describe him as a strategic thinker with a talent for building high-performing teams. At Skilled Careers, Simon is charged with taking the company to “leading agency” status, and his wealth of experience and vision have been hailed as a significant asset. Known for fostering a culture of excellence and mentorship, Simon has earned respect as one of the best recruitment minds in the built environment.
- LinkedIn: Simon Harris
Jim Sloan
Jim is the founder and CEO of Navartis, a specialist recruitment firm he started in 2006 that focuses on the infrastructure and civil engineering sectors. Under Jim’s guidance, Navartis has become a prominent player in rail, power, and construction recruitment, even expanding internationally.
He has been recognized for modernizing recruitment in these technical fields – Navartis emphasizes innovative sourcing techniques and industry expertise. Jim’s leadership saw Navartis named among the London Stock Exchange’s “1000 Companies to Inspire Britain” in 2020. He also isn’t afraid to grow via acquisitions (e.g. Navartis acquired Project Resource in 2023 to expand in white-collar construction roles).
Known for his entrepreneurial drive, Jim has built Navartis into one of the UK’s top infrastructure recruitment firms.
- LinkedIn: Jim Sloan
Mark Goldsmith
Mark is a specialist headhunter who for over 21 years has focused on executive recruitment in construction and building products. With 25+ years in recruitment overall, Mark has become the go-to executive search consultant for construction materials companies and contractors seeking senior talent.
He leads Collingwood’s Building Products & Construction practice, delivering C-suite and director-level hires globally. Mark is known for his consultative approach – he deeply understands clients’ business needs and has a knack for finding leaders who are the right cultural fit. Testimonials speak to his thoroughness, integrity, and ability to build strong partnerships.
Mark’s long success in this niche and the glowing recommendations from candidates and clients alike make him one of the UK’s top construction executive recruiters.
- LinkedIn: Mark Goldsmith
Chris Peace
Chris founded Peace Recruitment in 2009, growing it from a one-man startup to a leading Scottish construction and property recruitment agency. Until 2022, he served as Managing Director, building a multi-million-pound business renowned for its consultative service. Chris is celebrated for offering a more value-added, transparent approach in an industry sometimes known for hard sales.
He’s openly “commercially astute” and dedicated to continuous improvement – qualities that helped Peace Recruitment win numerous clients and awards in Scotland’s construction sector. In 2021, Chris orchestrated a management buyout of his company, selling it to his senior team in a successful succession move.
This achievement, along with his industry engagement (podcast appearances, mentoring), cements his reputation as one of the top recruiters in construction.
- LinkedIn: Chris Peace
Darren McVicker
Darren has been Founder and Managing Director of Vickerstock since 2008, building it into one of Northern Ireland’s top construction and engineering recruitment agencies. With a career starting in 2000, Darren is experienced in scaling teams and companies – he took Vickerstock from a small consultancy to a multi-sector firm with specializations in construction, food manufacturing, and more.
In the construction space, he and his team are known for placing talent on multi-million-pound projects across Ireland and the UK. Darren’s strengths lie in forging deep local networks and a no-nonsense approach to matching candidates with the right roles. He is also active in industry groups and business networks in NI.
Clients frequently return to Vickerstock due to Darren’s reputation for confidentiality and quality service in a market as tight-knit as Northern Ireland’s construction sector.
- LinkedIn: Darren McVicker
Steve Thomas
Steve is an executive search and construction recruitment specialist with over 25 years’ experience. As UK Director at Maxim Recruitment, Steve has helped place hundreds of professionals in construction, engineering, and in particular construction claims/consultancy roles. He manages Maxim’s operations in the UK and Canada, demonstrating a rare global expertise in built environment recruitment.
Steve’s success comes from deep technical knowledge (he recruits quantity surveyors, project managers, claims consultants etc.) and a reputation for integrity and straight-talking advice. He frequently shares career tips via Maxim’s blog and has become a voice of authority on construction recruitment in both the UK and overseas. Steve is also credited with guiding Maxim to industry accolades (the firm is an award-winning specialist agency).
His longevity and specialized skillset make him one of the UK’s top construction recruiters, especially in the consultancy realm.
- LinkedIn: Steve Thomas
Martyn Makinson
Martyn founded Ionic Recruitment in 2010, bravely launching the business in the middle of the last recession. He not only steered Ionic through those tough early years, but achieved ~40% annual growth thereafter.
Martyn set out to differentiate Ionic with a fresh brand and friendly approach – avoiding the cliché “men in hard hats” imagery and instead giving the firm a more approachable personality. This strategy paid off: today Ionic is a successful construction and housing recruitment agency known for quality service in the North West.
Martyn remains unsatisfied with status quo – he constantly looks to do more, which includes training young recruiters (he famously hired apprentices who grew into top consultants).
-
LinkedIn: Martyn Makinson
Sum up
These top recruiters have played a pivotal role in shaping the PropTech industry, skillfully sourcing high-level executives, fostering digital innovation, and leading the charge into emerging real estate tech markets. However, working directly with these leaders can be difficult due to their high demand and premium fees.
An effective alternative is partnering with EchoGlobal. With our extensive industry knowledge and global network, we streamline the process of connecting you with the right PropTech talent to fuel your growth.
Note: We’ve dedicated significant time and effort to creating and verifying this curated list of top professionals. However, if you believe a correction or addition is needed, feel free to reach out. We’ll gladly review and update the page.
Lou Reverchuk