REC Awards 2025 showcased best of recruitment in demanding year for the sector

Recruiters who went above and beyond in a challenging year for the sector and economy were celebrated at the REC Awards 2025, held last night (Thursday). This included firms which have helped career returners into jobs, the homeless get ready for work and provided training for people who are Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEETs).

The Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) stages the REC Awards annually to celebrate excellence and resilience in the recruitment sector.

The award entries and attendees are all members of the REC, which is the voice of the recruitment industry.

The Minister for Social Security and Disability, Rt Hon. Sir Stephen Timms MP attended the event.

REC Chief Executive Neil Carberry said:

“The REC Awards celebrate a profession that is central to the prosperity of the UK, contributing more than £40 billion directly to the economy every year and enabling billions more. But we also make a big contribution to addressing challenges in society – and it is so good to take time to celebrate those stories on a night like the Awards. The night was a celebration of people and firms who have stood up to headwinds this year and their successful approach should inspire others to make 2026 a big year.”

Lifetime Achievement Award

Kate Allen (pictured above holding award next to REC's Neil Carberry and the host, British comedian and writer Sophie Duker), Executive Chair and Marketing Director at Allen Associates, collected the Lifetime Achievement Award. Kate founded Allen Associates in 1998 with her husband Rob. She has worked in recruitment since the early 1980s, starting her career on a ‘very busy temps desk’ in London. Kate feels the contact she has with clients and candidates is the most rewarding aspect of her job. She believes that what makes a great recruitment consultant is a positive attitude, a genuine interest in people, resilience and a great memory. She is always happy to talk to anyone who is thinking of joining our industry or would like advice on how to develop their recruitment career.

Neil Carberry said:

“Kate has built a fantastic business, brilliant client service and made a local contribution over a 40-year career in recruitment.

“Allen Associates has built relations with clients based on being that trusted advisor, that source of a network, the extra mile of support. Kate and her firm are standard bearers for quality in how we do things as a profession.

“Our winner and their firm have had an impact on a wide range of local charities over a quarter of a century, but her personal commitment to one in particular stand out, raising money for sick children locally.”

Big winners

The Temporary Recruiter of the Year, sponsored by Liquid Friday, was Fabio Roque, of Hyper Recruitment Solutions and Permanent Recruiter of the Year was Patrick Gray, of Carrington West. The Agency Star of the Year was Imani Noveal of ISE Partners. And Recruiter of the Year was also Imani Noveal. The  Best Newcomer in Recruitment Award, sponsored by Indigo Group, went to Olivia Rogers, of OA Group. 

The winner of the Recruitment Team of the Year award, sponsored by FCSA, was Pracyva. And the Impact on a Client's Business Award was won by VHR, sponsored by SafeRec.

Neil Carberry added:

“Imani Noveal, our Recruiter of the Year, is a worthy winner. Judges recognised her as a star who goes above and beyond, driving business success and social impact through exceptional leadership, care and an unwavering commitment to excellence.”

Other notable award winners

Hernshead Recruitment won the Community Impact of the Year for its volunteering with Crisis and partnering on Engineering Development Trust’s (EDT) Gold Industrial Cadets scheme. The recruitment team spent time at one of Crisis’ temporary hotels over the Christmas period. Its staff worked alongside Crisis staff to help individuals access basic services and, crucially, start taking steps toward getting back into work. Hernshead Recruitment is keen to open up engineering and technical recruitment to people from disadvantaged and underrepresented backgrounds. Through EDT, its team helped students from underrepresented backgrounds understand what a career in engineering looks like. It shared recruitment and industry insights, participated in panel events alongside clients, and helped students navigate routes into the sector.

ManpowerGroupUK won the Sustainability Impact of the Year for its Working to Change the World ESG plan, built on three pillars: planet; people and prosperity; and principes of governance. Manpower has cut direct emissions by 40% since 2019 and on track for net zero by 2045, its headquarters has switched to renewable energy earning Energy Star certification. It has delivered 2,400 hours of trainings to people Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEETs) in the UK, Italy and France, supported 30,000 refugees globally and its principles of governance has achieved EcoVardis Platinum Status placing it in top 1% of companies worldwide.

F1 recruitment Ltd won the Diversity Initiative of the Year award, an award sponsored by Liquid Friday, for its range of activities in this area. It has created a peer-to-peer inspiration model where young professionals aged 23-30 years old serve as ambassadors, delivering 45-minute career talks to sixth formers, college and university students across the UK. F1’s Back2Business Career Accelerator, is its six-day in person intensive bootcamp which specifically targets, PR and sports marketing professionals returning after 3+ years career breaks. “Rather than forcing top-down compliance, we demonstrate the business case for diversity first”. Interestingly, F1 has built a dedicated platform connecting diverse talent with committed employers, featuring access to 30,000+ students via Handshake and unlimited early careers job postings.

Notes to editors

1. The REC Awards were judged by a panel of individuals across different businesses and sectors.

2. The event was held on Thursday 20 November 2025, at the Royal Lancaster hotel, Hyde Park, London.

3. The awards are exclusively for Recruitment & Employment Confederation members, and their categories recognise both individual achievement and company-wide success.

4. List of other winners

• Candidate Experience of the Year: Hannah Slee, people2people recruitment
• Business Leader of the Year (turnover under £10m): Kelly Dunn, KD Recruitment
• Business Leader of the Year (turnover over £10m): Paul Robinson, VHR (award sponsored by Marsh Commercial)
• Shared Services Team of the Year: Adecco Group
• Impact on a Client's Business: VHR (sponsored by SafeRec)
• Demonstrating High Standards in Recruitment Award: Gap Personnel Group (award sponsored by FCSA)
• UK Supplier to the Recruitment Industry of the Year: SafeRec
• Best Company to work for (up to 20 employees): Tiro Associates
• Best Company to work for (up to 50 employees): Pracyva
• Best Company to work for (up to 100 employees): Spencer Clarke Group (award sponsored by Marsh Commercial)
• Best Company to work for (over 100 employees): Rise Technical Recruitment (award sponsored by SafeRec)

Click here to view all REC press releases and for more information and interview enquiries, contact the REC Press Office on 020 7009 2157, 020 7009 2129 or pressoffice@rec.uk.com. Outside of regular office hours, please call 07702 568 829.

The REC is the voice of the recruitment industry, speaking up for great recruiters. We drive standards and empower recruitment businesses to build better futures for great candidates and themselves. We are champions of an industry which is fundamental to the strength of the UK economy.

Find out more about the Recruitment & Employment Confederation at www.rec.uk.com.

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