Our Consultants know that real success in marketing jobs recruitment is about building the right kind of relationships. Ones that are insightful, honest and co-dependent. It’s based on a desire to constantly build real-world, real-life relationships. Great placement isn’t about hurling masses of CV’s at clients, and understanding our candidates makes them much more than just a CV on a database. So whether you are looking for your next role, agency or client-side, in Brand or Category Management, Internal Comms or PR/Social, CRM to Insight and or Analytics... we are the people to talk to.
The Marketing Team
Beth Rollin
Senior Consultant - E-Commerce, Digital & Marketing
Specialist Area :I have a strong network across the Retail, Travel and Leisure sectors having recruited Digital, Ecommerce, PR and Marcomms roles across Yorkshire and the Midlands for the past couple of years. Why I joined Better Placed:Joining Better Placed was a very easy decision for me to make! I wanted to join a company that valued their employees and also took the time to develop long-lasting relationships with candidates and clients and Better Placed do just that. They definitely stood out from the rest of recruitment companies I interviewed with! Why send us/me your CV:To me recruitment is all about finding the right role, for the right person, so understanding your needs and wants is crucial! I have an honest and approachable recruitment style and will aim to find you the dream role by getting to know as much as I can about you and the factors that are most important to you. I have a portfolio of great clients across Yorkshire and the Midlands, ranging from dynamic SME’s to Blue Chip organisations. I’m keen to help you make the right move so ping me a message across on LinkedIn if you’re looking! One interesting fact about me:I’ve starred on BBC1 TV drama series Waterloo Road.
Andrew Gibson
Joint Managing Director
Specialist Areas – FMCG, Retail, Consumer DurablesI was one of the three founding members of Better Placed in 2001 and I've since been integral in building the business. My particular network has grown into many different areas over the last 19 years in recruitment, but always with a particular bias towards sales and marketing professionals into consumer markets.I now recruit senior executive and board level roles into both blue chip branded businesses as well as smaller, owner managed and private equity backed businesses. When I'm not recruiting for my clients, I am always looking for talent for Better Placed and making sure the business continues to attract people who care about the work we do and are constantly improving the way we do business.Outside of work I invest time and money in developing our house (which we started when the recession hit us back in 2008!), coaching and watching my kids play hockey and rugby and playing hockey and golf myself to keep (relatively) fit.
Liz Hopkins
Board Director
So why did i join Better Placed: simple really...A boutique agency, meaning more ability and time to focus on in-depth candidate and client relationships – tickA business that values quality, consultative work over volume of CV’s and number of clients on their books – tickA chance to build a team of great consultants who can do exactly what it says on the tin – consult and add value– tickA place where I genuinely enjoy spending time with my work colleagues – tick!Recruitment agencies can get a really hard time in terms of their reputation and at times, it’s justified. However I feel really proud to work for an agency that goes the extra mile, asks the questions that others don’t, really helps and advises our candidates and clients and as a result enjoys fruitful long term relationships, rather than working on one off transactions.Why send us/me your CV :At BPR we take the time to really get to know candidates to extract more info than most about their transferrable skills, stand out achievements and importantly what kind of business ‘fits’ with their personality and ambitions. We don’t pay lip service to taking down a list of requirements from a candidate and adding a CV to a database, never to be seen again. We give constructive, honest feedback on how we can (and sometimes how we can’t) help, but no matter what, will give you advice to point you in the right direction. Importantly aswell, we don’t lose sight of the fact that finding the right job is central to your life and try our best to hold your hand through the process!Something you may not know about me :I have an irrational fear of anything that flies and even two rounds of hypnotherapy can’t cure it!
Kate Siegel
Business Manager
More about what i do at Better Placed :My specialist areas include retail, leisure, travel, tourism, luxury, hospitality and transport – both traditional and digital, includinge-commerce and trading (freelance and perm). Why did you join Better Placed ? :Better Placed ticks all the boxes for a boutique agency who forge really strong relationships with their clients and candidates. When I first interviewed with the company, I was really excited by their alternative approach in getting to know me and seeing how they could benefit from having me on board rather than pigeonholing me for one particular role. This resonates throughout the business and how we in turn work with our candidates – gettingto know them better and truly understanding what they want and how we can help them.Why send me your CV? :Even if we cannot help you immediately with your search for your next role – we will give the advice and help you may need including perhaps tweaking your C V or improving on interview skills and techniques. We have some of the best contacts with our clients spanning all sectors, courtesy of previously forged relationships within the team so we’re able to communicate with clients about a “best fit candidate” rather than “a best CV”.An interesting fact about me… I spent over ten years in marketing, broadcast, communications and PR working across both agency and client side. My clients included business services, FMCG, luxury brands and digital businesses and I was lucky enough to work on London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games as a sponsor client. This marketing experience helps me work well with both candidates and clients in helping understand fully their needs. Out of work I love music festivals and hanging out in my VW campervan!
Daniel Kent
Consultant - Financial Services
What I recruit for : Financial Services Marketing, Product & Commercial; brand marketing, productmarketing, CRM, digital, social, product management, propositions, accountmanagement, business development. Why I joined Better Placed : From the first time I met Better Placed I could tell that there was a hardworking but open and honest culture. This translates into how we operate with clients and candidates and the emphasis on building meaningful, long-term relationships was a key driver for me in joining Better Placed.Why send me/us your CV: I will take the time to get to understand you and your career ambitions, and will approach you only about relevant roles that fit what you’re looking for. I’m also passionate about financial services and love talking to people who have the same passion!One thing you didn’t know about me:I’m from a little village in Lincolnshire near the mighty town of Grimsby… You can’t tell from my accent.
Rachel O'Sullivan
Board Director
I have built an exceptional reputation internally and externally since joining the Group in 2010. Now a Board Director, my expertise spans retail, e-com, hospitality and leisure sectors and I have a first class network throughout marketing and digital functions in particular. My clients range from major high street retailers to emerging scale-ups and disruptors and I've helped many individuals transition between the twoI'm not afraid to challenge traditional thinking and try to bring a fresh perspective to my client’s search criteria and I have a strong track record in helping women to secure leadership positions. I would like to think I have an incredible work ethic and a honest approach and this has proved a very successful combination throughout my career, and for that reason, I'm often the chosen recruitment partner for many businesses and candidates alike.
Alex Hamilton
Director - FMCG Sales & Marketing
Why did you join Better Placed? :I joined Better Placed after returning to the UK following 2 years of travelling. I spent a year living in the French Alpes working for a ski company / perfecting my skiing technique and the following year travelling around South East Asia. Better Placed appealed to me due to their reputation in the market, after exploring a number of different marketing recruitment businesses it was clear Better Placed had existing relationships with a vast number of exciting FMCG / Consumer brands across the country!Why send me your CV :I have relationships with a whole variety of companies from large blue chip Food organisations to exciting entrepreneurial start ups! All of which I am happy to discuss. I also offer a more tailored approach to many other recruiters where I will work proactively on your behalf to provide a spectrum of interesting opportunities which may not have been otherwise available.The one thing you don’t know about me? - I have ridden an ostrich!
Dean Bartle
Board Director
As a Founding Director of the business, I've been part of the Better Placed journey since day one. Having helped grow the business to what it is today, my remit and focus day to day is business operations, developing the marketing strategy and brand for Better Placed, whilst still recruiting within the Agency, Retail and Leisure sectors across the north. Day to day I'm now based out of our Manchester office where we have big plans for 2021, to not only further grow the team, but also to build our recently launched tech offering, Better Placed Tech, with founding Director Jonathan Moran.
Shauna Penistone
E-Commerce, Insight, Analytics & Digital Consultant
What’s your specialist area?E-Commerce, Insight and Analytics in the North West & Midlands.Why did I join Better Placed?I joined Better Placed because I feel strongly that a lot of people in recruitment, rely too much on online relationships and forget to get to know people in the real world. Recruitment is a people orientated business and a real network goes a long way and I feel particularly in the digital arena this is something people are beginning to loose sight of. But here at Better placed I’m actively encouraged to build my network and I can also utilise my colleague’s networks and this is something I feel completely differentiates them as a business from other agencies. I also knew that Better Placed will give me all the knowledge and resources I need to be an expert in my field. The free flat whites and office dogs definitely help too!Why send me your CV?I always take a customer-centric approach and ensure that all jobs are a genuine match for what you’re looking for, your skillset and experience. I have a portfolio of great clients based in the North West area, from dynamic SMEs to Blue Chip organisations. I like to build genuine relationships with my candidates so feel free to drop me a message on LinkedIn if you’re looking!Something you may not know about me is…I used to play the cornet in a brass band.
Leanne Wallworth
Managing Consultant - FMCG
Specialist Area: Mid to Senior level Marketing, Category Management, Innovation, Insight and Digital Marketing roles for Consumer Goods companies across the North West and West Midlands. I recruit for both Temporary and Permanent opportunities and has delivered successful recruitmentcampaigns with Kellogg’s, Warburtons, PZ Cussons, AG Barr, International, Newell Brands, Spectrum Brands and Silentnight to name a few.Why I joined Better Placed: BPR had a brilliant reputation in the market with both candidates and clients. The company values of honesty, transparency and quality closely matched the way I wanted to work as a consultant and it was this that made me introduce myself! Why send us/me your CV: With over 12 years industry experience I have an excellent client network and wealth of experience of recruiting specialist roles. One interesting fact about me: I have flown a small plane!
Rosie MacPhail
Senior Consultant - Agency - North West, Yorkshire and Midlands
Specialist area?I recruit for agencies across the North West, Yorkshire and Midlands (Integrated, Digital, PR, Creative)Why you joined BPR?I moved to Manchester after living in Melbourne for three years and Better Placed stood out for me when choosing my next career move. The company values align with my personal ones, especially the value placed in caring for both candidates and clients in every aspect of the recruitment process.Why you should send me / us your CV?I have a strong network of agency relationships on a national basis, and understand culture is as important as role responsibilities in the agency world. I will understand you personally and what makes you tick, utilising my network to make sure you are having conversations with agencies that suit you best. My caring and diligent personality means I will go above and beyond to make your recruitment process as easy and stress free as possible.The one thing you don’t know about me?I’m Grade 8 in Singing and started to train professionally. Obviously didn’t work out….
Rian Hoey
Manager
Specialist Area : Marketing & Sales – Tech/Gaming/ServicesI recruit marketing & sales roles across B2B, tech, gaming and services companies. The bigger clients I work with include some household names in the Yorkshire area including Sky Betting and Gaming, Yorkshire Building Society and TransUnion. I also recruit for some awesome tech SMEs who are scaling up, publishing houses and global businesses you’ve likely never heard of! I spend most of my time recruiting Mid-Senior Marketing and Sales positions as well as niche digital roles including PPC, SEO, CRO, ASO and all the other abbreviations!Why I joined Better Placed :When making my decision on the company I wanted to work for and progress in a career which was going to give me the best opportunities, I felt Better Placed stood out as being very consultative in their approach which resonated very well with me. It also came down to gelling really well with the team over a couple of beers and we have had many more beers since!Initially I began at Better Placed in the Retail/Leisure/Travel industry, recruiting for some of the UK’s leading brands. I have since moved into the B2B space which is a fantastic market full of companies who operate in very specialist areas and I love learning more about them and their own unique style of Marketing! My remit is Digital, Product and Traditional Marketing across the B2B sector.Why send us/me your CV :BPR are leaders in their field, we have relationships built on trust and delivery with the most prominent businesses in our sectors, often on an exclusive basis. Simply put, working in partnership with Better Placed gives you the opportunity to open more doors and have a wider range of options available to you. Our consultative ethos also applies to our candidates and we will give you realistic advice in terms of what to expect from a job search and all possibilities available to you.Something you may not know about me :Not hugely exciting maybe but something you don't know - I am a massive fan of the ukulele which I decided to pick up as a new hobby a few years ago. Unfortunately my singing is woeful so I need to play it quite loudly to drown myself out!
Louisa Guy
Senior Consultant - B2B
Specialist Area :I specialise in the recruitment of marketing professionals within the B2B sectors, with key areas including manufacturing, construction, chemical and automotive. Working with leading marketing, digital and creative clients and candidates across the Yorkshire and Midlands, I recruit a broad section of marketing jobs from Executive to Manager and Director. My focus on recruiting roles including but not limited to:Marketing ExecMarketing Analyst Product Marketing ManagerHead of ProductCategory ManagerDigital Marketing ManagerHead of MarketingWhy I joined Better Placed: When making the decision on the next step in my career, I wanted to work for a company which gave me the best opportunities and who also had a great reputation within the market. My gut instinct throughout the entire interview process was that the company stood out as a fantastic place to work, with a great culture and welcoming group of people who reaffirmed that Better Placed is the right place for me! And 3 years later plus a promotion, it’s safe to say Better Placed is still the perfect company for me and I absolutely love the people I work with. Why send us/me your CV: Better Placed, in my opinion, is one of the most connected and enterprising recruitment teams in the local region and we pride ourselves on market knowledge as well as having a personable & passionate approach when working with both candidates and clients.I have recruited Marcomms, PR, Product and Digital roles within many B2B businesses both big and small over the past 5 years and over time, have built a strong network. Recruitment is all about finding the right role for the right person by understanding each individual needs and wants. With my knowledge of the market and my interest in understanding each individuals requirements, I’m here to help every step of the way. Please get in touch and send me your CV! One interesting fact about me: I’m a terrible cook, but I’m partial to the odd bit of baking on a Sunday afternoon. Banana & chocolate chip muffins are my go too.
Simon Stephens
Joint Managing Director
It’s hard to believe that nearly 20 years have passed since myself along with my budding entrepreneurs, Andrew and Dean founded and launched Better Placed in 2002. Clearly there’s been a good accumulation of grey hairs over that time but my network and relationships with a multitude of major financial and business services clients continues to thrive. My passion to drive Better Placed into new areas, sectors, regions and expand the Real Network remains undiminished. The knowledge, credibility and track record i have within the Marketing Industry and loyal network of Senior professionals makes me a compelling asset for clients who are looking to attract and secure Senior talent to further develop their businesses.Outside Better Placed, my passion revolves around my family, sport (Not just in an armchair capacity), good Red Wine and even better holidays. If i'm not coaching my eldest son’s junior Rugby team, you'll find me watching my Sons play cricket in the Summer or enjoying socialising with friends and family.The one thing you might not know about me is – I attended a US University on a Golf Scholarship and (despite my advancing years) still play off Scratch. I also remain the only successful London Marathon Runner at Better Placed and i'm proud of it!!!
Claire Eason
Senior Consultant - E-Commerce & Digital
Why did you join Better Placed ?:BPR had a great reputation, not only with candidates I knew that had worked with them before but also with those working for a few rival agencies. This was only backed up when meeting with my manager, her relaxed and honest approached reconfirmed that the culture and strength of the business was where I wanted to be.Why send me your CV?:You are guaranteed an honest recruitment process from the first briefing of a role to feedback on interviews, regardless of outcome.We really do try and find the best roles for people and the best candidates for our clients – Our focus is more on long term quality relationships, rather than quick placements.One thing that people don’t know about me :I have been in the Army.
Sophie Brocklebank-Fowler
Senior Consultant - FMCG
What I recruit for :FMCG Marketing; Brand Management, Category Management, Innovation, Insights, Analytics, Shopper Marketing, Trade Marketing, revenue growth management, digital and social roles.Why I joined BPR: Better Placed was immediately appealing to me because of the honest and friendly approach demonstrated from my first interview. I think their values and emphasis on meeting face-to-face really makes BPR stand out in the recruitment field and therefore accepting a position here was a no-brainer!Why you should send me/us your CV:I understand that a job move is a big life decision, this means I will make the effort to get to know you and ensure every role I suggest to you is a role I believe will suit you. I am a great listener and eager to help you achieve your ambitions!The one thing you don’t knowabout me: When I was four I crashed a tractor into a tree – the tree was fine, the tractor was not!
Marketing - Latest Jobs
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Testimonials
Steve Seddon - Brand Marketing Director
On The Beach
Cherie Cook - Director of Marketing
AO.Com
Katie Taylor - Senior Marketing Manager
Costa Coffee
"I use them because of their in-depth knowledge of marketing"
I have used Better Placed to recruit a number of positions for me at varying levels in roles I have held throughout my career. I choose to use Better Placed, and in particular Rachel, because of the in-depth knowledge she has of Marketing, which helps me find the most relevant candidates for the job.
"They are a brilliant bunch!"
I've worked with Better Placed for over 10 years from both a candidate and client perspective and have recommended Rachel and her team to many of my friends and colleagues. They are a brilliant bunch who really take the time to get to know what you are after and truly care about finding you the right role or the right person to join your team.
"Great to work with"
Kate helped me get my latest role and was really great to work with! Kate has loads of energy and is extremely passionate about what she does. During my job hunt she really took the time to understand what I was looking for in my next career move and helped me to identify a role where I could maximize my experience but also develop skill set further. Thanks again for all of your help!
What's going on ?
Executive
I think of Talent Acquisition as a Venn Diagram !
I think of talent acquisition like a venn diagram. One circle represents the candidate. The other circle represents the client / opportunity. Candidates want the circles to intersect, but ideally remain as far apart as possible. No one wants to feel out of their depth - but we all want a new challenge. Conversely... even the most idealistic hiring managers want the circles to sit on top of each other. And, even if they're willing to hire someone who doesn't meet key criteria, they're likely to be facing huge internal pressures to make a hiring decision that yields immediate impact - particularly in tough times. In buoyant markets, the circles move a little further apart; and, in bad markets, they move closer together. In 2020, they basically sat on top of one another. Organisations had a huge luxury of choice - and there were a lot of candidates who desperately needed to find a new employer, so were willing to compromise on their aspirations. With the news of the vaccines, 2021 looks markedly better. However, we're not out of the woods yet - so when the chips are down, businesses will still want to de-risk their decision and will often turn to the conservative choice. That being said, every role needs room to growth. Otherwise, when the market picks up, the hire will be approached for something bigger and better - and they'll pack their bags and say farewell. We've seen it before. There are a lot of CVs that read 2008 - 2009. And there'll be a bunch that read 2020 - 2021. Ultimately, you want to make a hiring decision that pays off over 5 years, not 12 months. I believe that, as a search firm, our role is to identify fair value exchange between the two parties. So - what does fair value exchange feel like in this market? For my money, it's 80/20. A client should reasonably expect a candidate to bring at least 80% of the required skills to the table - but, in turn, they should expect to teach at least 20%. As a hiring manager, the trick is to work out which 20% of the role is most easily learned - and what sits in the 80% that you can't compromise on. With this approach in mind, you'll get great engagement - and hopefully make a hire that offers immediately value, but also you'll find someone who's challenged and grows in the organisation. Ultimately, you'll be making a decision that pays off for years to come.
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