The Top 5 Recruitment Agencies in the UK and Why We Think Transparency Matters

The Top 5 Recruitment Agencies in the UK and Why We Think Transparency Matters

If you’ve ever searched “best recruitment agencies UK” or even just “the best recruitment agencies in Chesterfield”, you’ll know the results can feel overwhelming. With thousands of agencies across the country, how do you know which ones truly stand out and who to use?

At Inspire Resourcing, a recruitment agency based in Chesterfield, we believe in being open and transparent even if that means celebrating other agencies who do great work.

So here is our list of five of the top recruitment agencies in the UK, based on reputation, reach, and specialisms:

1. Hays Recruitment

One of the largest and most recognised names in recruitment, Hays covers almost every industry sector and has offices across the globe. They’re particularly strong in professional services and specialist markets. We’ve met some great consultants from Hays and they work incredibly hard!

2. Reed Recruitment

Reed has been a household name in UK recruitment for decades. Their online platform is one of the most visited job sites in the country, with opportunities ranging from entry-level to executive. James Reed CBE is the Chairman and CEO of Reed and is often a great voice for the recruitment industry and general commentator on work and labour market issues.

3. Michael Page

Part of Page Group, Michael Page is known for mid-to-senior level recruitment across finance, marketing, HR, and more. Like at Inspire their consultants are specialists in their fields, which helps them connect with the right talent.

4. Adecco

As a global player, Adecco has a huge presence in the UK. They’re particularly strong in temporary and contract recruitment, working with a wide variety of industries. Our Director Kirsty says she had some amazing training when she worked at Adecco and was lucky enough to be trained by Martin Kenny, a well-respected recruitment trainer.

5. Manpower UK

With roots going back to the 1940s, Manpower focuses on workforce solutions across engineering, logistics, and industrial sectors. They’re trusted by some of the UK’s largest employers.

So, where does Inspire Resourcing fit in?

We’re not the size of Hays or Adecco and we don’t want to be. Our Directors and some of our staff have worked in those environments  and whilst there is no doubt that they get results, so do we! Inspire’s strength is in building long-term relationships, particularly with businesses in Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and South Yorkshire.

We believe in taking the time to get to know our clients. Site visits are a must for us and we keep coming back. Businesses change, teams evolve and we’re here to help you create the right changes when you need them.

We’re proud to know our clients by name, to understand their culture, and to match candidates who thrive long term, not just fill a vacancy.

Compliance is also something we’re very proud of. We actively welcome client audits and we secretly enjoy a surprise inspection. That’s how confident we are in the way we work!

As a team we work hard but we don’t play hard! You won’t find us in the pub after work on a Friday, you’ll find us at home with our families, training for marathons or at a yoga class. Recruitment is stressful and wellbeing is at the heart of our team.

Why write a blog like this about other agencies?

Because if you’re looking for the best recruitment agency, you deserve to know who the big players are but if you’re looking for a partner who knows the local market and values transparency, we’d love to start that conversation.