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Top Recruitment Agencies in Manchester

20 of 40 recruitment agencies ranked on evidence in the Q4 2026 edition.

TrustList ranking

Q4 2026 edition

20 of 40 recruitment agencies ranked on evidence held on 6 October 2026: client reviews, vetting, awards and facts each business states on its own website, which we read and date. Nobody pays to be placed.

Positions are fixed for the quarter; the next edition is due in January 2027.

How this is ranked About this edition

Flagship ranking · Q4 2026 edition

This page ranks recruitment agencies in Manchester, from specialists in hospitality, legal and technical hiring to agencies for office and industrial staff across the North West. TrustList lists 40 of them, and 17 earned a rank number in the Q4 2026 edition. Among the ranked, two hold a professional accreditation. Fourteen state a founding date, from the 1970s to the 2010s, and nine of those began in the 2000s. Five name Manchester as their base, while others name London, Leeds, Swinton and St Helens, or the North West more broadly.

Order is set by the evidence TrustList held on 5 October 2026: client reviews, vetting, awards and facts each agency states on its own website, which we read and dated. Nobody pays to be placed. A listing with nothing checkable is shown but not ranked, and positions are fixed until the January 2027 edition. An agency can move up by adding client reviews or verified facts to its free profile.

By TrustList Editorial

All recruitment agencies 20 ranked SMEs 19 ranked

The SME ranking on this page lists 38 small and medium-sized agencies, and 16 of them earned a rank number. Two businesses known to be large are left out. The SME order does not reward age, so newer agencies compete on evidence alone. See the SME ranking

Filter by fitbudget, engagement, size and more

The top three

1
Catch 22
Best for: Facilities management staff
Recruits exclusively for the facilities management sector, from cleaners to senior FM leaders.
- Leeds
- In business 40+ years
- professional accreditation
View profile
2
Jobwise
Best for: North West business support staff
Temporary and permanent business support and operations roles for small and medium businesses and public sector organisations.
- North West England, with offices in Bolton, Liverpool, Stockport, Warrington…
- Founded 1979
View profile
3
Berkeley Scott
Best for: Hospitality and catering employers
Recruits for pubs, bars, restaurants, hotels, contract catering, events and stadia, from entry level to senior management.
- London, United Kingdom
- Founded 1984
View profile

Catch 22
Best for: Facilities management staff
Construction and Property Recruitment · Permanent Recruitment · Temporary Staffing · Also in Leeds
Catch 22 recruits exclusively for the facilities management sector in the UK.
Write a review
Why #1: In business 40+ years · professional accreditation, as stated on its own website, read 28 Sept 2026
Not yet on record: client reviews, vetting.
Jobwise
Best for: North West business support staff
Driving and Logistics Recruitment · Office and Admin Recruitment · Accounting & Finance · Also in Liverpool and Warrington
Jobwise is a recruitment agency in the North West of England that has operated since 1979.
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Why #2: Founded 1979, as stated on its own website, read 5 Oct 2026
Not yet on record: client reviews, vetting.
Berkeley Scott
Best for: Hospitality and catering employers
Permanent Recruitment · Temporary Staffing · Hospitality Recruitment · Also in Glasgow and Bristol
Berkeley Scott has recruited for hospitality, catering and support services since 1984.
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Why #3: Founded 1984, as stated on its own website, read 28 Sept 2026
Not yet on record: client reviews, vetting.
Linda Taylors Ltd
Best for: Office-based roles in Greater Manchester
Office and Admin Recruitment · Temporary Staffing · Also in Salford and Bolton
Linda Taylors Ltd is a recruitment agency in Swinton, Salford, working across Greater Manchester and Bolton.
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Why #4: Founded 1987, as stated on its own website, read 5 Oct 2026
Not yet on record: client reviews, vetting.
Creative Resource
Collaboration · Creative
UK recruitment agency filling creative, marketing, digital and communications roles for agencies, brands and organisations
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Why #5: In business 35+ years, as stated on its own website, read 28 Sept 2026
Not yet on record: client reviews, vetting.
Kintec Recruitment Ltd
Best for: Technical and engineering hiring
Construction and Property Recruitment · Permanent Recruitment · Temporary Staffing · Also in New York City and London
Kintec Recruitment Ltd is an international recruitment company set up in 2001. It specialises in technical and engineering-related hiring, and lists offices on several continents.
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Why #6: Founded 2001, as stated on its own website, read 5 Oct 2026
Not yet on record: client reviews, vetting.
D R Newitt Recruitment
Best for: Food and drink manufacturers
Manufacturing · DataBase · Partners · Also in Edinburgh
D R Newitt Recruitment, trading as DR Newitt Associates Ltd, recruits for food and drink manufacturers across the UK.
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Why #7: Founded 2002, as stated on its own website, read 28 Sept 2026
Not yet on record: client reviews, vetting.
Catermatch Solutions
Best for: Chefs and hospitality staff
Permanent Recruitment · Temporary Staffing · Hospitality Recruitment · Also in United Kingdom
Catermatch Solutions is a hospitality and catering recruitment agency in Manchester, set up in 2003.
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Why #8 (shared): Founded 2003, as stated on its own website, read 28 Sept 2026
Not yet on record: client reviews, vetting.
BCL Legal
Legal Recruitment · Legal · Government · Also in Belfast and Birmingham
Recruiting lawyers since 2003, BCL Legal began in Manchester and now has offices in London, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Belfast, Dublin and New York.
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Why #8 (shared): Founded 2003, as stated on its own website, read 28 Sept 2026
Not yet on record: client reviews, vetting.
Bespoke Careers
Best for: Architecture and design practices
Sales and Marketing Recruitment · Permanent Recruitment · Executive Search · Also in Los Angeles and Austin
Bespoke Careers recruits for the architecture and design sector, placing staff with practices, studios and product suppliers. Chief executive Lindsay Urquhart set it up in 2004.
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Why #10: Founded 2004, as stated on its own website, read 28 Sept 2026
Not yet on record: client reviews, vetting.
ISR Recruitment
Best for: IT, telecoms and transport technology
IT and Tech Recruitment · Permanent Recruitment · Contract Recruitment · Also in London
ISR Recruitment is a technical recruitment agency headquartered in Manchester, with a second office in London.
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Why #11 (shared): Founded 2005, as stated on its own website, read 5 Oct 2026
Not yet on record: client reviews, vetting.
We Are Adam
Best for: HR, finance and C-suite hires
IT and Tech Recruitment · Sales and Marketing Recruitment · Executive Search · Also in Stockport and Altrincham
"We Are Adam" is the trading name of Adam Recruitment Limited, an executive search and selection consultancy with offices in Manchester and London.
Write a review
Why #11 (shared): Founded 2005, as stated on its own website, read 28 Sept 2026
Not yet on record: client reviews, vetting.
HTE Recruitment
Best for: Permanent hospitality and logistics hires
Driving and Logistics Recruitment · Sales and Marketing Recruitment · Food & Drink · Also in Chester and London
HtE Recruitment is a national recruitment agency with bases in Manchester and London.
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Why #13: Founded 2007, as stated on its own website, read 5 Oct 2026
Not yet on record: client reviews, vetting.
A Star Recruitment
Best for: Warehouse, industrial and driving staff
Driving and Logistics Recruitment · Temporary Staffing · Manufacturing Recruitment · Also in St. Helens and Wigan
A Star Recruitment finds staff for employers in the North West and Midlands from offices in St Helens and Wigan.
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Why #14: Founded 2009, as stated on its own website, read 28 Sept 2026
Not yet on record: client reviews, vetting.
Hunter Savage
Best for: Legal, finance and engineering professionals
Construction and Property Recruitment · Finance and Accounting Recruitment · Accounting & Finance · Also in Chichester and Northern Ireland
Specialist recruitment consultancy placing professionals across legal, finance, engineering, construction and HR roles in the UK and Ireland
Write a review
Why #15: Founded 2010, as stated on its own website, read 5 Oct 2026
Not yet on record: client reviews, vetting.
Essential Recruitment
Permanent Recruitment · Hybrid · Also in United Kingdom
Essential Recruitment is a Manchester recruiter that concentrates on technology and business change roles.
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Why #16: In business 15+ years, as stated on its own website, read 5 Oct 2026
Not yet on record: client reviews, vetting.
Hyper Recruitment Solutions
Accounting & Finance · Food & Drink · Life Sciences Recruitment · Also in Loughton and Oxfordshire
Hyper Recruitment Solutions, known as HRS, is a specialist recruiter for the life sciences sector.
Write a review
Why #17: Founded 2012, as stated on its own website, read 5 Oct 2026
Not yet on record: client reviews, vetting.
Interlink Recruitment
Executive Search · Legal Recruitment · Also in New York City and London
Interlink Recruitment, which trades as Interlink Talent Solutions, is a specialist agency that recruits for the legal profession.
Write a review
Why #18: In business 10+ years, as stated on its own website, read 5 Oct 2026
Not yet on record: client reviews, vetting.
Hunter Adams
Best for: Small firms needing HR help
Arts, Entertainment & Music · Permanent Recruitment · Executive Search · Also in Aberdeen and Edinburgh
Hunter Adams is an employee-owned HR consultancy that supports organisations across the United Kingdom.
Write a review
Why #19 (shared): nothing checkable yet, as stated on its own website, read 5 Oct 2026
Not yet on record: client reviews, vetting.
H9 Recruitment
Best for: Energy transition and engineering
Engineering · DataBase · Personnel · Also in London
H9 Recruitment supplies staff to employers in energy, engineering and related industries.
Write a review
Why #19 (shared): professional accreditation, as stated on its own website, read 29 Sept 2026
Not yet on record: client reviews, vetting.
Also listed, not yet ranked. We hold nothing checkable on these yet that ranks them here: no client review, vetting, award, expert review, or fact stated on their own website (and on a place ranking, where they are based). They follow in order of their TrustList Score. How TrustList ranks · Get vetted, free
Cathcart Associates
IT and Tech Recruitment · Permanent Recruitment · Also in Edinburgh
Cathcart Associates is a technology recruitment firm, now presenting itself as Cathcart Technology, with its headquarters in Edinburgh.
Write a review
On record: Team of 40+, as stated on its own website, read 28 Sept 2026
Black Cherry Recruitment Ltd
front · Also in Brighton
Black Cherry Recruitment Ltd is a UK recruiter that finds staff for public relations and communications agencies.
Write a review
BrightHR
IT and Tech Recruitment · Construction and Property Recruitment · Driving and Logistics Recruitment · Also in United Kingdom
BrightHR makes people management software for small and medium businesses in the UK.
Write a review
Capstone Recruitment UK
Construction and Property Recruitment · DataBase · front · Also in California and New York
Capstone Recruitment UK is a recruitment consultancy that specialises in property, real estate and construction.
Write a review

The top ten at a glance

As each business states it on its own website, read by TrustList for this edition.

#	Business	Based in	Since	Accreditations	Best for
1	Catch 22	Leeds	40+ yrs	professional accreditation	Facilities management staff
2	Jobwise	North West England, with offices in Bolton, Liverpool, Stockport, Warrington…	1979	None stated	North West business support staff
3	Berkeley Scott	London, United Kingdom	1984	None stated	Hospitality and catering employers
4	Linda Taylors Ltd	Swinton, Salford	1987	None stated	Office-based roles in Greater Manchester
5	Creative Resource	UK	35+ yrs	None stated
6	Kintec Recruitment Ltd	Not stated	2001	None stated	Technical and engineering hiring
7	D R Newitt Recruitment	United Kingdom, with offices in Manchester and Edinburgh	2002	None stated	Food and drink manufacturers
=8	Catermatch Solutions	Manchester, United Kingdom	2003	None stated	Chefs and hospitality staff
=8	BCL Legal	Manchester, UK	2003	None stated
10	Bespoke Careers	Not stated	2004	None stated	Architecture and design practices

How to choose recruitment agencies

1. Match the agency's specialism
A specialist recruiter usually knows the market, pay levels and candidate pool better than a generalist. Ask how many roles like yours it has filled recently and which candidates it can reach.
2. Check trade body membership
Many UK agencies belong to bodies such as the Recruitment and Employment Confederation or APSCo, which publish codes of conduct. Ask what the membership requires and how complaints are handled.
3. Understand fees and rebates
Get terms in writing before you start: the percentage or fixed fee, when it is due, and the rebate or replacement period if a hire leaves early. For temporary staff, ask about margins.
4. Ask how candidates are checked
Find out how the agency verifies identity, right to work, references and qualifications, and what it shares with you. Regulated roles need extra checks, so ask who carries them out.
5. Clarify exclusivity and notice
Check whether the agency expects sole instructions, how long terms last, and what happens if you hire a candidate it introduced after the agreement ends.
6. Ask about temporary worker terms
If you take temporary staff, ask who pays them, who holds insurance, and how timesheets and holiday pay are handled, so responsibilities are clear before the first shift.

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