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Top Recruitment Agencies in the UK

90 of 193 recruitment agencies ranked on evidence in the Q4 2026 edition.

We list more than 150 recruitment agencies in the UK. The order comes from what each firm publishes and what has been verified about it, never from payment — at the top right now: Hanson Regan, 24-7 Staffing Limited and 360 Recruitment.

Before you shortlist, check

Whether they fill roles like yours at your level, and how many they placed in the last year
The fee — a percentage of first-year salary or a fixed fee — and what counts as salary
The rebate or free replacement if a hire leaves early, and for how long
Whether they work on contingency or retained, and whether they want exclusivity
How candidates are sourced and screened, and who checks the right to work

TrustList ranking

Q4 2026 edition

90 of 193 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 the United Kingdom, from general staffing branches to specialists in one sector such as legal, construction or IT. TrustList lists 175 of them, and 69 earned a rank number in the Q4 2026 edition. Of the ranked agencies, eight hold a professional accreditation, four cite ISO 9001, two cite Cyber Essentials and one cites ISO 27001. A total of 64 state a founding date, 34 of them in the 2000s. London is the most common named base with eight, followed by Manchester with five, and Edinburgh and Nottingham with four each.

Places are 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 90 ranked SMEs 88 ranked

The SME ranking on this page lists 171 small and medium-sized agencies, and 67 of them earned a rank number. Four 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
Hanson Regan
Best for: SAP and enterprise IT specialists
Finds technical specialists for organisations running large business systems, with SAP as its main area.
- Bromley, UK, with offices in Hanau and Paris
- Founded 2006
- ISO 9001, ISO 27001, professional accreditation
View profile
2
Acorn by Synergie
- Newport, Wales
- Founded 1992
- ISO 9001, Cyber Essentials
View profile
3
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

Hanson Regan
Best for: SAP and enterprise IT specialists
IT and Tech Recruitment · Mobile App Development · Permanent Recruitment · Also in Bromley and London
Hanson Regan finds technical specialists for organisations running large business systems, with SAP as its main area.
Write a review
Why #1: Founded 2006 · ISO 9001, ISO 27001, professional accreditation, as stated on its own website, read 28 Sept 2026
Not yet on record: client reviews, vetting.
Acorn by Synergie
IT and Tech Recruitment · Construction and Property Recruitment · Permanent Recruitment · Also in Bristol
Acorn by Synergie places temporary, permanent and contract workers through a branch network across England and Wales.
Write a review
Why #2: Founded 1992 · ISO 9001, Cyber Essentials, as stated on its own website, read 28 Sept 2026
Not yet on record: client reviews, vetting.
Catch 22
Best for: Facilities management staff
Construction and Property Recruitment · Public Sector Recruitment · Permanent Recruitment · Also in Leeds and Manchester
Catch 22 recruits exclusively for the facilities management sector in the UK.
Write a review
Why #3: In business 40+ years · professional accreditation, as stated on its own website, read 28 Sept 2026
Not yet on record: client reviews, vetting.
Elite Personnel Services Ltd
Permanent Recruitment · Temporary Staffing · Digital Marketing · Also in Pudsey and Bradford
Independent West Yorkshire recruitment agency placing permanent, temporary and contract staff across office, technical and production roles
Write a review
Why #4: Founded 1998 · ISO 9001, as stated on its own website, read 29 Sept 2026
Not yet on record: client reviews, vetting.
G2 Legal Limited
Best for: Lawyers and legal support staff
Permanent Recruitment · Legal Recruitment · Public Sector · Also in Brighton and Bristol
Specialist legal recruiter placing lawyers, company secretaries, IP attorneys and legal support staff in the UK and Australia
Write a review
Why #5: Founded 1999 · professional accreditation, as stated on its own website, read 29 Sept 2026
Not yet on record: client reviews, vetting.
Applause IT Recruitment
Best for: IT, data and digital roles
IT and Tech Recruitment · Permanent Recruitment · Engineering · Also in United States and Birmingham
Applause IT Recruitment is a specialist technology and digital recruitment consultancy in Birmingham.
Write a review
Why #6: Founded 2001 · professional accreditation, as stated on its own website, read 28 Sept 2026
Not yet on record: client reviews, vetting.
I Love My Job Ltd
Creative · Driving · Queries · Also in Bath and York
I Love My Job Ltd is a recruitment agency based in London that places candidates with employers.
Write a review
Why #7: Founded 2010 · professional accreditation, as stated on its own website, read 5 Oct 2026
Not yet on record: client reviews, vetting.
3Search
Best for: Marketing, sales and product hiring
Driving and Logistics Recruitment · Permanent Recruitment · Executive Search · Also in Austin and New York City
3Search places people into the commercial teams that drive a company's growth, a group of functions it labels the "Revenue Engine".
Write a review
Why #8: Founded 2014 · professional accreditation · Founder-led, as stated on its own website, read 28 Sept 2026
Not yet on record: client reviews, vetting.
Fawkes & Reece
Best for: Construction and infrastructure
Construction and Property Recruitment · Recruitment Process Outsourcing (RPO) · Permanent Recruitment · Also in Southampton and Cardiff
UK construction recruiter placing permanent, freelance, trades and executive staff across building, housing, rail and infrastructure
Write a review
Why #9: Founded 2001 · Team of 180+, as stated on its own website, read 28 Sept 2026
Not yet on record: client reviews, vetting.
Eden Scott
Energy & Natural Resources · Accounting & Finance · Food & Drink · Also in Aberdeen and Glasgow
Scottish recruitment agency placing permanent, contract and temporary staff across many sectors, including the public sector
Write a review
Why #10: Founded 2003 · Team of 40+, as stated on its own website, read 29 Sept 2026
Not yet on record: client reviews, vetting.
Ethos BeathChapman
Best for: Senior and executive appointments
Sales and Marketing Recruitment · Accounting & Finance · Executive Search · Also in Asia and London
Ethos BeathChapman is an executive recruitment firm founded in Sydney in 2005.
Write a review
Why #11: Founded 2005 · Team of 150+, as stated on its own website, read 5 Oct 2026
Not yet on record: client reviews, vetting.
Gordon Yates Recruitment and Training
Permanent Recruitment · Customer Service · Customer Support · Also in Manchester and London
Gordon Yates Recruitment and Training is a London agency that places people in office-based roles throughout the UK. It has operated since 1947.
Write a review
Why #12: Founded 1947, as stated on its own website, read 5 Oct 2026
Not yet on record: client reviews, vetting.
Joyce Guiness
Office and Admin Recruitment · Permanent Recruitment · Temporary Staffing · Also in London
Joyce Guiness is a London recruitment agency specialising in business support and personal assistant roles.
Write a review
Why #13: Founded 1969, as stated on its own website, read 5 Oct 2026
Not yet on record: client reviews, vetting.
Harvey McQueen Recruitment
Temporary Staffing · Contract Recruitment · Web Design · Also in London
Harvey McQueen Recruitment is a recruitment agency serving employers and job seekers across the UK, and its site lists a Bolton base.
Write a review
Why #14: In business 50+ years, as stated on its own website, read 5 Oct 2026
Not yet on record: client reviews, vetting.
Earl Street Employment Consultants
Permanent Recruitment · Temporary Staffing · Contract Recruitment
Earl Street Employment Consultants is a recruitment agency based in Maidstone, Kent. It has been placing people in jobs and helping employers find staff since 1977.
Write a review
Why #15: Founded 1977 · Family-run, as stated on its own website, read 29 Sept 2026
Not yet on record: client reviews, vetting.
Jobwise
Office and Admin Recruitment · Driving and Logistics Recruitment · Accounting & Finance · Also in Liverpool and Altrincham
Jobwise is a recruitment agency in the North West of England that has operated since 1979.
Write a review
Why #16: Founded 1979, as stated on its own website, read 5 Oct 2026
Not yet on record: client reviews, vetting.
Berkeley Scott
Permanent Recruitment · Temporary Staffing · Hospitality Recruitment · Also in England and Bristol
Berkeley Scott has recruited for hospitality, catering and support services since 1984.
Write a review
Why #17 (shared): Founded 1984, as stated on its own website, read 28 Sept 2026
Not yet on record: client reviews, vetting.
Artisan People
Sales and Marketing Recruitment · Permanent Recruitment · Temporary Staffing · Also in London
Artisan People is a recruitment group, founded in 1984, that supplies both temporary and permanent staff.
Write a review
Why #17 (shared): Founded 1984, as stated on its own website, read 28 Sept 2026
Not yet on record: client reviews, vetting.
Lipson Lloyd Jones
Legal Recruitment · Legal · Property · Also in London
Independent London legal recruiter placing solicitors, barristers and lawyers in private practice, in-house and offshore roles
Write a review
Why #19 (shared): Founded 1987, as stated on its own website, read 5 Oct 2026
Not yet on record: client reviews, vetting.
Harper Recruitment Group
Finance and Accounting Recruitment · IT and Tech Recruitment · Construction and Property Recruitment · Also in Derby and Nottingham
Harper Recruitment Group is a recruitment agency founded in 1987 and based in Nottingham.
Write a review
Why #19 (shared): Founded 1987, as stated on its own website, read 5 Oct 2026
Not yet on record: client reviews, vetting.
Express Recruitment Agency Nottingham
Sales and Marketing Recruitment · Office and Admin Recruitment · Public Sector Recruitment · Also in Derby and Leicester
Express Recruitment is a recruitment agency based in Nottingham and Derby, serving the East Midlands. It has provided temporary and permanent staffing solutions since 1987.
Write a review
Why #19 (shared): Founded 1987, as stated on its own website, read 28 Sept 2026
Not yet on record: client reviews, vetting.
Elizabeth Michael Associates
Construction and Property Recruitment · Permanent Recruitment · Temporary Staffing · Also in Nottingham
Elizabeth Michael Associates is an independently owned recruitment business that has traded since 1991.
Write a review
Why #22 (shared): Founded 1991, as stated on its own website, read 29 Sept 2026
Not yet on record: client reviews, vetting.
Career Moves Group
Finance and Accounting Recruitment · Permanent Recruitment · Temporary Staffing · Also in London
Career Moves Group is a London recruitment agency and talent acquisition partner with more than 35 years in the business.
Write a review
Why #22 (shared): In business 35+ years, as stated on its own website, read 28 Sept 2026
Not yet on record: client reviews, vetting.
Hcs uk catering recruitment
Permanent Recruitment · Temporary Staffing · Hospitality Recruitment · Also in Sheffield
HCS Recruitment supplies trained catering, hospitality and facilities staff from its base in Sheffield.
Write a review
Why #22 (shared): In business 35+ years, as stated on its own website, read 28 Sept 2026
Not yet on record: client reviews, vetting.

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	Hanson Regan	Bromley, UK, with offices in Hanau and Paris	2006	ISO 9001, ISO 27001, professional accreditation	SAP and enterprise IT specialists
2	Acorn by Synergie	Newport, Wales	1992	ISO 9001, Cyber Essentials
3	Catch 22	Leeds	40+ yrs	professional accreditation	Facilities management staff
4	Elite Personnel Services Ltd	Denby Dale, West Yorkshire	1998	ISO 9001
5	G2 Legal Limited	Brighton, United Kingdom, with offices in Leeds and Sydney	1999	professional accreditation	Lawyers and legal support staff
6	Applause IT Recruitment	Birmingham, UK	2001	professional accreditation	IT, data and digital roles
7	I Love My Job Ltd	London, UK	2010	professional accreditation
8	3Search	London, with offices in New York and Austin	2014	professional accreditation	Marketing, sales and product hiring
9	Fawkes & Reece	London, with regional offices in Birmingham, Bolton, Brighton, Bristol…	2001	None stated	Construction and infrastructure
10	Eden Scott	Edinburgh, with offices in Glasgow and Aberdeen	2003	None stated

How to choose recruitment agencies

1. Check trade body membership
Ask whether the agency belongs to a body such as the REC or APSCo and follows its code of practice. Membership shows a complaints route if something goes wrong.
2. Understand the fee structure
Permanent placements usually carry a percentage fee with a rebate period if the hire leaves early. Ask for the rate, the rebate terms and when payment falls due, in writing.
3. Ask about right-to-work checks
Employers remain responsible for lawful hiring. Ask how the agency checks identity, right to work and references, and who keeps the records.
4. Clarify temporary worker terms
For agency workers, ask who runs payroll, how holiday pay and pension duties are handled, and what notice applies. Agency workers have set rights after a qualifying period.
5. Look for sector knowledge
Ask how many roles like yours the agency fills each year, who will search for your vacancy, and how it finds candidates beyond job boards.
6. Agree exclusivity and terms
Before signing terms of business, check whether you are tied to one agency, how long that lasts, and what applies if you hire a candidate someone else introduced.

For vendors

Want to see your company here?

The order is earned on evidence: client reviews, vetting, awards and the facts a business states on its own website, which we read and date. Nobody can pay to move up. Add reviews or verified facts to your free profile to move up at the next edition; there are two ways to stand out now, and each one says what it is.

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How is this ranking worked out?

The order comes from what each firm publishes and what has been verified about it, and never from payment:

Profile completeness: the details a buyer needs to judge a firm — what it does, who it serves, how it prices, who it has worked for
Earned trust: verification, awards and the other checks a firm has actually passed
Client reviews, where they exist: the rating is smoothed, so one five-star review cannot outrank a firm with a hundred good ones, and volume counts with diminishing returns

Client reviews are still rare across this catalogue, so on most lists today the order is set by the first two. A firm near the top is the best-documented and best-verified one we hold, which is not the same claim as the best one to hire. Use the list to build a shortlist, then check the firms yourself.

Sponsored listings are labelled and shown apart from this list. How rankings work

Only firms whose profile names the UK are counted here, so a firm that lists a town but no country is not yet included.

Where else can I look?

The same list elsewhere: USA (682) · Canada (25).

Narrow it down in the UK: permanent recruitment (90) · temporary staffing (63) · executive search (55).

Every category in the UK: the UK country page.

Top B2B companies in the UK38 categories ranked, 2,075 companies

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