A Year in Review: Top 23 Spencer Clarke Group Moments of 2023
06 Dec, 20231-2 minutes
As the year comes to a close, we’re taking a look back at the top 23 moments of 2023 for Spencer Clarke Group, highlighting the achievements, milestones, and memorable events of the past year. From summer carnivals, to charity events to award ceremonies, 2023 has been quite a year for us.
Throughout this blog, we’re highlighting exceptional achievements and memorable highlights which showcases our success and growth from an action packed 12 months! Let’s dive in!
1. We opened a new office space
2023 has been a year of immense growth for Spencer Clarke Group and in May, we opened up a new office space.
The new office accommodates for the increased headcount and overall growth within the business, specifically on our education desk.
2. We launched a new website!
In March, we launched our new website, another important step to rebrand and innovate the business. The Spencer Clarke Group website relaunch has given us the opportunity to better demonstrate our services, including a Career Hub which serves as a reliable resource for career development. The hub is packed full of guides, tips and advice for candidates to progress their career across all of the specialisms in which we operate.
The new website is also packed full of new tools to enable jobseekers to search and apply for jobs in a more streamlined way.
3. We increased our employee headcount
During 2023, we welcomed 17 new faces to Spencer Clarke Group which demonstrates the unprecedented growth which we have achieved across multiple specialisms in the public and private sector. In addition to Recruitment Consultants, we also welcomed additional team members in our recruitment support, marketing and payroll teams!
4. We became ISO accredited
Earlier this year, we were thrilled to become ISO accredited. The ISO 9001 certification is an independently assessed global accreditation awarded to organisations that ensure customer satisfaction.
It is widely regarded as a mark of excellence in the industry and demonstrates our high standards and commitment to customers.
5. We joined TikTok!
In March, we jumped on board the social media train and joined TikTok. Our Marketing Assistant, Ellie Cutts, began posting videos and competitions to increase our social engagement and interaction with clients and candidates.
On our TikTok channel, you’ll find an abundance of office dog content, exclusive behind the scenes action and career advice! Check out the Spencer Clarke Group TikTok channel now!
6. We were highly commended in two categories at the Be Inspired Business Awards
There have been many professional achievements and recognitions this year including coming highly commended in two categories (Small Business and Employer of the Year) at the 2023 Be Inspired Business Awards (BIBAs).
It was a night of fun celebrations at the Blackpool Tower Ballroom and a performance by X Factor winner and actor, Shayne Ward.
7. We were shortlisted for four Recruiter Awards
The recognition continued when we were shortlisted for four awards at the Recruiter Awards including Recruitment Agency of the Year (Small), Best Temporary Recruitment Agency and Best Public Recruitment Agency.
For the very first time, the marketing team was also shortlisted for Best Recruitment Agency Marketing Team!
Marketing Manager, Debbie Holden, said “Being shortlisted for this award is a fantastic milestone for our team. We’re a relatively new team so to be recognised in the competitive space which recruitment is, is really exciting for us!”
8. Richard Shorrock won Best Temporary Consultant at the Global Recruiter Awards
A stand out moment of the year was Divisional Manager Richard Shorrock, winning Best Temporary Consultant at the Global Recruiter Awards for his services to SEND recruitment.
This was the second consecutive year that Richard was nominated and his first win!
The judges commented, ““Richard Shorrock delivered an impressive individual and team billing record, but what really set him apart was his approach to candidate care.”
9. The Happiness Heroes assembled
This year, we assigned 6 Happiness Heroes - Debbie, Ellie, Georgia, Destiny, Anna and Lauren to bring joy and happiness to the office. Their responsibilities include organising office games, activities and breakfast clubs to encourage team bonding and building.
Our monthly breakfast clubs have included Baps and Bingo (breakfast baps and a game of bingo) an American breakfast, and a healthy breakfast of smoothies and acai bowls.
The heroes also organised the first ‘Holly Jolly Film Fest’ which was an afternoon of festive food and games to welcome the season in.
10. We had our first summer social!
The Happiness Heroes also organised our first summer social event - the Spencer Clarke Group carnival! The circus well and truly came to town and the team were treated to carnival games, a BBQ, drinks and a DJ.
11. We had plenty more social events!
Throughout the year, we had plenty of fun-filled social events for the whole team. Days out included Chester and Aintree races, go-karting at TeamSport and the Crystal Maze in Manchester.
Some of the team also got spooked out of their skin on a night out to Scare City! For Halloween, there was a competitive set of spooky games including pumpkin golf, Halloween shuffleboard and mumma mia.
12. We rewarded high-achievers with the Ibiza holiday incentive
Over the last 12 months, there has been a lot to celebrate as a company and individual success. High achievers of 2023 included Richard Shorrock and Principal Consultant Chris Wilkinson who earned their place on the annual summer incentive holiday to Ibiza.
13. We rewarded even more high-achievers monthly and quarterly
At Spencer Clarke Group, we take pride in celebrating achievements and recognising success. We recognise high achievers with Employees of the Month, quarter and year
Those who have been awarded Employee of the Quarter include Debbie Holden, Adam Pickering, Lauren Bailey and Anna Cochrane.
Employees of the Month include Taylor Kirkham, Sophie Payne, Thomas Humphreys, John Shorrock, Richard Shorrock, Joe O’Halloran and Chris Wilkinson.
14. We awarded multiple Culture Champions!
At Spencer Clarke Group, we have 10 Points of Culture including Energetic, Passion and Ambitious. As voted for by our employees, these are the things which represent who we are!
Culture means a lot to Spencer Clarke Group and bimonthly we award a Culture Champion who has best displayed our culture either in or out of the office.
Our 2023 Culture Champions include Joseph Chanter, Jolie Moon and Adam Pickering who claimed the crown twice this year!
Culture Champions have the opportunity to win anything from 1p to £500 in a tense game of Deal or No Deal, hosted by Divisional Manager, Richard Shorrock.
15. We donated and volunteered monthly at Fylde Food Bank
We understand the value in helping others and donating to important causes. Food banks help people in poverty and crisis by providing emergency food and toiletries. Between April and September of 2023, 172,830 food parcels were distributed by the Trussell Trust in the North West alone; outside of London, this is the highest amount of food parcels distributed in any one region of the UK.
This year at Spencer Clarke Group, we supported our local community through monthly donations and volunteering to Fylde Foodbank. In 2023, we donated 700kg of food which equates to 2,000* meals.
(*Using the Trussell Trust food calculator.)
16. We played the annual Weakest Link to raise money for Children in Need
This year, we raised £146 for Children in Need which is £60 more than last year! Managing Consultant Niall Murphy was crowned the Strongest Link in a competitive game of the famous TV show. This is the third time Spencer Clarke Group has played the game and who knows how much we will make in 2024!
17. We partnered with charity, Lancashire Women
Spencer Clarke Group partnered with local charity Lancashire Women to donate clothes and toiletries to women in need in the region. In 2023, we donated over 20 bags of much needed items and clothes for women who face homelessness, domestic abuse or are locked in the justice system.
We also supported their #ThinkOfHer Christmas campaign and donated toiletries, chocolates and hot drink sachets to make gift parcels for its users.
18. We supported multiple charities
At Spencer Clarke Group, our vision is to have a positive impact and empower each other to drive meaningful change. We support multiple fundraisers and donate to different charities.
In 2023, we raised £160 for MacMillan Cancer Support with our annual Coffee Morning. In October, we wore pink and raised £140 for Breast Cancer Awareness Month for Breast Cancer Now.
The money raised from our in-house office tuck shop (which is kindly stocked and funded by our directors), is also donated to charities as nominated by our employees. In 2023, we donated £500 to Headway, as nominated by Taylor Kirkham, to support people affected by brain injury.
19. We partnered with Ecologi
We partnered with Ecologi to plant 1,586 trees in 2023! That equates to 135 tonnes of C02 avoided in 2023. At Spencer Clarke Group, we are passionate about protecting the planet and support UK climate and forestation projects.
We believe that ‘acting responsibly counts’ and we’re proud to plant 5 trees per employee each month which absorbs 11.25 tonnes of C02. Climate projects which we have funded include protection of the Matavén forest in eastern Colombia, a wind power project in Mexico and avoiding methane emissions from landfill in Brazil.
20. We recreated the iconic Thriller video for Halloween
In our spookiest endeavour yet, the marketing team were well underway to bring a terrifying but terrific recreation of Michael Jackson’s Thriller video. Graphic Designer Luke Meeks directed, choreographed and edited the video to let everyone know that recruiting doesn't have to be a nightmare!
Complete with scary makeup and costumes, Spencer Clarke Group employees pulled out their best dance moves including Recruitment Consultant Destiny Buck who took on the role of Michael Jackson.
21. We became APSCo+ accredited
In 2023, we became APSCo+ accredited (with a first time score of 99.58%) which is the best practice quality standard for recruitment businesses and compels members to go above and beyond statutory safeguarding standards. Becoming APSCO+ accredited is testament to our commitment to excellence within our field.
Business Manager, Thomas Humphreys, said, “This accreditation is particularly significant for us, as it comes at a time when the education sector is facing a number of challenges, including teacher shortages and increasing regulation. We are proud to be able to demonstrate our commitment to compliance and to helping our clients meet their recruitment needs in a safe and compliant way.”
22. We had some personal celebrations
It’s not just the employee headcount that has grown in 2023, there have been some personal celebrations!
Jimmy Callagher, Joseph Chanter, Chris Wilkinson, Sam Stanton and Joe O’Halloran all had babies this year, three of these being first time fathers! Back in June, our Graphic Designer, Luke Meeks, also tied the knot!
23. We turned 6!
We celebrated another great business milestone with our 6th birthday/workiversary! We’ve come a long way in 6 years from the growth in numbers and space, to our achievements and accomplishments as a team.
We have even more plans for our seventh year so stay tuned! Here’s to 2024!
Who is Spencer Clarke Group?
Since 2017, we’ve been reshaping and innovating the recruitment industry with the aim to positively impact everyone we encounter; we are driven by our commitment to our candidates and clients.
Recruitment means more to us than matching candidates and clients; we’re passionate about finding candidates the perfect job that can boost their salary and standard of living, as well as improve their work life balance and mental health.
We operate in two sectors:
In eleven specialisms:
Healthcare, Social Care & Nursing
Corporate Functions & Business Support
