One of Yorkshire’s best-known personalities in the recruitment industry has announced her retirement, 24 years after becoming the MD of Scarborough-based Castle Employment Group.
Suzanne Burnett took control of Castle in 1997. She says:
“At the time we had two staff and one small office. Now we’ve 40 staff, two offices in Scarborough, other offices in York and Hull and several members of the team working remotely.”
Castle Employment has won numerous awards over the years and earlier this year was named by investment bank J P Morgan as one of the Top 100 Female-Led Businesses in the UK.
What’s the biggest change Suzanne has seen in her 24 years? “It would be easy to say ‘technology,’” she said.
“When I took over at Castle the business was based on the Rolodex. We had two – one for the clients and one for the candidates. But the real answer is speed, especially speed of communication. I’ve seen the industry go from leaving messages on answerphones to clients watching remote interviews with candidates in real time.”
As well as building Castle into one of Yorkshire’s leading recruitment companies, Suzanne has also played a key role in many business forums, including a year as Chair of the Leeds and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce. She has also lobbied MPs and parliament on regional business issues and on behalf of the recruitment industry.
Suzanne adds:
“Our industry hasn’t always had the best press, I’ve tried to promote it – and set the record straight on several occasions.”
What will she miss most?
“I’ve had the privilege of working with a wonderful team, they’ve almost been a second family. And I’ve made many, many friends in business. I’ll miss them all, but there’s a right time to step down and for me this is it.”
In recent years, Castle has become one of the biggest independent recruitment agencies in the region, supporting companies in its coastal heartland as well as major international businesses across Yorkshire.
Suzanne said:
“I hope I’ve played my part in promoting the interests of Scarborough, and the wider regional business community.
“Castle will continue to grow, investing in people and the latest technology to ensure a first-class recruitment service for businesses across Yorkshire.
“As the UK economy gradually recovers from the pandemic, you can be confident the Castle team will be there to support businesses as it always has.”
Suzanne will now devote her time to her family and her work with local charities, leaving Castle Employment in the hands of Kerry Hope who took over as MD in 2017, becoming the fourth female MD in the company’s 55-year history.
Kerry said:
“These are exciting and challenging times for the recruitment industry, we’re determined the take the opportunity with both hands and write the next chapter in Castle’s story.”
“I and the whole team want to thank Suzanne for her incredible stewardship and support over the past 24 years. She is part of the Castle family and we all wish her the best in her exciting new chapter.”
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