About

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In the beginning...

We started out in 1988, when Sandra Shepherd-Stubbs opened our first office in Bedford. To this day, we’ve stayed true to traditional recruitment values – trust, integrity, and a personal approach. We quickly became known as one of the leading recruitment agencies in the area in Bedfordshire, and as our reputation grew, so did we – opening other local offices in Cambridgeshire and expanding into a variety of new industries.

Sandra is still a key mentor to the business and to our specialist team of recruiters and her original philosophy of treating people right and with respect, remains a core value of the Company.

Meet The Team

Our Philosophy - "It's all about the right people"

This philosophy is what has made us the leading recruitment agency across the regions. We pride ourselves on being friendly, highly capable and reliable. Here at Shepherd Stubbs, we continue to keep one vision in sight - that the recruitment process is all about people.

Understanding and listening are the qualities that make us ultimately more focused in placing the right people in the right jobs. Our reputation and experience over the decades continues to attract an extensive and diverse database of quality, skilled candidates to select from for our clients. We always ensure through our ISO9001 quality procedures that we operate to recruitment industry standards and we have the skills and tools for in-depth interview assessment, testing and personality profiling.

We have the knowledge and ability to supply quality people at a fee structure that represents great value and our continual investment in our systems, processes and people have ensured our enduring success as a business. We’re able to recommend from a wider candidate selection backed by experience and employment knowledge. If you need a recruitment agency and require further information, give is a call and we’ll be happy to help.

Get In Touch

A modern day recruitment agent...

Recruitment has advanced significantly over the last ten years – and so have we! From changing regulations to the rise of digital tools and platforms, we’ve embraced every development to improve the way we work. While we began in Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire, our reach now extends across the UK, supporting both employers and candidates. What’s remained constant is our personal, professional approach – combining decades of experience with a modern mindset to deliver the right results.

Meet the team

We’re a friendly, experienced team who genuinely care about the people we work with. Get to know the team behind Shepherd Stubbs and what drives us every day.

Kate Taylor

Recruitment Specialist - Accounting & Finance

Read Kate's Bio

Kate rejoined Shepherd Stubbs after previously working in our Kettering office. Since then, she has built a broad career across both finance and recruitment, bringing a wealth of experience back to the team.

Her background includes working in practice with Moore Stephens as well as working as a financial controller across industries such as civil engineering, utilities, property maintenance, and hospitality. This combination of recruitment knowledge and hands-on finance experience enables Kate to fully understand the needs of businesses while helping candidates secure roles that best match their skills - from entry-level Accounts Assistants through to qualified Accountants and Finance Directors.

Outside of work, Kate enjoys long walks with her Yellow Labrador, gym classes, and problem-solving challenges such as escape games and puzzles. She can also be found pottering in the garden tending to her plants and vegetables - often while trying to stop the dog from digging them up!

Jonathan Shepherd-Stubbs FCIPD

Director - Human Resources

Read Jonathan's Bio

Having originally set out on a path to be a top performing chef (now a keen home cook and baker instead!), Jonathan went into hotel management, before moving into HR with Forte Hotel Group and then as HR Manager with Cranfield Conference Services Group.

Then moving to the semiconductor/manufacturing sector as HR Manager at Texas Instruments UK, overseeing a management buyout transition from an HR perspective to a new company, Power Innovations.

After completing a post Graduate CIPD Degree, he became the youngest FCIPD Fellow at 30, before meeting Sandra in 1997 and forming ‘Shepherd Stubbs Recruitment’ (from her ‘Sandra Shepherd Recruitment’ business which she started in 1988).

Over the years he has helped the business achieve IIP Investors in People ‘Gold’ status, ISO9000 for its quality management in recruitment processes and for Shepherd Stubbs becoming an accredited centre for national recruitment qualifications.

His focus is now on further developing and expanding the business with a UK wide network of recruitment specialists servicing its widening client base.

Christianah Isaac

Recruitment Specialist - Early Years / Education

Read Christianah's Bio

Christianah graduated from Plymouth university, thereafter, she began her journey in sales and recruitment. She has worked in various industries from finance, to property, to the legal Industry.

Having 2 kids herself, she decided to go into childcare recruitment, recruiting for schools and nurseries and grew an absolute love for this sector.

She has since specialised in the childcare industry, working with top nurseries and providing them with quality staff from unqualified nursery nurses through to nursery managers.

Phil Pacey

Recruitment Specialist - Engineering & Manfacturing

Read Phil's Bio

Phil is an experienced Recruiter in multiple sectors spanning over 7 years. Having had the experience of running two successful Recruitment businesses.

Phil has a vast knowledge of Multi sector Recruitment across the UK and overseas, with expertise in the Engineering and Consumer sectors. He is specialised with helping Employment growth & development with various size companies ranging from Startups, SMEs and Multi-National Corporations. It has always been within his key interest to make sure the journey between client and candidate is met with the upmost honesty, integrity & professionalism.

In his spare time, Phil’s life will often revolve around his dog Neville who is a Miniature Dachshund and therefore needs attention almost all the time. When Neville can live without his owner for 5 minutes, Phil enjoys Reading, Self-improvement, Sports and family time.

Sandra Shepherd-Stubbs FREC

Director & Founder - Admin & Customer Service

Read Sandra's Bio

Sandra started her career as an Apprentice Hairdresser and after having her family she returned to work in various companies in Bedford in a variety of roles including Accounts Assistant (not her forte!) Marketing and Internal Sales.

She saw an advertisement for a Recruitment Consultant for a company opening its 9th office in Luton - they were Select Appointments. On joining the company, she knew from day one she had found ‘her thing’. She spent almost 6 years there, latterly as the Manager. In 1988, she decided she could probably do it herself in Bedford.

A good friend helped put together a Business Plan, she approached the Bank and in exchange for an overdraft gave them a charge on her house (Eeek!). She opened ‘Sandra Shepherd Recruitment’ in Castle Lane and the rest is history!

…and she is still passionate about finding people jobs!!

Abbie and Maisie

Back Office Team - General Dogsbodies

Read Abbie & Maisie's Bio

Our bi-lingual back office team are rescue dogs from Spain, happy to be spoken to in Spanish or English!

Abbie……a connoisseur of belly rubs and squirrel surveillance, never quite fast enough to catch one, she loves her walks and loves sniffing every blade of grass, she is never far from the kitchen when there’s a possibility of a surreptitious treat.

Maisie, ‘the Mum’ on the other hand is a self proclaimed ‘snoozer’, happy to take things easy although she also enjoys a run round the park letting the wind fan her ears.

In their downtime, Abbie and Maisie can be found snoring in the office dreaming (probably about food) and engaging in synchronised tail wagging!

Olivia O'Neill

Recruitment Specialist - Construction

Read Olivia's Bio

Olivia is a business development and recruitment professional with over 15 years in the industry, the last 8 working in-house in the construction sector.

With a keen interest in psychology and wellbeing, Olivia brings a people first approach to the recruitment process - building long-term relationships with both candidates and clients.

Now with Shepherd Stubbs, Olivia is looking forward to leading the charge in expanding the construction recruitment division, drawing on her experience and network to drive growth and connect people.

Outside the office Olivia loves sports and travel, often combining the two to travel the world participating in a variety of athletic adventures.

Harrison Smith

Recruitment Director - Engineering & Manufacturing

Read Harrison's Bio

Starting his recruitment career in 2007, Harrison joined a London trades and labour recruitment agency.

Unfortunately for Harrison, the requirement for bricklayers and the like was hit severely as a result of the 2008 UK financial crisis.

Falling back on his business academic qualifications, he joined Carter Clark Financial Recovery with the long-term ambition of becoming a qualified Insolvency Practitioner. Over 8 years Harrison managed many Bankruptcies, Company Liquidations and Administrations.

At a turning point in his career in 2016 Harrison decided that he no longer wanted to manage the financial difficulties of others but to help people in a different way. Having already had a taste of recruitment, he always had the desire to return.

In 2016, he joined the DPS Group to specialise in recruiting for the engineering sector. Over the following 9 years he has serviced many blue-chip companies across the Pharmaceutical, Manufacturing, Chemical and Energy sectors.

Now as Recruitment Director for Shepherd Stubbs, he is focused on taking the business forward and continuing to help bring people together.

Imane Sahnoun

Recruitment Specialist - Early Years / Education

Read Imane's Bio

Imane is a fully qualified secondary school teacher with a strong understanding of safeguarding, child development and the importance of high-quality early years provision. Her background in education allows her to recognise the personal qualities that make an effective nursery practitioner, beyond qualifications alone.

She chose to specialise in early years recruitment to support nurseries in finding reliable, committed staff who are the right fit for both the setting and the children. Imane takes a careful, people-focused approach to recruitment, ensuring candidates are well-screened and aligned with each nursery’s values and standards.

Meet the team

We’re a friendly, experienced team who genuinely care about the people we work with. Get to know the team behind Shepherd Stubbs and what drives us every day.

Kate Taylor

Recruitment Specialist Accounting And Finance

Read Kate's Bio

Phil Pacey

Recruitment Specialist - Engineering & Manfacturing

Read Phil's Bio

Phil is an experienced Recruiter in multiple sectors spanning over 7 years. Having had the experience of running two successful Recruitment businesses.

Olivia O'Neill

Recruitment Specialist - Construction

Read Olivia's Bio

Olivia is a business development and recruitment professional with over 15 years in the industry, the last 8 working in-house in the construction sector.

With a keen interest in psychology and wellbeing, Olivia brings a people first approach to the recruitment process - building long-term relationships with both candidates and clients.

Now with Shepherd Stubbs, Olivia is looking forward to leading the charge in expanding the construction recruitment division, drawing on her experience and network to drive growth and connect people.

Outside the office Olivia loves sports and travel, often combining the two to travel the world participating in a variety of athletic adventures.

Jonathan Shepherd-Stubbs FCIPD

Director - Human Resources

Read Jonathan's Bio

Having originally set out on a path to be a top performing chef — now a keen home cook and baker instead!

Jonathan went into hotel management, before moving into HR with Forte Hotel Group and then as HR Manager with Cranfield Conference Services Group.

Then moving to the semiconductor/manufacturing sector as HR Manager at Texas Instruments UK, overseeing a management buyout transition from an HR perspective to a new company, Power Innovations.

Over the years he has helped the business achieve IIP Investors in People ‘Gold’ status, ISO9000 for its quality management in recruitment processes and Shepherd Stubbs becoming an accredited centre for national recruitment qualifications.

His focus is now on further developing and expanding the business with a UK wide network of recruitment specialists servicing its widening client base.

Sandra Shepherd Stubbs FIRP

Director & Founder - Admin & Customer Service

Read Sandra's Bio

Sandra started her career as an Apprentice Hairdresser, after having her family she returned to work in various companies in Bedford in a variety of roles including Accounts Assistant (not her forte!) Marketing and Internal Sales.

She saw an advertisement for a Recruitment Consultant for a company opening its 9th office in Luton, they were Select Appointments. On joining the company, she knew from day one she had found ‘her thing’. She spent almost 6 years there, latterly as the Manager. In 1988, she decided she could probably do it herself in Bedford.

…and she is still passionate about finding people jobs!!

Harrison Smith

Recruitment Director - Engineering & Manufacturing

Read Harrison's Bio

Starting his recruitment career in 2007, Harrison joined a London trades and labour recruitment agency.

Unfortunately for Harrison, the requirement for bricklayers and the like was hit severely as a result of the 2008 UK financial crisis.

Now as Recruitment Director for Shepherd Stubbs, he is focused on taking the business forward and continuing to help bring people together.

Christianah Isaac

Recruitment Specialist - Early Years / Education

Read Christianah's Bio

Christianah graduated from Plymouth university, thereafter, she began her journey in sales and recruitment. She has worked in various industries from finance, to property, to the legal Industry.

Having 2 kids herself, she decided to go into childcare recruitment, recruiting for schools and nurseries and grew an absolute love for this sector.

She has since specialised in the childcare industry, working with top nurseries and providing them with quality staff from unqualified nursery nurses through to nursery managers.

Abbie and Maisie

Back Office Team - General Dogsbodies

Read Abbie & Maisie's Bio

Our bi-lingual back office team are rescue dogs from Spain, happy to be spoken to in Spanish or English!

Abbie……a connoisseur of belly rubs and squirrel surveillance, never quite fast enough to catch one she loves her walks and loves sniffing every blade of grass, she is never far from the kitchen when there’s a possibility of a surreptitious treat.

Maisie, ‘the Mum’ on the other hand is a self proclaimed ‘snoozer’, happy to take things easy although she also enjoys a run round the park letting the wind fan her ears.

In their downtime, Abbie and Maisie can be found snoring in the office dreaming (probably about food) and engaging in synchronised tail wagging!

Imane Sahnoun

Recruitment Specialist - Early Years / Education

Read Imane's Bio