Meet The Team

Our Sectors

Accounts | Administration | Construction | Dental | Engineering | HR | IT&Tech | Sales & Marketing

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.

Olivia O’Neill

Recruitment Specialist - Construction

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.

George De Mendonca

Recruitment Specialist - Tech

George began his career in talent acquisition in 2015 and brings over a decade of experience in technical, specialist and executive recruitment across IT, Finance, iGaming and Fintech.

With a strong track record of scaling high-performing teams in fast-paced, regulated environments, George has a deep understanding of both the technical skill sets required and the cultural fit needed to deliver lasting impact. He has successfully supported major growth initiatives, including scaling Finance, Audit and IT teams at Digital Outsource ahead of their NYSE listing and SOX compliance, as well as delivering global talent acquisition projects for Microsoft across the Middle East, Africa and Southern Europe.

When he is not working, George enjoys the Cape Town lifestyle — staying active in the gym, outdoors, exploring the mountains and coastline and spending quality time with family and friends.

Marianne Sadler

Recruitment Specialist - IT

Marianne began her career in recruitment in 2006 and brings over a decade of experience across a diverse range of industries. Having knowledge of IT, Supply Chain and Finance positions gives her a broad understanding of both technical and commercial roles and the people behind them.

In 2016 Marianne took a break from recruitment to join a magazine company, attending industry events, writing articles, and creating social media content. The experience strengthened her communication skills and deepened her interest in branding and relationship building. In 2020 she was ready to return to recruitment.

When she is not working, Marianne enjoys spending time with her three sons and maintains an active lifestyle: walking, attending the gym and snowboarding.

Kate Taylor

Recruitment Specialist - Accounting & Finance

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!

Lucyna Poryszko

Recruitment Specialist - Dental

Lucyna brings over 20 years of experience within the dental sector, having built her career as a Lead Dental Nurse and Practice Manager before transitioning into recruitment. Her first-hand knowledge of the industry gives her valuable insight into the operational needs of dental practices, the regulatory standards involved, and the type of professionals who thrive in the sector.

With a strong network of contacts and a genuine passion for connecting people, Lucyna is dedicated to supporting both dental professionals seeking their next career move and practices looking to strengthen their teams. Her approachable style, sector expertise, and understanding of what makes the right match have helped establish and grow the dental specialism within Shepherd Stubbs.

Harrison Smith

Recruitment Director - Engineering & Manufacturing

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.

Sandra Shepherd-Stubbs FREC

Director & Founder - Admin & Customer Service

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!!

Jonathan Shepherd-Stubbs FCIPD

Director - Human Resources

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

Abbie and Maisie

Back Office Team - General Dogsbodies

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!