Two growing, privately owned York based companies founded in 2014, providing services to the Energy and Planning & Landscape Architecture industries, respectively.
The Challenge
We were introduced to the CFO at Apatura via a mutual connection from a Finance recruitment business as he and the CEO had made the decision to appoint their first Head of People to come in and formally set up their HR function as they were on an upward growth trajectory. In an ideal world, they wanted someone who’d worked in an SME environment previously, that understood the nuances of working in a growing company and someone consultative, values driven and collaborative like the rest of the team. Ideally, they were looking to appoint a part-time candidate as they’re an employer who truly embraces flexible hybrid working.
The Outcome
We ended up placing a fantastic People & Culture Manager, who has proven to be an excellent cultural fit for Apatura. Although their background was in larger organisations, their approach to HR and their values aligned perfectly with the business. Following this placement, the new People & Culture Manager hired an HR Assistant via the team at Fólk.
We were then fortunate to be asked to support the recruitment of a People & Culture Manager for their sister company, AAH Consultants, which we filled with another part-time candidate to help AAH establish its HR function.
James Perry – CFO
I really valued working with Folk. They asked probing questions to help shape the search and understand our requirements, even advising on elements of the job description and title. Throughout the process, they provided excellent insight on the candidates, both before and after the interviews, which really helped clarify our needs and support confident decision-making. Our Head of People was an exceptional find and has been transformative for our business.
Jennifer Boughen – People & Culture Manager
I highly recommend Folk Recruitment to anyone seeking a new role.
From my very first conversation with Neil, it was clear that Folk operated differently.
Their focus wasn’t just on matching me to a vacancy, but on understanding my experience, my aspirations, and the kind of environment in which I’d thrive. Their communication throughout the process was exceptional, consistent, transparent, and always with my best interests at heart.
Returning to the UK HR market after 11 years abroad and a period of maternity leave felt intimidating. I was unsure how my experience would translate and where to position myself in the market. Neil took the time to really listen. He encouraged me to believe in my skills, to back myself, and ultimately gave me the confidence I needed to pursue a role outside of my previous sector.
That support made all the difference, and I’m now in a position that not only aligns with my professional goals, but one that I genuinely love.
What sets Neil and Folk Recruitment apart is the human element. Neil was down-to-earth and honest from the outset. There was never a sense of being ‘just another candidate’.
