HGV Class 1 Drivers

Industrial Consultant

Ed Poenariu

Professional Questions

What are your greatest achievements?: Placing over 200 candidates in industrial and transport roles in 2024, consistently exceeding KPIs, and building long-term relationships with both clients and candidates.
What motivates you in work?: Matching the right candidate to the right role—seeing how it positively impacts their career and the client’s business. I also thrive on targets and the fast-paced nature of recruitment.
What are your specialist sectors?: Industrial and transport recruitment, including warehousing, logistics, HGV drivers, and manufacturing roles.
What are the biggest challenges that you face on a day to day basis?: Balancing high-volume recruitment demands while maintaining quality placements, and managing candidate and client expectations in a competitive market.
What do you like about working for JT Recruit?: The supportive team culture, strong industry reputation, and the opportunity to work with great clients in the industrial and transport sectors.
What is the best bit of the week for you?: Friday mornings—reviewing the week’s successes, closing deals, and planning for the week ahead with the team.
Why do you like working in recruitment?: I enjoy the people-focused aspect—helping candidates find their next role and clients secure top talent. No two days are the same, and the rewards are both financial and personal.
Why did you decide to move into recruitment?: I enjoy the people-focused aspect—helping candidates find their next role and clients secure top talent. No two days are the same, and the rewards are both financial and personal.

Personal Questions

What are your hobbies and interests?: Travelling, going for long walks, weekends slow living.
Favourite band: Fred again.. I love how his music blends raw emotion with electronic beats, perfect for both relaxing and energising!
Favourite destination: Italy. Anywhere Italy. But if I had to choose one it would certainly be Rome.
Favourite food: Eggs Benedict—nothing beats a perfectly poached egg with creamy hollandaise on a lazy weekend morning!
Favourite TV programme: Peaky Blinders—love the drama, style, and Birmingham connections!
Favourite joke: Doing something around the house today.. It’s only going to take 5 minutes.
If you could choose any car then what would it be and why?: BMW M8 sleek design, powerful performance, and just an all-round dream car.
What would be a perfect day out of work?: A sunny day at a beach club abroad, followed by a great meal with friends and family.
What is you next big ambition in life?: To keep growing professionally, take on leadership opportunities in recruitment, and travel to at least five new countries in the next few years.

Industrial Consultant

Deni Slivkova

Professional Questions

When did you start working at JT Recruit?: January 2024
What are your greatest achievements?: Hm…moving to Derby after living in London for 24 years
What motivates you in work?: Work colleagues and the chase that leads to greatness!
What are your specialist sectors?: Industrial
What are the biggest challenges that you face on a day to day basis?: Keeping everyone happy
What do you like about working for JT Recruit?: I like my team (They are the best) the environment, and I like that I have a 360 Recruitment Role which gives me flexibility
What is the best bit of the week for you?: Fat Fridays!
Why do you like working in recruitment?: This is my 3^rd Recruitment role and I just cant get enough…I like the chase, the challenges, the success and even the let downs as its all part of the role
Why did you decide to move into recruitment?

Personal Questions

What are your hobbies and interests?: Baking, visiting new places and exploring
Favourite band: No favourite band unfortunately, BUT a lot of good different artists such as Sia and Bebe
Favourite destination: So far, I would have to say Antalya (The land of Legends) soooo Magical!
Favourite food: I eat everything but have to say Italian and Czech Food!
Favourite TV programme: Lots of shows, Stranger things, Greys Anatomy, Orange is the new Black, Dynasty and a lot more
Favourite joke: What do you call a hippie’s wife? Mississippi.
If you could choose any car then what would it be and why?: Definitely a White Range Rover with blacked out windows
What would be a perfect day out of work?: Spa day with a bottle of prosecco, followed by a nice dinner and a walk.
What is you next big ambition in life?: Buying a home and going to the Dominican Republic

Payroll Administrator

Linda Tebbutt

Professional Questions

When did you start working at JT Recruit?: 8th December 2022
What are your greatest achievements?: My daughter
What motivates you in work?: The people I work with and the environment – it’s so important to feel happy in a workplace!
What are your specialist sectors?: Payroll and Marketing
What are the biggest challenges that you face on a day to day basis?: Getting people to stick to a deadline and avoiding office snacks!!
What do you like about working for JT Recruit?: I love my office and our team!
What is the best bit of the week for you?: Wednesdays – when the office dog, Dougal, comes in!
Why do you like about working in recruitment?: Yes, I love how fast paced things are.
Why did you decide to move into recruitment?: I was previously an Estate Agent and it felt like a natural migration!

Personal Questions

What are your hobbies and interests?: Travelling and going to gigs
Favourite band: Ooo I have two – Motley Crue and Bring me the horizon
Favourite destination: Cornwall or Italy
Favourite food: Nachos – I could eat them anytime, any day!
Favourite TV programme: Game of thrones or The Witcher ( I can’t choose!)
Favourite joke: What do you call a man with no arms, no legs and in water.. BOB!
If you could choose any car then what would it be and why?: A fully refurbished Original Mini Cooper Convertible! I had a 2004 Mini Cooper Convertible last year but she packed up on me (her name was Nana Mol)
What would be a perfect day out of work?: Theme park day
What is you next big ambition in life?: We bought a TentBox at the end of last summer and we want to travel all over Europe in it with our daughter and dogs!

Consultant

Jodie Taylor

Professional Questions

When did you start working at JT Recruit?: 22nd November 2021
What are your greatest achievements?: My Daughter
What motivates you in work?: Helping people, achieving set goals and again my daughter
What are your specialist sectors?: Commercial
What are the biggest challenges that you face on a day to day basis?: Not to eat junk all day whilst in the office…
What do you like about working for JT Recruit?: The people are amazing, and they are also amazing at what we they do.
What is the best bit of the week for you?: I love a Friday! You can look back on what you have achieved whilst looking forwards to the weekend.
Why do you like about working in recruitment?: Meeting new people
Why did you decide to move into recruitment?: I had previously done some recruitment work within my old job, and I really enjoyed it. I also wanted a new change and new challenge.

Personal Questions

What are your hobbies and interests?: I enjoy spending time with my family and socialising with friends.
Favourite band: Not band but singer – Adele
Favourite destination: Tenerife
Favourite food: Very hard question as I LOVE so many but Crisps or Pasta!
Favourite TV programme: Friday night dinner – If you haven’t watched it, you need to!
Favourite joke: What did the shark say when he ate the clownfish? This tastes a little funny!
If you could choose any car then what would it be and why?: Range Rover as they look nice haha
What would be a perfect day out of work?: LOVE a spa day!
What is you next big ambition in life?: To buy a house

Recruitment Consultant

Hazel Down

Professional Questions

When did you start working at JT Recruit?: 1st May 2021
What are your greatest achievements?: Old clients moving with me
What motivates you in work?: Success
What are your specialist sectors?: Manufacturing, Engineering, Scientific and Pharmaceutical. But I will pick up anything
What are the biggest challenges that you face on a day to day basis?: To keep away from the chocolate
What do you like about working for JT Recruit?: The people
What is the best bit of the week for you?: The glass of wine on Friday evening
Why do you like about working in recruitment?: The challenge
Why did you decide to move into recruitment?: After working in sales and customer service management for years, I decided I wanted a new challenge.

Personal Questions

What are your hobbies and interests?: Cycling, drawing and attending concerts
Favourite band: The bonzo dog doodah band
Favourite destination: Redes in Galicia
Favourite food: Anything but snails
Favourite TV programme: East enders
Favourite joke: See above
If you could choose any car then what would it be and why?: Porsch 356 speedster, because its beautiful
What would be a perfect day out of work?: Strolling around Venice
What is you next big ambition in life?: To see more of the world

Branch Manager

Jemma Ellison

Professional Questions

When did you start working at JT Recruit?: 14th July 2009
What are your greatest achievements?: Passing my REC exam… Even Jon didn’t believe I did first time!
What motivates you in work?: Plenty of coffee
What are your specialist sectors?: Driving, Industrial
What are the biggest challenges that you face on a day to day basis?: Getting up out of bed, especially when it’s cold
What do you like about working for JT Recruit?: The people… They’re awesome
What is the best bit of the week for you?: Saturday, because I haven’t got to get up early
Why do you like about working in recruitment?: Variety… It’s the spice of life
Why did you decide to move into recruitment?: I don’t know… I was young and naive and was led astray

Personal Questions

What are your hobbies and interests?: I like poetry, walks on the beach & poking dead things with sticks. I also like going out on the motorbike & side car
Favourite band: The Courtneeners
Favourite destination: The Moon, it’s made of cheese
Favourite food: I LOVE all food, except sprouts as they make you guff too much
Favourite TV programme: Embarrassing bodies
Favourite joke: Why did the chicken cross the road? To get to the other side
If you could choose any car then what would it be and why?: Aston Martin DB9, because it’s cooler than an ice cube
What would be a perfect day out of work?: It wouldn’t be perfect if I’m out of work
What is you next big ambition in life?: To take over the world!!

Senior Recruitment Consultant

Kimberley Kirkwood

Professional Questions

When did you start working at JT Recruit?: 9th March 2015
What are your greatest achievements?: Buying home at 19, and having my two boys.
What motivates you in work?: Seeing the daily booking sheets increasing, getting more staff out each day. The satisfaction that you have got someone into work and knowing that it’s a good fit for both them and the client.
What are your specialist sectors?: Driving, Distribution & Warehouse, but I’m a bit of an all round 360 consultant.
What are the biggest challenges that you face on a day to day basis?: Time management, keeping all the plates spinning, ensuring I am spending enough time on each little sector to keep everyone happy.
What do you like about working for JT Recruit?: You are part of a fantastic team with great MD. Feel part of a crazy family.
What is the best bit of the week for you?: Now I am no longer working weekends, I have to be honest and say the quality time I now get to spend with my family. But I love the Sunday night feeling knowing I am going to work Monday morning to somewhere that I really love!
Why do you like about working in recruitment?: No day is ever the same, you get to constantly meet new people with all different personalities and backgrounds. Everyone has a story to tell and you can always learn something new.
Why did you decide to move into recruitment?: When I spotted the vacancy something about it drew me in and it just felt right. I had never worked in recruitment before but excited about learning something new and new challenges.

Personal Questions

What are your hobbies and interests?: I love to read, I am known as a ‘read-a-holic’ by my family, you can give me any type of book and as soon as I’ve read a couple chapters I won’t be able to put it down.
Favourite band: It’s not a band but I love Robbie Williams.
Favourite destination: Walt Disney Wold / Florida. I can’t wait until my boys are old enough to go!
Favourite food: This one is a hard choice, I literally eat anything except olives!
Favourite TV programme: My all-time favourite has to be ‘F.R.I.E.N.D.S’.
Favourite joke: A family of three tomatoes were walking downtown one day when the little baby tomato started lagging behind. The big father tomato walks back to the baby tomato, stomps on her, squashing her into a red paste, and says, “Ketchup!”
If you could choose any car then what would it be and why?: Audi Q7 – I need a big car with two children and two dogs and it’s just a beauty of a car.
What would be a perfect day out of work?: I love family outings with my boys, anywhere where animals and rides are involved. Their current favourite place is ‘West Midlands Safari Park’.
What is you next big ambition in life?: To take over the world.

Branch Manager

Maxine Renshaw

Professional Questions

When did you start working at JT Recruit?: 7th January 2002
What are your greatest achievements?: Working in America for a year as a nanny then travelling around America on a bus called the Green Tortoise
What motivates you in work?: Placing people in work. It’s still nice hearing that scream on the end the phone when you tell them they’ve got the job.
What are your specialist sectors?: Driving sector
What are the biggest challenges that you face on a day to day basis?: None
What do you like about working for JT Recruit?: Because we’re like a big Family, and Jon’s cakes are amazing
What is the best bit of the week for you?: Friday at vodka o clock knowing you have done your best that week
Why do you like about working in recruitment?: You never know what to expect and no day is ever the same
Why did you decide to move into recruitment?: I had just been made redundant when I saw the advert for JT Recruit in the paper. I just knew it was the job for me

Personal Questions

What are your hobbies and interests?: Short breaks away in my caravan… yes caravan and proud
Favourite band: I’m ashamed to say 90’s music… must be an age thing
Favourite destination: Anywhere sunny in my caravan.
Favourite food: Italian food, pasta, pizza, olives and nice cheeses
Favourite TV programme: Hollyoaks… It’s my guilty pleasure, don’t hold it against me
Favourite joke: What do you call a grumpy cow? Moooooooooooooody
If you could choose any car then what would it be and why?: One that doesn’t run out of fuel, need oil putting in or the tyres pumping up
What would be a perfect day out of work?: Shopping, shopping, lunch and more shopping
What is you next big ambition in life?: Winning the lottery

Distribution Recruitment Consultant

Liam McKay

Professional Questions

When did you start working at JT Recruit?: Brand new to the company started my career 24^th of June 2024.
What are your greatest achievements?: Back packing South East Asia and still traveling!
What motivates you in work?: Love having a good chat on the phone.
What are your specialist sectors?: Currently working in the transport sector but have dabbled in warehouse.
What are the biggest challenges that you face on a day to day basis?: Right now, it trying to build my knowledge within the business to make sure I’m providing the right service.
What do you like about working for JT Recruit?: Feels like a family business. Everyone knows everyone and the drivers feel like friends.
What is the best bit of the week for you?: Lunch time!
Why do you like about working in recruitment?: I love talking to drivers and hearing all their stories and making sure I have happy drivers and happy businesses!
Why did you decide to move into recruitment?: I had a good knowledge of warehouse and industrial sector from work experience but surprisingly It was a complete surprise to take my first recruitment job 4 years ago but I instantly felt very comfortable.

Personal Questions

What are your hobbies and interests?

Love traveling and playing on console. Very nerdy.

Favourite band

Changes constantly but right now obsessed with Santigold

Favourite destination

Ive been Thailand 4 times but I recently fell in love with Mexico.

Favourite food

Love a good tuna pasta salad.

Favourite TV programme

Im rewatching Umbrella academy again!

Favourite joke

Why did the scarecrow win an award?

Because he was outstanding in his field!

If you could choose any car then what would it be and why?

I would love a mustang GT! (If my questionnaires good do I win one?)

What would be a perfect day out of work?

Hiking or getting on a flight away

What is you next big ambition in life?

I need a new car

Commercial Recruitment Consultant

Karen East

Professional Questions

What are your greatest achievements?: –
What motivates you in work?: –
What are your specialist sectors?: –
What are the biggest challenges that you face on a day to day basis?: –
What do you like about working for JT Recruit?: –
What is the best bit of the week for you?: –
Why do you like about working in recruitment?: –
Why did you decide to move into recruitment?: –

Personal Questions

What are your hobbies and interests?: –
Favourite band: –
Favourite destination: –
Favourite food: –
Favourite TV programme: –
Favourite joke: –
If you could choose any car then what would it be and why?: –
What would be a perfect day out of work?: –
What is you next big ambition in life?: –

Branch Manager

Becky De Gouveia

Professional Questions

What are your greatest achievements?: Having made a career in recruitment and gaining recognition for being good. On a personal level – having my son.
What motivates you in work?: If you don’t get the job done, it doesn’t get done. Seeing my team develop their own careers.
What are your specialist sectors?: Distribution is my main strength, but have done catering, industrial, commercial and I have some strange thing about recruiting bilingual personnel.
What are the biggest challenges that you face on a day to day basis?: Meeting client demand and keeping everyone happy
What do you like about working for JT Recruit?: The freedom to do my job to the best of my ability.
What is the best bit of the week for you?: Fridays! The end of the week reflects what you have achieved for that week!
Why do you like about working in recruitment?: The variety of the job, having the opportunity to meet new people and see what other businesses do.
Why did you decide to move into recruitment?: It seemed more interesting than a normal 9 – 5 office job at the time!

Personal Questions

What are your hobbies and interests?: Apart from Gin drinking – gardening, ice skating
Favourite band: I don’t have a favourite band as I listen to a wide range of music – but a big Blues fan.
Favourite destination: The most relaxing place is Kefalonia, but I don’t have a favourite as I like to explore where I’ve not been.
Favourite food: Has to be mussels & prawns
Favourite TV programme: I watch very little TV, though ‘Once Upon a Time in America’ is my favourite film. ‘Les Mis’ my favourite show
Favourite joke: Jon’s retiring!
If you could choose any car then what would it be and why?: Porsche Carrera 911 – it’s not a car any girl can drive.
What would be a perfect day out of work?: A day in the garden, in the sun, peace & quiet and gin on tap!
What is you next big ambition in life?: To take the next big step in my career! oh and ice skate in Central Park

Recruitment Team Support Member

Rachel Brown

Professional Questions

When did you start working at JT Recruit?: 21st February 2022
What are your greatest achievements?: Paddle boarding 100km from England and across Wales
What motivates you in work?: I love being busy and being able to help others
What are your specialist sectors?: Transport, Industrial and Medicine
What are the biggest challenges that you face on a day to day basis?: Juggling many things… but I love it like that!
What do you like about working for JT Recruit?: I love being part of a team and the office banter
What is the best bit of the week for you?: When a client needs a driver and I can fill it immediately, making all 3 of us happy.
Why do you like about working in recruitment?: No day is ever the same and I get to talk to so many people…and I’m good at talking!
Why did you decide to move into recruitment?: My children are older now and having always been in the medical profession, I fancied a change.

Personal Questions

What are your hobbies and interests?: My happy place is lying in my hammock reading a book. If not there I am either walking the dog, paddle boarding and cycling when family life allows.
Favourite band: Oh, I love music! How to pick one? Umm, Pink, Queen, Imagine Dragons…anything really that I can sing along to!
Favourite destination: My dream is to one day go on an African Safari
Favourite food: I love anything spicy, so Mexican or Indian food. And of course, chocolate!
Favourite TV programme: Definitely has to be a Crime Drama
Favourite joke: How did the doctor cure the invisible man? He took him to ICU
If you could choose any car then what would it be and why?: It would be a Mini Cooper S with the Works because they are such a brilliantly fun, fast drive but unfortunately, my son was 6ft 2 by the age of 14 so no longer fitted in it!
What would be a perfect day out of work?: A family outing to anywhere that involved animals and rides, loud out of tune singing and lots of laughter.
What is you next big ambition in life?: I would love a campervan and to see more of the world.

Accounts/Payroll Manager

Sarah Palfreeman

Professional Questions

When did you start working at JT Recruit?: 1st July 2021
What are your greatest achievements?: Graduating from university
What motivates you in work?: Doing a job to the best of my abilities
What are your specialist sectors?: Payroll
What are the biggest challenges that you face on a day to day basis?: Getting people to send in their timesheets on time!
What do you like about working for JT Recruit?: The people here are great
What is the best bit of the week for you?: Wednesday afternoon, once payroll has been successfully run
Why do you like about working in recruitment?: I don’t! I work in payroll
Why did you decide to move into recruitment?: I had been a sales administrator for years and fancied something a bit different with new challenges.

Personal Questions

What are your hobbies and interests?: Baking and reading
Favourite band: Florence and the Machine and London Grammar
Favourite destination: I don’t really have one as I like going to new places and exploring different areas
Favourite food: Pizza
Favourite TV programme: Old school favourite is Buffy the Vampire Slayer, current favourite is GBBO
Favourite joke: What kind of shoes do ninjas wear? Sneakers
If you could choose any car then what would it be and why?: Mustang Mach E because it’s an electric car with a decent range
What would be a perfect day out of work?: Getting to see my family (especially my nephews and nieces)
What is you next big ambition in life?: To buy a house

Recruitment Team Support Member

Sarah Ayre

Professional Questions

When did you start working at JT Recruit?: 1st January 2018
What are your greatest achievements?: Professionally, working in the prison service for 8 years! Personally having my son and buying my own home.
What motivates you in work?: Resolving queries and making clients happy.
What are your specialist sectors?: Prison Service and Transport
What are the biggest challenges that you face on a day to day basis?: Providing our customers with clients at short notice.
What do you like about working for JT Recruit?: Definitely the team, great group of people.
What is the best bit of the week for you?: Monday morning at 7 after finishing a weekend shift!!
Why do you like about working in recruitment?: I like that its fast paced and no 2 evenings are the same when you are on call.
Why did you decide to move into recruitment?: Something different!

Personal Questions

What are your hobbies and interests?: Going on days out with my family, cooking, music and watching my son playing football!
Favourite band: I like a variety of music! Guilty pleasure – Sean Paul!
Favourite destination: America – amazing place
Favourite food: Cant beat pizza and curry!
Favourite TV programme: Crime documentaries and Corro!
Favourite joke: Why was 6 afraid of 7? Because 7,8,9!
If you could choose any car then what would it be and why?: Range Rover Evoque, big family car!
What would be a perfect day out of work?: Time spent with my family, nice hot day and a bbq!
What is you next big ambition in life?: To get a new kitchen!!

Managing Director

Jon Thompson Firp Certrp

Professional Questions

When did you start working at JT Recruit?: 1st January 1999
What are your greatest achievements?: Starting JT Recruit on my own and growing it in to what it is today.
What motivates you in work?: I just love recruitment and doing it all professionally.
What are your specialist sectors?: Driving and Industrial
What are the biggest challenges that you face on a day to day basis?: Looking after everyone at JT Recruit and trying to keep everyone moving forward together!
What do you like about working for JT Recruit?: It’s my company! Why wouldn’t I like it!!!
What is the best bit of the week for you?: Monday and Wednesday. Monday as I see all my staff as I go to each branch to discuss last week’s performance, and Wednesday when the last week’s sales and margin figures come out!
What do you like about working in recruitment?: It’s the easiest job in the world if you do it correctly and the people you meet are amazing!
Why did you decide to move into recruitment?: I applied for a job as a recruitment consultant specialising in distribution when I was made redundant from being a warehouse and transport manager, but within a month I was recruiting chefs and pot washers!

Personal Questions

What are your hobbies and interests?: Playing in a brass band, gardening, cycling, going to the gym and socialising.
Favourite band: Currently the Manic Street Preachers and to chill some Neil Young!
Favourite destination: It’s a hotel called Molino del Santo near Rhonda in Spain, as it’s the best place in the world.
Favourite food: Paella
Favourite TV programme: The Apprentice and Hell’s Kitchen
Favourite joke: What do you get when you cross a Tyrannosaurus Rex with fireworks? DINO-MITE!
If you could choose any car then what would it be and why?: Any Aston Martin – just such a great car!
What would be a perfect day out of work?: Having a great relaxing day in the sunshine with friends and some red wine!
What is you next big ambition in life?: To not get any more points on my driving licence!

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