James Kingston, Managing Director of Kingston Barnes said “Promoting Kate has been one of my personal highlights since setting up Kingston Barnes. She was the first person we ever hired and has been with us every step of the way. From just the two of us in our tiny office on Park Street taking us to our prestigious office now at Queen Square. Without Kates hard work and efforts Kingston Barnes would not be the company it is today. We have so much to thank Kate for, from the company culture and people we employ, through to the first-class service to our clients and candidates.”
Kates Story
Kate began her career in the construction industry in 1999 at Redcliffe Homes, a bespoke residential developer. During her four years with the company, Kate was able to work alongside key professionals in every department of the business, gaining insights into all aspects of the construction industry.
When a friend suggested that Kate would be a good fit for recruitment, she soon found herself working for HAYS as a Resourcer, finding candidates in the construction industry. Over the next 10 years, Kate had several promotions and worked her way up through the ranks to Senior Business Manager before becoming a mother in 2010, with a second daughter arriving in 2012.
James knew that Kate’s combination of industry experience and talent was just the kind of calibre he was looking for in his new venture, which is why he asked her to join the team in 2013. As Kate puts it, leaving such an established company as a mum to two young girls was, “really quite a gamble” but there was something about the opportunity that I knew I would regret not pursuing it”
Not every recruitment consultancy is flexible enough to accommodate the needs of a working mum and provide career opportunities too, but James was happy to work out a way that meant Kate could bring her contribution to the company and excel both at the work place and at home. The chance to work part time at a senior level meant that Kate didn’t have to choose between her career and family life. The flexibility is one of the things she treasures about working at Kingston Barnes. “I have the flexibility in my career to work around my children. I work extremely hard and James rewards me very well. At times it can be a juggling act but thanks to my support network and the culture at KB they have enabled me to give 100% to my job and be a great mum at the same time”.
Having the best of both worlds
Kate acknowledges that she’s, “very lucky” to find a role that’s been tailored to her, but she also appreciates the way that the day-to-day business is less rigid than the norm. She says that, “It’s refreshing to work for a company that really cares about its staff and what we do. It’s not just a numbers game.”
Being a mother should never be a barrier to your career and Kate is testament that you can be a great mother and achieve in the work place too.
“I think we need to challenge the idea that women have to give up their career to have a family. My position at Kingston Barnes has allowed me to work at a senior level and also have a good work/life balance. I am hugely proud of my journey, through hard work and perseverance I have achieved my promotion to Associate Director and I couldn’t be happier. It has been exciting to be an integral part of Kingston Barnes since day one and I am grateful to James for providing me with the opportunity. I am very fortunate to have the best of both worlds which is extremely hard to come by. I’m looking forward to the future too and continuing my career development as we continue to expand.
Could you be a part of the Kingston Barnes journey?
Any team is only as strong as its weakest player – and Kingston Barnes is looking to expand its team of industry expert recruiters right now. If you want to be a part of the journey on the route to success, join the winning team today. If you’re a recruitment specialist, think you can bring value and add a new dimension to the Kingston Barnes team, then we want to hear from you. Call us today on 0117 325 2233 or email us at office@kingstonbarnes.com
