"Separate the wheat from the chaff"
- separate the good from the bad, the valuable from the worthless.
The expression refers to the farming practice of threshing corn in order to separate the worthless husks from the good grain. Someone who, figuratively speaking, separates the wheat from the chaff identifies what is worthwhile in an undertaking and disgards that which is a waste of time.
Our Senior Personnel
Simon Newman – Managing Director
I worked at senior level within the timber & construction products sector for over 20 years before establishing this company in 1995. I had seen a niche in the recruitment market for a company with a high touch approach, where our values and methodology would make sense to clients who were used to a more scattergun approach. Since that date we have built a strong reputation with all our clients (companies and candidates) as being dependable, honest and trustworthy by offering a highly specialised and confidential service based upon the delivery of the right person to an agreed time scale. Outside of my business interests and my family (Kate and I have two wonderful teenage daughters) my time is spent at the gym or pottering around our house and garden. I also love cricket, literature, cinema and my iPod
Kate Newman – Director & Company Secretary
I have been involved in the financial, administrative and company secretarial duties of the company since it started at the same time as bringing up two teenage daughters. When we set up the business in 1995 we wanted an organisation that reflected our values and one that we had never been able to find whilst working for others. We feel we have established a unique culture that does enable people to demonstrate their abilities and realise their full potential while working in a friendly and supportive environment. When not at work my interests include gardening, bird watching, walking, sewing, reading, films and opera, and more recently going to the gym.
Mark Stutely - Sales Director
My early career was spent in the Timber Trade for 12 years, starting as a Sales Representative for the largest timber importer in the UK and finishing as the Operations Manager for Hunter Timber in Hull before I joined Simon and Kate as their first employee in 1996. I specialise in recruiting for the Maintenance Repair and Overhaul (MRO) industry as well as Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), I work with both manufacturers as well as distributors at all levels from Chief Executive to Senior Sales Executive. Other markets we cover include Environmental, Plant and Tool and Insurance Services. Most of my leisure time is spent with my family, Cheryl, Harry and Ben and my "other family" Hullensians Rugby Club were I serve as the Vice Chairman and still manage to pull my boots on for the odd game. I am also involved in raising money through the rugby club for two charities Motor Neurones Disease Association and a local hospice called Dove House Hospice. So far we have raised around £14000 for the two charities.
Denise Griffin – Senior Consultant
My previous career was within the IT sector where I held senior sales positions. I have been both a candidate and client of many recruitment companies, and therefore know from bitter experience what I did not like about the service on offer. After meeting with the directors of this company and discussing their core values and beliefs I felt their service was second to none and one I would expect both as a candidate and a client, so I decided to join them. I started in the manufactured joinery and architectural ironmongery market whilst being mentored by one of the directors; I have since moved in to the integrated security sector. Having worked in the IT industry where security is paramount I have a wealth of knowledge within this sector. Outside of work I am married and have two daughters and three grandchildren. My hobbies include building a Victorian dolls house, cross stitch and encouraging my husband to decorate our home.
Poppy – Mongrel
My name is Poppy (nickname LQD - low quality dog) and I am the office pet and mascot. I live with my parents, Simon and Kate, but they bring me into the office during the day to fulfil my role of guard dog and companion. This means I get to bark at every visitor, passing vehicles, the post man and the Red Arrows who fly overhead. In my role as companion I make a fuss of anyone in the office when I feel they need it and let them take me out for walks when they need a break from the computer or telephones. My hobbies are sleeping, eating and chasing tennis balls and my pet hates are the postman and the vacuum cleaner.