​We are incredibly proud to announce that Carrington West has been named Employer of the Year at the Portsmouth News Business Excellence Awards 2026.

While we are no stranger to recognition for our work as an engineering recruitment agency and nationwide recruiter, but this award holds a particularly special place in our story. Not only is it a celebration of our people-first culture, but it is also a local accolade in Portsmouth’s centenary year, a city that has been home to Carrington West since day one.

A Win for Our People

From our beginnings in a garage in Southsea in 2011 to becoming a £85 million turnover business with more than 100 employees, our mission has remained the same: to be better. Better as an employer, better as a recruitment partner, and better as a contributor to our community.

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ABOVE: Amanda Ansell, Kirsty Cobb, Gavin Hills and Issi Ware at Guildhal for the Business Awards, prior to the announcement that we had won Employer of the Year.

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The judges recognised that although Carrington West has built a strong reputation within engineering recruitment services and technical recruitment, we continue to evolve. In particular, they highlighted:

•Our ongoing commitment to learning and development

•Exceptional employee engagement

•A genuine, embedded “People First” culture

•A consistent focus on putting our people at the centre of every decision

For over 15 years, we have invested heavily in structured progression pathways, professional qualifications, leadership development and personalised coaching. Our bespoke learning and development platform, significant investment in annual external training, and a full-time in-house trainer are just part of the infrastructure that supports our teams .

More importantly, our culture is shaped by listening. Through structured pulse surveys, regular forums and transparent business updates, our people influence the direction of the company every day. Over 30,000 data points are analysed annually to ensure we respond in real time to feedback.

This award reflects the collective effort of every individual across Carrington West recruitment, from our consultants and compliance teams to marketing, finance and leadership.

Why This Award Matters

Winning Employer of the Year is always an honour. Winning it in Portsmouth, during the city’s centenary year, is something else entirely.

Our connection to the local community runs deep. We have grown alongside Portsmouth, supported local charities, partnered with the University of Portsmouth sports teams, and actively contributed to community initiatives year after year.

Emily Christmas, Head of HR, commented:

“This award belongs to our whole team. Our people-first philosophy isn’t a slogan, it’s a strategy we have refined for more than a decade, and everyone in the business buys into it. The judges’ feedback about our commitment to learning, engagement and belonging truly validates the work we do every day.”

Amanda Ansell, Marketing Director at Carrington West, added:

“We are absolutely thrilled to be named Employer of the Year. As a business founded here, this city is part of our identity. Our employer brand is recognised across the city and although we know that benefits us, we hope it also highlights what a great city Portsmouth is to live and work.”

Winning Employer of the Year is not a finish line. It is motivation to continue to improve in all areas.

As we continue to grow our engineering recruitment services across highways, rail, water, nuclear, buildings, housing, property and town planning, our commitment remains unwavering. We are immensely proud of what this award represents, not just past achievements, but a sustainable, people-led future.

Thank you to everyone involved and to our entire team, past, present and future.

If you're interested in working for an award-winning company that truly puts its' people first, look no further. Check out our careers page here: https://www.carringtonwest.com/careers

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