Ashleigh's Story

Ashleigh is a Senior Consultant in our town planning team. She joined us in 2023 after switching to a career in recruitment. Since then, she has been promoted and is consistently a top performer with a winning mindset.

What initially attracted you to Carrington West and a career in recruitment?

Before joining Carrington West, I had been working in law for 4 years after completing my degree. I wasn’t enjoying it, I wanted to earn more money and I was looking to move out. That’s when I looked into a career in recruitment. I like being around people and already knew a people working here. The culture really sold it to me, and I’d seen that it was had won awards for being one of the best places to work, which really drew me in.

What do you enjoy most about your career in recruitment?

I really enjoy the control I have over my work. In recruitment you’re very much in control of your own work and outcomes. If you’re not putting the effort in, you’re not going to get the reward. But being able to have control over what you can do and your desk is great.

Tell me about a key skill you’ve learned since starting the role.

Since starting I’ve learned how to negotiate, it sounds a lot easier than it actually is! When you work in recruitment, you have to be really good at negotiation, it’s a key part of the role.

What are some of the challenges you have faced working in recruitment?

Setbacks and dead ends. You can put a lot of work into something and not get anything back which can be frustrating. However it’s important to have a positive mindset, there’s always going to be something better that comes out of it.

What are you most proud of in your career so far at Carrington West?

I started with no recruitment experience, so I came in right at the bottom. Since then, I’ve learned a lot about the town planning industry and recruitment in general. Being promoted to senior consultant in under 2 years and being up there as one of the top performers is something I’m really proud of!

What helps you perform at your best each day?

Apart from a cup of coffee in the morning, having a clear goal helps me. I need to come into work and know what I’m going to do for the day. Having a clear goal of what I need to do and the path I want to face, even if it’s not for that day, but knowing what I want to achieve by the end of the month, quarter or year, it really helps.

What advice would you give to someone considering a career in recruitment?

Just do it. It was quite scary to make such a change from a career that I’d been to university for. In recruitment you need to be a bit more creative, and you make your own money. If you want to earn good money, you have to go out and get it. It can be quite daunting, but just do it and ask lots of questions, no question is a bad question.

What’s next?

Hopefully another promotion. Lead consultant is next and then just up from there. I’m just trying to stick at the top and to stay as one of the biggest perm billers!

Pictured: Ashleigh receiving her Biggest Perm Biller Award at the 2025 End of Year Company Update.

2013 Shortlisted Best Newcomer - Global Recruiter Awards

2013 Winner Best Start-Up - Business Excellence Awards

2014 Finalist Best Small Business -Business Excellence Awards

2014 Shortlisted Best Company to Work For (under 50 people) - IRP Awards

2014 Shortlisted Best New Agency - Recruiter Awards

2015 Shortlisted Best Company to Work For (under 50 people) - IRP Awards

2016 Highly Commended - Best Temporary Consultant Blayne Cahill

2016 Winner Best Company to Work For (under 50 people) - IRP Awards

2017 Finalist Best Employer - Business Excellence Awards

2017 Finalist Best Newcomer Ryan Williamson - IRP Awards

2017 Shortlisted Best Company to Work For (under 50 people) - IRP Awards

2017 Winner Best Temporary Consultant Blayne Cahill - IRP Awards

2018 Finalist Best Company to Work For (under 50 people) - IRP Awards

2018 No. 74 in the Recruiter HOT 100

2018 Winner Best Medium/Large Business - Business News Awards

2019 No. 72 in the Recruiter HOT 100

2019 Shortlisted Best Newcomer Krishan Adams - IRP Award

2019 Shortlisted Best Office Support - IRP Awards

2019 Shortlisted Best Temporary Consultant Ilya Donets - IRP Award

2019 Winner Best Company to Work For (under 50 people) - IRP Awards

2019 Winner Employer of the Year - Business Excellence Awards

2020 Shortlisted Best Engineering Recruitment Agency - Recruiter Awards

2020 Shortlisted in Two Categories

2020 Winner Best Learning & Development Programme (under 250)

2021 - Highly Commended, Ryan Williamson

2021 - Shortlisted in 2 Categories

2021 - Shortlisted in 3 Categories

2021 - Shortlisted in 4 Categories

2021 Highly Commended Best Company to Work For (Over 50)

2021 Highly Commended Temporary Recruiter of the Year - Ilya Donets

2021 Ranked no. 78 in the top 100 recruitment agencies in the UK

2021 Shortlisted in 3 Categories

2021 Top 250 companies in the Solent

2021 Winner Best Learning & Development Programme

2022 Cameron De Wit - Temporary Consultant of the Year

2022 Employee Engagement Award

2022 Highly Commended - Best Company to Work for

2022 In-House Training Award

2022 Number 25 in the Recruiter Fast 50

2022 Oliver Gooch - Temporary Consultant of the Year

2022 Platinum Employer of the Year (50-249)

2022 Shared Services Team of the Year

2022 Shortlisted in 3 categories

2022 Shortlisted in 5 Categories

2022 Top 250 companies in the Solent

2022 Winner Large Company of the Year

2022 Winner Training Programme of the Year

2023 Emily Christmas - HR Person of the Year

2023 Highly Commended - Best Employer Brand

2023 Highly Commended Oliver Gooch - Best Temporary Consultant

2023 Liam Shea- Best Newcomer in Temporary Recruitment

2023 Number 34 in the Fast 50 List

2023 People Development Business Award

2023 Shortlisted in 3 categories

2023 Shortlisted in 4 categories

2023 Shortlisted in 8 categories

2023 Top 10 Places to Work UK (Medium)

2023 Winner Reward and Recognition Award

2024 Finalist Employer of the Year

2024 Highly Commended Luke Clifford - Temporary Recruiter of the Year

2024 Number 61 in the Hot 100 List

2024 Top 250 companies in the Solent

2025 Best Management Services Business (Medium)

2025 Nominated in 3 Categories

2025 Number 32 in the Fast 50 List

2025 Top 10 Places to Work (Medium)

Best Culture Award

Permanent Recruiter of the Year - Patrick Gray

REC Awards

The News Advanced Apprentice of the Year - Morgan Rees

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