The Team

Professional experience - I'm a recruitment specialist with 19 years of experience, recruiting for a variety of people and organisations.

I started Three Bridges Recruitment in 2017, spending the first four years learning the ropes of running a business the hard way. Since 2021, I've had the pleasure of teaming up with Neil Woodley, and together we've grown our team to six. Running a small recruitment business has its challenges, but I'm truly passionate about offering an innovative and straightforward service to people.

My journey in recruitment started in 2005 and I have worked with some of the UK's biggest firms.  While those roles involved managing teams, I've always been hands-on with filling vacancies and working directly with clients. I love driving value and change within organisations and have been told I have an uncanny knack for remembering people's names and their stories.

Hobbies/interests - I am an avid runner and have run multiple marathons; I enjoy sport.  I also particularly enjoy self-improvement, which lead me to study towards a power MBA.  Over the last few years I have been a Scout Leader and have really enjoyed giving back to something I received so much from when I was younger. 

Favourite book or movie & why - I find this one quite hard, so I am going to cheat by giving two answers!  

I am a regular "Self-Help" book reader.  I have recently read Indistractable by Nir Eyal.  This book is great for those who want to better manage their time.  I could resonate with most of the book (not sure whether that is a good thing or not!).  The book offers some very simple, but very powerful actionable strategies to improve my focus.  It's definitely helped me with my work-life balance, which is great.

In terms of fiction I love Irvine Welsh and would probably say Trainspotting is my favourite book.  It's funny, intelligent, socially relevant and is able to navigate a serious subject in an engaging way.

Someone you find inspirational & why - Ernest Shackleton's endurance and perseverance is one of the most remarkable stories.  I appreciate this is quite old story and one of a by gone age.  But for me there’s a lot that can be learned from him.

For those that don’t know the story,  Shackleton led an Antarctic Expedition with the goal of making the first land crossing of the Antarctic. His ship, the Endurance, became trapped in ice and was eventually crushed, leaving the crew stranded.  Shackleton's leadership in the face of adversity was extraordinary. Instead of surrendering to despair, he kept his crew's spirits high, leading them on a dangerous journey over ice and open ocean for an 800-mile journey in lifeboats to reach Elephant Island.

 

Realising that rescue was unlikely without help, Shackleton and group of five others then made an incredible 800-mile open boat journey across the Southern Ocean to South Georgia. From there, they crossed the island to reach a whaling station. Eventually, Shackleton was able to rescue all of his crew members, with no fatalities.  

Now what inspiration do I take from this.  Well first up, I’m not about to go exploring in the Antarctic and I’ll stick to running rather than 800 mile journeys.  BUT Shackleton's story reminds me that with determination, teamwork, and a clear focus even the most daunting challenges can be overcome. It’s also really inspiring when thinking through uncertainty, adapting to change, and leading with courage, selflessness and integrity can lead to remarkable achievements.  If I can be even a little bit like him, that would be great.

Professional Experience - Before co-founding Three Bridges Recruitment, I spent 11 years with larger agencies, where I honed my skills in building and leading teams, developing new areas of business, and supporting diverse organisations across the UK.

During the pandemic, I seized the opportunity to apply my knowledge and skills to develop a charity’s fundraising income. This experience broadened my perspective and reinforced my commitment to making a positive social impact.

I’m now focussing on expanding our presence to organisations and finance professionals throughout Scotland, ensuring that we remain the best value recruiter.  I also enjoy leveraging cutting-edge technologies to navigate the ever-evolving landscape of recruitment. My goal is to continuously enhance our services and deliver exceptional value to everyone we work with.

Hobbies/interests - Outside of work, I have a passion for staying active and exploring the world. Fitness is a key part of my daily routine – from running to weight training to yoga!  Of course, all the food and drink I consume whilst travelling quickly undoes all the hard work.  Most of all, I find joy and adventure in being with my partner and two boys.  They keep me simultaneously grounded, inspired, and remind me what is important in life. 

Favourite book or movie & why - I have recently finished The Time of Our Singing by Richard Powers.  I bought this book years ago, put it down after 50 pages and let it gather dust.  It has now been returned to the bookcase, complete!  It is a challenging read, however it’s worth persevering.  The depth of knowledge on music, science and history is captivating.  He weaves this into a vivid narrative about prejudice and an insight into the complexity of human relationships.  All themes remain very topical. 

Someone you find inspirational & why –Rory Stewart – his worldview and values align closely with my own, and he has a superb ability to articulate both sides of a complex argument with clarity and precision. I also admire him for his bravery, in particular, his death-defying walk across Afghanistan in 2002. He is determined to make the world more equitable, all the while, in an understated nature with minimal ego. Check out the Leading interview with Anthony Scaramucci - a superb example of powerhouse communication.

Professional experience - I have worked as a Recruitment and Talent Acquisition specialist for 25 years for recruitment agencies and in-house recruitment.  I have successfully delivered a wide range of recruitment solutions in a range of business environments.

For many years on the agency side, I was a key member of the senior management team at RZ Group, where I had full delivery responsibility for the company’s Scottish operations.  More recently, I spent a fulfilling two years working in-house in contract roles, including a very interesting project managing recruitment for a global Finance Transformation programme with Computershare.  

In 2024, I joined the fantastic team at Three Bridges Recruitment where I  manage recruitment delivery, connecting talented Finance and Accountancy professionals with some of the best opportunities in the market.

Hobbies/interests - I am a family man and spend much of my “free” time taxiing my two kids from A to B.  I am an avid sports fan and, when time allows, I enjoy playing and watching football or a round of golf.

Favourite book or movie & why - I loved the Star Wars films growing up and I have enjoyed rewatching these with my kids more recently.

Someone you find inspirational & why - Doddie Weir – his courage and bravery as he fought for better research and care for those battling MND, whilst battling the disease himself, remains truly inspirational.

Professional background – I joined TBR to help with marketing and general admin, this was in 2022 when the company was just James and Neil. After a couple of weeks, I was speaking to candidates and made the shift into a delivery consultant. Two years, three new employees and a new office later, I am regularly helping candidates and clients with their searches.  

Hobbies/interests – I am very interested in motorsport and vintage car racing, watching F1 and borrowing cars that I can’t afford to drive are up there with my favourite things to do. I’ve also been an avid rock climber for ten years, bouldering twice a week and trying to get outdoors as much as possible.

Favourite book or movie & why – My favourite book is a novel called “A long petal of the sea” by Chilean author Isabel Allende. It’s based during the Spanish civil war and tells the stories of the subsequent surge of refugees traveling to South America during the 1930s. I highly recommend this book to anyone, it’s gripping, informative and often uplifting.

Someone you find inspirational & why – Yvon Chouinard, American rock climber and founder of the global company Patagonia, recently donated the entire company and its past and future profits to helping fight climate change.

Professional experience - I originally came from a sales background & worked as a Dior Rep for 5 years. I am originally from Aberdeen and moved to Edinburgh after completing my BA (Hons) Business with HR degree. I joined the team in August 2023 I work on transactional accounting roles in Edinburgh as well as Payroll roles - (my favourite!)

Hobbies/interests - Going for relaxing walks, spending time with friends. I am a bit of a Sci fi & videogame geek.

Favourite book or movie & why - The Birdcage, its quirky, light-hearted and Albert is hilarious!

Someone you find inspirational & why - Going to go with a fictional character. Captain Kathryn Janeway from Star Trek Voyager, she’s determined, empathic, gets things done and never gives up!

Professional background – Having worked in events, specifically weddings, for a number of years, I changed my career path and took a move into recruitment. Currently, as a Recruitment Coordinator, I serve as the first point of contact for candidates looking for a new role. My role involves managing initial communications, maintaining accurate information in our CRM system and processing new job applications efficiently. This transition has allowed me to use my organisational skills and customer service expertise in a new field.

Hobbies/interests - In my spare time I like to spend time with my little one and taking him on little adventures, especially outdoors. He also loves his food as much as me and his dad so we like to find new places to eat,  different things to try and a glass of wine alongside doesn’t go a miss!

I have an interest in BSL (British Sign Language) and gained qualification Level 1 (SCQF 4) in this a few years back. I would like to go on and complete level 2 in due course.

Favourite book or movie & why - I love the Harry Potter films and have seen them all (and read the books) more times than I care to admit. They take me back to my childhood and bring back fond memories of reading/watching them for the first time. The Harry Potter series is the only fiction books I have read - anything else I read is non fiction, specifically true crime!

Someone you find inspirational & why - Russell Cook. Someone who has struggled in his younger years he has now become an endurance athlete raising over £1m for charity. Showing if you put your mind to it you can achieve anything.