Recruitment
“Chris is a truly one of a kind recruiter. With the reputation that the industry has, it seems like he is on a one man mission to completely change these views. I have been Chris’ client at my last two roles and only wish I would have utilised his expertise sooner. He is the most personable and honest person I’ve dealt with professionally and no matter what day or time I call he is there, arriving on site when needed and integrating himself within the entire project team, and as a result a number of subcontractors are interested in using him and Mane’s services.
In terms of in-depth knowledge he is second to none and his consultative manner has enabled us to deliver multiple cost savings on some of the most important projects there are.
I cannot recommend him enough and he has the vote of everyone here. Congratulations Chris!“
“I nominated Chris for last year’s award where he narrowly missed out on the prize, and this year I have even more reasons to nominate. His professionalism and dedicated to his role has enabled myself and others to excel alongside him and he has been instrumental in developing the company’s reputation as a leader in rail recruitment.
As I have said, Chris is the go-to guy when it comes to white collar recruitment within rail and infrastructure and is an advocate for breaking the mould, offering innovative, proactive recruitment solutions rather than outdated and traditional methods. He has helped to champion the company’s social media campaigns and has helped Mane become one of the most socially engaged recruitment companies worldwide, on top of his endless charity commitments and other responsibilities many would deem unnecessary.
In short, Chris fully deserves his nomination (again) for Recruiter of the Year and hope this year he goes one step further.“
“When I first met Chris a few years ago, I was impressed by a lot of things, but mostly his complete enthusiasm to help people and just get the job done.
2 years later, we work with Chris & Mane on Tier 1 supplier basis and have rarely had the need to use another recruiter across any of our rail (and construction) projects across the UK. With some of these being extremely complex projects with plenty of external regulation (such as Network Rails OLE Scheme), Chris and the team have delivered excellent results in some of the remote parts of the country and delivered countless cost and time savings. His attention to detail, transparency and absolute determination ensures that our projects are delivered properly, on time, on budget and in a collaborative manner.
Chris is ultimately great at what he does and has actually allowed us to work in geographic areas we had not previously due to his seemingly limitless supply of staff, guidance on compliance and desire to succeed. I would immediately recommend Chris to anyone looking for a breath of fresh air in the industry, who is honest and acts with integrity.“
“It has been three years since Chris joined Mane Contract Services and his transformation has been exceptional. Starting off resourcing for white collar and mid-senior positions, he now manages some of our major accounts and works with the UK’s most in depth, prestigious and high value projects and contracts, recruiting the highest calibre of labour. This includes securing contracts for Crossrail, High Speed Two, EGIP and an array of other notable projects. With plenty still to learn, he works tirelessly and it has so far been an absolute pleasure to witness his journey in recruitment.
However, it is not just a simple matter of putting bums on seats – Chris collaborates both with clients, colleagues and candidates and has a way of doing things which is extremely refreshing, especially when he operates at a 95% successful placement ratio.
And that’s not all.
Compliance: Whenever our compliance manager is away, Chris takes full responsibility for all compliance issues which is usually a full-time position in itself. It therefore comes as no surprise that more often than not he is the last person in the office. On top of this, he is also the rail team’s employee representative and the company first aider!
Charity: Chris acts as the right hand man to our Head of HR in helping organise and run Mane’s charity events (often acting as quizmaster) and has helped to raise thousands of pounds for good causes.
Social Media: Chris has played a vital part in transforming Mane’s social media strategy, championing LinkedIn and was recently integral to Mane becoming one of the Top 25 most socially engaged recruitment companies worldwide. He is regularly invited to the LinkedIn offices and Chris is regularly used (by ourselves and others) as an example of how to use social media to its full potential.
Dedication: For the last three years Chris has regularly given up chunks of his time over the Christmas and Easter periods, travelling from site to site on Christmas day delivering mince pies, coffees and a feel-good atmosphere to contractors, whether or not they work for Mane or not. He is ever-present at networking events, safety presentations and we are sure all would agree he is personable and conducts himself with the utmost amount of professionalism at all times.
Chris is now a vital part of the Rail & Infrastructure team, mentoring junior staff and showing them the way. His potential here is unrivalled and we look forward to what lies in store for a truly talented recruiter.“
“I have been working for Chris for over 2 years now as a contractor.
He is very professional and yet still manages to have the friendly vibe which is invaluable.
Always there to help no matter how big or small the issue may be.
It's actually a pleasure to work with Chris!“
“I've been on the railway for many years and encountered many agencies. From the start, Chris was very honest and straight about his role and how our relationship would work to benefit both parties which is a rare quality I find and the most appreciated!
From my first conversation to organising the interview through to me undertaking my current role, I have appreciated that he has made himself available and open to talk through any areas that were a little grey to me. I find him very amicable and able to deal with any situation professionally and with a sense of ease.
Many thanks Chris!“
“I applied for one of Chris’ positions a while ago before the position was unfortunately closed. However, Chris kept in regular contact with me since then and in-between other contract. He recently played a major role in securing a fantastic contract on an above market rate, closer to home than I’ve ever been. He keeps you informed, lets you know of all the various processes involved – including whether or not my contract would fall under IR35 and quite a few other negotiations.
I cannot thank Chris enough and hope he gets the recognition he deserves an extremely 1st class professional… keep it up!“
“I was approached by Chris for a Crossrail contract and after initially feeling a bit nervous changing positions, was put completely at ease by how he approaches his work. It was not the case that I was just a candidate and he had a job to fill. He took the time out of his day to explain everything in detail, ensuring that I was happy with every aspect of the position before securing me an interview and subsequent start.
Chris and I speak on a weekly basis, whether to discuss market trends, refer colleagues and friends to each other or sometimes just for a catch up and gossip. I don’t talk to other recruiters any more – Chris does everything I need him to and I’ll be recommending and nominating him (and Mane) for everything possible... forever.“
“Chris knows how to talk to people, simple as that. He also knows how to make you happy, negotiate terms and make you feel wanted – something that us rail contractors miss out on way too much. I was with my previous agency for over 10 years until Chris called me about a position three years ago. I am still in that position and cannot thank him enough for all the help and support he has given me and countless others who I have thrown his way.
This year, he has truly outdone himself. He has facilitated and paid for a course that I really wanted in order to progress my career, delivered PPE to my house in the early morning (which is a good hour's drive from him) and arranged emergency accommodation. There were roadworks on which I had not remembered about and Chris even offered to put me up for the night himself to ensure I would still be able to work!
He takes pride in the fact that he cares, and offers a bespoke service that is the best I’ve seen in 20 years on the rail. Good Luck and may the good times continue!“
“Having known Chris professionally and personal for the past year I can say without hesitation he is an exceptional recruiter. He has always had an ability to understand my needs in negotiated with the client and me to meet our both expectations.
He has secured me a number of positions and we now help each other out in a partnership type of way.
I would recommend Chris to anyone who is looking for someone who really understands the industry and who understands all the personnel and where they can fit best. His knowledge is excellent, his friendliness is even better and he is the furthest thing from the typical recruiter you will ever see.“
“Chris is the best recruitment consultant I have ever dealt with. His professionalism and ability to build an immediate rapport with his clients is unparalleled. He is very proactive, keeps you updated and has excellent communication skills. He secured me a perfect contract when I was a candidate, and now that I am client-side is a fantastic ally.
His delivery is excellent and his knowledge is ridiculously good.“
“Thanks Gemma, the holiday was outstanding. Really, really good, so much to see, one of the best holidays we've had. Thanks again for sorting things.”
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