The Understanding Recruitment Universe

As the go-to destination for software recruitment, our 90+ specialist recruiters have expertise in Java, JavaScript, Python, Rust, Golang, Elixir, .NET, DevOps, Machine Learning & AI, Product, and Tech. We connect you with the talent you need and help developers find their perfect job. Count on us for exceptional matches in the software industry across the UK, Europe & the US.

Our Journey

In 2023, Understanding Recruitment became a 60% employee-owned company. This exciting development empowers our dedicated team to share in the financial rewards of our ongoing success. We firmly believe that our people are the cornerstone of our uniqueness and contribute to making Understanding Recruitment an outstanding workplace. Embracing the concept of an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT) allows us to actively give back to those who have contributed to our achievements.

2007 Understanding Recruitment Founded

Chris Jackson and Dale Swords founded Understanding Recruitment and we placed our first candidate.
 

2008 First Office Opened

Our first office was opened in The Regus Office Space, St. Albans in 2008, with Rugby legend Richard Hill as our esteemed guest of honour.
 

2009 Reached 10 Employee Milestone

As our team grew to 10 employees in 2009, we knew it was time for a change. So, we packed our bags and made a big move to a brand new office space in Lower Dagnall Street, St. Albans. 
 

2013 Moved To New Offices In The Maltings

The year 2013 was an exciting one for us. We expanded our team and moved to a new office space in The Maltings, St. Albans. Around this time, we also launched our innovative Net Promoter Score, which went on to win the prestigious 'Innovator of the Year' award at the APSCo awards. In addition, we proudly supported the Grove House Charity by participating in the Herts 10k run. To top it off, we welcomed Miles Hunt to our team as a Non-Executive Director.
 

2014 Won APSCO's Innovator Of The Year Award

Our dedication to innovation and excellence was recognized in 2014 when we were awarded the prestigious APSCo 'Innovator of the Year' award, as well as the 'Best Candidate Experience Award' at the Recruitment Business Awards. Furthermore, we were thrilled to see Tom Rankin, who began his journey with us as an Apprentice, win the 'Best Newcomer of the Year' award at the IRP Awards. As a team, we also took part in the Herts 10k run and raised funds for the Rennie Grove Hospice, underscoring our commitment to giving back to the community.
 

2015 Winner's Trip To Miami

In 2015, we celebrated our best performing consultants by taking them on an unforgettable trip to Miami, where they enjoyed an amazing time of team bonding and relaxation. At the same time, we were thrilled to receive recognition for our hard work and dedication. We won a prestigious award at the Hertfordshire Business Awards and were highly commended for the 'Investing in Talent Award' at the Recruiter Awards, which highlighted our commitment to nurturing and developing top talent.

2016 Named Employer Of The Year

The year 2016 was filled with incredible achievements for our team. We proudly supported various charitable causes by completing the grueling Nuclear Races, raising funds for organizations such as the Niemann-Pick Disease Group, MacMillan Cancer Support, Willow, and the Great Ormond Street Hospital. In addition, we were honored to receive multiple awards, including the prestigious 'Recruitment Company of the Year' at the APSCo Awards for Excellence, and the 'Best Staffing Firm to Work For' award at the Staffing Industry Analysts' (SIA) Executive Forum. These awards recognized our team's unwavering dedication to excellence and our commitment to delivering exceptional service to both clients and candidates.

2017 Named Business Of The Year

In 2017, we achieved significant milestones that reinforced our position as a leading recruitment specialist. We hosted our first Fintech meetup with Starling Bank, completed the challenging Coast to Coast Challenge and raised over £3k for Cancer Research. We were also awarded the 'Best Staffing Firm to Work For' at the Annual Staffing Analysts Executive Forum and named 'Business of the Year' at the SME Hertfordshire Business Awards.

2018 Celebrated First Decade In Business

In 2018, we marked an important milestone as we celebrated our first decade in business and expanded our team to over 50 employees. We were thrilled to promote Sam McBroom to Director, recognizing his contribution to our success. Moreover, we were immensely proud to win the prestigious 'Best Staffing Firm to Work for UK' at the Staffing Industry Analysts SIA Awards for the third year in a row, reflecting our unwavering commitment to providing an exceptional employee experience.

2019 Expanded To The US

2019 was an exciting year for us as we made our first foray into the US market with the launch of our office in Boston, Massachusetts, which specialises in Artificial Intelligence and Backend Engineering roles. We entrusted this crucial mission to Matthew Ferdenzi, one of our most accomplished consultants. Meanwhile, our exceptional performance was recognised as we were shortlisted for three categories at the Hertfordshire Business Awards and were finalists for the prestigious APSCo award in the 'Recruitment Company of the Year £3-10 million' category.

2022 Celebrated Our 15 Year Anniversary

It was a remarkable year for us in 2022 as we achieved unprecedented success, including expanding our office to the entire building, marking our 15th anniversary, and treating the entire team to an unforgettable trip to Palma. We also had the pleasure of taking our top performers on a winners' trip to Miami, while our commitment to providing an exceptional workplace culture was recognised as we were named one of the Best Companies to Work For. Finally, we proudly raised almost £20k for charity through various initiatives.

2023 Became An Employee Owned Business

We've already hit some major milestones in 2023 that we're incredibly proud of. First off, we became an employee-owned business, which means every single person on the team now has a stake in our success. It's a big step towards creating a company culture where everyone feels invested in what we do, and we're excited to see where it takes us.

We also had an absolute blast on our winner's trip to Mauritius! It was a chance for the team to celebrate all the hard work we've put in, and we definitely made the most of it. From relaxing on the beach to exploring the island's stunning scenery, it was the perfect opportunity to recharge our batteries and come back to work feeling refreshed and ready to go.

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The Team

We're On A Mission To Unlock Life-Changing Opportunities, For Everyone.

Our 5 key values are our guiding principles as we navigate the world of tech recruitment:

We wholeheartedly embrace the value of integrity, placing it at the forefront of everything we do, because we understand that a steadfast reputation grounded in transparency and professionalism is the driving that makes us stand out from the competition.

We embody the value of "never ever give up" as we persistently pursue our goals and overcome challenges with unwavering determination, always striving to achieve success and deliver exceptional results.

We are fuelled by the unwavering commitment to exceed expectations, always. With an unyielding drive, we push beyond boundaries, go the extra mile, and consistently surpass what is expected, ensuring that our clients and candidates receive nothing short of exceptional service and remarkable results.

Embracing the philosophy of "Together stronger," we recognise that unity and collaboration are the foundations of our success. By fostering a supportive and inclusive environment, we harness the collective strengths, talents, and ideas of our team, empowering us to overcome challenges, achieve remarkable outcomes, and stand stronger together than we ever could alone.

With the guiding principle of "Be the very best you," we wholeheartedly believe in the power of self-development. Encouraging personal growth and embracing individuality, we create an environment that fosters continuous improvement and empowers each team member to unlock their full potential. By nurturing a culture of self-discovery and learning, we inspire and support our team to become their most exceptional selves, driving both personal and professional success.

The universe of logical people.

Planet Java

Java

We're proud to have one of the largest Java recruitment team in the UK, catering to the demand for the world's most popular language.

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Planet Machine Learning & AI

Machine Learning & AI

We are at the forefront of the booming Machine Learning and AI market, enabling numerous companies to scale up in Machine Learning Research and Engineering, as well as Data Science and Engineering.

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Planet Rust

Rust

Since 2018, we have been early adopters of global Rust hiring, specialising in recruiting talent across the UK, Europe, and the US.

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Planet Golang

Golang

We're pioneers in Golang recruitment, finding high-calibre Golang (Go) talent across the UK, Europe, and the US.

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Planet Elixir

Elixir

We're one of the first to specialise in Elixir recruitment with a focus on the UK, Europe, and the US.

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Planet DevOps

DevOps, SRE & Cloud

We specialise in recruiting DevOps, Cloud, and Site Reliability Engineers, recognising that DevOps is not merely a title and that technologies within this field can vary significantly.

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Planet .NET

.NET

Our leading .NET recruitment team is focused on scaling tech teams across the UK, Europe, and the US.

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Planet Python

Python

We source exceptional Python developers, from Junior to Engineering Manager level, who work with core Python and frameworks including Django, Flask, FastAPI, Tornado, and many more.

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Planet JavaScript

JavaScript

We collaborate with rapidly expanding tech companies in the UK, Europe and the US, offering guidance and recruitment services across all aspects of JavaScript Engineering.

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Planet Product

Product

Our expertise lies in partnering with start-ups, scale-ups, unicorns, and globally distributed businesses to support their growth, change, or digital transformation projects.

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Planet Tech360

Tech360

We collaborate with rapidly expanding tech companies throughout the UK, Europe, and the US, offering recruitment solutions in various IT and Tech domains.

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Our Awards & Memberships

Launch Your Job Search

Searching for your dream tech job can be a time-consuming task, but we're here to make it easier for you. Whether you're interested in working with Java, DevOps, .NET, JavaScript, Machine Learning & AI, Python, Rust, Elixir, Golang, Product or Tech, we have opportunities that align with your ethos, ideal work routine (WFH vs. office), and salary expectations.

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Partner With Us

Experts speaking the languages of our niche markets, our teams have contacts with sought-after talent in Java, DevOps, SRE, & Cloud, .NET, JavaScript, Machine Learning & AI, Python, Rust, Elixir, Golang, Product & Tech, as well as providing market insight (including salary expectations) and advice on hiring strategy. Work with us and get a partner with access to 125,000+ developers and engineers across the globe that has been operating in our niche since 2007.

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Careers - Join Life At UR

We’re rapidly growing and doing amazing things in the world of tech recruitment and are on the lookout for driven and ambitious individuals to join us on our journey! 

We offer Apprenticeships, opportunities for Trainees, a fantastic Graduate Programme, as well as challenging roles for experienced recruitment consultants and managers who want to take their career to the next level.

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Are you looking for your next challenge? Send us your CV to be considered for a range of great opportunities.

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Looking for exceptional tech talent to take your business to new heights? Upload your vacancy and let our specialist teams do the rest.

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