Stonor Recruitment

I had a very poor experience dealing with Stoner Recruitment, primarily due to extremely slow communication and a lack of follow‑up. I first contacted the company on 1st October, where I spoke to Charlie, who was friendly and helpful. He advised me to email his colleague Craig, which I did the same day. Unfortunately, this is where the issues began. After emailing Craig on the 1st of October, I received no response for nearly a week, despite following up. When he eventually replied, he explained he was “jam‑packed” but suggested arranging a call the following week. I responded promptly, offering availability, again, no reply. This pattern continued repeatedly: long delays, missed follow‑ups, and unanswered calls. We eventually did have a call weeks later, which went well. I was told I would hear back from the client shortly. However, weeks passed with no update, despite multiple follow‑up emails and calls from my side. On 22nd October, I followed up again, asking whether my CV had even been reviewed. I didn’t receive a response until 28th October, nearly another week later, with an apology for the delay. I was then told the role was still being reviewed. After yet another long period of silence, I followed up again on 12th November, only to be told there had been internal restructuring and personal circumstances affecting communication. The next day, 13th November, I was informed the role had already been filled, over six weeks after I originally applied. At no point did the client speak to me directly, they only ever saw my CV. I asked whether Craig could arrange a conversation with them regardless, but I never received a response to that either. From initial contact to final outcome, this process took over a month and a half, with the vast majority of communication delays coming from the agency side. To be clear, I understand that not all delays may have been solely down to StonerSearch; some responsibility may also sit with the client. However, the core issue was how long it took to complete very basic actions. It took over two weeks to arrange a single 10‑minute phone call, and over two weeks just to forward my CV to the client. For a recruitment agency, this should be routine and timely. I also had to call StonerSearch’s main office at least five times, simply asking someone to remind Craig to follow up, because I wasn’t receiving any direct responses. Importantly, I wasn’t constantly chasing for a job decision or demanding updates. All I was looking for was to be kept in the loop, even a short weekly email along the lines of “Hi, this is where things are at, I’m still waiting on the client and will follow up tomorrow.” Unfortunately, that never happened. Not once did I receive an update without having to chase first. As a candidate, it’s reasonable to expect clear communication and regular updates from a recruitment agency, especially one that profits from placing people into roles. Being left completely in the dark for weeks at a time, with no proactive communication, is extremely disappointing and unprofessional. Based on my experience, I would struggle to recommend StonerSearch to candidates who value transparency, organisation, and basic communication.

I had a great experience working with Stonor Recruitment, especially Nick Pykett. I’ve recently been placed at a fantastic agency and couldn’t be happier. As a professional who was recruited by them, I can only say good things about this company. I hope this helps anyone considering working with them, they’re outstanding and extremely professional. I would definitely recommend them for any future roles with any company

Charlie, Nick and team are superb at what they do, but the difference to me is that it's evident that they actually care about you. It's not just a job to pay the bills to them. Nick helped me out with a role he knew about, that wasn't even on his books, so he got nothing out of it other than to help a fellow human, such is the measure of him as a person. I would have zero hesitation to recommend them to anyone job seeking - they'll work tirelessly for you.

I had such a lovely experience working with the team at Stonor Recruitment. I wanted to give a special mention to Ben Smith and Craig Lewis who went above and beyond to ensure I was well-prepared and supported throughout the hiring process. They were super thorough, efficient in scheduling interviews, and clear in explaining the next steps! If you care about employer branding then candidate experience is key, and with Stonor you know you can trust them to represent your company well and ensure any candidates walk away with a great impression of your business. Plus, they also take the time to carefully source candidates with the right skills fit and career outlook for each role, so you know you'll get an excellent hire. 💪

Craig was incredibly thorough and helpful throughout the process. I’ve worked with recruiters in the past who were a bit vague, but Craig provided clear guidance and made everything straightforward. Thanks to his support, I landed a job with ease. Highly recommend!

I spoke to Charlie regarding job opportunities who was so helpful in providing me relevant information and advice. Thank you!

Charlie was a pleasure to deal with! He went above and beyond to help me land my new job. Highly recommend

Mark Darlington is a fantastic recruiter working at Stonor! He gave great advice throughout the application and interview process. I finally secured a new role after a few months of searching during a really tough job market. Thanks Mark! Really appreciate the extra lengths you went to, to help me secure a fantastic role in a brilliant company.

Charlie was a true pleasure to work with during my interview process. He ensured I had all the key pieces of information I needed and was more than happy to find the answers if he didn't have them. Great communication and support throughout it all - even when I finally got the job, he was fantastic at chasing for my contract! I wouldn't hesitate to recommend and use again in the future :).

Nick helped me find the perfect role that fit both my skllset and my career goals. He was supportive and proactive through the whole process. Working with him was a pleasure, and I'd recommend him to anyone looking for a new role.