Business Details
30 Years
experience
Expert Recruitment Solutions in Chorley
Established in 1996, Sharples Davies is a specialist recruitment consultancy serving the building products and construction sector. Founded by Jeff Hulme, the business has evolved into a second-generation family operation led by Gareth and Joanna Hulme, who bring over 18 years of combined experience. With a database of 10,000 sector-specific candidates, the company focuses on headhunting and selection for roles ranging from entry-level to director positions.The team prioritises honesty, integrity, and client-candidate alignment, offering tailored recruitment solutions for manufacturers, builders merchants, and distributors. Their approach combines industry expertise with a commitment to understanding client cultures and candidate aspirations.
Services
Executive Recruitment
Sales Team Recruitment
Director Level Placements
Headhunting Services
Construction Sector Recruitment
Details
- Year established: 1996
Highlights and features
- 29 years of specialist recruitment experience in the construction sector
- 10,000+ sector-specific candidates in our database
- Family business with consultants from senior industry roles
- Proven headhunt and selection process for critical roles
- Client-focused approach with transparent feedback
What people say
Professional service
Effective placements
Dedicated support
Industry knowledge
Transparent communication
Services
Executive Recruitment
Specialist recruitment for director-level roles in the building products sector. Our consultants, with senior industry experience, identify leaders for managing director, sales director, and commercial director positions. We focus on cultural fit and long-term success, leveraging a 29-year track record in construction recruitment.
Sales Team Recruitment
Targeted recruitment for sales professionals across the UK. We place area sales managers, specification sales teams, and national account managers in manufacturers and merchants. Our process includes candidate vetting, role matching, and interview preparation to ensure high-quality placements aligned with client needs.
Headhunting Services
Proactive talent acquisition for hard-to-fill roles. Using market research and a database of 10,000 sector-specific candidates, we identify passive professionals for critical positions. This service prioritises discretion and precision, ensuring candidates meet both technical and cultural requirements for client organisations.
People
Gareth Hulme
Managing Director
Gareth Hulme leads Sharples Davies as Managing Director, overseeing recruitment strategy and business development. With 18 years of experience, he specialises in executive placements and client relationship management. Gareth maintains his father's founding values of honesty and integrity while driving growth in the construction recruitment sector.
Joanna Hulme
Director
Joanna Hulme, a director at Sharples Davies, manages finance, HR, and recruitment operations. With 19 years of service, she focuses on candidate-client alignment and financial oversight. Her industry expertise and commitment to transparency have strengthened the firm's reputation as a trusted recruitment partner in the construction sector.
Chris Brown
Recruitment Consultant
Chris Brown brings extensive sales leadership experience from Hanson Thermalite to his role as recruitment consultant. Specialising in builder merchant roles, he leverages industry relationships to match candidates with client needs. His 10-year tenure at Sharples Davies underscores his expertise in construction sector placements.
Jennifer McDermott
Recruitment Consultant
Jennifer McDermott transitioned from business management to recruitment consultancy, focusing on client relations and candidate acquisition. Her proactive approach to networking and exhibitions has expanded Sharples Davies' market presence, particularly in sales and branch-based roles across the construction industry.
John Lake
Recruitment Consultant
John Lake, a former builders merchant director, specialises in recruiting sales professionals for manufacturers and distributors. With 27 years of sector experience, including leadership roles at Buildbase, he provides insider insights to match candidates with client requirements in the competitive construction materials market.
Questions
What sectors does Sharples Davies recruit for?
We specialise in the building products and construction sector, covering manufacturers, builders merchants, plumbers merchants, and KBB suppliers across the UK and Ireland.
What types of roles do you fill?
We recruit for roles from entry-level to director positions, including sales managers, technical specialists, marketing directors, and executive leadership in the construction industry.
How does your recruitment process work?
Our process includes role briefing, database searches, headhunting, candidate vetting, and interview preparation. We prioritise cultural fit and long-term success for both clients and candidates.
Do you work with international clients?
While focused on the UK and Ireland, we support international assignments through remote interviews and cross-border candidate sourcing for construction sector roles.
What makes Sharples Davies different?
Our consultants combine recruitment expertise with direct industry experience, offering tailored solutions grounded in 29 years of specialist knowledge within the building products sector.
