More than recruiters. Trusted partners.
Because the best recruitment happens with a specialist partner who shares your standards and cares as much as you. Looking For A Job?Searching For Talent?There are plenty of recruiters who simply scan job boards and bulk send CVs. That’s not us. We’re the team you can trust to represent your business in the market and the experts you can count on to represent you to potential employers. That’s because we invest time in getting to know you – always challenging assumptions and never taking a one-size-fits-all approach.
For our candidates, that means finding opportunities that genuinely match their ambitions. For our clients, it means hiring people who strengthen teams, support growth and stay long-term.
Recruitment is a people business, meet ours.
Our tight-knit team combines specialist market knowledge with genuine curiosity, honesty and a commitment to doing the right thing. We’re trusted advisers who both clients and candidates rely on throughout their careers.
Abigail Simpson
Director
I look after executive appointments within all our specialist disciplines, alongside leading our Accountancy & Finance and HR recruitment.
With 30 years’ experience, I’ve built a strong network and long-standing relationships with organisations and professionals. I believe the best results come from looking beyond the immediate hire to understand the bigger picture, offering honest advice and becoming a trusted partner that clients and candidates can rely on throughout different stages of their businesses and careers.
Outside of work, health and wellbeing is a big part of my life, when I’m not out running I’m spending time with my husband Chris and our dog, Layla.
Emily Simpson
Specialist Recruitment Consultant
I work with clients and candidates across a range of industries, specialising in Marketing, Business Support, Procurement & Supply Chain and Accountancy & Finance administration roles.
For me, good recruitment starts with really understanding people – what a business needs from its next hire, what someone wants from their next move and what will make the right match work long-term. I’m big on open, honest communication and making sure people feel supported from the first conversation to the final decision.
When I’m not talking recruitment, you’ll usually find me at a pilates class, with my friends or making the most of a holiday somewhere sunny.
Our story
30 years
experience
Qualified
After 30 years in the industry, including building and selling a successful recruitment business, Abigail founded Optimum to get back to what she loves most: working directly with clients and candidates to make the right connections.
Almost a decade later, the business has grown organically through the trust of its clients. This demand has helped us expand our specialist disciplines, while Abigail’s CIPD qualification has allowed us to support SME clients with outsourced HR requirements. Times may have changed but our commitment has remained the same – to deliver quality recruitment through specialist expertise, genuine relationships and a personal approach.
People first. Always.
We’re proud of the relationships we’ve built with clients and candidates alike. Our culture is centered around promoting openness and taking ownership. We constantly strive for success, but never at the expense of doing what’s right. That means you’ll never be pushed into making a decision or treated like a number. And you’ll always receive honest advice – even if it isn’t the easiest conversation to have.
Because trust isn’t built by saying what people want to hear, it’s built by consistently doing what’s right.
The principles powering every relationship
Honesty & Integrity
Trust is earned through honesty. That’s why we’re always open, transparent and clear in our communication. Whether we’re advising a client on a recruitment strategy or supporting a candidate through a career pivot, well tell you what you need to hear, not just what you want.
Accountability
We take ownership of every relationship, every conversation and every placement. When you work with our team, you can trust us to follow through on commitments, keep you informed and take responsibility for delivering the high standards we promise.
Expertise
Specialist recruitment demands specialist knowledge. Our consultants deeply understand the markets they recruit in, staying close to industry trends, employer needs and candidate expectations. That insight allows us to provide informed advice and connect the right people with the right opportunities.
Quality
From your first conversation with us to the signing of a job contract, we’re committed to delivering a professional, personalised experience that reflects the standards we set for ourselves. Because exceptional service should be felt at every stage of the recruitment journey (and beyond).
Inquisitive
Quality recruitment starts with questions. We take the time to understand your business, your goals and your challenges. Or, if you’re a candidate, what truly matters in your career. By listening carefully before offering advice, we build better outcomes and stronger partnerships.
Ready to work with a recruitment partner who feels like part of your team?