Jobshop UK is an independent, owner-led recruitment agency based in Poole, Dorset.

We are a small but energetic team, grounded in principles and values that we all share. We believe recruitment should be personal, open and honest—and that clients and candidates should always feel they are dealing with people who genuinely care about the outcome.

We take our work seriously, but we don’t believe that means we have to take ourselves seriously all the time. Warmth, humour and having fun along the way are an important part of who we are and how we work together.

We aren’t faceless. Frances works alongside the team every day, which keeps the business close to our clients, candidates and the realities of the recruitment market. It also gives us the flexibility to respond, make decisions and shape our service around the people we are working with.

Our story

Jobshop was established in 1997 by Tracey Wood and Dave Bray, following the successful sale of another business they had run locally.

Frances Miles joined Jobshop in 1999 after moving to Dorset. While setting up and later running a specialist fish restaurant, she returned to her recruitment roots and helped strengthen Jobshop’s temporary recruitment service, staff training, and contract and tender work.

When Dave retired from the business in 2008, Frances bought his 50% share and became co-owner alongside Tracey.

Tracey retired from the day-to-day running of Jobshop in 2022 but remains a 50% shareholder. Today, Frances leads the business and works alongside an experienced team who share the same belief that good recruitment is built on relationships, sound judgement and doing the right thing.

That sometimes means asking challenging questions or offering advice that may not have been expected—but always with the aim of achieving a better outcome.

Looking beyond the CV

We help employers find people who are a strong match for the role, the team and the organisation’s values and goals—whether the requirement is permanent, temporary or contract.

That doesn’t always mean finding someone who looks perfect on paper.

We are interested in what people can bring to a role: their potential, transferable skills, attitude and experience. Some candidates are qualified through experience rather than a particular piece of paper. Others may not have followed the most conventional route but have exactly the qualities an organisation needs.

We encourage clients to think beyond replacing the person who has left and consider what their business really needs now and going forward.

We listen, but we will also challenge and advise where we believe it could lead to a better outcome. And yes, we still love a challenge.

Part of our community

Our roots in Dorset matter to us. We have built long-standing relationships with local employers, candidates and organisations, while also recruiting more widely.

Our connection to the community extends beyond recruitment. Through our Directors’ Lunches, our involvement with Poole Museum and the charity initiatives we support throughout the year, we aim to bring people together and make a positive contribution to the place in which we live and work.

Meet the team

Every member of our team brings their own experience and personality, but we share the same commitment to treating people fairly, communicating honestly and delivering a friendly, professional service.

We work hard, support one another and retain a sense of humour through the inevitable twists and turns of recruitment. We believe people do their best work when they can be themselves—and we want clients and candidates to enjoy working with us too.