Testimonials
“Insightful and Engaging Expertise in Recruitment”
“As a senior professional, James and Castle Peak demonstrate a deep understanding of the recruitment landscape and strategic approach to talent acquisition providing a positive experience.
James’s ability to identify top-tier talent with a challenging brief, coupled with his insight into industry trends, equality diversity and inclusion exceeded our expectations. James not only brings a wealth of knowledge but also leads with integrity, transparency, and a genuine passion for equality, connecting the right people with the right opportunities.”
Susan Fulton, Executive Director
“Castle Peak Organisation offer a fantastic service for the recruitment of non-executive roles. At Keelman we had two Board vacancies, for a Chair and a Trustee, and in a very short timescale both vacancies were successfully filled with thanks to James. He was professional in his approach, supporting us with the development of a recruitment pack, which led to a longlist of very highly experienced candidates for us to consider. The process was straight forward, with James frequently communicating with all parties. I would definitely use Castle Peak Organisation again in the future.“
Anne-Marie Pearce, MD
“I have no hesitation in recommending James Carss and Castle Peak Organisation to anyone seeking support in the recruitment of Senior and Executive Officers and non-Executive board Directors.
James is fantastic to work with, he goes the extra mile to understand your business and its needs, his approach is exceptionally professional and responsive, and he has an enviable reputation and business network. All of this means James always presents exceptional candidates for consideration, as well as being a pleasure to work with!”
John Johnston, CEO
“James helped me find my latest role and was a pleasure to deal with. I had known James before through various events and committees and he always came across extremely well, but this was the first time I’d actively worked with him.
I hadn’t been on the job market for nearly 20 years, so I wanted to ensure I found the right role and so was a choosy candidate! James was extremely patient with me, kept me up to date with what was happening at every stage of the recruitment process. He listened to any concerns I had and dealt with them through excellent communication, making me feel like a valued candidate. He sold the business I joined well to me, and was a great advocate for them which helped me make my decision as I trusted James’ judgement. I couldn’t have asked for a better experience.”
Michael Stirrup, Finance Director
“James combines warmth with straight talking insight and sets a high bar for the candidate experience. I recommend him without hesitation for senior and board-level search.
I worked with James Cars as the Executive Search Consultant for my successful appointment to the Associate NED role at Northumbria Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. I had very little recent interview experience and a CV I had not touched in twenty years. James was empathetic, understanding and highly supportive, helping me shape a compelling profile and prepare with confidence. He was open and transparent throughout the process, willing to challenge me constructively when he did not agree and quick to reinforce the strengths I should emphasise. His communication was excellent. Updates were clear, proactive and timely, and I never felt I was chasing.”
Sarat Pediredla
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Professor Paul Stanton, Non Executive Director
“In the absence of our Chair, I led the recruitment process on behalf of Age UK North Yorkshire Coast and Moors for a new Chief Executive. As a result, we commissioned James Carss of the Castle Peak Organisation to undertake the Search.
Given the pivotal importance of finding a first class CEO, our Board had shortlisted six possible recruitment agencies to work with us us – some local, some national – and interviewed each one of them on line.
Having done so, I and my colleagues unanimously agreed to appoint the Castle Peak Organisation – though, interestingly, only I was aware that they were the second cheapest of the six tenders that we received (a full £6k cheaper than a London Agency).
We chose them because James Carss was, by some way, the most personable, the best prepared and the most impressive recruitment consultant we spoke to.
He demonstrated excellent and up to the minute understanding of
- the Voluntary Sector and the challenges it faces in a health and social care landscape that is changing rapidly both nationally and regionally
- the potential impact that our coastal location – and its restricted transport links – could have on the pool of candidates we might hope to attract and
- the likely characteristics of the type of new CEO we would be seeking
Once we chose the Castle Peak Organisation, having understood the urgency of foreshortening an unavoidable CEO inter-regnum, James travelled down within days to meet Board representatives face to face so he could learn more about our organisation, the specific immediate and longer term challenges and opportunities that confront us, and the particular characteristics of the CEO candidate we were therefore seeking.
Within a fortnight thereafter, he presented us with a longlist of fourteen prospective applicants and from those he suggested a shortlist of six. We spoke directly to James about his own feelings – as he had spoken to each applicant. Together we made one addition to and one deletion from his initial suggested shortlist, and then identified an early date for the Interviews. Within two days James had spoken to each short listed applicant and confirmed with each of them the Interview date we had identified.
On the day, we were impressed by the calibre of each of the applicants the panel met. Most importantly we were able, unanimously, to offer the post to an outstanding candidate.
Neither I nor my colleagues believe that, had we simply advertised our vacancy, we would have found the new CEO – who is already a talented and highly valued member and leader of our organisation.
We have maintained contact with James and will, without question, call upon his services as and when we are next seeking either Executive or non-Executive additions to our Team.
It has been and will continue to be a pleasure to work with James.”
“We began working with Castle Group earlier this year to support the recruitment of new trustees. The calibre of candidates they brought forward, as well as the care they took to understand who we are and what we needed, exceeded our expectations. Because of that success, we returned to Castle Group to help us recruit for two senior roles that we had struggled to fill for almost a year. Within a short period, they delivered exactly what we had been looking for: strong, mission-aligned candidates, a smooth process, and clear, proactive communication throughout.
Their ability to translate our needs into a targeted and effective search made a tangible difference to our organisation. Castle Group has become a trusted recruitment partner for the Angelou Centre, and we would highly recommend them.”
Faty Kane, Executive Director,
“James has recently supported us with our search for a Director of Governance. Beyond delivering a professional and effective service and a strong pool of candidates, James has fantastic relationship-building skills, so that we felt supported and informed throughout the process. When things didn’t go to plan, James was a supportive and pragmatic adviser to ensure we secured the excellent final candidate we were delighted to welcome to the Trust.”
Alison Alden, Chief Finance and Operating Officer
“Castle Peak Group has been great to partner with for our recent Committee Member Recruitment campaign. James sourced a diverse range of candidates with exceptional skills and backgrounds. A comprehensive search that extended beyond traditional networks, with open communication with candidates throughout the process to manage expectations, conducting multiple candidate interviews to provide comprehensive evaluations of candidates’ skills, values and potential contributions and more importantly assessing organisational culture fit, reinforcing James outstanding professionalism from start to end.”
Charlotte Burnham, Director of Governance
“James and Castle Peak have been excellent to work with on the recruitment of our three new senior property roles at gentoo. James invested lots of time with our senior team at the outset to gain a detailed understanding of our requirements, our culture, and the calibre of candidates that we wanted to attract to take our service forward. I would personally recommend James to any peers in the sector seeking to recruit talented people and wouldn’t hesitate to use Castle Peak in the future.”
Marc Edwards, Executive Director of Property
“Working with Castle Peak has been an excellent experience from start to finish. James took the time to understand exactly what we were looking for and matched a strong selection of candidates to fit. James’ communication was consistent, professional, and genuinely supportive throughout the entire process.”
“I have had the pleasure of working with James on both sides of the table. The first as a candidate looking for alternative employment opportunities and the second as an employer looking for a candidate.
In both instances I have found James to be of the utmost level of professionalism. with high levels of integrity throughout both processes.
James is an endearing individual who is clearly very good at his job. There are no false promises or headline grabbing statements to lure you in under false pretence.
I found James to be open, honest and transparent and always delivered on what he said. He has a high level of attention and detail and follows through on all commitments first time.
I would highly recommend James and his business to any candidate looking for employment who is looking for the personal touch, that will deliver the best service possible and if you are an employer looking to work with somebody who provides a value for money service with high quality candidates for interview.
Well done and thank you James.”
Mark Blakelock, Managing Director
“I’ve known James for several years and have always found him professional, helpful, and easy to work with. Most recently, he placed me in the role of Governor at EPNE College Group. I highly recommend James to anyone seeking a strategic, knowledgeable and reliable recruiter.”
Modaser Choudhary, Governor
“Castle Peak Organisation was an invaluable partner in our recent board recruitment. James and the team demonstrated a deep understanding of our organisation’s unique needs, identifying and presenting a pool of highly qualified candidates who aligned seamlessly with our vision. James’s efficient, professional and caring approach ensured a smooth process, and we are confident that the new board member will make a significant contribution to our future success.”
Dean Titterton, CEO North Tyneside
Dance City engaged Castle Peak group to find us a new Chair of the board of Trustees as we celebrate our 40th year as a charity and look to the future. James took the time to listen to our needs, to really understand the sector, talk through our requirements and importantly challenge our thinking. A strong and diverse shortlist was presented which resulted in a fantastic day of interviewing with more than one appointable candidate and we have been delighted to welcome our new chair Lyndsey Turner-Swift. I would highly recommend James if you are looking for a professional yet personal service that is seamless from start to finish
Sarah Dewar, Executive Director of People and Digital
“If anyone was looking to develop their career, I could not recommend highly keeping an eye out for positions coming on board through Castle Peak. My experience of the recruitment process was great; timely communications around the process coupled with relevant info relating to the employing organisation and their culture made sure I knew where I stood and whether it was the right fit for the next step in my career. This all enabled me to give the best version of myself through the process which resulted in my success.”
Thomas Sutton, CIH Regional Lead and experienced Head of Service
I’ve known James for several years through various recruitment processes and I have always found him very easy to work with… whether looking to recruit or are a potential candidate, James is a good listener which always means he quickly grasps a situation and is good at working to find the right candidates with the required skills and talents to interview… all of this, while approaching recruitment processes in a highly professional manner. I’ve worked with James on both sides of the table and as a candidate I have discovered that he is good at identifying the best candidates and has an exceptional talent for putting people at their ease helping ensure they are fully prepared for any recruitment process.
Lesley Moody OBE, Managing Director
Working with James at Caste Peak has been a pleasure. When we met, I’d expressed an interest in becoming a Board member but was struggling to find the right role and organisation that would align to both my values and experience. James understands the needs of both company and candidate and essentially provides a “match making” service that benefits both parties. For me, having the confidence that James really understood what I was looking for meant that when he approached me about the role, I knew it was worth exploring.
James was able to bring the recruiting organisation to life – sharing his take on their ambition, culture, and customer focus. The knowledge of the organisation and background he shared was fantastic, as was the support, advice and guidance throughout- keeping in touch with regular check-ins to keep me in the loop. I would thoroughly recommend working with James to anyone looking to explore their first, or next non-exec role.
Elaine Middleton, Strategic Consultant
Castle Peak is highly professional and experienced in its field, providing insightful briefings and succinct and timely communication. The whole candidate process is smooth and considered with real attention to detail while being very responsive and adept at giving beneficial feedback. In combination, this results in an excellent client service, setting a very high standard.
Steve Crosland, Non-Executive Director
When I wanted to establish a business with a brand new team of Executive level founders, James Carss was the natural partner to help us identify and recruit the wide range of skill sets we needed to ensure our success. They took the time to understand our requirements, timing and budget considerations to make sure we brought the right people in board.
Craig Iley, Founder
We appointed Castle Peak Group to support the search and recruitment for a new Chair role at Dance City. The service we received was second to none. James listened, got under the skin of the organisation and was able to garner interest for the position from excellent candidates. James’ support during the process and aftercare made for a successful appointment and smooth induction for the incoming Chair. We would highly recommend Castle Peak Group.
Anand Bhatt, Artistic Director & CEO
Working with Castle Peak was an outstanding experience from start to finish. James took the time to truly understand me, my organisation, and exactly what I was looking for (and a little of what I didn’t know I needed) from the role before undertaking a search on my behalf.
The quality of candidates presented was exceptional, with a diverse range of highly talented individuals who all aligned closely with the brief but also brought a broad range of backgrounds. Throughout the entire process, James was supportive, insightful, responsive, and an absolute pleasure to work with.
What impressed me most was his commitment to finding the right fit rather than simply filling a vacancy. Thanks to his expertise and dedication, we appointed an incredible candidate who has gone on to make a significant impact and is absolutely thriving within the organisation. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Castle Peak to anyone looking for a recruiter who genuinely invests in understanding their clients, delivers exceptional talent, and provides a first-class experience throughout the recruitment journey.
Ruth Dent, Chief Experience Officer
It has been a pleasure to work with James Carss, on the search and recruitment, for a new Director of Finance for Bernicia Group. James took his time to understand the brief and sought out candidates that not only met the technical brief, but also, and equally importantly, were a cultural fit for Bernicia. We are delighted with our appointment into this role. James operates in a highly professional manner and delivers excellent results. I would have no hesitation to recommend James and Castle Peak as a recruitment partner.
Janette Longstaff, Executive Director
We engaged Castle Peak Group to help us find and appoint a new Non-Executive Director for Newcastle Building Society. James Carss was superb to work with: he was highly professional; demonstrated a real understanding of our business and our requirements; kept us informed and consulted throughout whilst being sensitive to our desired outcomes; he showed a strong sense of the important diversity, equality and inclusion aspects; and we successfully appointed a superb candidate. The whole process was easy and delivered exactly what we required.
James Ramsbotham, Chair
James made the recruitment process feel comfortable, personal and well supported. His belief in my suitability for the role, combined with his thoughtful guidance and check ins, made a real difference. I’m very grateful for his professionalism and his care.
Mark Tweedie, Chair
Here at Tyne Housing, we had a great experience of working with Castle Peak to fulfil a particular NED requirement which we had identified in our skills audit. James took time to listen carefully to our needs, and understand our culture. This ensured a top quality long-list, and we were very pleased with the final appointment. Great support throughout, and aftercare – highly recommended.
Steve McKinlay, Chief Executive Officer
Kathryn Maclaren, Finance Director
I am grateful to Castle Peak, and especially James Carss for identifying me as a good candidate for a NHS non-executive role. Because I am dyslexic I would not normally have looked for, or considered such a role.
Not only did James identify that I am very well qualified for this role and have the necessary wide experience, he also helped me through the challenging parts of the application process. Were it not for his support I would not have proceeded. He demonstrates an appreciation of the enormous benefits that recruiting from a diverse pool of talent can being to an organisation. In my experience this is very unusual.
John Woodhouse, Non Executive Director
Having used James to search for several NED roles and more recently, an Assistant Director of Housing and Neighbourhoods role, I always find him incredibly thorough in identifying candidates who are a strong cultural fit for Bernicia as well as meeting role expectations. James has an in-depth understanding of the sector and the region, meaning that he is well placed to identify the best talent.
I have been impressed with the consistency in the quality of candidates identified by James and the attention to detail he brings to the process.
Jenny Allinson, Executive Director of Communities
I couldn’t have received better support from James as I went through the process to be appointed as a non- executive director of the Newcastle Building Society. He helped me understand the requirements of the Society in their search, and how my experiences might align with their needs for a new Board member. He was supportive and encouraging throughout, testing out in an appropriate way my strengths and weaknesses in the context of this role and areas of potential challenge I might face as my application proceeded through the various stages of application, sift, informal discussions and final interview. Communicating with me regularly, he was hugely supportive and highly professional. Thank you James.
Lucy Winskell OBE LL, NED
It was a pleasure to work with James and the Castle Peak Group team in the recent search for our new Chair of Trustees. Not only have we got an excellent appointment out of a genuinely impressive field, but the process was seamless from beginning to end.
James quickly understood what we were looking for and outlined his thoughts on how the process could run, but left room for our input to make sure it really worked for us.
I found the approach completely professional with a real personal touch, which I credit for ensuring that we were able to connect with such an outstanding group of candidates.