Yorkshire Recruitment and HR Group Recognised in The Sunday Times Best Places to Work 2026

Independent recruitment and HR business Castle Employment Group has been named in The Sunday Times Best Places to Work 2026 rankings.

The annual nationwide survey, published in partnership with employee experience platform WorkL, recognises organisations with outstanding levels of employee engagement, workplace culture and employee experience.

The recognition places the Scarborough-based business alongside nationally recognised employers from across the UK and comes during Castle Employment Group’s 60th anniversary year.

Castle Employment Group operates specialist recruitment, HR and training divisions supporting businesses across Yorkshire and beyond, with the company saying the award reflects a sustained focus on employee wellbeing, development and workplace culture.

Kerry Hope, MD at Castle Employment Group, said:

“In recruitment and HR, people are at the centre of everything we do, so this recognition is incredibly important to us.

“The fact that The Sunday Times Best Places to Work rankings are based on employee feedback makes this especially meaningful because it reflects the real experiences of our teams.

“We know that engaged employees create better outcomes for clients and candidates alike. When people feel supported, empowered and connected to the values of a business, it positively impacts service, relationships and performance.”

This year’s rankings recognise 567 organisations across the UK, from major multinational brands to independent regional businesses.
Zoe Thomas, editor of The Sunday Times Best Places to Work, said:

“The thread joining them is the belief that a happy workforce is a stepping stone to better performance, faster growth, and bigger profits. More than that, there’s a collective instinct that a contented rank-and-file is a worthwhile business goal in and of itself.”

Lord Mark Price, founder of WorkL, added:

“All our research at WorkL clearly shows that happier workforces drive better commercial performance.”

Castle Employment Group said the recognition reinforces the importance of creating strong workplace cultures within the recruitment and HR sector, particularly as employers continue to focus on retention, wellbeing and employee experience.

Founded in Scarborough in 1966, the business has grown over six decades while remaining independently owned and rooted in Yorkshire.