Nothing better than starting the day with a dry, frosty 06.00 dog walk to clear the mind and plan the day ahead with our golden retriever & brown labrador! #mentalhealth #fitnesslifestyle #worklifebalance


Five leading factors which can influence candidate acceptance of a job, even with ever increasing costs of living, are as follows;

✔️Candidate contact & experience throughout the whole recruitment process.
✔️Flexibility toward hybrid working and work life balance.
✔️Potential for personal development and progression.
✔️Robust trading history and demonstrable evidence of high employee satisfaction.
✔️Businesses that actively fight burnout and champion employee well being.

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The first week of the year has already started with enquiry levels and assignment activity at Southgate Consulting ahead of expectation. The recruitment market for automotive appointments looks buoyant, with what would appear to be a real requirement to find high calibre candidates via direct contact and approach rather than on-line advertisements.

So let us introduce and discuss the variety of services we are able to offer, if you are struggling to fill senior management positions in your business.David & Callum Southgate are available for consultation and advice anytime.

#executivesearch #automotiveindustry #peopledevelopment #careerguidance #recruitmentbestpractice #southgateconsulting




Back in the office today after a fantastic few days holiday in France and a very important family wedding! Callum Southgate and Phoebe Southgate were “officially” married at Le Moulin de Chazotte, Chevres-Richemont in the Cognac Region. After two years delay due to pandemic, it was a fantastic occasion. Thank you, family, friends (and understanding Clients/Candidates!) for your massive support.


Southgate Consulting is currently handling a fantastic opportunity to join Pinkstones Toyota, Stoke-on-Trent as a Centre Principal. Built up over the last 30 years by the owner Simon Pinkstone, the business is now the largest Toyota single site in the UK. With over 60 staff in Toyota across Sales, Aftersales, Administration and Finance, Pinkstones also has separate Lexus and MG franchises.

We are looking for a “hands-on” manager, who wants to join a robust, well respected privately owned automotive retail business with an exciting future of expansion planned over the coming years.

If you would like to learn more, please do send a message via LinkedIn, or email david@southgateconsulting.com or callum@southgateconsulting.com. We would be delighted to speak with you further.

#pinkstonestoyota #careeropportunity #generalmanager #toyota #southgateconsulting #automotive



Has hiring etiquette all but now disappeared with online advertisements being posted, sometimes multiple times for vacancies? The majority of candidates we speak with, up to CEO level, never receive any response at all when applying direct, which is surely damaging to both large and small company reputations.

So here are five tips for when you are applying for your next role to try and elicit a positive response;

  • Your CV and LinkedIn profile are critical in the selection process so make sure they are synonymous with each other and up to date.
  • Use the same phrases and language on your CV as in the “must haves” listed in the Job Description.
  • Keep your application as short as possible and simplistic.
  • You don’t know who will be doing the initial screening, so don’t use jargon or colloquialisms in your application.
  • If you don’t have a response, use your LinkedIn first connection contacts in the hiring company to seek information.

Southgate Consulting offers CV and LinkedIn re-writing and evaluation to all candidates who are seeking career moves. Please contact us for more information.
#recruitment #hiringtrends #onlineapplication #linkedinprofile #cvtips