A message from us to our friends in HR…
We just wanted to let you know - you’re doing an awesome job.
We’re an award winning employer brand agency working as true partners to businesses who want to improve how they ATTRACT, RECRUIT and ENGAGE with their talent.
Based in Leeds, we’ve been around since 2011 and work with brands of all shapes and sizes across the UK, Europe and further afield.
Our vision is to think big and to get things delivered without any nonsense, but with maximum wow!
WHAT WE DO
We’re interested in everything employer brand, so what ARE our services? Well they’re exactly that; we help businesses to attract, recruit and engage the very best talent.
And whilst there are lots of other businesses doing similar things, for us, your employer brand is as much about the way you look to the outside world as it is to those who see things from the inside. Joining the dots between the experience you already offer to your people and the way you build your employer brand externally is where we can really help.
ATTRACT
Attracting the very best talent to your business, we'll make sure your employer brand is seen by all the right people in all the right places. And we'll think about the best way to position it so you can appeal to the variety of talent you need to recruit - from early years to experienced and expert people.
RECRUIT
The recruitment experience needs to be positive whatever the outcome. Positive for the applicant, the resourcing team and the hiring manager too. We'll identify the best processes and technology to use and make sure the brand experience extends right the way through the recruitment process and beyond.
ENGAGE
Having every employee pulling in the same direction is a big factor in whether any business can achieve it's goals. Creating a place to work that's truly engaging is a bigger priority than ever as businesses compete for the best talent to hire. Communication right the way through the business is crucially important.
WHO WE ARE
As Chatter, we’ve been helping businesses to attract, recruit and engage the very best talent since 2011. Before then, we’ve collectively spent years building our expertise, honing our skills, growing our contact books and networks, bigging up our Yorkshire roots, and making an impact across our own industry… and beyond. And if you think you have what it takes to be part of our story, we’d love you to get in touch.
Our story isn’t just built on knowledge and experience. Our own values play a huge part too, they drive the way we work, and they’re the principles behind every decision we make. We’re honest. We’re direct. We’re hardworking. And we’re sociable. And that’s what you can expect from us, whether you’re a client, a partner, or one of us.
Alex
Account Manager
In the time I've been with Chatter I've worked with some amazing clients like O2, FirstGroup, ITV and Shop Direct. My background is in Youth Marketing and the move to People Communications was a no brainer - I get that cliche warm fuzzy feeling knowing that the work I'm doing is having an impact on people's lives. Originally from Lancashire, I made the switch across the pennines in 2007 for University and never really looked back. Despite being here for over 11 years, Paul still likes to remind me of my roots. I'll give them their dues though, they make a cracking brew over here. I'm a bit of an amateur sportsman and love playing basketball, picking heavy stuff up at the gym. I'd like to describe my music taste as eclectic, but really it's just a bit crap.
Barry
Copywriter
My road to Chatter began right after University. I didn’t much fancy the idea of getting a proper job, so the next best option was to write about other people’s. Over the last 20 years, my career has progressed from placements at ad agencies in London through to Head of Copy stints across Manchester and the North, with a short spell at a pan-European agency in Brussels. I’ve written copy and led the creative development for all kinds of projects - from people comms to consumer branding, retail marketing, and direct response. And all while running my own creative studio by the beach in the North East. Outside of work? Surfboards, bikes, travel. But these days only when the kids allow it, unfortunately. Bah.
Ellen
Client Partner
After spending time in the product advertising world, including 5 years in Sydney where I worked in creative agencies like M&C Saatchi and JWT (servicing clients like Google, Unilever, Johnson & Johnson) and finally taking off snowboarding around Canada and the States for 6 months, I returned home and joined Chatter in May 2017. I’m responsible for a team of Chatterinos and a good armful of clients, supporting them with a range of solutions and services. Outside of the office I’m usually found running, cycling or Yoga-ing. Or playing with Roxy, the laziest Golden Retriever you’ll ever meet!
Emma
Account Director
If you look at any of our social feeds, you'd think that I'm at Chatter soley to drink milky tea but in actual fact I'm an Account Director…a milky tea drinking Account Director granted! As part of the client services team, I get to work with tonnes of interesting and fun clients on a range of projects from developing great employer brands to launch career website and producing awesone video content. I’ve been with team Chatter since July 2017. Before that, I’ve worked in client service for over 10 years, as well as working in marketing before that. Outside of work, I spend the majority of my spare time attempting to ride my horse Billy and basically being his personal slave.
The Chatterinos
At Chatter, we don't come to work just because we have mortgages or bills to pay. We don't get up at 5am to travel to client meetings because we've got nothing better to do. We don't spend hours obsessing over media strategies, design decisions and commas because there's nowt on telly.
We do it because we love it. Because we love our clients. And because we love solving people challenges in some of the most creative ways possible.
Fiona
Client Partner
I kind of fell into employer branding with a vague notion that doing “something in advertising/PR/ marketing” sounded like quite a cool career. Having done a drama degree it wasn’t the most obvious career path but I loved it from day one and have never looked back! As the person responsible for introducing Chatter to new clients and managing our reputation externally, I'm pretty passionate about working with businesses who want to put employer brand at the heart of their people strategy. You may also find me on my soapbox on LinkedIn, getting vocal about workplace diversity and the trials and tribulations of being a working mum.
Outside of work I’m married with three daughters who I live vicariously through - indulging my passion for dance, drama and all things Disney whilst shamelessly using them as my cover. A bit of a country music fan, I sometimes manage to squeeze in the occasional TV quiz show appearance and take any opportunity to drag the family out on long walks with our fair weather dachshund, Burt.
Harry
Project Manager
The first Chatter “egg”, I started my first real job back in 2013 as a Leeds Uni History graduate with a love all things Ipswich Town FC, patterned flannel shirts and BBC 6music. It hasn't changed all too much but I'd like to think I've learnt a bit along the way. During my time at Chatter I’ve thrown myself into a raft of different projects for a fair number of our clients - from internal comms with MTV to techie talent attraction with Sky Betting and Gaming. It's been a mixture, and now I'm excited to be helping will all things delivery with a focus on our digital output. Outside of work (if I'm not at the game) i'm known to furiously refresh Twitter waiting for Ipswich score updates.
Heidi
Account Administrator
I graduated from the University of Leeds in July 2018. I did a Theatre and Performance degree, where I spent lots of time planning events, marketing and researching. I then joined Chatter as an Account Administrator in November 2018. Outside of work, I'm a freelance dance teacher and teach across Leeds and Wakefield. I'm also a big fan of all things musical theatre, Disney and glitter!
Jason
Web Developer
I’m the resident front-end web developer here at Chatter. I'm at my best when I'm getting stuck into an exciting web dev project, but I sometimes stray from the path and find myself writing, winging video editing, or doing ridiculous things in front of a camera for our instagram page (sigh).
When I’m not glued to a computer screen, working or watching Netflix (I’m not prepared to say how much time is spent on the latter), I play football, and when I can, I love to snowboard.
Jon
Partner
As one of the founding partners at Chatter, I look after all things Digital as well as a lot of our day to day operations. I've been working in People Communications for over ten years now, after beginning working life as a web designer at a consumer ad agency. But really, it all started way before that. I was given my first computer at the age of seven and I've been tinkering with technology ever since… At Chatter, a lot of my time is spent helping clients get to grips with new technology, and finding pragmatic ways to solve their resourcing and employer branding issues online without jumping on every passing bandwagon. Often there's plenty of shiny technology you could use, the fun part is figuring out the approach that you should use.
Jonny
Designer
Hey, I’m Jonny! I’m a creative artworker at Chatter, and I’m a creative person everywhere else! I'm a recent graphic design graduate and I’ve been working in the creative industry for the last 6 years freelancing as a graphic designer, photographer and film-maker. Here at Chatter, I help bring concepts to life to make collateral that clients can be really proud of. Outside of Chatter, I am a musician, digital artist and a fashion fanatic. I love to keep track of the latest trends in design and culture across all mediums.
Lisa
Partner
I fell into recruitment communications around 25 years ago after a spell in a full service agency (i’m still reeling at after the calculate how long I’ve been doing this) . And I loved it, so decided to continue to develop my career. I’ve held Agency and Regional Director roles for the biggest and best recruitment comms agencies in the industry and had the pleasure of working with some great businesses including O2, Greggs, Co-op, HBOS, RBS, the Environment Agency and Nestlé. I loved the work but became more and more disillusioned with ‘big’ agency life. I felt that the client was getting a raw deal either through lack of resource, lack of creativity or lack of care so rather than moan about it…Chatter was born with the help of two cracking guys. Chatter has come a long way since, but my focus is still centred on delivering great service and great work for clients who I respect and enjoy working with and if we continue to achieve that as we grow and as the market and the industry evolves we won't go far wrong, but working hard, having open communication with our clients, being direct in the solutions we provide and the route we take to get there and having fun along the way. That’s the Chatter Way.
Lisa Lee
Operations Co-ordinator
I started my career (quite a while ago!) in an advertising agency, working on a diverse number of brands, then moving ‘Client Side’ and getting involved in online marketing. I then went on to raise my family and after a few years I really missed the buzz and creativity of agency life.
As the latest addition to the team, my role is to support the agency in thinking BIG whilst consistently delivering to our lovely clients, and seeing how technology can develop our processes and further improve our ways of working.
Outside of work you’ll find me tidying up after my 3 boys and hubbie, forcing myself to go to the gym and trying to avoid eating everything I shouldn’t!
Lucy
Account Manager
Paul
Partner
In lots of ways, Chatter is a very different agency to the one we set up in 2011. It’s much bigger for a start, we have lots more lovely clients than we did back then and a good solid team of enthusiastic, caring people to help look after them. But in other ways, we’re still the same too. We all share a sense of pride in what we do and how we can find new ways to do things differently – to explore what’s possible as well as what’s proven. These days, my role is increasingly focused on how we grow. The services we offer to our clients and the way we build and structure our teams to ensure we can expand the business and continue to deliver an exceptional service as we do so. When I’m not here I really like to travel. To see new things, have an adventure and meet lots of interesting people. I also love to eat, and I’m a good cook too - not an ideal combination for the waistline, but fat and happy aint such a bad thing.
Rick
Head of Development
I look after the web development at Chatter, either building myself and/or managing & QA-ing the work of our Flock if we need an extra pair of hands. I also dabble with Chatbots and Alexa (eg. I dreamt up and built our Yorkshire Accent Quiz Alexa skill).
I've been building websites for nearly 20 years now, spanning many areas over my career - from developing e-commerce sites for high-street names, designing and building large corporate ATS/CRM/Assessment platforms, through to working in agency-based Marketing, PR & Communications.
I love the problem-solving nature of my job, but I'm also quite creative - I've a strong interest in Photography too (I've been published a number of times and even once won a national landscape photography competition!)
Robynn
Designer
As part of the creative team, I help bring ideas to life. I'm outspoken, honest, and always try to find creative solutions to problems, pushing the boundaries whenever I can. I spend a lot of time finding the perfect colours, fonts and images, as well as working with brand guidelines to ensure brands look their best. (It's harder than it sounds.) I've always been creative, and spent my childhood covered in glitter, glue, and paint, using any surface to let my imagination run wild (sorry mum).
Saskia
Project Executive
Originally from Surrey, I am now a Yorkshire lass. I joined Chatter in 2015 as a Digital Marketing Apprentice. It was the perfect opportunity to develop the type of skills I need to be successful in the industry, and gain experience in the world of work. I'm now a Project Executive with a portfolio of amazing clients - from the likes of O2, ITV, Criteo and many more! Outside of being a Chatterino, I like to go to the odd Spin or Body Combat class. I'm also a 60-year-old woman at heart (as many of the Chatterinos will tell you!) as I love a cosy night in and an episode or two of Vera.
Shirley
Credit Control
One of the newbies at Chatter, and officially the oldie of the roost!
I started my working life as a comptometer operator which was short lived due to the arrival of the modern calculator. I moved quickly into computer system testing and implementation of the systems into branches all around the UK and Eire for the company I worked for.
I love travel and visiting places before they become popular (they are much cheaper before they become popular… Spoken as a true Yorkie).
Beau & Digby
Woof, woof!
Roxy
Woof!
Wendy
Woof!
Bert
Woof!
Olive
Woof!
What we think
Read More
Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures
These are extraordinary times indeed. And extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures. So, has anyone else pushed the button and deployed their work from home strategy yet?
- Fantasy Football
The Pollard Fantasy League Cup - Week 25
Given my shocking performance last year, I decided to take a break for a year and enjoy Jurgen’s mentality monster Reds steamroll anything that stands in their way.
Goodbye to EU
Au revoir, Auf Wiedersehen, Do widzenia, Antio sas, Adios, Vaarwel, Dovizhdane, Ahoj, Farvel, Hüvasti, Hyvästi, Viszontlátásra, Slan, Addio, Ardievas, Atsisveikina, Äddi, Addiju, Tchau, La reverdere, Zbohom, Zbogon, Adjö.
- Employer Brand Development
Is employer branding an essential investment or just The Emperor’s New Clothes?
Designed to attract talent, with vanilla values that could belong anywhere, and the only purpose they serve is to make HR feel that they're staying on trend.