Recruitment for the creative sector.
We believe that sh*t hires, lead to sh*t jobs, which is no good for anyone. That’s why we only place candidates in roles where they can thrive, in their very own place to be.
NO MORE
S**T HIRES
It’s simple. We get to know you and we get to know them. So we can match you together. Of course there is a lot of detail and structure behind the processes we follow and methods we use, but we are not going to bore you with that here…
Our Process
1. BRIEF
It starts with the brief. This is not about getting the job description from you (although we’ll take that too). If we are working with you for the first time, then to begin we need to spend time understanding your business- and most importantly your culture. We prefer to do this face to face, and come and say hello in your offices.
2.SEARCH
Then comes the search. We can’t share our methods here, that’s our secret sauce. But rest assured, we are well connected and it's extensive.
We know the candidate market, where and how to find those hard to find, hidden gems. The candidate screening is the most important part. We really get under the skin of their outlook, attitude and motivators. We have to be sure anyone we shortlist to our clients not just fits the requirements of the role but your culture. We are not just going to send CVs and hope something sticks.
3. HIRE
We are then on to the hire. We’ll talk you through our shortlist, you’ll select who you want to interview and when and we’ll do the rest.
When you’ve found your person, we take care of all the feedback and work with you to ensure we make a successful offer. We don’t stop there, we are in continual contact with you and your new team member right until the day they begin.
We find that by working with you exclusively on your role, you get the best results. It provides a focused, dedicated search for the right fit for your agency, there's no scatter gun approach here.
Exclusive Search
Sometimes you require a bit of flexibility, a short term piece of work, a short notice piece of work or just a sudden influx! Freelance and contract resources enable you to flex your team up and down quickly to meet the demand.
Freelance and Contract
You have won a new client, you need to build a team of multiple and varying roles, fast. Our retained project service is made for this.
Retained Project
We become part of you. An extension of your talent team. For a fixed monthly charge and reduced placement fees you get a dedicated service.
Retained Service
Services We Provide
Our Team
BECKI BURTON
07841 637 539
becki@theplacetobeagency.com
LinkedIn
Executive and Senior Hire Specialist
Becki has been in recruitment since 2007, starting out in healthcare before realising she wanted something more creative, fast-paced, and a bit more fun. In 2012, she found her perfect fit in marketing recruitment, which suits her personality to a tee.
In 2021, she launched ThePlaceToBe with one mission: to change the perception of recruiters. Tired of transactional “CV pushers,” Becki wanted to bring proper recruitment consultancy back - helping clients improve hiring processes, manage reputations, and hire senior talent to transform their businesses.
She’s passionate about building a team of genuinely lovely people who care about doing a good job. Culture is everything at TPTB - not everyone comes from a typical recruitment background, but they all have the instinct to build great relationships and make things happen.
Now specialising in executive and senior hires (as well as building the team here), Becki works closely with business owners to find top talent and shape growth and team strategies for long-term success. With years of experience and an enviable network, she thrives on solving even the trickiest briefs - and making it all feel human, not transactional.
Outside of work, Becki can be found with her husband, Bella her Italian Greyhound, her mischievous cats Dizzy and Rascal, or catching up with friends over food, dog walks, holidays, or a good glass of wine.
ABBY BELL
07860 351 982
abby@theplacetobeagency.com
LinkedIn
Senior PR, Social and Content Specialist
Abby joined ThePlaceToBe to combine her recruitment background with her Marketing degree - basically the perfect mix for what we do.
She heads up our PR, Social and Content offering (and has since been promoted to Senior), partnering with agencies to build standout teams from Executive right through to Head of and Director level.
A proud Geordie now living in Yorkshire, Abby brings serious energy and passion to everything she does. She’s fully immersed in the world of Social and PR - not just in her day job, but outside of it too, meaning she’s always ahead of the curve and already connected to the talent our clients need.
She’s also mam to her little girl, Arabella, and part of a recruitment power couple, her partner Tom works in the industry too.
If it’s Social, PR, or Content… Abby’s your person.
JP
07521 471 875
james@theplacetobeagency.com
LinkedIn
Senior Digital Specialist
James has been passionate about the digital world from the start of his career, and yes, he’s got a Business Computing degree from 2006 to prove it!
He joined ThePlaceToBe after 10 years in technical and digital marketing recruitment across London, Leeds, and Manchester, including working with Becki in his previous agency. When it came to growing the team here, she brought him along for the ride - because there’s no one better who truly understands this space.
As our Senior Digital Consultant, James knows the market inside out, but his favourite part of the role hasn’t changed: helping talented people find their perfect next career move.
When he’s not matching top digital talent with the right roles, you’ll find James spending time with his football-obsessed daughter, Imogen, watching sport (mostly football, F1, and boxing), or DJing…though his rave days are well behind him!
BRIDIE WRAY
07845 634 699
bridie@theplacetobeagency.com
LinkedIn
Marketing and E-commerce specialist
Bridie is our Marketing and eCommerce specialist, helping clients build high-performing teams across digital, CRM, and marketing roles. She knows what it takes to hire marketers who can make an impact -creatively, commercially, and quickly.
Her career started in events and marketing before moving into recruitment, giving her the perfect mix of creative instinct and commercial sense. That experience means she really gets what makes a marketing team click, and how to find the right people to make it happen.
Bridie is passionate about helping clients hire marketers who can scale digital performance while staying true to their brand and customer experience. For her, it’s about matching the right people to the right roles so they can thrive and see real impact in their work.
Outside of work, Bridie channels her creativity into abstract art and cooking, while balancing life as a busy mum. Energy, adaptability, and a bit of flair? That’s her sweet spot, in marketing and in life.
LAUREN GORING
07933 181 939
lauren@theplacetobeagency.com
LinkedIn
Senior Client Services Specialist
Lauren brings over nine years of recruitment experience, spanning both agency and in-house roles, and since 2019, she’s specialised purely in the marketing agency world, an industry she genuinely loves and knows inside out.
Having worked agency side as well as in-house talent within agencies, Lauren truly understands the pace, the pressure, and what “right fit” really means beyond a CV. She’s known for her thoughtful, people-first approach, taking the time to properly understand both clients and candidates to make sure every placement isn’t just good…it’s right.
Outside of work, Lauren brings the same energy to life - whether she’s baking sweet treats, planning her next adventure with her partner, keeping active in the gym, or out on countryside walks with her Jack Russell, Pixie.
If it’s agency talent, Lauren gets it, because she’s lived it.
GEE VINTON
07857 372 306
gee@theplacetobeagency.com
LinkedIn
Marketing and Operations Executive
Since joining ThePlaceToBe in 2024, Gee has stepped into the Marketing and Operations Executive role, using her creative brain to drive the agency’s online presence and make sure the brand really shines. She’s been building our community in the marketing and creative space, all while keeping TPTB Towers running smoothly behind the scenes.
Graduating from Leeds Uni with a Bachelor of Arts in Illustration, Gee brings a creative eye, fresh perspective, and, on top of all that - is just an all-round lovely person who is also passionate about improving process and service!
Outside of agency life, you’ll find her scaling a climbing wall, catching a gig, or tending to her allotment.
ROMY JONES
CURRENTLY ON MATERNITY LEAVE
Senior Client Services Specialist
Romy spent over a decade in the fast-paced world of fashion, building an impressive track record in account management, relationship building, and driving sales with some of London’s biggest fashion brands. After an adventure in Sweden, she made her way back to Yorkshire and found her perfect fit at ThePlaceToBe.
With a strong network of Client Services specialists, Romy partners with some of Yorkshire’s top agencies, known for her ability to match talent not just on skills but on culture fit, too. Her reputation is built on trust, insight, and an instinct for finding the perfect match.
Outside of work? Romy is CEO of a very busy household, mum to two little ones (soon to be three!), wife to a Welsh Geordie, and currently navigating the chaos of a house renovation. Superwoman? Pretty much!
BELLA
Chief Morale Officer & Head of Security
Meet Bella, the real boss of ThePlaceToBe. As both Chief Morale Officer and Head of Security, she takes a dual approach to office life—keeping spirits high while making sure no rival recruiters sneak in unannounced. Her day is a busy mix of greeting visitors with enthusiastic zoomies, keeping a watchful eye (and nose) on snack distribution, and ensuring the team stays motivated—mainly by looking adorable until she’s rewarded with treats. Ever-vigilant, she protects the office from any suspicious activity, particularly if it involves unclaimed biscuits.
Fiercely loyal and always on duty (unless it’s nap time), Bella is the true MVP of the team. Approach with caution… unless you come bearing snacks.
HOW ABOUT YOU?
We're always looking for the new people to add to our team.
Passionate about people? Then we want to hear from you.
Share your CV to becki@theplacetobeagency.com