Dedicate Recruitment marks seven years
July 2026
Less than half of UK businesses make it to five years. This month, Dedicate Recruitment turns seven.
Seven years of connecting schools, Multi-Academy Trusts, and public sector organisations with the right people for the right roles. Seven years that, statistically, most businesses don't get to.
Longevity in this industry isn't an accident. It's built the same way good placements are - slowly, deliberately, on relationships that hold up over time rather than one-off wins.
Founder Liz Nevitt's vision was clear from the start: build a consultancy defined by integrity, genuine insight, and lasting partnership. We take the time to understand the people behind the CVs and the leaders behind the hiring decisions - because great recruitment isn't just matching skills, it's understanding ambition, culture, and fit on both sides.
Seven years of an evolving public sector landscape. Seven years of staying honest, creative, and built to last.
None of it happens without the clients and candidates who've placed their trust in Dedicate along the way. Here's to the next seven.
Haberdashers Hatcham College – Year 10 Practice Interview Day
May 2026
This week, Year 10 students at Haberdashers Hatcham College took part in a practice interview day, giving them a valuable taste of the professional world ahead of their upcoming work experience placements.
Supported by a brilliant group of volunteers, students had the opportunity to sit face-to-face with employers, answer interview-style questions, and receive real, constructive feedback. The impact was clear - students left the day visibly proud of themselves, with many saying it had boosted their confidence and left them feeling far more prepared for future opportunities.
We were delighted to be involved. Dedicate Recruitment's Founder and Recruitment Director, Liz Nevitt, attended on behalf of the team, bringing her expertise and genuine passion for supporting young talent to the day.
A heartfelt thank you to the school and every volunteer who gave their time. Your encouragement and feedback made a real difference - and seeing students walk away proud of themselves is the best possible outcome.
At Dedicate Recruitment, supporting the next generation isn't just something we do - it's something we're truly passionate about.
Faversham Hopper wins Mayor's Civic Team Award
May 2026
We're delighted to share that the Faversham Hopper Community Bus Service has been awarded the Swale Borough Council Mayor's Civic Team Award - and our own Ops Director, Dan Nevitt, is among the dedicated volunteers who earned it.
Dan has been volunteering as a driver for the Hopper for eight months, and describes it as one of the most rewarding things he's ever done. The service was created out of genuine need: in October 2022, several bus routes in and around Faversham were withdrawn, cutting off rural and isolated communities from shops, GP surgeries, dentists and other essential services. Following a successful funding bid by Faversham Town Council in April 2024, the Faversham Hopper was established to fill that gap.
The heart of the service is its team of volunteer drivers, who show up week after week simply because they care. They help passengers with limited mobility on and off the bus, call out stops for those who are visually impaired, and make sure confused passengers alight safely. They notice when a regular face hasn't been seen in a while - and for some riders, the conversation on the bus may be the only one they have all day.
For many passengers, this isn't just a bus. It's the difference between independence and isolation - connection, dignity, and a lifeline.
The Mayor's Civic Awards exist to recognise exactly this kind of quiet, consistent, selfless contribution. Congratulations to Dan and every volunteer on this well-deserved recognition. True community heroes.
Haberdashers' Aspire Mentoring Programme
May 2026
Dedicate Recruitment founder Liz Nevitt recently took part in the Habs Aspire mentoring programme, meeting Sixth Form student Alfie from Crayford Academy as part of an initiative designed to broaden students' horizons and build confidence as they prepare to enter the wider world.
Habs Aspire forms part of Haberdashers' Advantage - a programme of activities run by the Haberdashers' family of schools, which educates 12,000 children and young people across its network. Drawing on centuries of history and endowment, Haberdashers' Advantage exists to create connections, harness expertise and open doors for the benefit of its school community. The Aspire mentoring strand specifically aims to increase Sixth Form students' awareness of different career paths and help them access the broader Haberdashers' community as they move into adulthood.
As one of the Haberdashers' Academies Trust South's recruitment partners, Dedicate Recruitment has a natural connection to the Trust's mission - and Liz's involvement in the programme reflects the company's commitment to giving back to the communities it serves. Speaking after her first in-person meeting with Alfie, Liz said: "It was such a pleasure meeting Alfie in person for the first time this week. He is a genuinely warm person, mature beyond his years, and with a real sense of goodness about him. The school is lucky to have him!"
Dedicate Recruitment is proud to support the next generation of talent and looks forward to continuing its partnership with Haberdashers' Academies Trust South.
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FREE WHITE PAPER: The Apprenticeship Levy Guide
April 2026
The apprenticeship levy is a government-mandated training fund that schools and academy trusts are already paying into - but most aren't using it.
Employers with a pay bill over £3m contribute 0.5% into a ring-fenced account. The government tops it up by 10%. Smaller schools below the threshold pay just 5% of training costs, with the government covering the rest.
The funds can be used to recruit new support staff or develop people already in post. And if they're not spent within 24 months, they expire and go back to the government.
For many HR leads and business managers in education, levy funds are sitting unspent - while support staff vacancies go unfilled and budgets get tighter.
We've written a practical guide to help schools and academy trusts use the levy strategically, covering which apprenticeship standards apply to support roles, how the 20% off-the-job requirement actually works in practice, and a five-step starting point for HR leads and business managers.
Employment Law : Key Changes for Schools and Their Support Staff
April 2026
From today, 1 April 2026, the National Living Wage rises to £12.71 per hour - a 4.1% increase on last year's rate.
At the same time, the Employment Rights Act 2025 continues to reshape the landscape for temporary and contract workers across the public sector. For schools and education organisations that rely on temporary support staff - finance officers, HR administrators, IT technicians, facilities and premises teams - these changes matter. Here's what's worth knowing right now:
𝗭𝗲𝗿𝗼-𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴. The Act introduces rights to guaranteed hours, reasonable notice of shifts, and payment for short-notice cancellations - including for agency workers. This affects how temporary candidates are engaged and what they can reasonably expect.
𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝘂𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗦𝗶𝗰𝗸 𝗣𝗮𝘆 𝗶𝘀 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴. From April, the waiting period is removed and the earnings threshold is abolished - meaning more temporary workers will qualify from day one.
𝗗𝗮𝘆-𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗳𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀. Paternity and unpaid parental leave are now available from the first day of employment - regardless of contract type.
For education employers, this is a prompt to review how temporary and interim support staff are engaged, contracted and paid. For candidates, it's a reminder that your rights are strengthening - and that working with a specialist recruiter who understands the education sector means you're placed with employers who take compliance seriously.
Celebrating National Careers Week
March 2026
This week, our Recruitment Director Liz Nevitt took time out to do something close to our hearts - investing in the next generation of talent.
As part of National Careers Week 2026 (2nd – 7th March) Liz delivered a careers workshop at KITE College, a specialist SEND post-16+ education provider, covering CV writing, cover letters and the pathways available to students after college. By all accounts, the energy in the room was fantastic - with thoughtful questions, honest conversations and a real sense of focus and determination from every student present.
For many SEND students, the transition from college into the wider world can feel daunting. That's why early, tailored careers support is so important - not just information, but genuine advocacy, confidence-building and meaningful exposure to real employers and opportunities.
We're incredibly proud of Liz for giving her time and expertise so generously, and we'd like to extend a huge thank you to Katy Tibbles at KITE College for the invitation. We very much look forward to the next session.
New Year Business Plans
January 2026
We're heading into 2026 with real momentum and a continued focus on delivering the best possible service to both clients and candidates.
While 2025 was a challenging year for public sector recruitment, we’ve remained buoyant and are proud to have built relationships with a number of vital new client contacts along the way. This growth has been reflected in our digital presence too, with organic website visitors up 15% year-on-year and social media engagement increasing significantly - particularly on LinkedIn, where many of our most valuable conversations now begin.
Behind the scenes, we’re also in the process of upgrading our CRM system, which will allow us to provide a more responsive, personalised and efficient experience for everyone we work with. That means better communication, faster and more accurate matching, and a deeper understanding of your workforce needs - whether you’re planning for short-term cover or long-term recruitment strategies.
As we move toward 2026, our focus remains on building long-term partnerships, prioritising quality over quantity, and continually improving how we support the public sector. If you’re already thinking ahead to the next academic year or future workforce planning, we’d love to be part of that conversation.
