Kelly Dunn was the winner of “Business Leader of the year” at the Recruitment & Employment Confederation’s 16th annual REC Awards 2025 last night.
The REC Awards celebrate the best in UK recruitment, showcasing the work of brilliant recruiters from across the industry from agency to in-house and from start-ups to multinationals.
REC’s role is to drive standards and empower recruiters to be brilliant and the annual REC Awards celebrate those that hit and exceed the standards.
In all, 45 individual and 62 company entries were shortlisted across 19 categories. The winners were announced at the REC Awards ceremony at the Royal Lancaster Hotel in London on 20 November 2025.
Kelly Dunn is the Founder and Managing Director of Yorkshire-based KD Recruitment, a specialist agency supporting employers and professionals across North and East Yorkshire in office support, HR, accountancy and finance, sales and marketing, logistics and supply chain roles. She launched the business in 2017 from her mum’s front bedroom with just a laptop and a mobile phone, and has since grown it into a trusted regional partner for SMEs and larger organisations alike, known for its honest advice, high standards and long-term relationships. Under Kelly’s leadership, KD Recruitment has built a reputation for combining deep local labour market insight with a genuinely people-first approach, helping clients to build future-ready teams while supporting candidates to find careers, not just jobs. Her recognition as Business Leader of the Year (turnover under £10m) at the REC Awards 2025 reflects both her entrepreneurial journey and the positive impact KD Recruitment continues to have on the businesses and communities it serves.
Neil Carberry, REC Chief Executive, said:
“The REC Awards celebrate a profession that is central to the prosperity of the UK, contributing more than £40 billion directly to the economy every year and enabling billions more. But we also make a big contribution to addressing challenges in society – and it is so good to take time to celebrate those stories on a night like the Awards. Last night was a celebration of people and firms who have stood up to headwinds this year and their successful approach should inspire others to make 2026 a big year.”
Kelly Dunn said:
“Winning Business Leader of the Year means more to me than I can really put into words. To be recognised by my own industry, by people who truly understand how tough the last eight years have been for recruiters and business owners, is incredibly humbling. KD Recruitment started as just me, and a big leap of faith, and along the way there have been plenty of sleepless nights, setbacks, self-doubt and personal sacrifices. This award is recognition not just of that journey, but of the amazing team, clients and candidates who have believed in what we’re trying to do: run a values-led recruitment business that genuinely changes lives and supports our local economy.”
Ends
Notes to editors:
- The REC Awards were judged by a panel of individuals from across different businesses.
- The event was held on Thursday 20 November 2025, at Royal Lancaster London in Hyde Park, London.
- The awards are exclusively for Recruitment & Employment Confederation members, and their categories recognise both individual achievement and company-wide success.
The full list of winners at the REC Awards 2025 can be found at www.rec.uk.com/winners.
- Best Newcomer in Recruitment, Olivia Rogers, OA Group
- Temporary Recruiter of the Year , Fabio Roque, Hyper Recruitment Solutions
- Permanent Recruiter of the Year, Patrick Gray, Carrington West
- Agency Star of the year, Imani Noveal, ISE Partners
- Candidate Experience of the Year, Hannah Slee, people2people recruitment
- Business Leader of the Year (turnover under £10m), Kelly Dunn, KD Recruitment
- Business Leader of the Year (turnover over £10m), Paul Robinson, VHR
- Recruitment Team of the Year, Pracyva
- Shared Services Team of the Year, Adecco Group
- Impact on a Client’s Business Award, VHR
- Demonstrating High Standards in Recruitment Award, Gap Personnel Group
- Community Impact of the Year, Hernshead Recruitment
- Sustainability Impact of the year, ManpowerGroupUK
- Diversity Initiative of the Year, f1 Recruitment
- UK Supplier to the Recruitment Industry of the Year, SafeRec
- Best Company to work for (up to 20 employees), Tiro Associates
- Best Company to work for (up to 50 employees), Pracyva
- Best Company to work for (up to 100 employees, Spencer Clarke Group
- Best Company to work for (over 100 employees), Rise Technical Recruitment
- Lifetime Achievement, Kate Allen
- Recruiter of the Year, Imani Noveal
There was a charity collection for the Médecins Sans Frontières at the event.
About Kelly Dunn, Founder and Director of KD Recruitment
Kelly Dunn is the Founder and Managing Director of KD Recruitment, an award-winning recruitment consultancy based in Yorkshire supporting businesses and professionals across North and East Yorkshire. After launching the business in 2017 with a determination to do recruitment differently, she has grown KD Recruitment into a trusted partner for SMEs and larger organisations, known for its integrity, market expertise and people-first approach. Passionate about raising standards in the industry and creating meaningful career opportunities, Kelly is a visible voice for responsible, values-led recruitment and an active supporter of the local business community as she is also a board director for York Professionals, the Scarborough Business Ambassadors and NYBEP (North Yorkshire Business and Education Partnership) as well as being involved in both the North Yorkshire and East Yorkshire LSIP boards.
About the REC
The REC is the voice of the recruitment industry, speaking up for great recruiters. We drive standards and empower recruitment businesses to build better futures for great candidates and themselves. We are champions of an industry which is fundamental to the strength of the UK economy.
Find out more about the Recruitment & Employment Confederation at www.rec.uk.com.
For more information and interview enquiries, contact the REC Press Office on 020 7009 2157, or pressoffice@rec.uk.com. Outside of regular office hours, please call 07702 568 829.
About KD Recruitment
KD Recruitment is an award-winning recruitment agency based in Scarborough, working across North and East Yorkshire. The firm specialises in professional services, accountancy and finance, sales, marketing, HR, logistics, supply chain, and executive appointments, connecting exceptional people with leading employers across the region.