Meet The Team
Kelly Dunn
Managing Director, Temporary and Permanent Jobs across North and East Yorkshire.
Hello, I’m Kelly, the founder of KD Recruitment. Here’s a little bit about me, and why I believe our recruitment agency is pretty special.
Before KDR, I’d worked in recruitment for many years, starting as a recruitment consultant and working my way up to a senior manager in a large international corporate recruitment agency. I loved working with people but felt there was a need for a more personalised approach to recruitment. So, I launched KD Recruitment built on the principle that we help employers achieve their goals through strategic recruitment and retention. Candidates are matched to companies they want to work for with the right culture and with similar values, so they enjoy their work and their workplace. The result is employees stay with companies longer and staff retention rates improve.
I believe it is important to uphold the highest standards and values and strive to improve the recruitment industry as a whole. That’s why KD Recruitment is a REC (Recruitment and Employment Confederation) compliant organisation, and I continue to work at regional level to share best practice across the sector. We uphold the REC core principles and standards, and work to their code of practice which gives us focus and accountability which is great for our clients.
Our business is built on the team’s shared values of going the extra mile for all our employers and candidates. We have the power to change people’s lives and we are all passionate about finding employers the best talent, and candidates their dream roles.
Drop me a line and let’s chat about how KDR can help your business.
Scarborough: 01723 313505
York: 01904 862642
kelly.dunn@kdrecruitment.co.uk
Building Better Futures across North and East Yorkshire
Board Member of NYBEP; providing careers advice to schools and nurturing talent for the future. Promoting STEM jobs across the region.
- Recruitment and Employment Confederation Advisory Council Board Member
- York Professionals Board Member
- NYBEP (North Yorkshire Business and Education Partnership) Board Member
- Scarborough Business Ambassadors Associate
- Federation of Small Businesses Member
- Charities supported: St Catherine’s Hospice, Children in Need, MacMillan, Comic Relief, RSPCA, Samaritans and MND Association
- International Women’s Day
Greatest achievement: Setting up and running a business whilst also being a mum and a carer. I am great at spinning plates!
Three words to describe you: Passionate, professional, caring.
Superpower: Juggling (not just a plate spinner, I am a trained performer.)
Shannon Saltmer
Compliance and Marketing Coordinator
I look after compliance and marketing here at KD Recruitment, as well as supporting the talent team with fast-paced temporary recruitment when clients need people who can start quickly.
My journey with KD Recruitment began as an Administrator in 2023. Since then, with lots of internal training, development and support from the team, my role has grown and evolved. I’ve progressed into taking on our digital marketing activity and helping to streamline our compliance process, making sure the way we work is efficient, thorough and professional.
Day to day, I make sure our candidates are fully vetted before they’re put forward for jobs by our team, from ID checks and right to work checks, through to the details that help us keep our recruitment process compliant and consistent.
I’ve been called “the backbone of the team”, which is a huge compliment. A big part of my role is supporting our talent team and recruitment consultants behind the scenes. I’m proud that the work I do has such a positive impact on our candidates, our clients and the rest of the KD Recruitment team.
I also manage KD Recruitment’s social media and digital marketing activity, which means I’m responsible for how we show up online. I’ve completed a number of marketing courses to keep developing my skills and to make sure the content we share is relevant, useful and right for our audience.
From planning content and sharing new roles, to celebrating candidate success stories and showcasing the brilliant businesses we work with, I make sure our social channels reflect who we are and what we stand for.
I love creating content that is genuinely helpful, not just recruitment updates. That might be CV tips, interview advice, job search guidance, employer insights or a behind-the-scenes look at life at KD Recruitment.
A big part of my role is making sure our values come through in everything we share: honesty, integrity and a genuine commitment to caring about people and their careers. I also keep an eye on what’s working well across our platforms, listening to what our audience engages with so we can continue improving how we communicate with and support both candidates and clients.
I’m based in our Scarborough office, so feel free to pop in or get in touch.
Scarborough: 01723 313505
shannon.saltmer@kdrecruitment.co.uk
Building Better Futures across North and East Yorkshire
- NYBEP – School Careers Fairs
- Delivering Mock Interviews at Schools
- Jobs and Careers Fairs
Greatest achievement: Buying my first house and getting on the property ladder
Three words to describe you: Outgoing, positive, fun-loving.
Superpower: I’m a super fast worker and get things done!
“Laura was my go-to lady. She was lovely to talk to and is brilliant at what she does. I was desperate to get out of my old job but couldn’t sit for weeks without an income. She got me a job interview within about a week, and I managed to successfully get the said job. I couldn’t recommend KD Recruitment and the team more. They go above and beyond to help and the after-service is top-notch, checking in to make sure that I had received all the relevant documents and that it was all as agreed. Great work, keep it up!”
Laura Birchall
Recruitment Consultant, Temporary and Permanent Jobs across North and East Yorkshire
I joined KD Recruitment in 2024 and work closely with Kelly to support candidates, employers and senior leaders across North and East Yorkshire.
My role covers both temporary and permanent recruitment, helping businesses find the right people for their teams while also supporting them with wider recruitment advice, retention guidance and market insight.
Before joining KD Recruitment, I built my career across Human Resources, Operations, Sales and Customer Service in a variety of sectors. That experience has given me a strong understanding of how different parts of a business work, what employers need from their people and where the right recruitment support can make a real difference.
Today, I work closely with clients across our region to understand their business, culture, future goals and the detail behind each vacancy. I also support senior leaders with their recruitment strategy, helping them think not only about the role they need to fill now, but about the people, skills and structure they may need for the future.
For me, recruitment is never just about matching a CV to a job description. It’s about understanding the person behind the CV, the team they could be joining and the environment where they can thrive.
By getting to know both our clients and candidates properly, I can make thoughtful, suitable introductions that support long-term success. It’s a brilliant feeling when you know you’ve helped place someone in a role where they can flourish.
I love working at KD Recruitment because I genuinely believe we make a positive difference to businesses and to people’s lives.
I’m driven to succeed and passionate about delivering a high level of service to everyone I come into contact with. Whether I’m supporting a senior leader with workforce planning, advising a business on the recruitment market or helping a candidate take the next step in their career, I always want people to feel listened to, supported and confident throughout the process.
Outside of work, I’m very active and love nothing more than getting outdoors for a walk, run or bike ride.
Get in touch. I’d love to help you.
York: 01904 642888
Hull: 01482 762199
Scarborough: 01723 313505
laura.birchall@kdrecruitment.co.uk
Building Better Futures across North and East Yorkshire
- Federation of Small Businesses Member
- York Professionals Member
- NYBEP – Careers Fairs
- NYBEP – Mock Interviews
Greatest achievement: I pushed myself to do a sky dive raising money for the Antony Nolan Bone Marrow Trust
Three words to describe you: Positive, Outgoing and Driven
Superpower: My positivity is infectious
Jenna Bowman
Talent Coordinator
I’m a Talent Coordinator here at KD Recruitment, supporting our recruitment team to find the right candidates for temporary and permanent roles across North and East Yorkshire.
My journey with KD Recruitment started back in 2018, when I joined the business as a part-time Administrator. Since then, with training, support and hands-on experience, I’ve progressed my career into a Talent Coordinator role.
Day to day, I help source candidates for the roles we’re recruiting for, speak with them about their experience and career goals, interview them, and support the team in matching the right people to the right opportunities.
Once we’ve found a strong match, I help prepare and send candidate CVs to our clients, arrange interviews and support candidates throughout the recruitment process. I also stay in touch once they’ve started their new role, making sure they feel supported as they settle into the next stage of their career.
One of the things I enjoy most about my role is being part of someone’s career journey. Whether a candidate is looking for temporary work, a permanent role or a completely new direction, I love helping them feel listened to, encouraged and confident about their next step.
At KD Recruitment, our values of honesty, integrity and genuinely caring about people are at the heart of how we work. I’m proud to be part of a team that supports candidates and clients with a personal, thoughtful and professional approach.
I’m based in our Scarborough office, so feel free to pop in or get in touch.
Scarborough: 01723 313505
jenna.bowman@kdrecruitment.co.uk
Building Better Futures across North and East Yorkshire
- NYBEP – School Careers Fairs
- Jobs and Careers Fairs
- NYBEP – School mock interviews
Greatest achievement: Traveling the world. Hiking the Franz Josef Glacier, New Zealand, sky diving in Taupo and bungee jumping in Cairns.
Three words to describe you: Calm, easy going, fun.
Superpower : I can inject fun into every situation.
Jenna Bowman
Talent Coordinator
I’m Jenna and I source and select the best talent from around North and East Yorkshire, and then work with Kelly and Laura to match candidates to suitable companies and roles. I began my career at KDR as administrator and have since progressed to Talent Coordinator in 2023, a role that I love.
Previously, I worked for the NHS with responsibility for rotas and compliance, and prior to this, I was a flight attendant for Emirates, living for several years in Dubai. I love travelling and also spent a couple of years catering for touring musicians including Sir Elton John and Cold Play!
I am a stickler for high standards and believe in providing a first-rate service. Our clients and candidates deserve the very best and that’s what they get from KDR.
If you are looking for a change or want to find your perfect job, then give me a call.
Scarborough: 01723 313505
jenna.bowman@kdrecruitment.co.uk
Building Better Futures across North and East Yorkshire
- NYBEP – School Careers Fairs
- Job Fairs
- NYBEP – School mock interviews
Greatest achievement: Traveling the world. Hiking the Franz Josef Glacier, New Zealand, sky diving in Taupo and bungee jumping in Cairns.
Three words to describe you: Calm, easy going, fun.
Superpower : I can inject fun into every situation.
“Having been contacted directly by Kelly regarding a role that maybe of interest, she explored and listened to my current situation and my top 3 must-haves. Instead of just presenting the package available, Kelly explained the role and had a thorough understanding of what the position entailed & the challenges, which helped my decision making. Her communication throughout was beyond my expectation and went above and beyond any previous experiences I have had with recruitment agencies throughout my professional life. My previous experience has been that the approach is purely about filling a vacancy & securing the finders fee rather than what’s best for the employer and candidate. I felt she was truly working for me and not just the potential employer. She matched my skills and experience to the role and subsequently helped negotiate the package and achieve my must-haves, even though I wasn’t actively seeking a new role. Her communication post job offer, acceptance, notice period, start date and beyond has been supportive, honest and reassuring.”
Whether you are looking to fill a HR job for your business in Hull, an administrator for your team in Scarborough or a PA to work with your director in York, KD Recruitment are here to source the best talent around.
Our Mission
By supporting organisations that share our values, we aim to inspire change and improve the perception of working with a trusted recruitment partner, setting a new standard within the industry. We are committed to making a difference and changing people’s lives, whilst also contributing to economic growth.
We continually strive to better ourselves and our services through continuous learning and community engagement, always aiming to make a positive impact across our region.
Our Vision
Our vision is to inspire change and be the most socially responsible Recruitment Agency in North Yorkshire, with honesty and integrity at the heart of everything we do.
Our Core Values - What's important to us.
Honesty and Integrity
Honesty and integrity are at the heart of everything we do, and we always work in our clients’ best interests, it’s one of the reasons we believe our clients stay with KD Recruitment. Our clients trust us to provide a first-class service and we work closely with them, keeping them informed and updated throughout the recruitment process.
Passionate
We are passionate about changing lives, for our candidates and our clients. Success means matching the right candidate to their ideal job and finding employees for our client who bring value to their businesses.
Delivering Excellence
Excellence for us means delivering an exceptional service, at all times, to all clients and candidates. Our service delivery sets us apart from other recruiters and we always go the extra mile.
We never stop learning
We believe in continuous learning and keep up- to-date with any changes within the recruitment industry and the legislation that surrounds it. We also ensure we are fully knowledgeable of the sectors our clients work in, and advise on market changes as well as salary guidance, CV, and interview preparation.
Social Responsibility
We give back to the communities in which we live and work, both at a personal and business level; this includes our help and expertise, financial support or simply our time. The important thing is that we are helping to make a difference.
Our Charities
We choose charities that have meaning to the team at KDR. Here’s some information on who we’re supporting this year. Please help and get involved.
We are excited to have launched an initiative to provide support to St Catherine’s Hospice and will donate £50.00 to this essential local charity for every placement made during 2023.
We support Children in Need every year and last year we organised a bake sale here at Woodend; our neighbouring businesses jumped on board and we raised over £400.
We love doing something funny for money so Red Nose gives us the perfect opportunity. We’ve taken part in red nose and spoon races….
Cathy Wood, our Senior Recruiter and fitness fanatic, jumped on her bike and rode 1000km in August 2022, raising funds for this wonderful charity. That’s pedalling more than 32km every day.
Raising money by getting caked! In the past we held a bake sale; this year we took part in a 5-mile tough mudda and got caked in mud whilst raising money for the RSPCA in Hull. We’re passionate about animals so all the team took part.
Scarborough, Whitby and Ryedale MIND
Our clients and their four-legged friends joined us for this important charity fund raiser, which included a dog walk and fun agility course.
Other Charities Supported:
“As a local independent charity, we don’t have the luxury of paid HR staff. So when the vacancy arose for a deputy manager, we acknowledged that this key appointment was too important to leave to chance or our own limited skills. The trustees decided that it was essential to employ the help of experienced and trained recruiters. From the first point of contact with Kelly and her team, we felt that we were in very safe and capable hands. She was professional, patient and very knowledgeable, taking time to get to know about our organisation, what we do, who our users are, and how the role of deputy manager fits into the great scheme of things. If we came up against a problem, Kelly was always on hand to offer advice or call into the office to talk things through.
Having been guided smoothly through the process by KD Recruitment, we were able to successfully appoint the perfect candidate. A worthwhile investment in our charity’s future.”
Are you looking to Hire?
Are you looking for a job?
Taking the next meaningful step in your career is never too soon. Browse our job board today for some exciting opportunities, or register your CV today and receive a call back from us.