Our values

INTEGRITY

INTEGRITY

With a strong moral code, integrity underpins the ethos of how we operate.
TEAMWORK

TEAMWORK

We enjoy working with each other, winning together is a big part of who we are.
QUALITY

QUALITY

We are an award-winning team with an unrivaled reputation for matching great talent with successful businesses.

Our Focus

Cathedral Appointments are Exeter's leading specialist independent recruitment consultancy. Our clients are based in the South West of England with the majority of our candidates based in this region.  

Why Us?

  • With over 30 years of experience, we know our market. This experience, coupled with our use of technology means we are the leading specialist recruiter in the region.  
  • Every member of our team plays a part in the recruitment process. From owners to our wonderful support team, we are all involved. This means we never lose touch with what's important to our clients and candidates.    
  • Over 90% of our business is repeating. Clients come back to us. Put simply, we deliver on our promises.  
  • Our google reviews speak for themselves. At last count, we had over 280 5-star reviews. 
  • We aren't like other recruiters and may not be the right partner for you. We will be open and honest if this is the case and may recommend a high-street agency that better suits your needs.  
  • We believe in playing our part to support the business ecosystem in the region. Some examples include being active with the Chamber of Commerce as Directors; working closely with Exeter College to support their apprenticeship programs; being Chair of ExIST (Exeter Initiative for Science & Technology) and working with the Exeter University Business School as a member of the Advisory Board.  

Our History

2023

Celebrating 35 years

Celebrating 35 years of connecting candidates and employees in the South West!

2022

CA Tech Talent Launched

In the Spring of 2022, we launched our sister brand, CA Tech Talent. Focused solely on Technical and IT roles, we are the only dedicated Tech recruiter in the local region.

2021

Cathedral Appointments Expands

Clodagh Murphy joins the team as a Director. Clodagh is a business leader, holding over two decades’ worth of experience in the tech and IT sectors.

2019

Exeter Living Awards

Cathedral Appointments sponsor a category in the Exeter Living Awards

2018

Celebrating 30 years!

Cathedral Appointments celebrate 30 years in business

2018

Exeter Living Awards

Cathedral Appointments sponsor a category in the Exeter Living Awards

2013

Celebrating 25 years!

Cathedral Appointments celebrate 25 years in business.

2012

New Recruit - Jo Howell

Jo Howell joined the business in November 2012

2009

Ranked Top 10

Cathedral Appointments are ranked in the 'Top 10 Recruitment Agencies' by job hunters by online recruitment site Jobsite

2004

Best Regional Recruitment Agency Award Winners for the 2nd time!

Thrilled to achieve, for the second time, 'Best Regional Recruitment Agency Award'

2002

Best Regional Recruitment Agency Award Winners

Proud to be awarded with 'Best Regional Recruitment Agency' accolade for the first time!

2000

Investor In People Award

Proud to achieve Investor in People status for the first time in 2000

1998

Celebrating 10 years!

Cathedral Appointments celebrates a milestone 10 years since opening their doors!

1998

New Recruit - Jo Caine

Jo Caine appointed to cover maternity leave and never left!

Testimonials

Link Asset Services have had a long and successful relationship with Cathedral Appointments. We have been very satisfied with the consistent level of service received and the quality of candidates provided. Their consultants have invested time in getting to know our specialist fund administration and accounting business and to ensure they fully understand our requirements. We feel we are a valued client.

Gary Woolfries

Link Asset Services

"I have worked with Cathedral for many years now (both applying for jobs myself, and hiring candidates into my teams). They are fantastic to work with! Always keen to chat and identify my specific requirements. Personally my preferred recruiters to work with in the area!
Clear and very professional!"

Ben T

Candiate and Client

'Jo and the team offer a professional and dedicated recruitment service, taking the time to understand our recruiting needs and providing expert sector insight where needed. It has been a pleasure to work with Jo and I would not hesitate to approach Cathedral again for future vacancies.'

Lawrie Tawse

Cherry May Financial Planning Ltd

'We have used Cathedral Appointments for a number of years to help us recruit staff and we have always been delighted with the high standard of service from the team and the quality of the candidates they put forward. They have taken the time to understand our business and the type of person that we look for which has helped us to attract and retain some excellent people to our team. Sophia is an absolute pleasure to work with and we look forward to continuing this in the future.'

Recruitment Contact

Parnalls Solicitors, Launceston

"I commend Cathedral, and Georgia especially, very highly. From the outset Georgia has a naturally easeful but thorough approach that puts one at their ease while teasing out all the pertinent points that an employer would want to know. Alongside the skills, Georgia subtly takes time to get to know her candidates personalities in an efficient and effective way. Once satisfied with a deeper understanding of talents, motivators and background, thereafter Georgia takes all the burden off ones shoulders.
Georgia has the tenacity to marry candidates to clients and hand picks opportunities to present to get candidates before proceeding to spec out, which is a bit of a dark art and having owned my own agency, a consultant like Georgia is very much sought after! Recognition of this must go to Cathedral for their 360 degree training.
Thereafter Georgia takes all the pressure out of negotiations of terms which makes the whole lifecycle thoroughly pleasurable and I can see why Cathedral have such a strong foothold in this corner of the world. With diverse and long standing clients, which in turn attracts an abundance of candidates, it's a win win for all.
I cannot thank or praise Georgia highly enough. Committed, caring and savvy, such a great ambassador for all concerned."

Odette D

Candidate - Office

"I came across Cathedral Appointments when I saw a job advert online. I didn’t think much of it and submitted my CV, I received an email straight away from Sophia wanting to have a telephone call and getting to know me. She said I would be the perfect candidate and would liaise with the company. Sophia was so helpful keeping me up to date at every stage and even having a small chat with me before my telephone interview. She would follow up with me to see how it went and I felt in safe hands. I got the job and she still reached out to see how I was getting on. I really appreciated all her time and advice she gave. Thank you Sophia and Cathedral Appointments!"

Aicha K

Candidate - Legal

Sophia, you have helped me get my foot in the door, and be well on my way to achieving my career dreams! I cannot emphasise how thankful I am to you.

Chloe

Candidate, Legal

Dani has placed me in a couple of positions which have both been a great match to my skills and personality. She has always worked with my best interests at heart and the whole team provides a very professional service. I would have no hesitation in recommending Cathedral Appointments to anyone looking for either a job or to hire staff.

Debbie

Candidate, Marketing

We are a small business with only occasional need for additional staff but, having tried using various job sites and advertising, would recommend their service for the time it saves in filtering and meeting candidates. We have used Cathedral Appointments a number of times over the years and been impressed with the time they spend getting to know us and our business and the resultant calibre and “good fit” of the candidates that they subsequently introduce to us.

Tim Bishop

Foresight Financial Planning

I had a great experience working with Sophia. Within 24 hours of submitting an online application, I received an email and set up an initial call to discuss the job. Sophia knew the ins and outs of the company, and the role and answered every possible question I could have had! She helped me prepare for the interview very well and after successfully getting the role, has been so communicative and supportive. It is the best experience I have ever had with a recruiter and I’m so pleased to have found them. Thank you!

Felicity C

Candidate - Legal

We’ve worked with a number of consultants across different divisions over the years and we’ve always found Cathedral Appointment’s service to be very professional and efficient. They understand our requirements and are always excellent in putting a number of different options in front of us from which we’ve made many successful appointments. They have a brilliant understanding of the local market and we would highly recommend them.

Sarah Robinson

Fraser Anti-Static Techniques

Just wanted to pass on my thanks for a superb meeting this morning Lynsey. I believe you got a very good understanding of my background, current position and intentions; I also got from you some superb insight and a huge amount of confidence in working with you going forwards. Your knowledge of the local IT market is clearly significant and your network expansive which is impressive. The names you came up with were of course similar to mine but you also know organisations I’ve not heard of before; even ones on my doorstep who I’d not heard of but look very interesting.

Simon

Candidate, Tech & IT

'Jo again thank you for your assistance in obtaining my new position, I have to say, again Cathedral Appointments has been outstanding in supporting my employment search. I still can't believe that within a week of contacting you, not only did you manage to secure me an interview, but provided enough information for me to research the company and its needs to make a fantastic impression at interview.
I will not hesitate to recommend Cathedral and yourself to any of my associates and friends in the future.'

Marc

Satisfied Candidate

"Fantastic service received by Jo Howell at Cathedral Appointments. Extremely personable and so lovely to deal with, she was proactive, professional and reliable. Her input helped me to successfully land a role and return to an industry I'd been away from for a few years. Highly recommend Jo and the team at Cathedral"

Suzette K

Candidate - Accountancy and Finance

"I cannot recommend Dani and the team at Cathedral Appointments highly enough. After an initial discussion, my CV was matched to several employers and an opportunity presented to me within a matter of days which has resulted in an offer of employment and me starting a fantastic new role. If you are looking for a recruitment agency who listen, know their stuff and are very well connected, look no further than Cathedral Appointments!"

Katie E

Candidate - HR

I've recently relocated to Exeter from London and Cathedral Appointments placed me in a role that's a great fit with my background. I've been very impressed by the quality of support I received throughout the interview and job offer process, and the focus that the team had (and Jo in particular) on making sure the role was a good match in terms of experience, opportunity and organisational culture. Thoroughly recommended.

Jill

Satisfied Candidate

Meet the team

Joanne Caine

Joanne Caine FIRP DipRP

Managing Director

Jo joined Cathedral Appointments over 25 years ago and now leads the business alongside Clodagh, who joined the company in 2021. Jo is a local employment expert and a former board member of Exeter’s leading business membership organisation, Exeter Chamber. She is also a Fellow of the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) and has an Associated CIPD membership.
Read more

Clodagh Murphy

Clodagh Murphy MBA; BSc Business & IT

Director

Clodagh is a business leader, holding over two decades’ experience in the tech and IT sectors. Her career began in 1996 working in San Francisco for a Mutual Fund Company. Clodagh then moved back to her home city, Dublin where she spent four years in a variety of roles for eircom. In 2003, Clodagh relocated to the UK and has had a number of leadership roles in Tech & IT Services businesses, including KCOM Group PLC, where she progressed to Managing Director of Eclipse Internet and grew that business from £20m to £40m turnover.
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Jo Howell

Jo Howell BTEC BA & MGT

Recruitment Manager

Jo joined Cathedral Appointments in 2012 after over 20 years in recruitment spanning the whole of the UK - Aberdeen, Home Counties, Greater Manchester and the South West! She recruits for both Financial Services and Accountancy professionals and is known in the office for finding the needle in the haystack candidate where no one else can!
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