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

Your South West hiring partner

Cathedral Appointments is an independent, B Corp certified recruitment agency based in Exeter. Since 1988 we've helped South West businesses find the people who keep them running and growing, on permanent, temporary and contract terms, through one team that knows your market.

What we do

Every business needs people to look after the finances, support and manage its own team, run day-to-day operations, sell, market and keep its technology working. We recruit those roles for businesses of every kind, from tech and manufacturing firms to law practices, care providers and financial planners. We also recruit engineering, manufacturing and logistics roles.

You get one team and one relationship, whether you need a permanent hire, cover from next week or a specialist on contract.

How we work

  • We meet you first. We meet every client and candidate we work with, and we get to know your business, your team and your culture before we start looking.
  • We screen before we share. Every candidate you meet has had at least two screening interviews with us. On average, one in two of the CVs we send leads to a first interview.
  • We search, not just advertise. We have more than 32,000 local candidates on our database, and one in three of the people we place never applied for the role: we went and found them.
  • We stay local.  We only work with South West based businesses, so we know the salaries, the competition and the candidates.

Our History

2026

Talking HR: A Thriving Network of HR Leaders

Our biannual HR gatherings have grown to bring together over 60 HR leaders. Together, we explore relevant topics, share insights, build connections, and challenge the status quo, all while focusing on achieving the best outcomes for one another in these demanding roles and for our regional businesses.

2025

B-Corp Agreement Signed

Achieving B Corp certification marks a major milestone in Cathedral Appointments’ ongoing commitment to doing business for good. As one of only a handful of B Corp-certified recruitment firms in the UK, the company is leading the way in redefining what success looks like in the recruitment sector.

2024

Introducing Talking HR

The largest gathering of HR professionals in the South West to come together to address key concerns, navigate challenges and help businesses grow.

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.

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!

Don't just take our word for it

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

Suzette K

Candidate | Accountancy and Finance

I have used Cathedral Appointments for a number of senior appointments within the Exeter Chamber of Commerce and Devon Chamber of Commerce, including CEO-level appointments for both of these organisations, and have always been highly impressed with the insightful, agile and comprehensive range of candidates that have been provided.

Steve Gales

Devon Chamber of Commerce

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

Client | Foresight Financial Planning

I found the team at Cathedral Appointments to be totally professional, and friendly, they couldn't have been more helpful if they tried. They made looking for a new role seamless. I would definitely recommend using Cathedral Appointments for anyone either looking to recruit or seeking employment.

Elaine F

Candidate | Manufacturing

Charlotte guided me through the process and always ensured to keep up to date. It was great having someone there that was knowledgeable and couldn’t do enough! It enabled me to successfully secure a new role and I would highly recommend Charlotte and the team's services at Cathedral Appointments.

Oliver S

Candidate | Marketing

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

Client | Fraser Anti-Static Techniques

Cathedral Appointments won a competitive process to recruit Exeter Science Park’s new CEO during which we outlined a challenging schedule. Partnering with Cathedral Appointments for our recent CEO recruitment drive was a fantastic experience. They didn't just run 'their' process, rather they bought into our challenging schedule, took the time to understand our culture and worked closely with us to deliver an innovative marketing and selection campaign. Their management support processes were seamless, professional, and they took the lead in all aspects of the process.

A new CEO was selected on schedule. Cathedral Appointments managed the appointment process and supported the unsuccessful candidates. It was very important to us that all candidates, successful and unsuccessful, thought the process was challenging, proportionate and fair.

Sally Basker

Exeter Science Park

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

Client | Link Asset Services

Working with Cathedral Appointments on the appointment of Finance Director was a very positive experience. This was a critical hire for Ocean Healthcare. They took the time to really understand what we were looking for, guided us through a clear and professional process, and kept me informed at every step.

The service from Cathedral Appointments was transparent, professional, and collaborative throughout, and we are delighted to have welcomed our new Finance Director to the business. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend the Cathedral Appointments team for any senior-level recruitment.

Paul Insley

Ocean Healthcare

Meet the team

Clodagh Murphy

Clodagh Murphy MBA; BSc Business & IT

Executive Director

Clodagh is an experienced business leader with more than three decades in the technology and IT sectors. She began her career in San Francisco in 1996 before returning to her hometown of Dublin, where she combined four years in a variety of IT roles with part-time study for her degree at Trinity College Dublin. In 2003, Clodagh relocated to the UK and went on to hold senior leadership positions in a number of technology and IT services businesses. Notably, as Managing Director of Eclipse Internet, she led the team in doubling turnover from £20m to £40m.
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Matt Wicks

Matt Wicks BA (Hons) in Economics; MA International Politics

Recruitment Manager

Matt Wicks brings over 21 years of recruitment experience to Cathedral Appointments and leads our Accountancy & Finance specialism. Working with businesses and finance professionals across the South West, he has built an outstanding reputation for delivering expert recruitment solutions and developing long-term relationships based on trust and results.
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Charlotte Coke

Charlotte Coke

Senior Recruitment Consultant

Charlotte is a Senior Recruitment Consultant at Cathedral Appointments and leads our HR and Marketing specialism. She has spent over 17 years in recruitment, so she understands the pressures on HR and marketing functions and what it takes to build strong teams within them.
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