Steady ambition powers AJP Recruitment's rise

AJP Recruitment has been named Fastest Growing Small Business of the Year at this year's Ward Hadaway North East Fastest 50 Awards.

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The event, in partnership with The Journal, celebrates the region's privately owned businesses that are driving growth, jobs and innovation across the North East.

For founder and managing director Andrew Paton, the award was a rare moment to stop and take stock. "It felt brilliant," he says. "Day to day we're very busy and focused on meeting deadlines left, right and centre. You don't really get much time to reflect, you have to keep going. Winning this made us pause and think - we're doing something right here. It's the team who make it all work, so it's good to see that acknowledged."

From a living room table to a global talent engine

AJP's rise has mirrored the resurgence of the North East's manufacturing, engineering, energy and defence sectors. Contractor numbers have grown sharply as traditional trades such as sheet metal workers, fabricators and skilled craft workers remain vital to major projects across the North East and beyond.

Alongside their work across the UK, AJP has supported international clients as far afield as Taiwan and Brazil. And while their Newcastle airport advert proudly states 'Home Newcastle, the North East is very much the starting point rather than the limit of their reach.

Andrew explains: "In some ways the industrial heritage of the North East has been reborn and reimagined. We have ship building on the Tyne again but we have also got a lot of those heritage skills employed in different industries across renewable energy, defence, aerospace and automotive in particular. That's created opportunities for people with hands-on skills and driven a lot of our growth."

The business itself began in 2012 on a living room table whilst experiencing first-time fatherhood. Growth since then has been intentional rather than explosive.