Double celebrations for Acorn as it joins a much-loved colleague to ring in the ‘big 3-0’ together

UK recruiter marks 30 years in business by cutting the cake with Christina

Acorn is celebrating in more ways than one this month as it prepares to celebrate its 30th birthday in the same month as a much-loved colleague.

The UK recruiter is ringing in the ‘big 3-0’ alongside its Digital Marketing Manager, Christina Harris, with both of them marking the three decade milestone this March.

Christina and Managing Director Bernard Ward enjoyed cake to celebrate at Acorn’s headquarters in Newport, where Christina has spent almost a third of her lifetime as well as that of the company’s working in its marketing department.

Christina, who joined Acorn as Digital Marketing Assistant through the Jobs Growth Wales scheme in 2013, said: “It’s been wonderful, growing and developing myself professionally at the same time that Acorn itself has continued to change and expand as an organisation too.

“I’ve learned so much since I first started with the company on a six-month placement, which has now turned into almost 10 years of employment, and it somehow feels fitting to be marking this big birthday alongside the company.”

“If my next three decades are anything like as enlightening as the first, then I can’t wait to see what comes next, both personally and professionally too,” Christina added.

After completing her customer service apprenticeship, Christina went on to gain her NCA Level 3 in Customer Service to become a permanent Acorn employee in 2015, with an ILM Level  2 in Leadership and Team Skills following alongside her promotion to Digital Marketing Manager.

In the same time frame, Acorn has also continued to go from strength to strength, picking up a string of industry awards and breaking the international market through its merger with Australian-based Acorn Human Resources, among other things, within the past decade too.

Established in 1992 in Newport, Wales, the company has continued to expand and grow ever since and is now preparing to mark its 30th year in business with more than 30 branches operating on a global scale, and more than 15 specialist divisions to its name.

It has also welcomed a new face at the helm within that time too, after company founder Matt Southall announced he was stepping down last year.

Bernard Ward joined the company as Managing Director in 2021 and said of the double celebration: “Christina is really passionate about Acorn and has grown to become an integral part of the marketing team and our organisation in general, so it feels wholly fitting that we get to celebrate her 30th birthday alongside our own as a company at the same time.

“She works closely with our recruiters, working hard to ensure Acorn’s digital marketing strategy is strong and delivers an excellent client and candidate journey, and has been with us for almost 10 years.”

“There can be no doubt Christina has played an integral part – alongside the rest of our fantastic team here at Acorn – in making sure our recruitment services are as relevant, innovative and as effective today as they were when we first began three decades ago,” Bernard added.

“You don’t get to spend 30 years in business without the will of a team that is committed to continue being all of these things behind you, and I’m extremely proud and delighted to be welcoming in another decade of business alongside Christina and all of my colleagues here at Acorn.”

For more information visit www.acornpeople.com