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The Power of Togetherness in Recruitment

​​At Sharp Consultancy, recruitment is about much more than filling job roles. It is about bringing people together, building lasting relationships, and creating opportunities where businesses and individuals can thrive. That's why one of our core values, Togetherness, is at the heart of everything we do. ​Successful recruitment isn't simply about matching a CV to a job description. It's about understanding people, their ambitions, and the culture of the organisations they will become a part of. That's why we meet with both clients and candidates alike, taking the time to get to know them, understand what they're looking for, and ensure we achieve the perfect match. We work closely with everyone involved to understand what success looks like from both perspectives. By working together, we create stronger matches that benefit businesses, employees, and teams for the long term.​Togetherness means investing in relationships For our clients, this means becoming a trusted recruitment partner who understands their business, challenges, and future goals. We don't just recruit for today's vacancy, we help build a team that aligns with your values and ambitions. For our candidates, it means providing honest advice, guidance, and support throughout their career journey. Whether someone is looking for their first opportunity, career progression, or a complete change of direction, we're there every step of the way. ​The best recruitment decisions happen through collaboration We believe open communication, transparency, and shared goals lead to better hiring decisions. By encouraging honest conversations between employers, candidates, and our recruitment consultants, we create an environment where everyone feels heard and valued. When people work together, better decisions follow. ​Togetherness doesn't stop once a placement has been made At Sharp Consultancy, we continue to support our clients as their businesses evolve. From workforce planning to recruitment strategy and talent advice, we're committed to building long-term partnerships that grow alongside our clients. ​​Creating Opportunities for People Every placement represents more than a job. It's a new chapter in someone's career, a fresh opportunity for a business, and the beginning of new working relationships. We never lose sight of the impact recruitment has on people's lives. By treating every candidate with respect and every client as a valued partner, we create experiences built on trust, professionalism, and mutual success. ​Togetherness is more than one of our values, it’s how we work every day It's reflected in every conversation, every recommendation, and every successful placement we make. We believe recruitment works best when it's built on collaboration, trust, and genuine relationships. At Sharp Consultancy, we're proud to bring people together, helping businesses find exceptional talent while supporting individuals to achieve their goals. ​​

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Lee Sweeney
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Lee Sweeney

Executive Director

Educated at Chesterfield Boy’s School in Derbyshire, Lee Sweeney's career commenced with a solid foundation in retail banking. He spent eight years at LloydsTSB Bank Plc, assuming various sales and junior management roles. In 1996, Lee embarked on a new chapter with Sharp Consultancy, dedicating 28 years of service (and counting!), including the establishment of the Leeds office in 2000.

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Lee specialises in Professional Practice & Private Equity, encompassing a comprehensive scope of disciplines:

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  • • Mergers & Acquisitions

  • • Corporate Finance

  • • Transaction Services

  • • Business Restructuring & Insolvency

  • • Audit and Taxation

  • • Investment and Portfolio Management within Private Equity

  • • Investment & Specialist Banking

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His geographical focus spans West and North Yorkshire and Manchester, where he has built and nurtured long-standing client relationships.

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Colleagues and clients often describe Lee as helpful, professional, and inspiring. These attributes have been pivotal in fostering trust and delivering exceptional service within his field.

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Outside of professional life, Lee is an avid fly fisherman, a passion that allows him to connect with nature and unwind. He is an avid car enthusiast, having attended events like the Goodwood Revival and enjoying weekend drives in his Porsche Boxster. His love for the outdoors extends to walking, particularly in the breathtaking Langdale region of The Lake District, and cycling, which keeps him active and invigorated.

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When not indulging in these hobbies, you will often find Lee and his wife hosting dinner parties for friends and family.

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Lee enjoying his holidays and hobbies.
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    ​Lee Sweeney opened my eyes to the importance and impact of a top quality recruiter. Everything from having a face to face introductory meeting to the strategic guidance throughout the process. Simply put, the process was best in class. 

    Ross
    Ross,
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    ​I have no hesitation in recommending Lee to anyone in my network. In particular, he has kept in touch with me over the last 5/6 years being a source of impartial advise when needed.

    Adam
    Adam,
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    ​Lee is the consummate professional and very personable. He was helpful and understanding throughout the whole process and I appreciated his openness and integrity which gave great confidence in every conversation.

    Daniel
    Daniel,
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    ​Lee has been absolutely fantastic throughout the hiring process. I have a somewhat unusual background for a role in M&A, but he immediately picked up on my tremendous drive to do all the things necessary for a role. The depth of experience and love of the job enables Lee to know what firms want / need from candidates beyond the standard cookie-cutter approach which 99% of headhunters use. From a personal perspective, Lee has spent a lot of time getting to know me and helping me think about how to present myself at interview. Absolutely top-notch.

    Investment Banker, Relocating from London
    Investment Banker, Relocating from London,
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    ​Whenever I’ve needed to recruit at a senior level, Lee has always been my first call—and has been for over 10 years. He and his team consistently do an outstanding job for Azets, and the calibre of candidates he introduces is exceptional. Lee has been with us every step of the way on our growth journey. His combination of proactivity, approachability, and deep sector expertise means he always finds the right person. He truly understands our culture and what drives our business, and that ‘insider’ knowledge has consistently led to great results. I would highly recommend Lee to any business looking to recruit key individuals who will make a genuine difference. ​

    Russell Turner - Managing Director
    Russell Turner - Managing Director,
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    In my capacity of recruiting and growing our team, Lee and his team have been involved in a number of pivotal senior appointments as well as a steady flow of very credible candidates at all levels both in response to recruitment need, but often out of courtesy in respect of strong candidates who they think would be a good fit for our teams. I think the trust in the relationship is both ways given 2 of the Sharp senior team have encouraged their children to join Azets to begin their accountancy careers!

    Chris Butt - National Head of Audit
    Chris Butt - National Head of Audit,
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    ​We have worked with Sharp Consultancy and Lee Sweeney for over 20 years. Whenever we have a role available at Park Place, Lee is our first port of call. He knows the types of candidates that are most suitable for us and, given his unmatched coverage of the Yorkshire market, does a great job of filtering the list down to the best candidates based on our specific criteria. He is also extremely proactive, bringing us exceptional candidates even when we are not necessarily in the market, but still keen to be introduced to great people.

    Ben Peacock - Partner
    Ben Peacock - Partner,
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    ​I have worked with Sharp for many years. There is always a deep understanding of the position and the requirements of the role, some of which can be demanding. Furthermore, beyond the technicalities of the role, consideration of broader skill sets and personalities has helped to find the right people for my team, many of whom have I have now worked with for many years. I look forward to many more years working with Lee and Sharp Consultancy to help maintain a high performing and successful team.

    Mark Thornton - Partner, Business Restructuring
    Mark Thornton - Partner, Business Restructuring,
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    The Sharp Consultancy team has built a really good understanding of our Business and culture, so can quickly identify where a candidate’s talent and aspirations match our approach. Lee’s relationship-based approach has always given us great confidence in his judgement – from an honest assessment about a candidate at the outset, Lee is straightforward to deal with and always takes the time to keep in touch, even when we’re not discussing a vacancy or specific candidate.

    Andrew Barlow - Partner
    Andrew Barlow - Partner,