VMA GROUP supports clients across the business spectrum to source the best and brightest communications, marketing, digital and change talent. Someone who has partnered with us both as a candidate and as a client is John Dickinson-Lilley.

John has had an exciting and varied career, from writing part of The Equality Act and being involved in the ‘This Girl Can’ campaign to parliamentary campaigning and even skiing for Great Britian’s Alpine Ski Team. However, throughout his career there’s one thing that has remained a constant for him – VMA GROUP’s support for his recruitment needs.

John first came across VMA GROUP back in 2017 when he was searching for a public affairs role. Following John’s recent retirement from his paralympic skiing career, it was a sensitive time, with the added complexity of an ever-changing employment market. VMA GROUP’s care, consideration, and expertise provided John with an incredibly positive experience. Previously, John’s experiences with a range of recruitment consultancies have been incredibly varied, whereas John felt that VMA GROUP’s priorities were finely balanced to achieve care and great outcomes for both candidates and the client. After reviewing his CV and providing useful and valuable feedback, we encouraged John to apply for a Head of External Affairs role where he was ultimately appointed.

As a disabled candidate, John also found VMA GROUP to stand out by proactively engaging in an open and supportive conversation about his disability and reasonable adjustments. Not only did our consultant make sure to ask about these requirements but collaborated with John to develop a one-page document that set out his needs and provides both John and prospective employers with appropriate insights and confidence. John still uses this approach in application and employment, to ensure an inclusive process and ensure employers can focus on his ability to deliver, something clearly demonstrated through his exceptional career.

John worked with VMA GROUP again in 2021 when he came across an interesting opportunity at the British Museum. This time, for a Director of Communications role, the first appointed at the museum, making the recruitment process an extremely long and robust one. Our Managing Director, Lucy Cairncross, and Account Director, Nisha Darbar, led John through the process, keeping him on track and regularly communicating. Whether the process had moved on, or simply making contact to provide a touch point, this level of effective communication kept John engaged, left him feeling at ease, and is one of the reasons why he continues to come back to VMA GROUP.

After being successfully appointed in his role at the British Museum, John’s first point of call when he needed recruitment support within his own team, was VMA GROUP. John came to us with the task of finding an experienced interim professional with senior experience, and on a very quick turnaround. Following an open conversation with Lucy Cairncross, she endeavored to find the perfect candidate. Despite the challenging brief, Lucy quickly provided a high-quality shortlist of candidates, all with senior backgrounds and great experience. The candidate shortlist was strong and appointable, with the successful individual able to get stuck in straightaway and provide stability and senior leadership capacity.

John continues to recommend us to others and will continue to work with us for his future recruitment requirements.

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“My experiences working with VMA GROUP have been nothing but positive. There’s a noticeable and distinctive attention to detail provided to both the candidates and the client. I genuinely recommend VMA GROUP to others. If you want to employ quality staff, you need to work with a quality agency – and quite frankly be prepared to pay the fee!”

John Dickinson-Lilley

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VMA GROUP is a leading international interim, contract, temporary and permanent recruitment and executive search specialist. We are specifically focused on providing support to the communications, marketing, digital and change communities.

Our specialist practice areas cover: communications, corporate communications, internal communications, change communications, PR, media relations, financial communications, CSR, public affairs, investor relations, marketing, brand, digital marketing and agency services.

We have a reputation for providing expert consultancy services and advice, supported by in-depth knowledge of the professions we recruit for. Our thought leadership and benchmarking studies have become go-to resources for the communications, marketing, digital and change industries, supporting planning and decision-making for organisations of all shapes and sizes.

In the UK, VMA GROUP has offices in London, Bristol and Manchester and in Europe, VMA GROUP has offices in Amsterdam and Brussels, but we work with organisations and individuals on a global basis.

VMA GROUP is committed to equal opportunities and is an Inclusive+ Recruiter.