Two working mums One shared passion
What brought us together?
What brought us together in 2014 was a shared purpose to empower the early years community to inspire a future of possibilities.
What motivated us to build SKAT Recruitment was our passion to partner the best of the early years community to shape the foundation for a future of shared success, together.
As early years practitioners we have experience of the challenges faced across the sector. We met in the sector we serve and realised quickly that together, we wanted to help shine a light on the amazing work that people do, lighten the load where we can and give purpose to people who want to establish careers in this rewarding field, where everyone feels valued.
We draw strength from our individual differences. With partnership at our core, we work together with honesty, respect and transparency, to continue to encourage each other be the best we can, in a sector that we are passionate about. We never lose sight of taking the time to appreciate each other, have fun and bring happiness and optimism to what we do.
We’re proud of our contribution to lightening the load and giving purpose to the people who want to establish careers in this rewarding field. It is our promise to advance early years career aspirations with compassion, empathy, and respect.
Our purpose, vision, and promise
We believe in empowering the early years community to inspire a future of possibilities. We connect the best of the early years community to shape the foundation for a future of shared success. We advance early years career aspirations with compassion, empathy and respect.
We live by four guiding principles
Honest & transparent
Honesty is at the heart of all our interactions because we value open, authentic and transparent communication and recognise that it is essential to establishing trust. We manage expectations up front to provide clarity for all our customers, because we understand that uncertainty and ambiguity leads to frustrations. It’s this approach that lays the foundation for the positive, longer-lasting relationships that we cherish.
Empathetic & consistent
In everything we do, we demonstrate integrity, loyalty, and respect with all people, consistently because we’re passionate about the people and the industry we serve. We’re consistent in what we say, do and mean and it’s this consistent approach that builds credibility and trust and keeps our customers coming back. We’re compassionate to all our customers because we’ve been there and feel passionately about doing all we can to help people fulfil their needs and aspirations to make a positive impact.
Personal & responsive
We treat every engagement with patience and respect because we’re working mums who recognise that each situation is different, with its own set of challenges. We believe that at the heart of good customer service is listening and understanding to be able to respond quickly and efficiently. We’re in this together and want to help people, whatever their circumstances, to build lasting and meaningful relationships that we care about.
Humble & proud
We’re humbled by the amazing people in early years with whom we work. They do an incredible job under challenging circumstances and we appreciate the value they add to children’s lives. We’re proud of our contribution to lightening their load and giving purpose to the people who want to establish careers in this rewarding field. We never take the for granted the opportunity we have created as we continue to champion the early years sector.
Meet your team
Desi Gray
Co-founder & Executive Director
Meet Desi. Co-founder of SKAT with 10 years’ managerial and supervisory experience in the childcare industry, a dedicated working mum to one head-strong teenage son (and boisterous dog) and wife to a loving and supportive husband and is a Cambridge local.
With a bachelor’s degree in Economics and a diploma in Early Years Foundation Stage, Bulgarian-born Desi has always been fascinated by the recruitment industry. Having been on the other side of it, she had a vision to help everyone in the early years sector achieve their aspirations. After meeting Sohini, together they shaped their collective dream into the compassionate, personal, and dedicated early years recruitment agency that is SKAT.
Desi’s manages the administrative and recruitment side of the business.
Sohini Biswas
Co-Founder & Executive Director
Meet Sohini. Co-founder of SKAT with more than 10 years’ experience across both the customer service and childcare sector.
Sohini is passionate about the untapped power of working mums and dedicates herself to championing the rewarding opportunities in the early years, for mums to make a difference and feel valued.
With a bachelor’s degree in Business Management, Indian-born Sohini is a qualified Early Years Practitioner, devoted mum to one studious teenage daughter (and dopey but lovable dog) and wife to fun-loving and supportive husband.
Sohini works closely with clients and businesses with a personal, supportive and friendly approach.
Stephen Gray
Business Development and Training Director
Meet Stephen. Passionate advocate of health and safety at work, father to one head-strong teenage son and devoted husband to early years champion, Desi.
A local Cambridge parishioner, Stephen started his career in construction as a carpenter. He developed his skills to become an Architect on multiple large-scale projects and later as Project Manager. Stephen is an avid supporter of sustainability and has challenged the government on community initiatives to ensure sustainability remains at the core of current and future construction & development.
Now a qualified teacher, assessor and first-aid trainer, Stephen manages SKAT’s Training Academy to support early years professionals develop their skills and ability, to manage unforeseen situations efficiently and confidently.
Stephen’s experience in adult teaching throughout his years in construction, coupled with his transferable project management skills of communication, organisation, problem-solving and situational assessment makes him a valuable asset to assess organisation’s and people’s training needs, and support them in the most efficient and engaging way. He’s also an all-round nice guy.
Outside of his family, Stephen loves trekking, kayaking, art and maintaining mental and physical wellbeing. His driving ambition is to support the local Cambridge and East Anglia community thrive.
Get in touch
If you are considering advancing your early years career or kick-starting your hiring process, get in touch today to speak to one of our trusted advisers.