Role: Managing Director
Founded Maxwell Stephens: June 2006
Outside of Work
Peter founded Maxwell Stephens in 2006 with a simple ambition: to build the UK's leading specialist Facilities Management recruitment consultancy.
Having spent seven successful years in recruitment, followed by a year as a Director of a niche recruitment business, Peter recognised an opportunity to create something different. Rather than trying to recruit across every industry, he believed clients deserved genuine specialists who understood their market inside out.
Following a six-week break to reflect on his career, Maxwell Stephens was born.
Nearly two decades later, that vision remains unchanged.
Today, Maxwell Stephens is recognised as one of the UK's most established specialist Facilities Management recruitment consultancies, partnering with organisations ranging from FTSE 100 companies and global financial institutions to charities, universities, healthcare providers, luxury hospitality brands and public sector organisations.
Peter has personally overseen thousands of Facilities Management appointments, from Facilities Assistants and Workplace Managers through to Heads of Facilities, Estates Directors, Chief Operating Officers and board-level leadership roles.
His reputation has been built on three core principles:
Peter firmly believes recruitment should never be transactional. Every assignment is about understanding an organisation's culture, objectives and long-term ambitions, then identifying professionals who can genuinely make a difference.
Throughout his career he has also become well known for producing industry research, salary surveys, recruitment guides, eBooks and career advice designed to raise standards across the Facilities Management profession. His passion for continuous improvement has helped position Maxwell Stephens as a trusted source of insight as well as recruitment expertise.
Although the business has grown significantly since 2006, Peter has deliberately maintained a specialist, highly experienced team rather than pursuing rapid expansion. His philosophy has always been simple:
"I'd rather have a small team of exceptional recruiters than a large team of average ones."
Away from recruitment, Peter enjoys spending time with his wife and three children, travelling whenever possible, relaxing in the sunshine and discovering great food and wine.
Looking back over the journey so far, several milestones remain particularly memorable: celebrating Maxwell Stephens' 10th anniversary at The Shard, hosting client networking events with leading organisations, and seeing many candidates placed years ago progress into senior leadership positions before returning as valued clients themselves.
For Peter, that's one of the greatest measures of success, not simply filling vacancies, but building relationships that last throughout an entire career.
