The Women of Prime
International Women's Day 2026
Celebrating the achievements, milestones and quiet brilliance of the team behind Prime Appointments.
Robyn Holmes — Founder & Managing Director
Robyn leads Prime Appointments with the vision and family values that have always been at the company's core.
"This year, my greatest achievement isn't something new I've launched — it's the confidence to look ahead.
As a founder and business owner, I've reached a stage where I can begin planning for retirement — and that feels incredibly significant. Not because I'm stepping away, but because I know what I'm stepping away from is strong, capable and in safe hands.
One of my proudest accomplishments has been putting meaningful succession plans in place. Jack, who has been in the business for 15 years, and Katie, for 8 years, have both grown tremendously — not just in experience, but in confidence, leadership and ability. Watching them develop into capable professionals in their own right has been one of the most rewarding parts of my journey. I am immensely proud of everything they have achieved.
Alongside them, our wonderful wider team — which includes our amazing FD Layla — continue to play a vital role in shaping the future of the business. Succession, to me, isn't just about family; it's about ensuring everyone who has helped build this company feels secure and valued in what comes next.
This International Women's Day, I'm celebrating longevity, legacy and the courage to plan forward. Building a business is one achievement — building one that can thrive beyond you is another.
And that makes me very proud indeed."
Katie Holmes — Operations Manager
Katie is a proud second-generation member of the family business, now 8 years in, overseeing day-to-day operations while continuously pushing herself to grow as a leader.
"Over the past year, I've really focused on developing my skills and continuing to grow within the business. I'm currently completing my HR Level 3 qualification to strengthen my knowledge across HR and Operations at Prime. Alongside that, I've been challenging myself with additional courses around mental health, health & safety, and managers' coaching to support both my own progression and the wider team.
As a proud second-generation member of the family business, it's incredibly important to me that I continue learning and pushing myself. Being part of the family legacy motivates me even more to keep developing, build my expertise, and grow as a strong woman in business. 💛"
Layla Drewell — Finance Director
Layla has overseen Prime's Accounts and Payroll teams since 2022, managing everything from budgeting and forecasting to financial reporting and regulatory compliance.
"I hit 30 years of working in Accounting and Finance in January — three decades! And I'd say surviving another year of work, life, admin — and keeping a husband and two kids afloat — counts as a win too."
Donna Maiden — Senior Operations Coordinator
Donna handles everything from system testing and compliance to onboarding new starters and coordinating training across departments.
"Over the past year I've significantly strengthened my expertise in compliance — deepening my understanding of risk management and governance standards, and supporting internal audits. It's reinforced my attention to detail and my proactive approach to continuous improvement."
Julia Sherlock — Senior Recruitment Consultant
With 24 years in Technical and Engineering recruitment, Julia's deep sector knowledge means she genuinely understands the roles she recruits for.
"This year I've been learning more about AI and using it to assist with ad writing and producing images — keeping pace with the latest tools to do my job even better."
Lauren Bishop — Recruitment Consultant
Lauren joined Prime in 2024 and has embraced every part of her role — from sourcing candidates to building client relationships and staying on top of industry trends.
"The main skills I've developed this year are confidence when speaking with clients and a stronger understanding of the market. Through my apprenticeship I've had more direct exposure to client conversations, which has helped me communicate more clearly and tailor my approach to different stakeholders."
Nicola Lawson — Senior Accounts Coordinator
Nicola joined the team at the start of February, bringing fresh energy to the accounts function.
"In just a few weeks I've learnt two new systems, dusted off the cobwebs on another — and I'm getting to know a lot of new names!"
Megan Eves — Senior Marketing & Design Executive
Megan oversees everything from social media, content and paid ads to SEO, website content and event coordination — including events for Prime's charity partner, Alzheimer's Society.
"Last year was heavily focused on the website overhaul, and now that's launched successfully it's been brilliant to shift focus and put the skills I built through my Digital Marketing Institute course into practice. This year I've been restructuring our social media content pillars, developing some fun new campaign ideas, and keeping a close eye on the rapidly changing landscape around AI, SEO and GEO — it's a fast-moving space and staying ahead of it is something I'm really focused on right now."
Karen Yaxley — Payroll Supervisor
Karen manages and processes weekly payroll with precision, ensuring every candidate is paid correctly and on time, every week.
Over the past year Karen has taken on additional responsibilities, broadened her expertise and stepped up with real confidence — continuing to be an invaluable part of the finance team.
Charlotte Woods — Office & Accounts Administrator
Charlotte supports the payroll team and is currently working towards her AAT qualification alongside her role at Prime. Studying for her AAT exams is no small commitment, and that's worth recognising this International Women's Day.
Georgie Cannon — Office & Accounts Administrator
Georgie is hands-on across both payroll and office administration, managing everything from temporary staff payroll to pensions and AWR updates. This year she's proudly navigating one of life's biggest milestones. 🤍
Michelle Kennedy — Senior Office Coordinator
Michelle has been the beating heart of the Prime office since 2017 — managing reception, facilities, referencing and everything in between.
With a decade at Prime just around the corner, her greatest achievement is being the person everyone relies on — and doing it brilliantly, every single day.
Laura Anne Smith — Recruitment Consultant
Since joining in 2018, Laura has become a specialist in the full 360 recruitment process, known for her ability to keep operations running smoothly for both clients and candidates.
This year, Laura ran a half marathon in under two hours — a personal best she's been working towards for a long time.
Amy Lizzimore — Recruitment Coordinator
Amy plays a key role in supporting consultants to find and place the right candidates for industrial roles, taking pride in ensuring every placement is fully compliant.
This year, Amy bought her first home — a brilliant personal milestone that deserves celebrating.
Abi Finch — Recruitment Coordinator
Abi sources talent for Office and Finance roles across Essex and Suffolk, from entry-level to director level, ensuring jobs get filled quickly with the right people.
This year, Abi took a big step up the property ladder — buying her first house. A brilliant milestone.
Alex Craig — Recruitment Consultant
Alex manages the entire recruitment process across Essex's warehouse and manufacturing sector — from sourcing and interviewing candidates through to placement and client satisfaction.
Alex is proud of how far she's come in her career in a short time, crediting the support of a fantastic team around her. Known for her smile and positive attitude, she's exactly the kind of person who makes a workplace better.
