Food & Beverage Recruitment & Staffing Solutions

Chris Mason is a Recruitment Manager overseeing the Warehouse and Food & Beverage divisions at Prime Appointments. He’s been with the company since 2010 and is part of the management team while still handling 360 recruitment duties.

Chris works with a range of clients across Essex, filling short-term, long-term, temp-to-perm, and permanent roles. He handles everything from advertising job openings and interviewing candidates to placing them in roles and supporting both candidates and clients through the recruitment process.

On the management side, Chris leads a team of three, ensuring daily operations run smoothly. He also works closely with the Senior Leadership Team to review and improve processes, as well as ensuring compliance is maintained, including GLAA for Food Manufacturing.

Chris is proud of his achievements at Prime, from his personal growth and the lasting relationships he’s built with clients (some of whom he’s worked with for 15 years!) to the successful launch and growth of the Industrial Permanent side of his division.

When asked about the most random fact he knows, Chris says: "It’s illegal to be in possession of a cow while drunk in Scotland!"

Carl Bashford is the Recruitment Manager for Suffolk, overseeing recruitment across the manufacturing, warehouse, and food & beverage divisions for both temporary and permanent roles. While part of the management team, Carl is hands-on in every part of the recruitment process, from resourcing and screening CVs to sales and account management.

For candidates, Carl handles the initial screening, coordinates interviews, and supports candidates through the offer process. For clients, he manages everything from the sales and enquiry stage to advertising vacancies and guiding applicants all the way to interviews and job offers.

Beyond recruitment, Carl works closely with the Senior Leadership Team to streamline processes, review training, assess KPIs, set sales targets, and even run sales competitions. He’s always open to new ways of working, adapting to the ever-changing recruitment industry.

Carl is proud of his career, which began as a Trainee Consultant after university. A highlight for him was breaking the monthly revenue record for permanent placements in his first 18 months and opening the Bury St Edmunds office in January 2023. However his proudest achievement is getting ties removed from the Prime dress code.

If Carl could swap jobs with anyone in the office for a day, it would be Peter Holmes, being the Prime Appointments handyman is no easy tasks, especially when it goes side by side with tennis, golf and a slice of cake now and then!

Brendan Barros-Crowe is a Recruitment Consultant specialising in the manufacturing sector across Suffolk. He recruits skilled professionals, including welders, CNC machinists, managers, production operatives, and warehouse staff. Brendan handles the entire recruitment process, from sourcing and screening candidates to managing compliance, negotiating contracts, and providing ongoing support after placements.

Brendan takes a personal approach to recruitment, meeting clients and candidates face-to-face whenever possible. These conversations allow him to build strong relationships and gain a deeper understanding of their needs, ensuring the best fit for everyone involved.

By sharing insights into salary benchmarks and industry trends, he helps businesses make informed hiring decisions while guiding individuals to roles that match their skills and career goals. Brendan is dedicated to making recruitment as seamless and effective as possible.

A proud moment for Brendan is successfully transitioning from healthcare to industrial recruitment. He quickly adapted to the sector, and his role has since expanded to include technical and engineering recruitment, managing both temporary and permanent positions.

If Brendan were to write a book about his life, it would be titled: "Be Right Back, Still Figuring It Out!"

Alex Craig is a 360 Recruitment Consultant specialising in warehouse and manufacturing staffing across Essex. She manages the entire recruitment process, from sourcing and interviewing candidates to overseeing placements and ensuring client satisfaction. Whether it’s a last-minute temp booking or a long-term hire, Alex works quickly and efficiently to match the right people with the right roles.

She builds strong relationships with both clients and candidates, ensuring a great fit for every position. With a deep understanding of the industrial sector, Alex is committed to delivering recruitment solutions that meet the specific needs of businesses.

Alex is proud of how far she’s come in her career in such a short time, thanks to the support of a fantastic team who have helped her grow and learn along the way.

Known for her smile and positive attitude, she said that if her workday had a theme song, it would be “Happy” by Bruno Mars.

Simon Clark is the Team Leader for the Technical Temporary division at Prime Appointments, overseeing recruitment for manufacturing and engineering companies across Essex. Since joining the company in 2013 as a Trainee Recruitment Consultant, Simon has worked his way up to Team Leader, managing a variety of roles, including CNC Machinists, Welder Fabricators, Maintenance Engineers, and more.

Simon takes a consultative approach with candidates, offering advice based on their previous experience and matching them with the right roles in Essex. As a Team Leader, he sets both individual and team targets while keeping the team focused on Prime Appointments' long- and short-term goals.

One of Simon's proudest achievements is his ongoing partnership with one of the coolest car component manufacturers in the South East. Since 2017, he has helped them grow significantly, recruiting over 90 staff on both a temporary and permanent basis. It's been a rewarding experience seeing the company thrive, and Simon is proud to have played a part in their success.

When asked about his go-to karaoke song, Simon shared, “Busted - Year 3000.” But if we’re honest Simon doesn’t need a karaoke night—he takes every opportunity to sing around the office!