Want to know more about how Smile Education from the very beginning? You're in luck. We sat down with Smile's Founder and Managing Director, Katy Rees, to chat through her career journey and the story of Smile.

From the early days in recruitment to building a company rooted in community, Katy's story is at the heart of what makes Smile different.

How did you fall into recruitment as a career?

"Honestly, like most people, I fell into recruitment completely by accident. After university, I spent some time working as a holiday rep, then came home and started applying for graduate schemes because I thought that was the "sensible" next step. I ended up interviewing for a recruitment role thinking it would be more HR-focused - and very quickly realised it absolutely wasn't!

But something clicked for me straight away. I loved the pace, the people, the challenge, and the fact that no two days were ever the same. Recruitment pulled me in before I really knew what was happening, but I stayed because it was exciting and genuinely rewarding. It made me feel like I was actually doing something meaningful."

What inspired you to start Smile Education?

"Smile really came about during a tough economic moment. It was 2008, the recession had hit, and I was working in IT recruitment when I was approached about helping to build a new brand in the education sector.

Education was one of the few markets that was still thriving, and I could immediately see how much potential there was to build something that genuinely supported schools and communities. So with a small group of people, a lot of passion, and not much else, we took the leap and created Smile.

From day one, the aim was to be personal, approachable, and grounded in real community relationships. I wanted us to be a brand that actually meant something to the people we served."

What was your vision for the company, and how has it evolved?

My original vision was simple: treat people like people. Not numbers, not sales targets - real human beings. That meant being local, being present, and having actual conversations with schools and educators.

Even as we've grown, that hasn't changed. In fact, I think it's become even more important. We've added more structure, more technology, and more processes, but the core idea remains exactly the same: Smile should feel human. We should know our schools personally. We should know our candidates' stories. We should show up, consistently, with care and integrity.

So the vision has evolved operationally, but not philosophically - and I'm really proud of that.

What makes Smile different from other education recruitment agencies?

I think our biggest difference is how local and relationship-driven we are. Our teams work in really small, defined areas, which means they genuinely get to know the communities they support. Schools aren't just a number on a spreadsheet - they're places our teams walk into all the time. And a lot of our clients have been with us right from the start, which says a lot.

We're also heavily involved in charity work and community projects, which has always been a non-negotiable for me.

How do you define success for Smile, as a business and as a team?

For me, success has layers.

Of course, we need to be commercially strong, growth, stability, and performance all matter. But I'm just as focused on our reputation. What do our schools say about us? What do our educators tell their friends? What do our competitors think when they hear our name? That external perception is really important.

Internally, success is all about progression. I've always believed people should know exactly what their next step looks like. Every member of the team has a clear career path, and we check in on it regularly. I love seeing people grow quickly, and I'll always create space for someone who's ready to move up.

Externally, our success is ultimately defined by the opportunities we create, helping educators find roles they love and helping pupils get the right support in the classroom. That's why we do what we do.

What kind of culture did you aim to build, and how is that reflected today?

Culture was always hugely important to me. I wanted a company built on fairness, transparency, and a genuine sense of fun. I've always believed that if you treat people well, give them clarity, and celebrate their wins, they'll do incredible work.

Our values - teamwork, quality, commitment - have been the same since day one. What's changed is how we bring them to life. We've introduced clearer promotion structures, stronger wellbeing support, monthly business meetings, and even our "calendar of fun," which is exactly what it sounds like.

The thing I'm proudest of culturally is how supportive people are of each other.

What are you most proud of?

There's a lot - probably too much to list - but a few things stand out.

I'm proud of our longevity and resilience. We've weathered recessions, a global pandemic, and every challenge in between. I'm proud of the people who've grown from graduates to senior leaders. I'm proud of the educators who started out as supply teachers and are now SLT members or heads of department.

And I'm proud of our charity work. Giving back has always been a huge part of who we are, and seeing the impact we've had in our communities genuinely means a lot to me.

What do you look for in someone joining Smile?

I always say experience is nice, but attitude is everything.

I look for resilience, a strong work ethic, and someone who can build rapport naturally. I want someone who's open to feedback and isn't afraid to step outside their comfort zone. Some of our best people started with no recruitment experience at all - what they did have was drive, curiosity, and a willingness to learn.

If you have the right attitude, we can teach you the rest.

What advice would you give someone considering a career at Smile?

Do your homework, understand the role, and be ready to throw yourself into it. Recruitment is full-on, especially in the early days, but it's incredibly rewarding if you stick with it.

I always encourage people to come and meet us in person, visit the office, attend one of our events - get a real sense of our culture. Smile won't be the right fit for everyone, and that's okay. But for the people who connect with our values and want to build something meaningful, it's a brilliant place to grow, thrive, and build a long-term career.

Careers at Smile Education

As Katy's journey shows, Smile Education was never designed to be just another recruitment agency. It's a place where people grow quickly, support each other, take pride in their work, and genuinely enjoy what they do.

If you're considering a career with us, we'd love you to see that for yourself. Whether you're new to recruitment or already experienced, Smile is a place where you can build a real future - one with clear progression, meaningful relationships, and a team that genuinely wants you to succeed.

Interested? Drop Adam an email with your CV at adam@smile-education.co.uk