Part of a series of interviews with Members of the Chester Business Club
The members of the Chester Business Club are business leaders from a wide range of sectors and professions. Here is another in our series of “Member Spotlight” interviews with Club members, this time with Flora Hamilton and Dan Jones, co-founders of Hamilton Jones Consulting Ltd.
Q: Flora, Dan, for anyone meeting you for the first time, what’s Hamilton Jones all about?
Flora:
At heart, we’re a recruitment consultancy specialising in Accounting, Finance and Professional Services across North Wales, Cheshire and Merseyside—but what really drives us is people. We take time to understand our candidates, our clients, their world, their challenges… and we keep it honest and transparent throughout.
Dan:
And we keep things simple! No jargon, no overcomplication—just good recruitment done properly. Listen well, do the basics brilliantly, treat people with respect. It’s what clients really want.
Q: You clearly work well together. How did that partnership start?
Dan:
Back in 2012, we were thrown together in one of the big national recruitment firms, specialising in construction roles. It was fast‑paced, full‑on and a brilliant learning curve. We got on straight away—same humour, same work ethic.
Flora:
But over time, we both felt something was missing. I moved into finance recruitment with a boutique agency where personal relationships really mattered. Dan followed not long after, and that’s where we realised: this is how we want to do recruitment!
Q: So what pushed you to launch your own business?
Flora:
The agency we’d been part of for nine successful years closed suddenly. It was one of those moments where you either panic… or you see the opportunity. For us, it was the latter. We already knew we had something special as a team, and we knew exactly the kind of business we wanted to build.
Dan:
Honestly, the decision came quickly. The values we cared about—honesty, trust, transparency—became the foundation of Hamilton Jones. And they’re exactly the same today.
Q: What makes your approach stand out?
Dan:
We’re truly rooted in the local business community. Whether it’s Conwy, Deeside, Chester, Wrexham or Bangor, this region is our home turf. That local knowledge makes a huge difference—we understand the market because we’re part of it.
Flora:
And we treat everyone like an individual. Candidates aren’t just CVs; businesses aren’t just vacancies. We stay close throughout the entire journey—before, during, and after the placement. That long‑term support is where the magic happens.
Q: Can you each share a bit about your backgrounds?
Flora:
My background is in finance recruitment and I’m a graduate of Keele University. I’ve always loved the people‑centric side of recruitment—it’s where I naturally gravitated.
Dan:
I bring over 15 years’ experience across construction, finance and professional services. I’ve built a strong network across Cheshire and North Wales returning home to the area after my degree at Nottingham Trent University. After 15 years, I still get a real buzz from helping people progress.
Q: What keeps you passionate about the work?
Flora:
It’s that moment when everything aligns—the right person, the right team, the right timing. No matter how long you’ve been in recruitment, that feeling never gets old.
Dan:
For me, it’s seeing careers take off. Helping someone take their first step after studying or supporting a finance professional into a leadership role—being part of that journey genuinely means something.
Q: And finally, we’re delighted to welcome you into the Chester Business Club! Why don’t you tell everyone why you joined?
Flora: The Chester Business Club is a prestigious organisation where we can share ideas, build trusted relationships, and stay informed about developments affecting local businesses like ours. We want to contribute to Chester’s success, as well as see our own business grow.
Dan: Engaging with like-minded businesspeople who are committed to Chester is essential for the success of our business and we’re really looking forward to Club activities.
