Who We Are
Southern Lights was founded on friendship, trust, and a shared obsession with delivery.
Martin and Joe have been inseparable for 34 years, from college days in Bristol to backpacking across Europe, flat sharing, and two decades working side by side in IT recruitment. That depth of connection has shaped a partnership built on instinct, integrity, and results.
In 2009, during the recession, they launched Southern Lights with a clear vision: to build a director-led agency that genuinely cares. One that partners with scale-ups, SMEs, and global brands across the UK not just to fill roles, but to deliver outcomes.
To complete the team, they brought in Ben Phillips, a software engineering specialist they’d previously worked with. Ben’s ability to deliver top-tier engineers at scale made him the perfect fit and the missing piece of their puzzle.
Now, with the same spirit of curiosity and delivery, Southern Lights is evolving. Recognising the transformative power of AI, the team has recently pivoted into AI consultancy helping businesses identify practical use cases, assemble expert teams, and unlock real value. It’s a natural extension of their ethos: trusted partnerships, senior-led delivery, and a commitment to staying ahead of the curve.
Our Directors
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Ben
Ben is a silver-haired, heavily-bearded, gin-drinking, Lego-playing, food-loving, rugby-worshipping Welshman in Bristol. When he’s not renovating houses or buying vintage trainers, he’ll be exploring the South West with his wife and two children. IT recruitment? Oh yeah…
Ben’s our Director and Principal Recruiter. A specialist in software development (including all flavours of Microsoft, JavaScript and PHP technologies), he’s spent ten years pairing perfectly suited professionals to start-ups, SMEs and FTSE 100 companies. And he does it with scary determination, human understanding and complete commitment.
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Martin
Martin supports Liverpool FC but is Scottish. You can tell because he loves haggis with his Sunday roast. When he’s not living up to national stereotypes, you’ll find him lost in the countryside on his bike, doting on his young boy or indulging in his bottomless love of ‘90s hip-hop. He actually DJ’ed back in the day (when ‘90s hip-hop was just called hip-hop).
As his wonderful new beard attests, Martin has vast experience in senior IT recruitment in the South West. Seventeen years, to be precise – nine of which have been as a Director. This expertise shows in his ability to build strong, fruitful relationships at all levels, and in his productive contract negotiations. He’s a good guy to have on your side.
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Joe
Joe used to make his own martial arts DVDs. They were not good. Thankfully for the IT market, he found a new passion: bending over backwards to help candidates and clients find each other. When he’s not doing that, he’s busy singing the praises of his hometown (Bristol), cheering on his rugby team (Bristol) or dragging his family along to explore his favourite food scene (Bristol).
Joe’s now been specialising in the software and business analyst markets for over 18 years. And though he works in the cutting-edge world of IT, it’s his old-school people skills – he forges strong, honest and open relationships with everyone he encounters – that keep clients and candidates coming back for more.
