Last week we marked our incredible 5th birthday milestone by pausing to look back at the journey that started with a vision and has grown into a thriving family of hospitality professionals. From our very first major event to the culture that defines every shift, this is the story of Summerley.
The Launch and a Bold Bet (2020/2021)
Our journey began in 2020 while the world was on pause, when Sam spent a few months using spreadsheets to see if his vision of building a recruitment business which was dedicated to catering and hospitality could work. Summerley Recruitment launched on 1st October and was originally based in a period building at Northgate, Chichester. Sam spent the winter recruiting local students, betting on the return of live events in 2021.
And what a debut season it proved to be! Our teams successfully staffed iconic British events including the Royal Henley Regatta, Pub In The Park, Victorious Festival, Goodwood Festival of Speed, and the British Grand Prix. It was a challenging but truly unforgettable introduction to the industry, and it set the standard for what we could achieve together.
Growth and Recognition (2022)
The momentum continued into 2022, a year defined by accelerated growth and well-deserved recognition. We added even more major clients to our roster, proudly staffing Glorious Goodwood, Carfest South, and Mercedes Benz World.
To help manage the boom, our trusted OG, Alex, joined Sam at Summerley HQ, strengthening our support team to help deliver bigger events. Brooke and Ellie joined too, to bolster the admin and payroll side of the operation. All of this hard work culminated in a major honour for our founder: we were incredibly proud to watch Sam pick up the trophy for Young Achiever of the Year at the Sussex Business Awards! It was a moment that validated the dedication of the entire team.
Resilience and Renewed Growth (2023–2025)
The path to success isn’t always smooth. 2023 started on a high note with us moving into our new office in Q1, but the year proved tricky for growth, requiring us to strategically scale back our operation.
This setback didn’t dampen our spirit though, and 2024 saw the arrival of Paul, who immediately brought back the spark through new client development. He’s done an incredible job, developing our chef desk tenfold!
And now in 2025, we’ve seen continued growth with Lisa joining the team and our most busy season to date. As we approach Q4, we also have some very exciting things on the horizon that we can’t wait to share!
The Heart of Summerley: Our Culture
Summerley is more than just a recruitment agency, we are a family. This supportive culture is what makes the difference on every shift and at every event, and it is why our people choose to stay with us.
We take immense pride in nurturing our staff from day one. Our goal is for every team member to feel a genuine connection and choose to work for Summerley because they love the job, not just because it’s another shift. This supportive environment is where lifelong friendships are formed, and careers are built! We love seeing our team grow, which is why we focus heavily on internal development and promotion, regularly moving staff up to become supervisors and managers.
The HQ team is dedicated to ensuring everyone feels supported, maintaining that genuine feeling of a family business, no matter how much we grow.
Rounding Off Our Birthday Week at Fontwell
There’s no better example of our culture in action than our recent 5th birthday celebrations at Fontwell Park Racecourse.
We had a great time sponsoring the final race of the day, with Sam delighted to present the trophy to the winning owner of Ivane, Paul Butcher. We were thrilled to be welcomed by the Fontwell team—and grateful to watch the final race from the comfort of their viewing suite!
More importantly, we are proud to be the sole supplier of agency staff at the course. Our team worked extra hard as the boxes and bars were packed with punters sheltering from the bad weather. The family culture was demonstrated perfectly with Anna and her son proudly teaming up again for the event!
It’s been a rollercoaster, but we wouldn’t change a thing. Our future is bright, and it’s built on the strength and passion of our team. If you’re looking for an agency where you’ll find flexible, fun temporary work at some incredible events, would love for you to join our next five years!