About us
Our History
From one person's leap of faith to a global HR recruitment partnership. The story so far.
- 2005
The leap of faith
Richard Colgan founds Oakleaf, leaving a secure career behind. The oak leaf, a symbol of courage, gives the business its name and its character.
- 2015
The Oakleaf Academy
The Oakleaf Academy launches to support rising HR talent, bringing together early careers professionals with senior HR leaders to share wisdom and career advice.
- 2020
Raising the bar on inclusion
Oakleaf begins working with Clear Assured to identify and remove barriers from recruitment practice, earning Bronze Certification the following year.
- 2022
Oakleaf crosses the Atlantic
The Oakleaf brand launches in the United States, opening in New York and building a reputation in a new market.
- 2025
Twenty years of Oakleaf
Two decades of placing people into jobs across every HR discipline, marked by the 20 Years, 20 Lessons series from our Founder and Group CEO.
- 2026
Celebrating partnership, people and progress
Oakleaf celebrates 21 years as a group of specialist businesses across the UK, Europe and US, still guided by the same values it started with.