Testimonials

"Natalie is super friendly with a very high energy, bubbly nature and a positive attitude. She has been an absolute pleasure to speak to throughout the recruitment process and she keeps you updated with any progress as soon as she gets updates. I highly recommend Bowers Partnership!"

Two years ago, I travelled to Jamaica with something a little different in my suitcase – clothes, toys, and school supplies for the children at a local village home. That first visit inspired my earlier blog, “Natalie Packs for a Purpose in Jamaica”, and began what has become a very special annual tradition.

Last year, when I couldn’t make the trip in person, I still wanted to stay connected. So instead, I packed and shipped a large barrel of clothing, books, and toiletries to ensure the children received something from “Miss Bowers” – as they call me.

This year, at exactly the same time, I returned to the island and back to the village. With my ever-patient driver, Jason, I was able to spend time with the children once again. Walking through those gates and being greeted by a sea of smiling faces was every bit as moving as the first time. Without fail, my visit to see them is the highlight of my trip to Jamaica.

The girls loved the clothes I brought and have already started planning my next visit. Apparently, I now look like “Barbie,” and they’ve given me a shopping list for next time: lip gloss, body lotion, and cologne!

Hewitt, the Village Manager, and his team continue to do remarkable work, providing a safe, supportive, and loving home for the children and young people in their care. Their dedication is truly inspiring.

After my visit, Hewitt kindly wrote:

“The best part of your trip is how happy the children are to see you. After you left, they kept talking about Barbie coming to see them. They are eagerly looking forward to your next visit.”

The feeling is mutual.
I’m already planning my next trip – and, as ever, I’ll be packing for a purpose.

If you’d like to learn more about the incredible work being done at the village and across Jamaica, please visit SOS Children’s Villages Jamaica.

There’s a lot of doom and gloom in recruitment right now – and to be honest, it’s not all hype.

Agencies are laying off staff. A few are quietly vanishing. Two long-standing ones in my niche have gone under in the last month. One’s website disappeared overnight. The other’s still up, but I’ve heard clients are now stepping in to pay contractors directly – which is never a great sign. And let’s be clear: if the client’s already paid the agency, they’re not paying you again. They won’t - and legally, they don’t have to. So if your agency disappears with your cash, that’s it. You’re out of pocket.

I’ve been doing this job for 25+ years and run Bowers Partnership, a recruitment firm that works with Investment Managers, Wealth Managers, and Asset Owners. I’ve seen it all. Agencies rising, folding, getting bought, rebranding overnight. What’s never changed? The fact that getting paid on time isn’t a favour – it’s the bare minimum.

This isn’t about scaring people. It’s about being smart. Because if your agency folds and you’ve not done your homework, you’ll be the last to know – and the last to get paid. You do the work, and then boom – nothing hits your account.

We’re not imagining this downturn. The REC’s latest report shows both permanent and contract hiring are down again. Robert Walters just cut 77 more roles. And Greg Savage hit the nail on the head: “Agency recruitment is tough. Bloody tough.”

Why it matters
Because your agency is the middleman. If they’ve got money issues, even payments the client has made can vanish. You’re left chasing your tail – and your cash.

Watch out for dodgy payment terms
“Paid on paid” is the worst. It means: we’ll pay you if we get paid. That’s not how it should work. That’s their risk – not yours.

And those 45 or 60 day payment terms? No thank you. If you’re billing at the end of the month, you’re already two months deep before you see a penny. You’re basically financing someone else’s business.

Red flags in real life
Late payments. Excuses. Finance team always “on leave.” Recruiters ghosting you. Emails full of fluff. It’s not hard to spot – you just have to pay attention.

Check them out. Companies House. Endole. CreditSafe. A few clicks can save you a lot of grief.

Follow the money
One other thing to look out for is when a well-established agency suddenly takes on loans with little-known lenders. Nine times out of ten, it’s invoice finance - and not the good kind. These are what I call lenders of last resort. They’re expensive and only used when proper banks won’t touch the debt. That’s a massive red flag to me. It means they’ve probably been turned down elsewhere - and that puts your pay at risk.

What we do
At Bowers Partnership, we’re self-funded and we’ve never paid a contractor or supplier late. Ever. We pay on time or early. Because why wouldn’t we? You’ve done the work, you get paid. That’s simple.

Don’t work in a bubble
If you’re one of a group of contractors on a project – talk to each other. Are people getting paid on time? Any strange vibes? You’ll pick up on things faster together.

And if you’re not sure about an agency, ask for references. Get a name of someone they’re paying right now and ask how it’s going. If they hesitate or dodge the question, that tells you everything.

If things feel off…
Ask straight questions. A solid agency won’t mind. Quietly check in with the client too. And always have a backup plan. Don’t bet your income on one agency forever.

And keep everything. Timesheets, approvals, emails, deliverables. If it hits the fan, your paper trail is your best defence.

Personal Relationships Can Be Risky
I’ve seen plenty of clients stick with agencies because they “get on well” with the consultant or they’re offering bargain-basement rates. But when that agency collapses mid-contract, the project grinds to a halt, and no one’s laughing.

Same goes for contractors. Just because your recruiter’s nice doesn’t mean the agency isn’t on the brink. Don’t confuse a good chat for financial stability. Ask the hard questions. Get the facts.

Because when it goes wrong, no one’s refunding your time – or your invoices.

"Natalie has been amazing to deal with throughout the whole process. She is incredibly friendly and there has been a constant line of communication and assistance on each step of the way. The onboarding has been very simple and stress free. I highly recommend Bowers Partnership."

"I’m truly impressed by the professionalism and efficiency of Natalie and her team. They exceeded my expectations by securing an interview for me and confirming my start date — all within just three days. Their dedication and expertise made the entire process seamless and stress-free."

"I have known Natalie for over 15 years, and her professionalism and deep understanding of the financial industry have always been inspiring. Her agency sets the benchmark for transparency, clear communication, honesty, and the kind of practical advice freelancers need when securing roles and finalising contract terms.

Recently, when I was impacted by another agency’s default, I turned to Natalie for help. She worked tirelessly for weeks, navigating complex legal challenges and uncertainty. Thanks to her persistence and expertise, I achieved a full recovery. It was a huge relief to have her in my corner, protecting my interests during such a stressful time.

Beyond her industry knowledge, Natalie is highly skilled in legal contracts and the administrative details that ensure all parties are protected.

I would wholeheartedly recommend Natalie to any professional seeking a new role and to any employer looking for the right candidate. She delivers results and represents both parties in the process."

"Natalie and her team were brilliant from start to finish. She really understood what I was looking for in a project management role within financial services and made the whole process feel effortless. From the first chat to landing the offer, everything moved quickly and smoothly. Truly grateful for such a wonderful opportunity. Couldn’t have asked for better support!"

If you're a technology job hopeful aiming to work in London or Financial Services, you've probably noticed something strange creeping into the hiring process.

The interviews are becoming longer, more complex - and quite frankly, it's getting silly.

Overly long, ‘marathon’ job interviews are alive and kicking tech candidates

A “nine-stage interview” was flagged up on my LinkedIn feed only the other day.

Not that I need social media to tell me that this trend of the ‘marathon’ interview is alive and kicking IT job candidates (thanks, Rebecca Collis for sharing, though).

That’s because I’m the founder of boutique staffing agency Bowers Partnership. We place freelance and contract IT professionals with Investment, Wealth, and Asset Owner companies, writes Bowers Partnership boss Natalie Bowers.

The hiring process equivalent to dial-up? Marathon interviews feel like it…

And while the tech in 2025-26 keeps getting slicker, the hiring process? It's heading in the opposite direction.

This article on tech job interview ‘scope creep,’ if you will, is a follow-up to my last Free-Work article, where I helped you decode freelance job adverts.

Multi-multi stage interviews are all the rage in IT

Only this time, I’m looking at what happens AFTER you apply for an IT role because the modern tech interview is turning into a full-blown side hustle. And an unpaid one at that!

Don’t worry; I’ll explain, including with some top tips (now and next week) on how to deal with the increasingly common ‘multi-multi’ stage interview, also known as the ‘marathon interview.’

What is a marathon interview?

A marathon interview is a job interview that spirals out of all proportion to the tech work you’re going forward for (contractor) or applying for (permanent).

The marathon interview often starts with a quick “intro call.” All is fine so far.

Then there’s a chat with the hiring manager. Sounds promising!

Continue Reading

"Natalie and her team have been instrumental in making the process effortless especially for a new contractor. Natalie’s experience within the IT recruitment field is unmatched and this is evident through the high quality contracts she secures."

"I recently secured a contract for a desktop refresh program. The whole process was seamless. Even though I was overseas the communication with Natalie was excellent, the attention to detail in regard to interview preparation definitely helped secure this position. I found the whole process easy and professional. The onboarding too was prompt and easy to follow, with regular emails and calls from Natalie and Lynette making sure I had everything in order ready to start work. I highly recommend Bowers Partnership to anyone wishing to gain employment."