Dovetail & Slate, the UK's fastest-growing public sector recruitment specialist, has been named a double finalist in the Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards 2026, shortlisted for The Lloyds Outstanding Mid-Sized Business of the Year Award. Founder and CEO Guy Walker has also been individually shortlisted for The Cazenove Capital Entrepreneur of the Year Award.
Dovetail & Slate joins a national field of almost 200 finalists across 20 categories at the UK's flagship business awards, headlined by Lloyds Bank, with ITV as media partner and the support of the UK government.
Guy Walker, Founder and CEO of Dovetail & Slate, said: "Being named a finalist in the Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards, in two categories, is a huge moment for our team. This recognition belongs to every one of the nearly 100 people who go to work every day to connect talented professionals with the organisations that deliver education, local government and social housing services. We started with nothing but conviction and a belief that recruitment could be done better. To receive this recognition is something I'm incredibly proud of."
Amanda Murphy, CEO, Lloyds Business and Commercial Banking, said: "Behind every successful business is a story of ambition, determination and innovation. Inspiring entrepreneurs backing themselves to succeed. That's exactly what the Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards celebrates. Dovetail & Slate is bringing new ideas, investing in its community and helping drive growth in the UK. They represent the very best of British enterprise and we're incredibly proud to back them."
Founded in 2018 with no external investment, Dovetail & Slate has grown from a start-up into a nearly 100-strong business operating from Manchester, Leeds and Bristol, serving more than 900 clients and delivering over 15,000 placements to date. The company is the largest specialist recruitment team serving the Further Education sector in the UK by headcount, and is now extending its sector-specialist model into local government and social housing. Named in the Sunday Times One Hundred 2025 as both one of the UK's Fastest Growing Companies and Best Places to Work, and holding Platinum accreditation from Investors in People, a status shared by only 5% of organisations globally.
Winners will be announced at the gala ceremony at Grosvenor House, London, on Tuesday 10 November 2026, in front of 1,200 business leaders. In keeping with Awards tradition, winners ring the opening bell at the London Stock Exchange and are celebrated at the programme's annual reception at the House of Commons.