Case Study: BRG Building Control Recruitment Agency
British Resourcing Group (BRG) is a specialist recruitment agency focused on the building control industry, working with over 300 local authorities and private companies across the UK.
BRG are experts in finding the right talent to overcome a national shortage of building control and fire safety professionals. Building on this core expertise, BRG has expanded their recruitment services to other specialist sectors within local government, applying their proven model to meet growing client demand.
Founded by husband-and-wife duo Paul and Katie Tomkies, the company moved to Discovery Park in 2021. With an impressive growth trajectory, BRG has expanded its office space each year, recently doubling their footprint with a move to a larger office in August 2025 as the team grew to six people. Growth plans for 2026 include the view to hire four new recruiters, with an emphasis on individuals who bring strong B2B experience, consultative skills, and the ability to build trusted client relationships.
Building the Right Company Culture
BRG brings over 20 years of expertise in building control recruitment, supported by the UK’s largest network of candidates. Working with 90% of UK councils, they’ve developed an unparalleled understanding of the market landscape. Their team includes experts who previously worked in building control, enabling them to match the right candidate with the right role for long-term success. This deep understanding of regulated environments and local authority structures has also positioned BRG to support other specialist sectors within local government where similar skills shortages exist.
Katie and Paul launched BRG in 2008, navigating the recession by filling hard-to-recruit positions. Their most impressive achievement was finding the right candidate for a role that had remained vacant for five years, restoring service delivery and easing team workload.
Initially operating as a mobile business while traveling the world, Katie and Paul decided in 2021 to establish a permanent office to create better work-life boundaries as they balanced business growth with raising young children. Co-founder Paul reflects on the benefits of a dedicated office space:
“Home now feels like home. Previously, we were juggling business and family life all from our living room. Our Discovery Park office was transformational for our mental health and social wellbeing, and we’re now able to feel much more present when we’re at home with our children.”
Throughout this transition, BRG found Discovery Park to be exceptionally supportive and flexible. The Business Development team ensured BRG had the right space from the start and offered flexible options to upsize during their lease. Their current space has been described as the ‘Goldilocks’ office for perfectly meeting their needs, from window orientation to room configuration.
Benefits of Locating at Discovery Park
As an ethical, family-oriented business, BRG prioritises a supportive company culture. After relocating from London to Kent, Paul and Katie found the quality of life they were seeking. The Sandwich location offers the best of both worlds: London-level salaries at BRG without the drawbacks of expensive housing or lengthy commutes. The team enjoys excellent transport links, including fast train connections and free on-site parking.
The business ecosystem at Discovery Park has been instrumental in BRG’s growth. They’ve partnered with fellow tenant Communicate for IT solutions, ensuring quick troubleshooting and maintenance. This growth has included both headcount expansion and the careful development of new recruitment services to support a broader range of local government functions. Connections with other recruitment agencies and companies on-site have created valuable networking opportunities and collaborative relationships.
The park’s facilities have enhanced team wellbeing, including an on-site gym, canteen, and social spaces. The ‘Discover More’ app streamlines booking and visitor management, while the manned visitor centre ensures all guests receive a professional welcome.
“Discovery Park has been instrumental in our success. The flexibility to scale our space as we’ve grown, combined with the professional facilities and supportive business community, has allowed us to focus on what we do best: building an exceptional team and serving our clients. From the seamless visitor management to the networking opportunities with other businesses on-site, Discovery Park has provided the perfect environment for BRG to thrive. It’s not just an office, it’s become the foundation of our company culture.”
– Katie Tomkies, co-founder
Future growth plans
With continued momentum, BRG plans to expand by adding four new recruiters to their headcount. Rather than requiring solely recruitment experience, Katie and Paul welcome applications from personable, hardworking individuals with B2B experience and transferable skills, supporting both the continued growth of building control recruitment and the expansion into other local government sectors. They have successful consultants that have previously worked in car sales, estate agencies and the advertising sectors.
The founders are committed to responsible scaling, currently working with an experienced Non-Executive Director to implement family-friendly policies and sustainable working practices. They’re already maximising their new office space, with plans underway for a podcast studio to launch discussions about the challenges and opportunities of working in niche markets.
The team works hard, but they also play hard. Their most recent team-building event focused on family wellness with an overnight stay in a luxury treehouse. Katie and Paul champion a growth mindset, encouraging every team member to leverage their strengths and grow alongside the business. With a strong foundation in building control and fire safety, BRG’s next phase of growth focuses on responsibly extending this proven approach to a wider range of sectors.
