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Richard Barker
Director
Richard combines a technical IT background with many years of recruitment experience, specialising in placing high-calibre Project, Programme, and Change Management professionals supporting complex technology and transformation programmes.
He works closely with organisations delivering large-scale digital change across retail, hospitality, FMCG, insurance, consultancies, scale-ups and end-user organisations.
TECHNOLOGY & TRANSFORMATION RECRUITMENT SPECIALIST
Rich is one of the Co-Founders of Talent Locker and has built a long-standing reputation within technology leadership recruitment.
Having spent more than seven years working in IT before moving into recruitment, Rich combines technical understanding with deep market knowledge and long-term relationships built over two decades in the industry.
What makes Rich different is consistency. Many of the people he placed or hired for early in his career are still part of his network today, with many relationships growing into genuine friendships over time.
His recruitment approach can be summed up in three words:
Clear. Transparent. Consistent.
FROM IT INTO RECRUITMENT
Before moving into recruitment, Rich spent more than seven years working in IT and technology support environments.
Over time, he realised he was far more interested in working with people than servers, cables and support tickets, and recruitment gave him the opportunity to combine both worlds. His technical background continues to give him strong credibility with organisations hiring technology professionals, helping him quickly understand technical environments, transformation challenges and the type of talent required to deliver successfully.
Fast forward more than 20 years and Rich now specialises in supporting organisations hiring across Project Management, Programme Delivery, Transformation and Change leadership.
What Rich enjoys most about recruitment is the people side of the industry and the long-term relationships built through helping businesses grow and supporting individuals through important career moves.
OUTSIDE OF RECRUITMENT
Outside of work, Rich is kept busy balancing life with three children, two incredibly cheeky sons and one incredibly cheeky daughter.
Running has become a serious passion in recent years and what some might call a mid-life crisis has now turned into multiple marathons, with an ultra-marathon next on the list.
He has also:
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Completed two marathons, achieving a personal best on his second
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Never lost at go-karting and still proudly reminds the team about it
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Been Junior Club Captain for Eastleigh Fleming Park Swimming Club as a teenager
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Realised in his 40s that ADHD has played a big part in his life
Fun fact: Rich does not own a single pair of jeans.
His coffee order is always a skinny flat white with an extra shot, regardless of where it comes from. Outside of coffee, Rich's drinks of choice are Spanish lager, blush rosé and dry gin.
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Need specialist talent?
With more than 20 years of market knowledge and long-standing industry relationships, he connects businesses with experienced Project, Programme and Transformation professionals across permanent and contract markets.
A short, no-obligation conversation to discuss your hiring plans and how Talent Locker can support your team.
Looking for your next role?
From Project and Programme Management through to Transformation and Change leadership roles, he supports professionals across the full technology and business transformation landscape.