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Open Training
Our History
Since 1947, Gordon Yates has had three generations of owner-managers, each of them linked.
The business is named after its founder, Gordon Yates, although he and his wife Beatrice ran things as a partnership. In the post-war period recruitment and training weren’t as prominent as they are today: nonetheless they established a thriving business, including recruiting staff for Marilyn Monroe when she was filming in London.
After Gordon’s death in the 1960s Beatrice brought in Frances King, a friend and customer. Frances was one of the top HR specialists in the country with a wealth of experience at PLC director level. Recruitment and training were in demand and business was good. It’s a tough job though, and by 1980 the proprietors, now in their 70s, were struggling to keep up.
In 1981 Beatrice and Frances sent a note to their clients announcing their intention to retire and close the business. One of the people they wrote to was Richard Grace. He went to see them and persuaded them to sell instead.
Jo Tomazou, our other joint MD, joined in 1989. A born recruiter, trainer and coach, she had enjoyed a meteoric early career that saw her rise to become youngest ever manager of Brook Street's biggest branch. She has been central to Gordon Yates’s evolution into the outfit we are today.
In 1995 Princess Diana asked us to staff her private office, after her separation from Prince Charles. In 2007 we were asked to recruit a PA for the Prime Minister.
Other highlights: in 2000 Richard was awarded “Twit of the Week” by Michael Winner, the film producer (and then GY client) in his regular News of the World column - not just once but for a record two weeks in succession. It arose because of a minor spat over a temp delayed by a broken-down tube train - and a subsequent clash between plain sense and the bullying tendency that sometimes seems to afflict celebrity. It remains one of our proudest awards.
In 2007 we celebrated our 60th birthday with a party for over 200 customers on the good ship Hispaniola. The great thing about being an independent business is the freedom to choose your customers. We love ours - it was a great party. We don’t know what we’re doing yet for our 65th but if we have another party, maybe you can join us.