Recruit for Spouses
Recruit for Spouses is a UK B Corporation social enterprise, founded in 2009, that helps military spouses, partners and veterans find employment through a web portal, a proprietary Liquid Workforce employer-of-record model, and free coaching, mentoring and wellbeing programmes funded by employer fees and charitable grants.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2009
- HeadquartersCorsham, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Recruit for Spouses does
Recruit for Spouses (RFS), founded in 2009 by military spouse Heledd Kendrick and incorporated in England as Recruit for Spouses Ltd (Companies House no. 07687397), is a UK-registered B Corporation social enterprise that supports military spouses, partners and veterans into sustainable employment. The company operates through a web-based portal (portal.recruitforspouses.co.uk) offering job board access, CV management, skills assessment, digital (asynchronous) interview scheduling and Career Academy programme enrolment, and through the proprietary Liquid Workforce model under which RFS acts as the legal employer of record, absorbing payroll, contracts and compliance while deploying pre-vetted, often security-cleared, military-spouse talent on-demand to client businesses.
RFS generates revenue from three streams: employer-facing recruitment services (permanent placement fees and Liquid Workforce contractual fees, claiming an average £3,000 saving per hire and a £5 social return per £1 invested), corporate programme sponsorship from partners such as Virgin Red, Rolls-Royce, BAE Systems, QinetiQ, JP Morgan and Barclays, and grant funding received through the RFS Foundation (a registered CIO charity) from sources including Greenwich Hospital, the Armed Forces Covenant, the Office for Veterans Affairs and the National Lottery. Core products are free at the point of use for the military community, while employer services are fee-based but pricing is not publicly disclosed.
Distribution combines direct enterprise engagement with defence primes and large corporates, a self-serve portal for candidates, and a network of channel partnerships with recruitment agencies (AMS), corporate partners (Virgin Red, Rolls-Royce, BAE Systems, QinetiQ, JP Morgan, LinkedIn, Cisco) and government-aligned initiatives (Op SPOUSE, aligned with MOD's Armed Forces Families Strategy 2022-32). The RFS Foundation is a wholly-owned adjacent operating subsidiary delivering charitable programmes. Operations are led by founder/CiC CEO Heledd Kendrick with an experienced management team of roughly 15 directors and managers, headquartered in Gainsborough with a registered office in Corsham, serving the United Kingdom (with stated Commonwealth scope via the Foreign & Commonwealth programme).
Recruit for Spouses firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Recruit for Spouses
- Legal name
- Recruit for Spouses Ltd
- Website
- https://recruitforspouses.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2009
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Recruit for Spouses is a UK B Corporation social enterprise, founded in 2009, that helps military spouses, partners and veterans find employment through a web portal, a proprietary Liquid Workforce employer-of-record model, and free coaching, mentoring and wellbeing programmes funded by employer fees and charitable grants.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Recruit for Spouses industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Military Spouse Recruitment and Career Support Services
- NAICS
- Employment Placement Agencies (561311), Professional Employer Organizations (561330), Temporary Help Services (561320), Human Resources Consulting Services (541612)
- SIC
- Services-Employment Agencies (7361), Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Veterans & Military-to-Civilian Transition Programs (EDAAAOAH)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Job Placement, Matching & Career Navigation Services (EDAAAOAL), Career Coaching, Mentoring & Placement Support Services (EDAAAKAO), Workforce & Job-Seeker Services (Community-Based) (EDAAAFAM)
Keywords
Where Recruit for Spouses is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Corsham
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Recruit for Spouses business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Grant Funding & Charitable Donations: RFS Foundation registered charity receives grants from trusts, foundations, and corporate donors to fund free programmes and services for the military community. All donations fund charitable work providing free services to military spouses, partners and veterans.
- Employer Recruitment Services: Charges employers for access to pre-vetted military spouse talent pool, permanent placement fees, and Liquid Workforce contractual fees. Claims average saving of £3,000 per hire and £5 social return for every £1 invested.
- Corporate Programme Sponsorship: Employers sponsor coaching, mentoring, wellbeing, or Foreign & Commonwealth support programmes, achieving measurable ESG and social value impact. Supports Armed Forces Covenant pledges.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Free services for Armed Forces community |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
Recruit for Spouses product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Recruit for Spouses is a UK social enterprise that supports military spouses, partners and veterans into sustainable employment through its Liquid Workforce flexible employment model and permanent recruitment services for employers, the RFS Portal as the candidate access point, the RFS Career Academy programmes (coaching and mentoring, self-development, wellbeing, Foreign & Commonwealth qualification transfers), and employer social value consulting. The RFS Foundation delivers free charitable programmes while trading-arm revenue is generated through employer recruitment fees, Liquid Workforce contracts, and corporate programme sponsorship.
Product overview
Recruit for Spouses is a social enterprise operating a multi-product ecosystem designed to support military spouses, partners, and veterans into sustainable careers. The core offering centres on the Liquid Workforce model (flexible, pre-vetted talent on-demand) and Permanent Recruitment services, underpinned by the RFS Portal as the access point. The Career Academy provides structured development through the Coaching and Mentoring Programme, Self-Development Hub, Wellbeing Programme (with The Owl Therapy Centre), and Foreign and Commonwealth Programme. Op SPOUSE is a Defence-facing initiative addressing retention through three pillars. Social Value Consulting extends these capabilities to employer clients. The RFS Foundation (registered CIO) funds charitable delivery. All services are free to the military community, with business value generated through employer partnerships.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Op SPOUSE: A nationwide initiative to strengthen Defence retention, readiness and resilience by supporting military spouses.
- Liquid Workforce
- RFS Career Academy
Products and services
- Liquid Workforce A flexible employment model that provides pre-vetted, often security-cleared military spouses to businesses on-demand; RFS employs the worker, manages payroll, contracts and compliance while clients focus on outcomes, addressing Employment Rights Act day-one rights exposure from April 2026.
- Permanent Recruitment Permanent placement services matching military spouses with long-term roles, leveraging industry knowledge and an extensive network to find right-fit positions for employer clients.
- RFS Portal An online portal where military spouses can access the job board, register their CV, access interview tips, sign up for coaching and mentoring, browse upskilling resources and career development tools.
- RFS Career Academy A comprehensive programme providing free support, upskilling, training, and coaching and mentoring opportunities for military spouses and Armed Forces Community members worldwide; encompasses Coaching and Mentoring, Self-Development Hub, Wellbeing and Foreign & Commonwealth sub-programmes.
- Coaching and Mentoring Programme A free, volunteer-powered programme offering up to six one-to-one sessions with qualified career coaches or mentors, matched to participants' needs and goals for career transition, confidence building or progression planning.
- Wellbeing Programme A six-week programme delivered in partnership with The Owl Therapy Centre offering psychoeducational content, skill-building exercises, group discussions and therapist feedback on anxiety, relationships, communication and deployment topics.
- Foreign and Commonwealth Programme A programme helping Foreign and Commonwealth spouses and partners transfer qualifications from their home country to UK equivalents, covering costs of Statement of Comparability and facilitating the ECCTIS application process.
- Self-Development Hub A collection of career-focused online courses covering professional development, mental health and wellbeing, and back-to-employment topics, including partnerships with OpenLearn, Microsoft Skills and Google Digital Garage.
- Social Value Consulting Advisory services helping SMEs and third sector organisations embed social value, including Armed Forces Covenant support, impact measurement and ESG reporting.
- Op SPOUSE A nationwide initiative delivered for Defence with three core pillars (Employment and Talent, Wellbeing and Community, and Policy and Representation) addressing retention, readiness and resilience by supporting military spouses.
- RFS Foundation Registered charity (CIO) that removes barriers to employment, wellbeing and financial stability for military spouses, partners and veterans through free wellbeing and support programmes, training and community services, funded by grants from trusts, foundations and corporate donors.
Quantifiable outcome
- 43% higher retention than industry standard
- +6 more outcomes
Companies that use Recruit for Spouses
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Recruit for Spouses technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Recruit for Spouses partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
16 partnerships are on record, tiered key, core and minor.
- QinetiQkeyPartnership for Military Spouse Career Development Series (January 2025); STEM Placement Programme 2026; Social Value Placement Programme 2026.
- Virgin RedcoreFlagship partnership since July 2020; Virgin Red hired 19 RFS Genies as Member Support with 5 converted to permanent employees; Virgin Red reports 96% productivity increase and customer satisfaction consistently over 80%. Partnership includes mentoring programme and ongoing talent pipeline access.
- AMS (Advanced Medical Staffing)coreLong-term Liquid Workforce partner since 2017; AMS demand increased 600% by June 2021; provides on-demand access to pre-vetted military spouse talent for flexible workforce needs.
- Rolls-RoycekeyCorporate partner providing access to skilled military spouse talent pipeline; contributes to Defence sector workforce solutions.
- BAE SystemskeyPartnership for Coaching and Mentoring programme through RFS Career Academy; supports diversity and inclusion initiatives; coaching provided by BAE volunteer coaches.
- CielokeyRPO partner with case study showcasing successful talent acquisition through the military spouse talent pool.
- JP Morgan ChasekeyCorporate partner supporting military spouse employment initiatives; community building events bringing military spouses together; contributing to career development programmes.
- The Owl Therapy CentrecorePartnership delivering Wellbeing Programme for spouses and partners; six-week programme with 60-minute weekly sessions covering anxiety, relationships, communication, deployment support; coordinated by RFS Career Academy.
- Open University / OpenLearnkeyPartnership providing free courses and helpful articles curated by RFS for upskilling military spouses; access to free learning resources.
- MicrosoftkeyMicrosoft Skills partnership providing upskilling resources; Microsoft Courses for learning basics of Microsoft products.
- LinkedInkeyCorporate partner providing professional networking support and resources for military spouse career development.
- Ministry of Defence (MOD)coreOp SPOUSE initiative delivery aligned with MOD commitments; supports Defence retention, readiness and resilience through spouse employment; aligns with Armed Forces Families Strategy 2022-32.
- CiscominorCorporate partner supporting military spouse employment initiatives.
- Smart WorksminorCorporate partner for career support services.
- Mission MotorsportminorCorporate partner in the Forces community.
- The Poppy FactoryminorFoundation partner supporting veteran employment.
Scale indicators12 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Recruit for Spouses competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Forces Employment Charity: UK charity providing employment support to veterans and military family members. Highly comparable as a UK-based, mission-driven military employment organisation, though it is a charity and RFS is a B-Corp social enterprise.
- Hire Heroes USA: US nonprofit providing job-search assistance to military members, veterans, and spouses. Closest US analog to RFS's model — free services to the military community, employer-paid engagement, and one-on-one coaching.
- RecruitMilitary: US veteran talent sourcing and recruitment firm operating job fairs and a veteran talent database. Comparable employer-paid, community-led recruitment model for the military community.
- The Poppy Factory: UK charity dedicated to helping wounded, injured and sick veterans find employment outside the military. Comparable candidate demographic (military community) and employer-facing employment mission.
- Career Transition Partnership (CTP): MoD-affiliated UK programme delivering employment support to service leavers and their families. Direct peer in military-to-civilian career transition, with broader scale but limited spouse-specific focus.
Broad incumbents
- Orion Talent: Larger US talent solutions firm with a dedicated military recruiting vertical. Comparable in serving military-affiliated candidates as a senior leaders / professional talent pipeline, though operationally broader.
- Cielo: Global RPO partner of RFS with a published case study. Comparable as an enterprise RPO serving military spouse talent via partnerships, but operates at much larger scale across all industries.
Emerging players
- Walking With The Wounded: UK charity supporting veterans into sustainable employment, including a specific veteran spouse employment programme. Comparable mission and UK focus, with smaller candidate base than RFS.
- Blue Star Families: US nonprofit supporting military families through research, programming, and career support. Comparable focus on military spouse wellbeing and employment, with greater emphasis on research and community than direct placement.
Others
- Forces in Mind Trust: UK military-family focused trust funding research and programmes for veterans and families. Not a direct competitor but a comparable funder/ecosystem player in the UK military spouse employment space.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Recruit for Spouses social profiles
Digital presenceRecruit for Spouses compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance5 records
Recruit for Spouses financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Recruit for Spouses leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
Recruit for Spouses subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Recruit for Spouses funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Recruit for Spouses M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Recruit for Spouses
What does Recruit for Spouses do?
Recruit for Spouses is a UK social enterprise that supports military spouses, partners and veterans into sustainable employment through its Liquid Workforce flexible employment model and permanent recruitment services for employers, the RFS Portal as the candidate access point, the RFS Career Academy programmes (coaching and mentoring, self-development, wellbeing, Foreign & Commonwealth qualification transfers), and employer social value consulting. The RFS Foundation delivers free charitable programmes while trading-arm revenue is generated through employer recruitment fees, Liquid Workforce contracts, and corporate programme sponsorship.
Is Recruit for Spouses a public or private company?
Recruit for Spouses is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Recruit for Spouses founded?
Recruit for Spouses was founded in 2009. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Recruit for Spouses based?
Recruit for Spouses is headquartered in Corsham, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Recruit for Spouses make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Grant Funding & Charitable Donations are the primary driver. The others are employer Recruitment Services and corporate Programme Sponsorship.
Who are Recruit for Spouses's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Forces Employment Charity, Hire Heroes USA, RecruitMilitary, The Poppy Factory and Career Transition Partnership (CTP). Broad incumbents are Orion Talent and Cielo. Emerging players are Walking With The Wounded and Blue Star Families. Forces in Mind Trust is listed as an others.
Does Recruit for Spouses have an API?
No public API is recorded for Recruit for Spouses.
What industry is Recruit for Spouses in?
Recruit for Spouses's product category is Military Spouse Recruitment and Career Support Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAAAOAH, Veterans & Military-to-Civilian Transition Programs, with a secondary code of EDAAAOAL, Job Placement, Matching & Career Navigation Services. Its NAICS code is 561311 and its SIC code is 7361.