For International Women’s Day 2025, we’re shining a spotlight on one of our incredible 3R clients, Evie Squires, a female entrepreneur leading her own recruitment business with a mission to support parents returning to work.
Evie’s journey into entrepreneurship wasn’t by choice but by necessity. After taking time off to have her son, she was made redundant on her first day back at work. Faced with this unexpected challenge, Evie took matters into her own hands.
In this feature, Evie shares her experiences as a working mother, the reality of running a recruitment business, and why she chose 3R to support her venture. Her story is one of resilience, determination, and a drive to make the workplace more inclusive for parents.
What inspired Evie to start her own Recruitment Agency
After being made redundant, Evie spoke to many parents trying to re-enter the workforce. She discovered that
“Many mums and dads really struggled to find recruitment companies that could support parents looking for part-time work or hybrid work, and even full-time roles where companies would offer flexibility.”
Recognising this gap in the market, Evie saw an opportunity to create a recruitment agency dedicated to helping parents find flexible employment. From this vision, Mother of all Jobs was born.
How Mother of all Jobs support parents returning to work
Balancing family life with a career is a challenge every parent faces, and Mother of all Jobs (MOAJ) is dedicated to making that juggle easier. The agency works exclusively with organisations that are genuinely flexible and open to discussions about work-life balance. “We do lots of research. Looking at company websites, the language used in their employment policies, employee reviews, and having conversations with individuals who have worked there. We’ve got over 3,000 women on our books looking for new roles, and we’re always chatting with them, finding out where they’ve worked before and about their experiences.”
MOAJ only partners with organisations that demonstrate a real commitment to flexible working. “We only partner with organisations who have really positive reviews and flexible working policies, so they can fully support any kind of working parent in the right way. They're the only organisations that MOAJ will partner with.” This approach gives candidates confidence that the roles offered through MOAJ will be the right fit from the outset, providing peace of mind in their job search. “I have had a couple of roles that I have had to turn down because it’s just not aligned with our mission.”
What is it like to be a mother while running a Recruitment Agency?
“Lots of juggling. I think all parents are doing the ‘juggle’. There is no right or wrong way of doing it. For me, trying to be organised and thinking ahead for the week works. It doesn’t always go to plan, but my husband and I work as a team to navigate that.”
Like many working parents, Evie has had to find a balance that fits her family’s needs. “I have childcare three days a week, so those are the days where I try and get as much done as possible. I schedule all my meetings on those days too, but if things don’t go to plan, I sometimes work in the evenings or catch up first thing in the morning before they wake up. Or even during swimming lessons! I take my laptop and work while I’m sat at the side of the pool.”
This honest and flexible approach reflects the very ethos of Mother of all Jobs—helping parents find roles that fit around their family responsibilities, not the other way around.
How Evie’s experience as a woman and mother shaped the way she works
“I'm always honest with clients and candidates and let them know I'm a working mum as well. One thing I really like, which is more common now, is a line in my email signature that tells people that I work flexibly. It helps set expectations about when I may reply and also reassures them that I don’t expect a response outside of their working hours.”
Flexibility is at the heart of how MOAJ operates, with a deep understanding of the realities of parenting. “I would probably never call anyone at 3pm either, because usually, they’re doing the school run. We know and appreciate the patterns of being a parent, and lots of people are only available between nine and three. Equally, they may want to call me on the way back from the school run or in the evening. So it’s just about making yourself available when you can.”
The shift towards open conversations around flexible working is something Evie welcomes. “I find it refreshing that more and more people can now be open about their working patterns. People used to pretend they weren’t doing different hours, whereas now, even dads can say, ‘No, I don’t work on a Thursday afternoon because I pick the kids up.’ I think it’s a great move towards equality.”
Why Evie chose 3R to support her venture
“You came highly recommended. You answered all of my questions and I really liked how the back-office system is easy to navigate and simple to use – it doesn't over complicate things. Exactly what you see is what you get.”
For Evie, having reliable support was just as important as having the right tools. “It's always handy having someone at the end of the phone. I can get hold of you guys quickly. Whenever I call, it’s always picked up. And you’ve always got an answer straight away, which is just what I need.” But what stands out most? “Definitely the people. All of you are really helpful. Your five-star service has been so handy.”
Beyond great service, 3R’s contractor funding and management system have made a real difference. “Having 3R’s contractor funding in place from the start, along with a system that helps me manage my contractors is great. I can track where I’m at with onboarding and clearly see exactly when they’re being paid. It’s also really clear to see what I’m going to be paid each week.”
Read more about the all female 3R Senior Leadership Team
The 3R team is led by women who come from a variety of STEM backgrounds, and we are proud to be championing their development. Your career path is unique to you, and you can develop a successful career no matter how you get started. To support women considering careers in STEM fields, our team share their stories.