60 seconds with… Leanne Gittins

From connecting people with careers to helping businesses access the skills they need, Leanne Gittins has built her career around supporting growth. As Managing Director of LME Recruitment and a proud Suffolk advocate, she brings valuable insight into the county’s jobs market, workforce challenges and future opportunities. We spoke to Leanne about her career journey, the talent Suffolk already has, and how we can encourage more people to build their futures here.

𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐮𝐦 𝐮𝐩 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬?

I’m the Managing Director of LME Recruitment, specialising in shipping, logistics, transport and warehousing across Suffolk and beyond. I’ve spent 15+ years in the sector and I’m passionate about doing recruitment properly—human-led, relationship-first, and backed by smart tech to move quickly without cutting corners.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨 𝐣𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐮𝐟𝐟𝐨𝐥𝐤 𝐁𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐁𝐨𝐚𝐫𝐝?

I wanted to be part of something that genuinely supports local growth—not just talking about it, but making it happen. Suffolk has brilliant businesses and brilliant people, and I’m keen to help connect the two through better pathways, skills and opportunities.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐝𝐨 𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐲𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲’𝐫𝐞 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐢𝐧 𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐫𝐮𝐢𝐭𝐬?

More than anything: attitude, reliability and communication. Skills can be taught, but employers want people who show up, take pride in their work, and are willing to learn and get stuck in.

𝐀𝐬 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐰 𝐮𝐩 𝐢𝐧 𝐒𝐮𝐟𝐟𝐨𝐥𝐤, 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐬 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐫?

Suffolk feels more ambitious and better connected than ever, and the logistics and port-related industries have continued to grow and evolve. At the same time, the market has become faster and more competitive—so businesses have had to focus more on culture, flexibility and how they look after their people.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐞𝐱𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐒𝐮𝐟𝐟𝐨𝐥𝐤’𝐬 𝐟𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐧𝐨𝐰?

The opportunity to build real careers here—without feeling like you have to leave the county to progress. There’s huge potential in our core industries, and if we keep investing in people and skills, Suffolk can be a place where talent stays and thrives.

𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐰𝐞 𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐛𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞?

We need clearer routes in—more work experience, apprenticeships and entry-level roles that come with genuine progression, not dead ends. And we should shout louder about the opportunities already here, because there are some fantastic employers and careers in Suffolk.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭’𝐬 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐩𝐢𝐞𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐚𝐝𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮’𝐝 𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟?

Back yourself sooner and don’t wait until you feel “ready” to take the leap. Keep learning, keep showing up, and remember your reputation and relationships will take you further than you think.

Find out more about all our board members here.