Held from January 16–18, the annual Search Associates London January Fair once again proved to be a standout event in the international recruitment calendar. This year, 400 candidates engaged with recruiters from 141 international schools, exploring more than 1,000 overseas teaching opportunities. The fair continues to specialize in vacancies within schools offering International Baccalaureate (IB) and British curricula, and notably, every attending candidate had the opportunity to interview with participating schools. Senior Associate and fair host Gez Hayden reflected on the success of the event, noting:
We anticipate a placement rate of approximately 45% of attending candidates…The energy from both candidates and recruiters was palpable; seeing that level of focus on finding the "perfect fit" for schools was truly inspiring.
The Millennium Gloucester Hotel and Conference Centre served as the hub for the fair. Conveniently located in Kensington and accessible via a single Tube ride from Heathrow Airport, the venue proved well suited to an event of this scale. Hotel staff worked efficiently to support the dynamic transformation of conference and function spaces—from plenary sessions and school presentations to interview rooms—ensuring a smooth experience throughout the weekend.
For many educators, the fair offered both clarity and inspiration. Julia, Taiwan, shared: The London fair was my first. I was totally impressed with the entire organization of the event. It was eye-opening to learn about the schools' backgrounds in person during the presentation, a unique opportunity not available from their websites. The experience was equivalent to having traveled all over the world, visiting all the participating schools. I would definitely attend the London Fair again! Thank you, Search Associates, so much for the opportunity and the invaluable experience.
Supporting Gez in the smooth running of the fair were Search Associates Bill and Alison Turner, Peter and Janelle Smyth, Dominic Currer, Harry and Margaret Deelman, UK Office Executive Assistant Rebecca Steadman, and former Head of School Peter Round, all of whom were on hand to advise and support participants.
Candidates also valued the personalized guidance available throughout the event. Jamie, United States, commented: I found it incredibly helpful to have access to a "surrogate" Senior Associate to support my journey at the Fair. All of the recommendations made by my Associate, and the Associates at the fair, were absolutely accurate in the helpful nature and access this gave me to having success in navigating the fair and being in finalist conversations for positions.
Beyond candidate advising, a full SEARCH administrative and support team was present to provide practical assistance and answer questions as they arose. The team’s commitment to care was evident when a recruiter who became seriously ill during the fair was supported in accessing medical assistance and has since fully recovered and returned to work in Southeast Asia.
Professional learning was also a key feature of the fair. Senior Consultant Jeremy Lewis along with Director of Leadership Recruitment and Global Partnerships Tim Stuart led workshops for school leaders and aspiring leaders, in addition to offering individual career consultations. In advance of the fair, Gez hosted a live online orientation and Q&A sessions for candidates and recruiters, with recordings made available to those unable to attend.
From the recruiter perspective, the fair offered meaningful, high-impact engagement. Michael Breece, Director of International Community School of Abidjan, wrote: The Search Associates London fair was exceptionally well organized and a very productive use of time. The opportunity to meet candidates face-to-face allows recruiters to move far beyond CVs, assessing fit, communication, and professional presence in a way that simply isn’t possible online. In a short period of time, we were able to have meaningful conversations, build relationships, and make confident hiring decisions.
The London January Fair was proudly supported by sponsor Encompass Safeguarding, a consultancy dedicated to strengthening child protection policy and practice in international schools. Director Sian Jorgensen shared:
I’ve spent the last few days alongside Claire Peet supporting recruiters and candidates as they navigate the complexities of safer recruitment through the interview process. A huge thank you to the Search Associates London January team for keeping safeguarding at the forefront of the conversation. Managing a fair of this scale is no small feat - my hat is off to [the] team for the seamless execution.
The end-of-fair survey results indicate a resounding success, characterized by high candidate engagement and satisfaction. An overwhelming 96% of attendees categorized the quality of schools as 'Good' to 'Excellent,' while the fair’s organization garnered a 95% favorable rating. These figures culminate in a 94% overall satisfaction rate, signaling a highly productive environment for all participants.
Scott, China, summarized the value of the fair:Making professional connections with other candidates was a very positive experience. Everyone I met was very professional, warm, and friendly. Search Associates does an excellent job with inviting quality schools; all of the recruiters I met with were very professional and the school presentations were such an excellent way to get to know all the different schools that are out there.
For more about Search Associates’ global fairs held annually, click here.
