Meet The Team
Lisa Yates
Director
Lisa is a member of the Recruitment & Employment Confederation and brings over 20 years of specialist experience recruiting for Charities and Housing Providers. Throughout her career, she has remained committed to supporting services that work with society’s most vulnerable - including those affected by abuse, homelessness, trafficking and modern slavery, child exploitation and young people.
Known for her empathetic approach and sector knowledge, Lisa has developed long-standing relationships with both clients and candidates. She takes time to truly understand the people she works with - what drives them, what they need, and how they operate - ensuring she can deliver a highly personalised and effective recruitment service. Lisa always goes the extra mile, priding herself on being reliable, responsive, and genuinely invested in achieving the best outcomes.
As a leader, Lisa is passionate about creating a culture rooted in trust, values, and mutual respect. She is committed to building an environment where every team member feels supported and empowered to grow. Through open communication, shared knowledge, and encouragement, she helps others build confidence in their roles and develop their own expertise. Her approach has shaped a positive, collaborative workplace that reflects the same integrity and care she brings to her client partnerships.
Her passion for the charity sector extends far beyond recruitment - Lisa actively supports the work her clients do by fundraising, collecting and delivering donations, and helping raise awareness in the wider community.
Outside of work, Lisa is Mum to two teenagers and shares her home with two Boston Terriers who - like her - prefer a cosy cuddle on the sofa to a muddy walk. Family life is at the heart of everything she does - busy, noisy, and full of personality. Lisa loves the little moments that make up everyday life and brings the same warmth, energy, and care to her personal world as she does to her work.
Ria Smith
Director
Ria has worked in recruitment for over 17 years and has spent much of that time specialising in roles within Housing Associations, Local Authorities, the NHS, and the Charity sector. Her focus has always been on services that support society’s most vulnerable, and she brings a depth of understanding and commitment that sets her apart.
Ria has played a key role in shaping our specialist offering. She has been instrumental in developing our services for organisations supporting victims of domestic, sexual and child abuse, as well as vulnerable children, young people and families. Her leadership, insight, and commitment have helped build a team that is trusted by clients and candidates alike, and her influence continues to drive our work forward in meaningful ways.
Ria is incredibly passionate about the work her clients and candidates do. She’s been involved in numerous fundraising initiatives and community efforts, with her favourite being the Christmas Shoebox Project - where she organises and delivers over 300 gift-filled boxes each year to women’s refuges across the UK.
Her expertise lies not only in her deep knowledge of the sector, but in her ability to advise clients on the best approach to sourcing the right people. Ria oversees Preferred Supplier Lists, contract negotiations, and supports clients with tenders - always with a collaborative and solutions-focused approach.
Based in Sweden, Ria lives with her partner, two daughters, and bonus-son. If you catch her after 4.30pm, you might just hear the familiar chatter of her now seven-year-old (still very talkative!) and the newest little voice joining in the background.
Katie Healey
TEAM MANAGER
Katie is our Team Manager and an integral part of the business. Since joining, she has built a thriving recruitment desk - winning new clients, delivering exceptional service to established partners, and fostering strong, lasting relationships with candidates. Her natural ability to connect with people, combined with her dedication and drive, has made her an instrumental and much-valued member of the team.
Although this is Katie’s first role in recruitment, she’s now been with us for over three years and has gone from strength to strength. Starting in a candidate resourcing role, she quickly demonstrated a natural flair for the industry - progressing to Consultant and now Team Manager in a short space of time. Her growth has been driven by her hard work, positivity, and genuine passion for connecting the right people with the right opportunities.
Outside of recruitment, Katie runs Pilates classes in Sutton Coldfield and brings the same energy, focus, and care to her clients there as she does to her candidates and colleagues. If you're local, you can find out more at https://plhealthhub.co.uk/
Katie is nanny to a busy toddler and yes, we’re aware she doesn’t look old enough! Family means everything to Katie, and her warmth, humour, and positivity shine through in everything she does.
Molly Ryan
RELATIONSHIP MANAGER
Molly joined Supporting Futures in 2023 and has since been committed to building strong, lasting relationships with both candidates and clients. With a focus on providing a seamless and supportive experience, Molly plays a key role in candidate sourcing and is often the first friendly face that candidates/clients encounter. She takes pride in helping individuals find meaningful roles that make a real difference in the lives of vulnerable groups across society.
Molly is a Law graduate and brings with her a background in customer service, retail, and administration, which has shaped her empathetic and people-first approach to recruitment.
Outside of work, Molly enjoys quality time with her family and loves to bake in her free time.
Join the team …
Consultant
We are a female led business run by working mums who are committed to providing an excellent service to our candidates and clients.
We offer an extremely flexible approach to recruitment and working as we strongly believe that a work/ life balance and feeling happy with yourself makes you a better consultant.
If you are interested in joining the team please email us at recruitment@supporting-futures.com
