When great moments happen in recruitment, they tend to look quite simple on the surface. A handshake, a certificate, a proud family in the audience. But behind those moments sits graft, learning, resilience and the quiet grind that nobody sees. This month we got to witness one of those moments first hand as our own Darragh Coffey graduated from the National College of Ireland with First Class Honours in Recruitment Practice.
Darragh joined Red 
Chair Recruitment almost four years ago, a sharp thinker with an interest in tech and a natural ability to read people. Since then he has grown into a specialist IT Recruiter with curiosity, humility and a work ethic that never needed encouraging. Watching that development has been one of the great pleasures of the last few years for our team. Graduation day recognised that journey in style. Not only did Darragh complete his degree with top results, he also received the Academic Excellence Award for the third year in a row and was named Apprentice of the Year 2025. Only the third cohort in the world to hold a formal degree in recruitment, and Darragh firmly among the standout achievers of that group. The lad did us proud.
It is easy to say hard work pays off, but here was living proof walking across a stage in cap and gown. The programme delivered by NCI and the Employment and Recruitment Federation continues to raise standards across the sector and we could not be prouder to see one of our
own represent it so well. A special thank you also to the educators, mentors and industry leaders who make this apprenticeship possible and to the wider Class of 2025 who celebrated alongside him. They are the next generation of recruiters and if this cohort is anything to go by, the future looks very bright indeed.
At Red Chair Recruitment, growth matters. Not just business growth, but people growth. Seeing someone learn, stretch, question 
and eventually excel is what keeps this industry exciting. Darragh’s journey has been a reminder that talent is powerful, but dedication is unstoppable.
We will continue to champion new talent, support those starting their careers and provide the space for recruiters to become exceptional at what they do. For now, we simply say well earned Darragh and well done to every graduate who crossed the stage this year. Enjoy the moment, enjoy the celebrations and enjoy the road ahead. It is only beginning.
If you are a candidate or company, now is the time to talk to us
Moments like this remind us why we invest in young talent and why it matters to the industry as a whole. A graduate who enters recruitment with skill, emotional intelligence and a measurable track record does not just add value, they raise the standard for everybody around them. Darragh is living proof of that.
So if you are:
- Hiring IT talent,
- Exploring a move in your own career,
- Or simply curious about how the right recruiter can change the outcome
you know where to find us. Speak with us, challenge us, tell us what you need. You might even end up working with the Apprentice of the Year himself.
The future of recruitment has just walked across that graduation stage.
We are proud to say he is on our team & #WeGetPeople