Gary McPhee

WORK HISTORY

ABOUT GARY MCPHEE

From professional footballer to CEO and co-founder of two successful recruitment businesses, my journey has been anything but conventional. At 21, my playing career came to an abrupt end after a sleepwalking accident resulted in a 44ft fall and a broken back. That life-changing moment reshaped my path and instilled in me a deep sense of resilience, humility, and determination that’s guided every step of my professional life since.Starting as a trainee in recruitment nearly two decades ago, I’ve worked my way up, not through shortcuts, but by consistently delivering results, leading by example, and staying grounded. Today, I’m proud to lead Step Into Teaching, a national programme helping the next generation of teachers gain vital classroom experience. Since launching in 2019, we’ve supported over 4,500 aspiring teachers. Our graduates are four times more likely to enter initial teacher training after completing our pre-teacher training programme, compared to traditional routes.Before moving into executive leadership, I spent years supporting the education and social care sectors, specialising in placing senior leaders in critical roles within local government children’s services. That hands-on experience gave me a genuine appreciation for the work our partners do, and I remain deeply committed to supporting positive outcomes for children, schools, and communities.Alongside Step Into Teaching, I also co-founded Hamptons Resourcing, and together with Simon Ray, we’ve grown both organisations from a two-person start-up in 2013 to a combined team of 50+ dedicated professionals. Across both businesses, we’ve always championed internal career development, creating working cultures where people are trusted, supported, and given the space to grow into their potential.Even after two hip replacements, I still love sport, particularly running and playing tennis. That passion for performance, discipline, and improvement continues to shape how I lead, coach, and build teams that thrive. If you’d like some career advice or feel Step Into Teaching could potentially support your school or trust, I’d love to hear from you. And, as it’s been said on many occasions. your hips don’t lie, so I’m always happy to recommend a brilliant hip specialist!