Christy Acton is the founder of Standing Tall, a social enterprise helping employers address one of the sector’s most persistent challenges: finding reliable, motivated talent for entry-level roles. Working with businesses across facilities management, hospitality, and support services, Standing Tall connects employers with high-quality, job-ready candidates while providing the support structures needed to ensure long-term success.
The idea for Standing Tall emerged while Christy was running night shelters in Birmingham, where he recognised that many individuals experiencing homelessness were ready and eager to work; they simply lacked access to opportunity. Rather than approaching the issue purely as a social cause, he built a practical recruitment model that delivers measurable value for employers while creating lasting change for candidates.
Under Christy’s leadership, Standing Tall has earned a reputation for introducing dependable, committed people into partner organisations, with employers consistently reporting the strength and quality of candidates. The organisation’s approach combines recruitment, housing support, and ongoing one-to-one guidance, helping businesses strengthen their workforce while improving retention and engagement in frontline roles.
Passionate about reshaping perceptions around talent and employability, Christy believes businesses can solve real operational challenges while building stronger, more inclusive workforces; proving that commercial outcomes and social impact can go hand in hand.