The Recruitment Leadership Podcast

Welcome to the latest episode of the Recruitment Leadership Podcast, hosted by Alison Humphries.   In this episode, Alison is joined by Louise Triance, Managing Director of UK Recruiter and organiser of the Recruitment Agency Expo. With over three decades in the industry, Louise brings a broad and informed perspective on how recruitment has changed and what recruitment leaders should be paying attention to now. While short-term data gets all the attention, Alison and Louise zoom out to examine the long-term trends - the “boiling frog” changes slowly, reshaping the industry. From stalled productivity and the rise in micro-agencies to shifting client expectations and the limits of AI, they explore what's really going on beneath the surface. Most importantly, they highlight why each of these shifts is an opportunity, if you can spot it and adapt. Here's what you'll learn in this episode:  

Welcome to the latest episode of the Recruitment Leadership Podcast, hosted by Alison Humphries.   In this episode, Alison is joined by Sarah Knight, leadership and mindset coach, business development expert, and founder of Sarah Knight Consultancy. Sarah is also the host of the podcast “It's Got Pockets”, which explores the realities of being a woman in business - and the conversations we need to be having more often.   With a background in communications, PR, and people development, Sarah shares practical advice on how recruitment professionals can build lasting client relationships in a market where business development has become tougher - and more important - than ever.   Together, Alison and Sarah explore how recruiters and business leaders can move away from over-reliance on digital tools and get back to what really drives growth: conversations, clarity, and consistency.   Here's what you'll learn in this episode:

Welcome to the latest episode of the Recruitment Leadership Podcast, hosted by Alison Humphries.   In this episode, Alison is joined by Tim Freestone, Founder of Alooba, an online skills assessment platform transforming the way companies hire. Tim shares how his frustrations as a hiring manager led to the creation of Alooba, highlighting the inefficiencies of traditional CV-based hiring and the need for skills-first recruitment.   With AI evolving rapidly and job roles changing at an unprecedented pace, Tim and Alison explore how recruiters can assess candidates more effectively, eliminate bias, and future-proof their hiring strategies.   Key takeaways from this episode:

Welcome to the latest episode of the Recruitment Leadership Podcast, hosted by Alison Humphries.   In this episode, Alison is joined by Jem Bevan, Founder of SocialJems, a LinkedIn marketing specialist who helps recruiters and businesses harness the power of social media to attract clients and candidates.   From a career in sales to becoming a LinkedIn strategist for recruiters, Jem has mastered the art of authentic engagement, personal branding, and content that converts. She shares practical strategies to help anyone create impactful content, foster meaningful engagement, and navigate LinkedIn's latest algorithm updates. Here's what you'll learn in this episode:

Welcome to the latest episode of the Recruitment Leadership Podcast, hosted by Alison Humphries. In this episode, Alison is joined by Penny Haslam, Founder and Managing Director of Bit Famous Ltd, a former business journalist and TV presenter turned visibility coach. From a temporary role at the BBC, which proved to be the launchpad for her career, Penny became a trusted communication and confidence coach for professionals, including those in the recruitment industry. Together, Alison and Penny delve into the importance of clear, confident communication in recruitment and beyond, offering practical strategies to help professionals stand out in their fields. Here's what you'll learn in this episode:

In this episode of the Recruitment Leadership Podcast, Alison Humphries is joined by Helen Plumridge, founder of Hypa Consulting, who shares her inspiring journey from starting King Recruit in 2015 to successfully selling it to Recruitment Entrepreneur. During this episode, Helen and Alison explore the challenges faced by female solopreneurs in recruitment, including self-doubt, financial risk, and the balancing act of lifestyle factors. They emphasise the importance of cultivating the right mindset, effective planning, and maintaining accountability on the entrepreneurial journey. With their wealth of experience, Helen and Alison offer practical advice on how to overcome these obstacles, highlighting the value of regular exercise, consistent planning, and continuous learning. Helen also discusses the power of having an accountability partner and maintaining a growth mindset. Helen has generously offered free resources to support female entrepreneurs in the recruitment industry, including a PDF with 18 revenue-enhancing hacks to help you grow your business and stay on track. You can download the PDF here: 18 x Revenue-Enhancing Hacks to Simplify Your Business and Give You More Free Time! If you're a female entrepreneur looking to elevate your recruitment business, this episode is packed with valuable insights and actionable strategies to help you thrive.

In this latest episode of the Recruitment Leadership Podcast, Alison Humphries welcomes Mike Horne, a seasoned organisational development expert, to tackle the unique challenges faced by small recruitment business owners.    Packed with actionable insights, this conversation bridges the gap between the high-level struggles of corporate executives and the daily realities of running a recruitment firm.   Mike draws on his extensive experience to highlight the key leadership traits every business owner needs: self-belief, confidence, and calmness under pressure. He dives into the nuts and bolts of building a successful recruitment business, from financial management and marketing to navigating generational differences in the workplace.   Are you grappling with the diverse priorities of Gen Z, millennials, and Gen X? Alison and Mike explore how these generational divides can impact leadership and share strategies for fostering inclusion while harnessing the strengths of each group.   Whether you're scaling your recruitment business, refining your leadership style, or just starting out, this episode is your go-to guide for setting clear goals, maintaining discipline, and leveraging innovation to unlock your team's full potential.   Tune in now to gain practical advice and fresh perspectives that will help you thrive in the ever-changing recruitment industry!  

In this episode of the Recruitment Leadership Podcast, we're joined by a special guest who's perfectly positioned to share his expert insights—Neil Carberry, CEO of the Recruitment and Employment Confederation, and a key figure in shaping the upcoming industry changes. The UK government's new Employment Rights Bill and the Make Work Pay Plan are two initiatives that could reshape recruitment as we know it! With 28 measures already outlined and more details to emerge through secondary legislation, these changes are set to impact the industry by 2026. Now is the time to start thinking about how your business will adapt. Tune in as Neil Carberry shares his expert take on these initiatives and the biggest concerns and opportunities surrounding these upcoming regulations.  You will find out more about:   

Welcome to the newest episode of the Recruitment Leadership Podcast, hosted by Alison Humphries. Did you know that productivity in the recruitment industry has stayed the same for 20 + years? Even with all the advancements in automation and AI, we're still not seeing much progress. But why? And how can this change? In today's episode of the Recruitment Leadership Podcast, we're joined by Alex Farrell, founder of Autometry. Alex brings her expertise to tackle longstanding issues in the industry.    What you'll learn: Recruiter productivity has stagnated for 25 years, with revenue per head remaining flat at around £100,000 annually Alex founded Autometry to address this issue, using AI to boost recruiter productivity and revenue Autometry's AI assistant, Ada, automatically matches candidates to jobs and suggests business development opportunities A case study showed Autometry helped six customers generate an additional £875,000 in revenue over 12 months by reactivating passive candidates Alex advises recruitment firms to focus on business objectives when implementing AI, rather than just the technology itself. The first few listeners to reach out to Alex will receive a free diagnostic and enjoy a 30% discount on a pilot programme. Tune in - you won't want to miss this!  Be sure to connect with Alex on LinkedIn  Want to discuss this topic further with Alison? Contact her:

Welcome to the latest episode of the Recruitment Leadership podcast, hosted by Alison Humphries. Struggling to find top talent? You're not alone.   This episode dives deep into the recruitment industry's biggest challenges, featuring Chris McCann, CEO of SOLIS Academy. Chris shares his inspiring journey from social work to recruitment leader, and how he built an innovative solution to today's hiring woes.   Here's what you'll learn:   The Dirty Secrets of Recruitment: Discover the alarming turnover rates and why finding great people is so tough. (Spoiler alert: it's not just you!) How to End Youth Unemployment: Chris unveils a revolutionary approach that bridges the gap between young talent and recruitment agencies. Forget Degrees, Focus on Skills: Learn how SOLIS Academy goes beyond traditional resumes to assess soft skills and real-world potential. The Future of Learning: Find out how SOLIS Academy's customisable e-learning platform blends theory with practical application to create recruitment rockstars. Gen Z Ready? Discover how SOLIS Academy adapts its training to the unique learning styles of the new generation, while keeping the crucial human touch in recruitment. Plus, a Special Offer for Listeners! Be one of the first 10 to reach out to Chris and get a risk-free recruitment and training solution with a 6-month success guarantee.   Stop settling for mediocre talent! Tune in now and learn how to build a high-performing recruitment team prepared for the future.   Connect with Chris on LinkedIn or reach out to him at chris@solis-academy.com  Interested in speaking to Alison about your business strategy?  Get in touch, today!  

Welcome to the latest episode of the Recruitment Leadership podcast, hosted by Alison Humphries. In this episode, Alison is joined by “backdoor” Barry Cullen, known for his handling of backdoor disputes. Barry's unique perspective – a blend of recruiter experience and legal expertise - gives him an invaluable understanding of what's practical for recruiters, not just legal theory.   For an exclusive listener discount, head to RecProtect.net and quote “Alison Humphries” for an incredible 40% rebate on licence fees!   Together, they explore: Industry Shifts: unveil the crucial changes impacting recruitment, from evolving client demands to ever-shifting supplier terms. Transfer Fee Disputes: Feeling the pressure of transfer fee and rebate disputes? Explore trends and become equipped with the knowledge you need to effectively address them. Contract Confidence: Alison and Barry discuss the art of drafting, reviewing, and renegotiating contracts. Credit Control Expertise: Learn to manage credit control effectively, conquer payment disputes, and leverage terms to secure timely payments consistently. Legal Action vs. Collection Strategies: Alison and Barry deliberate when negotiation is the best course of action and when to pursue legal measures. Eradicate Late Fees: Discover proactive strategies to prevent and recover late or unpaid fees, so you can focus on your core strength – finding top talent.   Listen in for practical advice, real-world examples, and Allison's insightful questions that will provide you with actionable takeaways on contract management, dispute resolution, and credit control best practices.   This episode is packed with valuable information to overcome legal challenges and get back to doing what you love – making successful placements!   Connect with Barry on LinkedIn.   Interested in speaking to Alison about your business strategy?  Get in touch, today!

Join your host, Alison Humphries, for an enlightening conversation on recruitment pricing strategies with Jon Brooks, Pricing Consultant & Founder of The Value Advantage.   In this episode, you can expect Alison and Jon to discuss alternative pricing models that focus on the true value your business delivers, delve into the psychology for pricing and negotiation, and piece together a part of the productivity picture that may be currently ignored…   This episode is a must-listen for recruitment professionals seeking to hear a balanced and nuanced discussion on pricing, with real-life examples and questions on pricing that you probably have, but have never asked.    Gain valuable insights and practical strategies on optimising your pricing strategy to reward your hard work and reflect the impact you make.   Timestamped Guide:   00:46 - Introduction to Jon   02:26 - This industry has been forever stuck basing it's pricing of a percentage of salaries. Why do we do that? And why is the industry so wedded to it, in your opinion?   04:47 - I remain unconvinced thatsalary percentage reflects the amount of work involved. What are your thoughts, Jon?   10:20 - Do you have any quick points of advice for people who are having to consider clients terms?   13:3 - What are your thoughts on offering them a choice, where a contingency cost is higher, and a retained cost is lower?   22:02 - For the sake of those who may not have looked at this before, should we just review some of the other variables that we can bring into a discussion about fees?   29:58 - What are your tips and advice for the successful implementation of a new pricing strategy?   Connect with Jon on LinkedIn    Jon's newsletter: pricing.substack.com    Interested in speaking to Alison about a holistic conversation including pricing and conversation?  Get in touch, today!

Join your host, Alison Humphries, for a thought-provoking discussion on the evolving landscape of AI and automation in recruitment in this episode with James Kingston, CEO of Kingston Barnes. In this episode, you can expect Alison and James to explore the strategic implementation of automation and AI tools within the recruitment process, with practical tips for onboarding and measuring success.  Tackling whether robots and recruiters can really work together, key topics explored include: A critical analysis of automation tools: We delve into James' practical experience with LinkedIn automation and TriplePhi at Kingston Barnes, examining the potential benefits and inherent risks associated with these technologies. Learning from the past: We dissect the case of Amazon's unsuccessful recruitment AI, highlighting the importance of careful testing and responsible management when adopting new systems. Actionable insights for leaders: James offers practical guidance for recruitment leaders looking to implement automation effectively. Setting clear objectives, rigorous testing, audience segmentation, and staff empowerment are all crucial elements for success. Measuring the impact: We explore the challenges and considerations involved in quantifying the return on investment for automation tools, and why “softer” measures such as candidate experience are just as vital as financial gains. A shift in industry perspective: We delve into the evolving attitude towards technological advancements in recruitment, which is moving towards a collaborative and nuanced approach that leverages technology for its strategic advantages. The human element remains paramount: James emphasises his belief that AI will ultimately serve as a supportive tool, not a replacement for human interaction. This episode is a must-listen for recruitment professionals seeking to navigate the ever-changing talent acquisition landscape. Gain valuable insights and practical strategies for harnessing the power of automation, while ensuring that a human-centric approach to your recruitment process remains.  Timestamped Guide: 00:50 - About James and his journey with automation and AI: how did you start implementing it? And why? 10:13 - So, thinking about the whole landscape, what other parts of the recruitment workflow have you decided to automate? And can you also talk to us about your choice of partners to work with to do that? 15:08 - What top bits of advice would you give other business leaders when they're implementing a new system implementation? 05:11 - Why it's important that recruiters understand their own commission schemes 26:46 - Not one of the companies I know can give me a positive answer when I asked them “Yes, but has an overall performance per billing consultant, has it actually improved?” - what are your thoughts on that? 31:06 - Have you found that you need to consider your three markets separately when implementing any automation? 33:23 - How do you anticipate the use of AI in the recruitment sector? 37:18 - James, you're also an author - would you like to just tell the audience about your book? Connect with James on LinkedIn  James' book: https://amzn.eu/d/55xBaMp Interested in speaking to Alison about your business strategy?  Get in touch, today!

Join your host Alison Humphries, as she speaks with Ollie Whiting, CEO at La Fosse and discover Ollie's secrets of successfully scaling recruitment businesses. This includes growing La Fosse Associates to over 300 employees, $7.6+ million in EBIT, and reaching number 26 in the Recruiter Hot100 this year. The discussion highlights key themes for successful recruitment businesses that have scaled, such as: Delegation, leadership and data-driven decisions Customer-centric growth and diversification Addressing skills shortages and showcasing the value proposition to clients. Creating a culture for success to attract and retain good people Embracing an entrepreneurial mindset. Utilising employees for diverse perspectives and innovation Timestamped Guide: 00:50 - About Ollie and his experience 03:07 - What separates the founders and leaders of enterprise recruitment businesses, from those smaller, SME businesses 06:33 - What are the skills that need to be brought in externally as a business grows? 05:11 - Why it's important that recruiters understand their own commission schemes 11:49 - What skills have you brought in to La Fosse? 14:15 - Could you talk through the different recruitment solutions La Fosse now offer? 16:21 - Could you give listeners an insight into what the academy does and the challenges around that? 19:44 - How did you go about spotting opportunities with your clients and promoting that as a service? 23:22 - How do you ensure that your team keep their periscopes up and are actually open to hearing those needs? 25:24 - How do you plan as a leader in a volatile environment? 29:06 - Employee advisory board 33:53 - What did you do well when entering international, and what mistakes did you make? 37:11 - What, in your view, makes LaFosse distinctive? Is there anything that makes your leadership distinctive? 39:28 - Any predictions for this year? Connect with Ollie on LinkedIn or email him at ollie.whiting@lafosse.com Interested in speaking to Alison about your business strategy?  Get in touch, today!

Join your host Alison Humphries, as she is joined by industry veteran Lysha Holmes, founder of Qui Recruitment, to unpack the secrets to retaining top talent in the face of a challenging recruitment landscape.  Drawing on her 18 years of experience of running Qui Recruitment, Lysha offers invaluable insights on creating a thriving work environment that fosters loyalty and engagement. From the hidden reasons behind recruiter turnover to cultivating a culture of belonging and empowering individuals through intrapreneurship, Lysha shares practical tips, tricks and insights that recruitment business leaders can use to build recruitment teams that thrive, despite challenging market conditions. Timestamped Guide: 01:04 - Tell us about how Qui Recruitment got it's name 02:18 - Why do experienced recruiters get in touch with you 06:27 - What do you think internal and agency recruiters have in common and how do they differ? 05:11 - Why it's important that rcruiters understand their own commission schemes 10:14 - What are your thoughts on recruitment business owners using surveys to measure staff wellbeing as a retention tool 14:12 - What do you look for in a client before you go ahead and work with them? 19:41 - What are your thoughts on the processes that you see recruitment business following for their internal recruitment? 27:28 - Is there a right retention level in the recruitment industry? 30:50 - What other steps should recruitment leaders take to retain staff? Is there a difference between support staff and earning staff? 35:28 - What are your thoughts on references? 40:14 - What are your thoughts on L&D in the context of retaining our own recruiters? 45:19 - Tech and marketing: what do people need to retain their staff? Connect with Lysha on LinkedIn or email her at lysha.holmes@quirecruitment Interested in speaking to Alison about your business strategy?  Get in touch, today!

In the latest episode of the Recruitment Leadership Podcast, your host, Alison Humphries is joined by DeeDee Doke, Editor at Recruiter.   If you (somehow) don't recognise her name - DeeDee is an industry legend having been Editor at Recruiter since 2005, a leading source of news and business intelligence both via their website and magazine.    It's safe to say she has an unbeatable network and encyclopaedic knowledge of the recruitment industry, making her the perfect person to hear from 11 days into 2024!   From covering decades of disruption in the industry and what's to come in 2024, crafting award entries that win and building partnerships with internal recruitment teams that work; DeeDee's worldly wisdom means there is plenty of insights so you can level up your knowledge of the recruitment industry and get ahead for the year!   Timestamped Guide:   00:50 - Introduction to DeeDee   01:39 - What have been the three most important changes in the industry you've seen?   06:27 - What do you think internal and agency recruiters have in common and how do they differ?   09:01 - When external recruiters and internal talent teams work together, what does it take from your perspective for that to be a successful partnership?   15:13 - Recruitment award entries   22:22 - What advice would you give to those companies who are thinking of entering for awards for the very first time?   29:59 - How do you get on the Recruiter Hot 100 and Fast 50 lists?   32:56 - Do you have any predictions for 2024?   Connect with DeeDee on LinkedIn or email her at deedee.doke@recruiter.co.uk.   Interested in speaking to Alison about your business strategy?  Get in touch, today!  

In the latest episode of the Recruitment Leadership Podcast, your host, Alison Humphries is joined by Wendy McDougall, CEO of Firefish.   Business development is a big theme for recruiters at the moment, and many are struggling with this skill that has in recent years, become fundamental to the success or a recruiter.   In this episode, Wendy sits down with Alison to share her top tips when it comes to business development, drawing on her experiences both as a recruitment business owner, and as the CEO of Firefish, an all-in-one CRM, ATS and marketing tool.   Wendy explains why content is king when it comes to building relationships and generating leads over time, as well as sharing her advice to early stage recruiters and insights on measuring the impact of content.   Wendy and Alison also discuss some pearls of wisdom on automation, AI, personas and segmentation which can take your content to the next level

In the latest episode of the Recruitment Leadership Podcast, your host, Alison Humphries is joined by Matthew Banks, Growth Manager at Red Nevada Tech. Discussing how recruiters can leverage artificial intelligence, Matthew shares his experience as both a recruiter and tech salesperson.  He provides advice on where recruiters should focus their initial AI efforts, how to advise candidates and clients on using AI, while informing where AI works within the recruitment process and warning against fully automating the human aspects of recruitment.  Matthew demonstrates Red Nevada's platform, showing how it can generate job descriptions, adverts, interview questions and more to improve recruiter productivity and candidate evaluation.   To get the most out of the demonstration, it is well worth tuning into the video version of the episode which can be found on Youtube:  Timestamped Guide: 00:49 - Introduction to Matthew 01:55 - What is your advice to those people who have no outreach into AI, what should they prioritise? 08:18 - What advice on AI we should generally speaking be giving to candidates and clients? 10:35 - How do you see AI and automation being used badly in the recruitment industry? 14:27 - What about good examples of AI and automation that you've seen? 15:32 - Product Demonstration 34:06 - Discount code for one months free trial 34:30 - Why do you think AI is making some recruiters less productive? 36:55 - What behaviours do you think recruiters need to change or even stop to thrive in this new revolution 4.0?   Connect with Matthew on LinkedIn, visit Red Nevada's website or email Matthew - matthew.banks@rednevada.ai   Use code RECRUITMENTLEADERSHIP for one months free trial of Red Nevada. Interested in speaking to Alison about your business strategy?  Get in touch, today!  

In the latest episode of the Recruitment Leadership Podcast, your host, Alison Humphries is joined by Christian Hughes, CEO of MyPeople Group.   Many recruitment business leaders will have either listened to podcast episodes (including The Recruitment Leadership Podcast!) concerned with psychometrics, or know something about them from their own experience.    However, within the current market, MyPeople will be of specific interest to a lot of recruiters.   In this episode, Christian and Alison discuss, dissect and demonstrate how psychometric assessments can be used to evaluate culture fit and predict job performance.    Within a demonstration of MyPeople's assessment tool, Christian showcases how they measure both a candidate's personality and values as well as a hiring manager's team culture. In turn, the tool aims to help recruiters make better hiring decisions by understanding how well a candidate will connect with and contribute to the existing team - pretty invaluable for both clients and internal hiring.   To get the most out of the demonstration, it is well worth tuning into the video version of the episode which can be found on Youtube: https://youtu.be/q3AgunXxP80  Timestamped Guide: 01:04 - Introduction to Christian 04:45 - Why did you think MyPeople was something new that was needed? 08:49 - Can you explain the context of MyPeople? 11:02 - Product Demonstration 16:21 - How would recruiters sell this to clients? 26:25 - Is there anything that MyPeople doesn't do? 27:29 - Lots of recruitment business owners that I know are trying to educate their clients about EDI? How does a product like this fit into that? Connect with Christian on LinkedIn, visit MyPeople's website or email Christian - c.hughes@mypeoplegroup.com   Use code RECL10 for access to discounts for use of the product.   Interested in speaking to Alison about your business strategy?  Get in touch, today!

In the latest episode of the Recruitment Leadership Podcast, your host, Alison Humphries is joined by Vladimer Botsvadze, an award-winning, marketing thought leader. Vladimer is a world-renowned advisor, mentor and speaker with an extraordinary CV. He has particular expertise in the marketing and artificial intelligence areas and as such, this episode has a keen focus on the impact of AI on the recruitment sector. From the ROI metrics you should be looking at, the risks that come with AI and what the future of recruitment looks like thanks to AI: Vladimer covers every facet you may need to know, supported by eye-opening stats - such as the prediction that 85 million jobs will be replaced by AI by 2025. Vladimer also covers why he is strongly against sales pitches and why instead, you should be tapping into the power of community and storytelling to build your recruitment businesses brand. Join Alison and Vladimer for a masterclass in all things AI, sales and recruitment! Timestamped Guide: 00:49- Introduction to Vladimer and his expertise 05:21 - What impact do you think AI will have on the recruitment industry in the next two to five years?? 09:41 - In your opinion, which jobs are more likely to be replaced 12:13 - What is your opinion on sales pitches? 22:59 - What advice would you give people who were reluctant to make that investment and how could they measure the return on that investment? 24:32 - Tell us about your fears surrounding AI. Are there any fears that particularly apply to the recruitment marketplace? 27:30 - When it comes to AI bias - what do the risks look like? And how we can guard against them? 30:02 - Summary and how to get in touch with Vladimer Connect with Vladimer on LinkedIn or reach out to him at https://www.vladimerbotsvadze.com/ Interested in speaking to Alison about your recruitment business strategy?  Get in touch, today!

In the latest episode of the Recruitment Leadership Podcast, your host, Alison Humphries is joined by James Lawton, host of The Staffing RecOps podcast and Enterprise Account Executive at Mployee.   James joins Alison to share his hot take on tech and automation in recruitment; starting with CRM (ATS) systems, and then venturing onto the wider tech stack, before exploring AI implementation and ChatGPT.   In terms of his background, James started his 17-year recruitment career as a recruiter himself, understanding the pain points that come with the territory of being a consultant. Since then, he has worked for numerous recruitment CRM companies, most recently at Mployee, and founded The Staffing RecOps podcast. The Staffing RecOps podcast was born after James spotted a gap in the market for a recruitment podcast that is dedicated to those that are operating recruitment businesses and the nitty-gritty of what goes into the operations around them.   Join James and Alison for an enlightening conversation about the common mistakes recruiters make when choosing a CRM, measuring ROI and implementation; advice on determining the best tech stack; and that all-important analysis of AI and how James sees it shaping the future of recruitment - in ways you may not expect!   Timestamped Guide: 00:45 - Introduction to today's episode 03:06 - What are the common mistakes that recruiters make when choosing a CRM? 04:49 - Considerations when implementing a new CRM 09:40 - How to measure ROI 15:12 - How to determine the best tech stack 22:36 - Why did you decide to join Mployee.com? 27:28 - In my experience, the implementation and training provided by CRM providers is hopelessly inadequate for recruitment businesses. What do you think? 30:59 - Bullet points advice for business owners, if they are rolling out a new CRM or any new tech? 35:13 - Implementation of AI in the recruitment industry? (37:15)   Connect with James on LinkedIn or reach out to him at james@mployee.com Salesforce world tour at London Xcel on 29th June: https://www.salesforce.com/uk/events/london/   Interested in speaking to Alison about your business strategy?  Get in touch, today!

In our latest episode on the Recruitment Leadership podcast, Alison is joined by Gabi Preston-Phypers, the co-founder of Tooled-Up Raccoons, a groundbreaking company that is poised to transform the way recruiters search for candidates.  By empowering recruiters to discover a more diverse pool of talent in previously untapped markets, Gabi's business is revolutionising the recruitment landscape. The results from their previous experiments have been nothing short of remarkable, with a staggering increase of up to 200 times in the number of potential candidates identified. During the episode, Gabi astounds listeners with impressive demonstrations showcasing the extraordinary capabilities of their system. As an added bonus, listeners will receive an exclusive signup rate by using the referral code - RACCOON5RL Gabi's professional journey commenced at JP Morgan as an operations analyst, where she honed her analytical skills before immersing herself in the recruitment industry. Throughout the episode, we delve into the specific challenges faced by recruiters in the digital age, where the sheer volume of candidates online can be overwhelming. Traditional filtering methods are no longer sufficient, and Gabi sheds light on the limitations of such approaches. She emphasises the power of Boolean search and the dire need for greater efficiency in candidate sourcing. The discussion brings to the forefront the critical importance of streamlining recruitment processes to overcome delays and disengagement, which can impede the acquisition of top talent. Join us for this exciting episode to uncover how Tooled-Up Raccoons confronts these challenges head-on and enhances overall business efficiency. Prepare to be amazed by the innovative solutions they offer and gain valuable insights into the future of recruitment.   Timestamped Guide: 00.53- Introduction to Gabi 02.30 - How did you arrive at your current position? 04.59- Describe the challenges and discoveries you have encountered in the ever-evolving world of recruitment, enabling you to found Tooled-Up Racoons (TUR) 10.58 - What are the weaknesses of search efficiency and the implications of these limitations on businesses? 13.40 - Can you provide specific instances within your business where you can highlight how it measurably differs from other companies in terms of efficiency? 15.42- How does the language barrier in conducting searches relate to international business expansion and diversity and inclusivity goals? 17.01 - A demonstration of how TUR works in practice. 25.09- For businesses considering your demo, some might think their employees lack the necessary skills in Boolean search. How have you overcome this obstacle? 29.50- How do integration and implementation challenges affect the success of new recruitment technology, and does TUR integrate with other platforms? 33.06- How does TUR ensure security and protect businesses from the risks associated with employee departures and knowledge loss? 36.35- Could you provide specific examples of business success stories from your licensees?  41.35- How can people reach out to you? If you would like to connect with Gabi,  please see below: https://bit.ly/3IhVzwy 

Alison is joined by her friend and former colleague, Alex Elliot, a recruitment industry expert, in the latest instalment of the Recruitment Leadership Podcast.  Together, they discuss the importance of internal hiring for the success of recruitment businesses and delve into the unique approach of Alex's London-based agency, Liquid Personnel, which specialises in finding top-tier sales talent. With over 1,000 interviews under his belt, Alex shares his insights on the common mistakes recruiters make when hiring for themselves, including psychological bias, lack of clarity in purpose, failure to build a structured and aligned assessment process, and lack of interviewing skills. He emphasises the importance of asking level-five questions and finding a balance between pushing and pulling during the interview process. In this exclusive episode, Alison and Alex delve deeper into the topic of internal hiring and the common mistakes that recruiters make. They discuss strategies for successful hiring at scale, the traits they look for in potential hires, and their preferred process for recruiting inexperienced sales hires in the recruitment industry. Additionally, they talk about the value of reliable hiring and how their approach has changed since the pandemic. If you're seeking practical guidance on leading a recruitment business during these uncertain economic times, then this episode is a must-listen! As part of our insightful leadership series, you'll gain valuable advice that you won't want to miss.   Timestamped Guide: 01.12-  Introduction to Alex and Alison's association  02.31 - Can you explain to the audience your current ventures? 03.24 - What common mistakes do recruiters make when hiring for themselves? 08.25 - Internal hiring recruiters now do what they once criticised their clients for. 12.37 - How did Liquid Personnel implement effective strategies to achieve successful hiring at scale while making their proposition compelling and ensuring the success of their new hires? 19.05 - What traits do you look for? 26.55 - What is your preferred process for recruiting inexperienced sales hires in the recruitment industry? 33.05 - The importance of hiring experienced and inexperienced hires.  39.28 - Interviewing a trainee vs. an experienced recruiter.  42.43- Why do you think good, reliable hiring helps increase the value of your company? 44.57 - What have you changed since before the pandemic, and has the profile that you look for changed in any way?  49.48 - How should candidates and organisations reach out to you?  If you would like to connect with Alex, please see below: https://bit.ly/3oMPgKj 

In the latest instalment of the Recruitment Leadership Podcast, your host, Alison Humphries is joined by Sacha Koffman, a Leadership and Talent Executive.    Sacha is a seasoned professional who has navigated the ever-evolving landscape of talent acquisition and leadership. With experience spanning international consulting firms, recruitment startups, and internal talent acquisition for a top bank in Australia, Sasha brings a wealth of knowledge to the table.    In this exclusive episode, Sacha discusses the multifaceted topic of leadership. He examines the process of finding capable leaders, the potential obstacles you may encounter upon entering a leadership position, as well as the dynamics of the recruitment and search market for leadership roles.   This episode is part of our insightful series centred around leadership - if you seek actionable advice on how to lead a recruitment business through the current economic uncertainty, this episode is a must-listen!     Timestamped Guide : 00.44 - Introduction to Sacha  03.21 -  How does your experience give a helpful perspective to our audience?  09.01 - What are you able to do when starting a new business that will be better, faster and cheaper than what currently exists?  10.59 - What mistakes do executive search firms make and what are the fundamental approaches that you would advise people to take? 19.38- Leadership attraction is about networks, not just sales  20.56 - Use your curiosity as a superpower  27.08 - What do you think would attract people of experience back into the search profession, or to join a particular firm?  33.05 - What recommendations do you have for best practices in executive coaching? 42.22- How should candidates and organisations reach out to you?    If you would like to connect with Sacha,  please see below:  https://bit.ly/3yVejgn

In the latest episode of the Recruitment Leadership Podcast, your host, Alison Humphries is joined by Lyndsey Simpson, Founder and CEO of 55/Redefined.  Before founding 55/Redefined, Lyndsey had a very successful recruitment career, working her way up to CEO of The Curve Group. Lyndsey's experiences in this role led her to realise that there was a passive talent pool in the over 55s that many recruitment organisations were ignoring.  55/Redefined aims to create solutions to bring society a step closer to an age-inclusive culture. Lyndsey identified that many over 55s are not ready for full retirement and with an ageing society, they are a passive candidate pool waiting to be tapped into. 55/Redefined has created several different solutions to achieve this: from a job board specifically targeted at the over 55s to consultancy services to help organisations embrace this area of the workforce. In this exclusive episode, Lyndsey discusses why neglecting this demographic will be a costly mistake for recruitment firms and their clients. She also details actionable advice as to how to foster age diversity within both your own business and your clients. To claim your exclusive off from 55/Redefined, please see below.   Timestamped Guide: 00:36 - Introduction to Lyndsey  01:59 - Introduction to 55/Redefined  07:04 - What issues does a lack of age diversity in organisations create? 13:06 - Why did a large proportion of the over 50s leave the workforce during the pandemic? 16:55 - What are your thoughts on the age profile of the recruitment industry? 21:24 - How should recruitment businesses encourage more over 50s to join their organisation? 25:14 - What advice would you give to recruiters who are trying to address age stereotyping with their clients? 30:35 - How can 55/Redefined support recruiters and their clients? 33:35 - How does Life/Redefined complement the other elements of your business? 36:20 - Could you talk us through a case study where you have helped an organisation to change its applicant and workforce profile? 39:42 - Unique offer for 55/Redefined    If you would like to find out more about 55/Redefined and claim your exclusive offer, please see below - 

In the latest episode of the Recruitment Leadership Podcast your host, Alison Humphries, is joined by Leadership Coach and Author, Zena Everett.  Zena has a rare cocktail of entrepreneurial, head-hunting, organisational psychology and coaching experience. In her early career, Zena founded a successful recruitment business and in the process became increasingly interested in why some candidates were more successful than others.  To explore this interest further, Zena decided to pursue a master's degree in organisational psychology and psychological training.  This episode takes a slightly different format as the tables are turned and Alison is in the hot seat being interviewed by Zena all about what makes the recruitment sector great and what it takes to be a successful recruitment business leader. Whether you're an aspiring, successful or struggling recruitment business leader, this episode is not one to be missed!   Timestamped guide 01:12 - Introduction to Zena and the episode.  01:48 - How do you consistently come up with new ideas? 04:01 - What do you love about the recruitment sector? 08:18 - How has recruitment changed? 14:49 - What are the most important characteristics of a successful recruitment consultant? 17:59 - What do you look for when starting to work with a new client? 24:59 - What problems would you tell recruitment leaders to nip in the bud this year? 28:04 - How can recruitment businesses set themselves apart? 33:30 - Should recruiters be more explicit about the technology they use? 35:14 - Why all recruitment business owners should ask themselves what makes us different? 36:59 - When has a recruitment business leader surprised you? 43:29 - What are your 2023 goals?   If you would like to connect with Zena, please see below: 

In the latest instalment of the Recruitment Leadership Podcast, your host, Alison Humphries is joined by Adam Kay, Partner at Saffery Champness.    With over 20 years of experience advising recruitment firms on their tax and financial matters, Adam joins Alison to offer his expertise to any recruitment business leaders running rapidly scaling organisations, or those who aspire to be.    In this exclusive episode, Adam provides actionable advice on how to make your exit plan a priority from the very start, the do's and don'ts of Employee Share Schemes and the pitfalls of the SEIS/EIS schemes.    This episode is part of our insightful series centred around leadership - if you are seeking actionable advice on how to lead a recruitment business through the current economic uncertainty, this episode is a must-listen!    Timestamped guide:    00:45 - Introduction to Adam 03:38 - What size does a business have to be for there to actually be a market of buyers for it? 07:59 - How valuations are done - multiple and how calculations are done 14:37 - Impact of liability on value 16:02 - What would you anticipate would happen to valuations of recruitment businesses over the course of the next year? 17:38 - Can you explain the tax treatment of a business sale and if you think there are likely to be changes? 21:13 - What are the main considerations for an owner when setting up employee share schemes? 28:03 - Employee Ownership Trusts are a means of exit that's becoming more talked about - what are the advantages and disadvantages? 34:18 - What is involved in raising funding through Enterprise Investment Schemes and Seed Enterprise Investment Schemes? If you would like to connect with Adam and find out more about Saffery Champness, please see below:   

In the latest instalment of the Recruitment Leadership Podcast, your host Alison Humphries is joined by not one, but two special guests! In this episode, Alison speaks to Nikki Samant-Jones and Matthew MacLachlan, Chief Revenue Officer and Head of Learning Innovation respectively at Country Navigator. Country Navigator is the industry-leading platform for cultural intelligence and inclusion training. Through its platform, Country Navigator aim to equip organisations with the knowledge and skills to leverage the benefits of culture and build truly diverse workplaces! Whether your business operates solely in the UK or has expanded overseas, cultural intelligence is a key requirement to determine candidate suitability. Harnessing its power could make the difference between a successful and unsuccessful placement.  In this exclusive episode, Nikki and Matthew provide a wealth of insight into the importance of culture in recruitment and kindly gift an exclusive offer to Recruitment Leadership podcast listeners for a three-month free trial of the Country Navigator platform. To claim your free trial, please see below.    Timestamped guide:  00:45 - Introduction  02:25 - Introduction to Nikki  04:20 - Introduction to Matthew  08:14 - What challenges does Country Navigator solve? 12:43 - How does cultural intelligence impact recruiters? 17:00 - How does the Country Navigate platform work? 24:33 - How is cultural intelligence relevant to someone recruiting solely within the UK? 26:33 - What initiatives have you seen to support engagement and retention of workforces? 31:55 - Is it possible for leaders to accommodate the preferences of every individual within their business? 35:03 - Why should recruiters push clients to create more diverse workforces? 38:52 - Three-month free trial of the Country Navigator platform    If you would like to find out more about Country Navigator, please see below - To claim your three-month free trial, enter code 'RECLEAD3' when filling out the form: https://www.countrynavigator.com/freetrial-reclead/  Interested in speaking to Alison about your business strategy? Get in touch, today!

In the latest episode of the Recruitment Leadership podcast your host, Alison Humphries is joined by Brett Ennals, Founder and Director of Cento Group.    Cento Group is a nationwide recruitment agency specialising in Fire & security, Lift & Escalators, Built Environment and Health & Safety industries.    Through working to shift his own mindset and that of his team, Brett has successfully led Cento Group through a period of change which has resulted in huge triumphs and significant growth.    In this exclusive episode, Brett talks Alison through the changes he has implemented, how he has guided his consultants and clients through them and why the culture they have built together is the element he is most proud of.    This episode forms part of a series centred around leadership - if you are looking for leadership advice to help you through the uncertainty change can bring, this episode is for you!   Timestamped Guide:  0:46 - Introduction  1:04 - Introduction to Brett 3:09 - What are the changes you have implemented at Cento Group? 5:44 - Can you describe the biggest shifts you have seen in the business? 8:09 - How did you help your established consultants to understand the value of their work? 12:23: What are some of the new internal procedures you have introduced? 14:20 - How have your leadership characteristics developed? 16:03 - How have you made sure all the back office systems complement each other? 19:00 - Do you have any software recommendations that you think have worked particularly well at Cento Group? 21:58 - Do you think it is possible to be everything people expect from a recruitment business leader? 24:02 - The importance of policy handbooks 28:28 - What are your secrets for successful internal hiring? 31:48 - Is fostering culture the most important thing recruitment business leaders should be doing?   If you would like to find out more about opportunities at Cento Group, please see below -

In the latest instalment of the Recruitment Leadership Podcast, your host Alison Humphries is joined by not one, but two special guests!   In this episode, Alison speaks to James Truswell and Andrew Dean, Directors of Menlo Park.     Menlo Park is an award-winning recruitment agency specialising in recruiting for permanent positions within primary care, adult social care, medical devices and medical technology.    James and Andrew join Alison to provide an insight into how they are successfully leading their award-winning firm in the new era of work.    As the expectations employees have of their leaders increase, James and Andrew endeavour to answer the question - ‘Can recruitment leaders really do it all?'    In the process, they offer their expert advice on how to balance the ever-increasing remit of leaders with the additional pressures that this can bring.    This episode is part of our insightful series centred around leadership - if you are seeking actionable advice on how to lead a recruitment business in the modern era of work, this episode is for you!   Timestamped Guide: 0:45 - Introduction  1:05 - Introduction to James Truswell and Andrew Dean 1:23 - What are your career backgrounds? 7.16 - What makes Menlo Park different? 11:51 - What new markets have you expanded into? 18:41 - How have your leadership skills developed over the last two years? 24:57 - What actions have you taken to ensure your back office feels included? 28:26 - With the recent changes in the world of work, what do recruitment leaders now have to do differently? 35:46 - With the new pressures placed on recruitment leaders, is it possible to do it all? 41:10 - What are the growth plans you have for Menlo Park?   If you would like to find out more about opportunities at Menlo Park, please see below - 

In the latest instalment of the Recruitment Leadership podcast, your host Alison Humphries is joined by James Fowler, founder and CEO of Fintelligent Search and Leaders in Care. Fintelligent Search specialises in the Financial Services, Legal and Finance sectors. Leaders in Care are recruitment specialists operating within Health and Social Care. James is a highly experienced recruitment leader having founded not one, but two successful recruitment businesses operating in very different markets - healthcare and financial services.  In this exclusive episode, James shares his bumpy journey to building Fintelligent and Leaders in Care into the recruitment powerhouses they are today. Through the times of unprecedented crisis that James has had to weather, he has learnt what it truly means to be a leader.  If you are looking for valuable leadership lessons to help you navigate adversity, this episode is a must-listen!   Timestamped Guide:  0:46 - Introduction  1:25 - Introduction to James Fowler  2:54 - What was your path to recruitment? 5:03 - What markets do Leaders in Care and Fintelligent Search operate in?  11:47 - What were the key events that led to the evolution of Fintelligent Search?  19:09 - During the pandemic crisis, what did you discover about your values as a leader? 23:50 - How did you use your culture of trust to maintain the pace of work during the pandemic? 28:48 - How did you implement values into both businesses? 31:33 - Post-pandemic, what are the most important things recruitment leaders can implement now? 36:07 - How does your culture of trust lead to a high-performance culture?  37:58 - Why do you think your internal hiring has been so successful in the tough current market?    If you would like to connect with James or find out more about Fintelligent Search or Leaders in Care, please see below: 

In the latest instalment of the Recruitment Leadership Podcast, your host Alison Humphries is joined by Katrina Cheverton, CEO of Savannah Group. Savannah Group is a global executive search and interim management firm specialising in board appointments, functional C-Suite appointments and key sectors.  With a diverse career background and an atypical route into recruitment, Katrina kindly joined Alison to share her expertise on leadership, providing comprehensive insight into Savannah Group's steps to success. This episode is part of our insightful series centred around leadership - if you're looking for actionable insight and advice to unleash your leadership potential, listen now! Timestamped guide  0:47 - Introduction  01:57 - What are the challenges and opportunities that your past experience has thrown up for you as a recruitment business leader? 07:03 - Tools for a comprehensive look at the market 08:33 - Is there anything about the executive search field that surprised you? 9:30 - What were the challenges for you when you moved to a new market? 12:11 - What do leaders need to do differently in the current climate? 14:30 - How, in practice, do you look after the whole of a person at Savannah group? 16:11 - L&D is very high on the agenda for younger people, tell me about your approach to that at Savannah Group? 17:31 - What's your approach to managing performance at Savannah Group? 19:22 - Advice for applying an appraisal review system 21:13 - Advice for adapting as a leader 24:49 - What specific actions have you taken to get that involvement for business support staff? 26:43 - Advice for rewarding staff 28:55 - How as a business are you addressing the new environment for your clients? 31:32 - How do you navigate discussions about diverse shortlists? 33:46 - What are the emerging key skills that leaders are looking for in the current climate? If you'd like to connect with Katrina or find out more about Savannah Group, please see below:

In the latest instalment of the Recruitment Leadership Podcast, your host Alison Humphries is joined by Max Mitcham, VP of Sales at Talent Ticker. Talent Ticker is an award-winning Staffing Market Intelligence firm that organises the world's information to provide deep insights and predictive analytics on staffing trends for organisations and people. In this exclusive episode, Max joins Alison to provide a wealth of insight, advice and actionable learnings on two important topics; business development and candidate sourcing.  If you're looking to take your recruitment business to the next level, listen now! This episode is part of an insightful series centred around finding, engaging and retaining candidates from a range of perspectives, providing recruiters with comprehensive advice and actionable solutions.   Timestamped guide    1:05 - Introduction  3:13 - About the product  07:39 - What market intelligence would get you to hot prospects  10:11 - Digital behaviours amongst sectors  13:38 - Mistakes recruiters make when they're given data  16:25 - Personalise reporting criteria 17:38 - What geographic markets can you support people in  17:57 - Candidate sourcing and engagement  21:15 - Predictors 24:19 - Insightful case studies 30:09 - Special offer    For a limited time, Talent Ticker is offering 20% off to our listeners. Simply head over to talentticker.ai, book a demo and reference the Recruitment Leadership podcast.  If you'd like to connect with Max or find out more about Talent Ticker, please see below:  

In the latest instalment of the Recruitment Leadership Podcast, your host Alison Humphries is joined by James Ball, Founder of AdBuilder. James is highly experienced in the recruitment field, having owned and led recruitment businesses himself.  AdBuilder began as a seed of an idea to aid recruiters in writing better, more consistent job adverts which attracted the right people. This fascinating episode is for those who want specific, actionable advice on candidate attraction. It forms part of our insightful series which delves deep into the whole issue of candidate shortages from a range of perspectives, providing recruiters with comprehensive advice and actionable solutions. Timestamped guide: 0:44 - Introduction 0:54 - Introduction to AdBuilder  3:53 - How many recruitment businesses use AdBuilder  7:58 - The most common issues with job ads today 12:54 - The magic number for optimisation  17:00 - What factors lead to poor job adverts? 20:22 - Structure and optimisation 28:48 - The recruiter phrase, ‘my client is' 30:46 - Diversity and inclusion  39:19 - Download free resources  To find out more about AdBuilder and to access a range of FREE frameworks that underpin everything that AdBuilder does, take a look here: https://adbuilder.io/bundle  Interested in speaking to Alison about your business strategy? Get in touch, today!

In the latest instalment of the Recruitment Leadership Podcast, your host Alison Humphries is joined by Mike Tann, Director of Select Offshore and Select Tech.   Founded in 2013, Select Offshore is an offshore recruitment agency that focuses on three sectors of the offshore energy industry.    In this exclusive episode, Mike shares his story on how Select Offshore achieved 50% growth and garnered awards while overcoming the challenges of 2020.    If you're looking for valuable insight that will inspire you to tap into your recruitment business' potential, this episode is not one to miss!   This episode is part of an insightful series centred around finding, engaging and retaining candidates from a range of perspectives, providing recruiters with comprehensive advice and actionable solutions.   Timestamped guide    0:45 Introduction   01:21 An introduction to Select Offshore     03:07 Understanding the uniqueness of the offshore industry   04:34 Compliance that a candidate must go through before they can work   06:26 How achievements were made in challenging times   8:52 The contributing factors to winning recruitment awards   11:34 Engaging new clients and contractors    12:35 Motivations for looking for a NED or Board Advisor   14:08 What to look for    15:03 The benefits of the working relationship   16:52 What to look for when recruiting internally    18:35 How to be an attractive employer    21:55 Top three pieces of advice for finding and keeping  candidates    24:01 Attracting referrals    If you'd like to connect with Mike or find out more about Select Offshore, please see below:  

In the latest instalment of the Recruitment Leadership Podcast, your host Alison Humphries is joined by Sharon Peake, Founder and CEO of Shape Talent. Sharon is a highly experienced diversity and talent management expert with over 20 years of experience working in global businesses; including executive-level roles at 20 businesses, where she was responsible for diversity and talent and retention.  Sharon then founded Shape Talent in 2017 with a specific focus on accelerating the progression of women into senior roles.  This episode is part of an insightful series delving deep into the whole issue of candidate shortages from a range of perspectives, providing recruiters with comprehensive advice and actionable solutions.   Timestamped guide    0:45 Episode introduction  02:05 The three barriers of a woman's progression  03:59 Key insight from Sharon's white paper 07:30 Gender stereotypes  10:43 Stigma around flexible-working and women  17:29 Advice would you give recruitment business owners 20:19 Practical advice for recruitment business owners who want to overcome unconscious bias  23:23 Mitigating gender bias in job briefs  27:30 How to attract more candidates into the top of the selection funnel 31:00 Insightful statistics  33:00 Tips for organisations to weave into their policies 35:39 Advice for individual managers 39:54 Advice for those who are looking to progress their careers If you'd like to connect with Sharon or find out more about Shape Talent, please see below:

In the latest instalment of the Recruitment Leadership Podcast, your host Alison Humphries is joined by Adam Oldfield, founder and CEO of Force24 - the UK's fastest-growing marketing automation platform. After spending 10 years in senior marketing, Adam developed Force24 as a comprehensive solution for marketeers, allowing them to do smart marketing at speed. This episode is the first in a series of four that delves deep into candidate shortages, looking at the whole issue through different lenses guided by expert opinions.  If you're looking for valuable insight and implementable learnings that will elevate your recruitment business' marketing processes, this episode is not one to miss!   Timestamped guide:   2:32 In your experience, what are the most common mistakes that you see recruiters making with their marketing? 5:00 Can you describe an example that our recruitment audience would be able to relate to?  9:50  What do you think recruitment business owners should be measuring in terms of their marketing effectiveness? 13:21 What constitutes engagement? 14:29 What tips do you have for applying marketing technology? 18:34 What positive and negative trends have you seen related to recruiters marketing to candidates? 23:37 What is the minimum starter pack that you would recommend for recruiters beginning their marketing journey? 27:20 Looking at the automated marketing process as a whole    Special offer   As a special offer for our listeners, Force24 are offering two months free to anyone who signs up referencing the ‘Recruitment Leadership Podcast'.  If you want to elevate your marketing processes, this offer is not one to be missed. Interested in speaking to Alison about your business strategy? Get in touch, today!

In the latest instalment of the Recruitment Leadership Podcast, your host Alison Humphries is joined by expert Recruiting and Leadership Coach, Angela Cripps.   Angela is the Director of Recruiting Gym and a recruitment advocate with 30 years' experience. Angela works closely with recruitment businesses to make them more successful and profitable through the development of their people and processes.    In this episode, Alison and Angela lay down the basics on general good practice for learning and development, and Angela provides a comprehensive understanding of the processes behind the hiring of ‘experienced' recruiters, and what to look out for.   If you're seeking expert insight on the topic of learning and development, or are looking to grow your recruitment business in the new year - this episode is not one to miss!   Timestamped guide:   02:53 - What, in your view, are the pros and cons of hiring people who have some recruitment experience?    5:00 - The way that language is used that I think it's easy to underestimate the differences between different recruitment businesses.    9:54 - A career in recruitment can be long and successful if you spot the changes and adapt to it is   13:06 - What is best practice for onboarding people with some experience in a way that doesn't unnecessarily slow them down or patronise them.   17:27 - The importance of structure    21:36 - Pointers for interview processes and sourcing top values   24:43 - Separate training departments    If you would like to get in touch with Angela, please see the details below:  LinkedIn

In the latest instalment of the Recruitment Leadership Podcast, your host Alison Humphries is joined by Amanda Simpson, CEO and Founder of SVC Solutions.   Following a successful career within recruitment across East Anglia, Amanda's passion and determination to make a difference led her to establish SVC in 1999. Some of the highlights in her career are achieving Essex Countywide Business Woman of the Year in 2010 and becoming a qualified ILM Trainer and Executive Business Coach.   In this episode, Alison and Amanda unpack the process that Amanda went through when she decided to take her business into new markets, and explore the experience of leaders in today's challenging business environment.    If you're looking to diversify your recruitment business and gain valuable insight on how to navigate the current climate and its challenges, listen today!   Timestamped Guide:   0:45 Introduction   05:55 Why did you diversify?   08:21 When you made this decision, what came first?    10:48 Marketing and methods    14:49  How long did it take you to break even in that expansion into HR?   20:25 What didn't work in terms of the rollout of your service offering?    24:39 How to handle being put off from going into a new area, or suffering from not having first-hand experience    27: 32  When you brought Learning Development and HR specialists into the business, how did you know if they were on course?    29:39 In terms of setting sales, targets and so forth for these new HR people. Did you do that?   35:38 Advice for other business leaders on looking after themselves    37:19 Is it really the case that businesses can be run for social purposes?    If you would like to get in touch with Amanda, please see the details below:   LinkedIn

This recording is from REC (Recruitment and Employment Confederation), to watch the full webinar please click here: https://bit.ly/3BYhxPZ   Your Host Alison Humphries has been a recruitment industry “lifer” for more than 35 years, Alison was a director of businesses including Hays Plc, Robert Half International, BNB Plc, and Penna Plc, developing a highly successful career spanning contingent, retained, temp/contract, RPO, statement of works and consulting services.   In this podcast, Alison provides an introduction to the whole issue of Recruitment Process Outsourcing, Managed Service Provision, and Statement Of Works recruitment. As well as looking at the differences between these services, Alison provides a comprehensive overview of what they share.   The learnings that you can take away from this podcast are very topical in the current climate and can help to support smaller recruitment businesses in proactively seeking opportunities.   Timestamps:   00:46 - Introduction to Alison 03:21 - Introduction to the topic 06:08 - The current situation  09:00 - Alison's experience 11:06 - Fast-growing market 12:00 - Why there is a need for this now 14:30 - Focusing on client expectations and frustrations  16:46 - Traditional use of staffing and hiring 17:52 - What we see now 19:12 - There are no cash cows in recruitment anymore  20:44 - What are the primary drivers for reviewing staffing and hiring provision? 24:30 - Be clear - and realistic - about your offer  32:07 - The Buying Cycle 33:36 - Cash-flow, resources, and liabilities   If you would prefer to listen to this podcast with the accompanying slides, please email Alison: alison@recruitmentleadership.co.uk

This recording is from TEAM (The Employment Agents Movement). To watch the full webinar, please click here: https://bit.ly/3GAPicE Your Host Alison Humphries has been a recruitment industry “lifer” for more than 35 years, Alison was a director of businesses including Hays Plc, Robert Half International, BNB Plc and Penna Plc, developing a highly successful career spanning contingent, retained, temp/contract, RPO, statement of works and consulting services. In this podcast, Alison talks about some of the most common mistakes that recruitment business owners make when they think they are on a route to a successful business exit, and highlights what buyers and investors are looking for. This episode is not one to miss for those who are looking to create a resilient business that has capital value! Timestamps: 0:47 - Introduction 3:30 - Alison's experience  5:43 - Learning curves 11:24 - In today's recruitment world 15:30 - Sustainable success 21:13 - Why it's important to get out of your bubble 22:56 - What buyers and investors want to see If you would prefer to listen to this podcast with the accompanying slides, please email Alison: alison@recruitmentleadership.co.uk

In the latest instalment of the Recruitment Leadership Podcast, your host Alison Humphries is joined by expert Leadership Coach and author, Zena Everett.    Zena has a rare cocktail of entrepreneurial, head-hunting, organisational psychology and coaching experience. In her early career, Zena founded and developed a recruitment business, and became increasingly interested as to why some candidates were more confident and successful than others.   To explore this interest further, Zena sold the recruitment business and pursued a master's degree in organisational psychology and psychological training.    In Zena's latest book, The Crazy Busy Cure, she draws from her many thousands of hours coaching and speaking to people about productivity blockers and how to shift them.   In this episode, Alison and Zena discuss time management and productivity in the context of the recruitment industry; covering key areas and providing expert advice, this episode is not one to be missed.    Timestamped guide:   0:46 - Intro    04:16 - Why did the world need your book   09:03 - Can you give us in brief the benefits of finding a cure for this, and any examples or anecdotes that you can think of?   13:28 What are your biggest techniques and tips?    19:52 -  People would argue that recruiters are in a different position from other people who can control more of how they spend their time. How would you respond to that?   23:06 - Now, in your book, can you also use an acronym for managing your diary, can you explain exactly what you mean?   29:34 - Do you have any practical advice for people on how to handle those persistent low level interruptions that, in fact, are about other people's priorities rather than your own?    32:13 Is there anything else you wanted to highlight from your book before we wrap up?   If you would like further insight and advice on time management and productivity, please do not hesitate to get in touch with Zena directly:  

In the latest instalment of the Recruitment Leadership Podcast, your host Alison Humphries is joined by David Perry, Director of Perry-Martel. After specialising in building out Leadership teams and working for over 32 years in the realm of leadership, David is a guru on what it takes to be a leader especially within the recruitment world.  His novel approach to executive headhunting has been documented in two best-selling books, "Hiring Greatness: How to Recruit Your Dream Team and Crush the Competition", "Executive Recruiting for Dummies" and "Guerrilla Marketing for Job Hunters". David is also a popular Keynote speaker.   In this episode, Alison and David look at recruitment leaders as leaders themselves in their own businesses - this episode is not one to miss if you are a recruitment business owner looking to elevate your potential!   Timestamped Guide:   0:46 - Introduction   2:20 - Could you just explain for any audience members who are not familiar with the term Industrial Revolution 4.0, what exactly it means and what the first three were?   09:41 - So what would you look for now, if you were looking for a brilliant leader of a recruitment business or executive search business for now?   14:04 - Just talk to me a little bit more detail about the skills that type of person has developed?   27:12 - So are there any other additional expectations or shifts you've noticed in the recruitment industry, that are about more creative ways to successfully reward motivate and compensate people?    31:01 - Do you think we're ready to really meet that leader and let them be the best they can be?   33:21 - Finally, David, I know you are doing something new and disruptive with the job board. Do you want to just briefly tell our listeners about that?   What would you say are the biggest serious shifts in Candidate expectations?   Want to hear more from David? Check out Taking The Lead On Recruiting Great Leadership with David Perry.   If you would like to get in touch with David, please see the details below:  

In the latest instalment of the Recruitment Leadership Podcast, your host Alison Humphries is joined by David Perry, Director of Perry-Martel.   David works with business owners who have a compelling vision for their company's future. By incorporating a unique blend of strategic thinking and applied creativity, he distills that dream into recruitment activities designed to attract the top-tier executive talent - must-know information for those who are in the field of recruiting leadership teams.   His novel approach to executive headhunting has been documented in two best-selling books, "Hiring Greatness: How to Recruit Your Dream Team and Crush the Competition", "Executive Recruiting for Dummies" and "Guerrilla Marketing for Job Hunters". David is also a popular Keynote speaker.   In this episode Alison and David discuss some of the biggest obstacles in recruitment, offering insightful and implementable learnings.  This episode is not one to miss if your recruitment business is actively involved in building out leadership teams for your clients.   Timestamped Guide:   0:46: Introduction   02:29: What do you think the biggest obstacles are now for doing brilliant recruitment for our clients, and how can we work around these?   05:56: Do you have any advice for our listeners, about what they recognise that kind of client?    10:00 - Are there other reasons why it's important to look at changing your approach to recruitment?   16:22 Can you talk through what your inside out approach is?   26:38 - So to what extent do you think that approach can be made to work at with other types of recruitment? So perhaps a little bit lower dominate the market in terms of salaries?   30:06 - If you had to sum up how your approach to engaging the candidates in search has shifted, what would you say?   36:59 - Anything else you want to add about recruiting leadership teams for your clients, that you think is particularly pertinent to the market?   Want to hear more from David? Check out Elevating Your Potential As A Recruitment Leader with David Perry.   If you would like to get in touch with David, please see the details below:  

In the latest instalment of the Recruitment Leadership Podcast, your host Alison Humphries is joined by David Garcia, CEO of ScoutLogic Screening.   David "wears two hats" in his professional life. First, as the CEO and co-founder of ScoutLogic. ScoutLogic is a pre-employment background check company designed to improve the recruiter experience so they can focus on finding great talent; they are also pioneers in remote work.   Second, David is an advisor to NVP and their portfolio companies, he works with founders and sales and marketing leaders to help them grow their businesses. Across both those roles, David shares his experiences, lessons learned, and best practices to help people achieve their goals.    In this episode, Alison and David discuss how to successfully implement remote working in recruitment businesses; covering key points such as maintaining culture, learning development, the warning signs someone is struggling and much more!   Timestamps:   01:55 - Introduction to David    03:30 - How from your own experience have you been able to maintain productivity with remote working?   05:00 - How did setting up your business as a remote working business play into your own recruitment?   07:36 - How should managers adapt their style and processes for communicating news to the whole business, onboarding and policies?   10:30 - In terms of onboarding new staff, what are the best lessons that you can pass on there?   12:18 - What what has worked really well for you and your colleagues in terms of ongoing development in a remote setting?   15:39 - How do we expect to see that behaviour put to use in the real world? What are the results that we're looking for?    17:43 - Do you had any tips or advice for managers on how to get maximum impact from those bigger meetings?   20:00 - What's your advice for a sales lead recruitment business?   25:35 - If you're a manager managing remotely, what for you would be the ways to spot someone who was in trouble who didn't come and tell you   27:14 - Apart from a change in demeanour, are there any other warning signs that you would suggest to look out for   30:17 - Do you have any advice for people about how to be a great remote employee as opposed to manager or leader, how to make yourself really great to work with in that environment?   If you would like to get in touch with David or ScoutLogic Screening, please see the details below:  

In the latest instalment of the Recruitment Leadership Podcast, your host Alison Humphries is joined by Michelle Flynn, former recruitment Director and Founder of Michelle Flynn Coaching.    After working in recruitment for over 16 years and owning her own recruitment business, Michelle is now a qualified CBT trainer and integrative nutritional health coach.   She works with individuals and companies to help them understand their health and happiness goals, supporting them as they put in place the habits to make achievable and sustainable changes.   In this episode, Alison and Michelle discuss mental health and wellbeing management in the context of the recruitment industry; covering key areas and providing expert advice, this episode is not one to be missed.    Timestamped guide:   00:51 - How did your career path lead you to be counselling and consulting in this area?   3:57 - Why has the topic of mental health and wellbeing taken flight in the recruitment sector?   5:45 - We have a very young age profile across the industry with a lot of responsibility and expectations, do you think that is a factor?   9:02 - What actionable changes would you suggest many recruitment business owners would make?   13:24 - What kind of things should managers look out for if somebody isn't approaching them for help?   16:09 - Are there any policy level things that you think at a company level, if somebody changed their policy it would overall have a positive effect on their staff?   21:02 - What advice do you have differentiating the blurred lines between real mental health issues, or someone taking advantage?   24:29 - Advice on using the Bradford score    25:40 - Can you talk us through how you make an assessment for mental health?   30:22 - Useful resources    If you would like to find out how Michelle Flynn Coaching can help to support your business, visit the website or connect with Michelle directly on LinkedIn:  

In the latest instalment of the Recruitment Leadership Podcast, your host Alison Humphries is joined by Geoff Reid-Hughes, head of UK sales for AssessFirst. AssessFirst harnesses the behavioural science and the power of AI technology to eliminate bias and allow you to make the best possible decisions in hiring, management and talent development.  Before moving to AssessFirst, Geoff worked in recruitment for a total of 16 years. He helped to place technical and IT-based staff within organisations, working across a number of well-known recruiting businesses in the UK. Geoff then went on to work for a popular publisher, and now works within his successful role at AssessFirst.  In this insightful episode, Geoff and Alison discuss the benefits of using AssessFirst and provide examples of how using services like this can aid in differentiating your recruitment business, a key factor of success in both today's world and in the future. As a special thank you to our listeners, Geoff is offering a 10% discount for AssessFirst services. To qualify for your 10% discount with AssessFirst, book in a meeting with Geoff here:  https://bit.ly/3xmJTSf Timestamped Guide:   1:22 - Introduction    2:27 - What made you want to work with AssessFirst?   04:29 - What would you say are the business challenges of today that AssessFirst can actually address?   06:47 - The barriers of success   13:18 - How does GDPR work with using AssessFirst at an early stage of the selection process?   17:18 - What in your view are the reasons why recruiters don't engage with assessment tools?   25:23 - What can we actually understand better about a candidate using AssessFirst?   33:05 - What do recruiters get with Assess First?   34:00 - How does AssessFirst contribute to diversity and inclusion    38:44 - If AssessFirst or something similar is introduced at the earliest possible opportunity, what difference will that make to just scrutinising CV's?   41:44 - Are there any situations in recruitment when it is not appropriate to use AssessFirst?   If you have any questions, queries or comments, please contact Alison Humphries: alison@recruitmentleadership.co.uk   Connect with Geoff Reid-Hughes on LinkedIn.

In the latest instalment of the Recruitment Leadership Podcast, your host Alison Humphries is joined by Rob Kerr, the Author of Project Future: 6 Steps to Success as Your Own Boss.   Rob currently works closely with leaders delivering M&A integration to enable teams to succeed and businesses to solve more problems that matter. Prior to this, he was a Project Manager for over a decade, which led him to set up his own business in 2014 to improve his own work and family life.    Now Rob shares his approach with aspiring entrepreneurs, contractors, and freelancers, supporting them through these critical decisions and showing them how to flourish on their own unique journey.    In this insightful episode, Alison and Rob discuss their predictions about the future of recruitment and explore some blue sky options both in terms of what will happen to the working world and what might be happening to your career in the time of COVID.   Timestamped Guide:    0:46 - Introduction   1:31 - Tell me why you felt that the world needed both a consultant in this field and your book, Project Future?    3:46 - What are the most common errors that you've observed that people make when they are considering setting up a business?   6:10 - There's an awful lot more to running a successful recruitment business than there is to just be a good recruiter. Some people learn that the hard way, is that something you've observed?   8:59 - Are there any general pointers you'd give people in terms of what kind of research they should be doing?   10:27 - In your book, I know you've got an acronym for a preparatory framework, 'SORTED', can you talk the audience through that?   18:03 - Infrastructure, company policies and preparation   21:37 - Making the distinction between those who want to build a business and those who want to build a lifestyle choice   24:04 - The amount of effort and commitment upfront to build a genuine business before you actually see any financial reward for it is often underestimated, isn't it?   26:33 - Do you have any advice for people starting a business their own?   29:28 - So Rob, if people want to buy your book and I do thoroughly recommend it, it's really good but easy read, where should they go?   If you have any questions, queries or comments, please contact Alison Humphries: alison@recruitmentleadership.co.uk   Connect with Rob Kerr on LinkedIn.   

In the latest instalment of the Recruitment Leadership Podcast, your host Alison Humphries is joined by Jeff Wald, the Founder of WorkMarket.    Jeff is a best-selling author and entrepreneur. Named "One of the 100 Most Influential People in Staffing" by the Staffing Industry Analysts in 2017 and 2018, he has also written the best-selling book “The End of Jobs: The Rise of On-Demand Workers and Agile Corporations”.   This insightful episode is a must-listen-to for recruiters - both as business owners, workers and advisors. Expect to gain an understanding of Jeff's predictions for the future of recruitment, what history can tell us about workforce trends, and why the impact of automation on jobs isn't necessarily what you expect.   Timestamped guide:   00:52 - Introduction to Jeff   01:35 - Can we start by you telling us about your experience of growing businesses before you started WorkMarket?    03:28 - What made you write The End of Jobs? What were the key messages that you felt the world needed to hear?   06:22 - In how much of your future predictions can you really use historical evidence?   09:24 - Now, can you walk us through what you believe the evidence is actually telling us about the future of work?   12:42 - You say that in each case before the end result has been more jobs; what has been the impact of that on how jobs on a more granular level have changed?   17:02 - Interestingly in your book, you make a point about how even though the changing nature of jobs and the removal of those highly repetitive task-based jobs has led to jobs needing to change, it hasn't entirely made companies in effect disappear, has it?   21:31 - Even if you're looking at just the valuation of a company, a lot of that depends on the effectiveness of his workforce, doesn't it?    23:02 - What do you think the recruitment industry should be aware of when looking for opportunities?   26:41 - What can individuals and leaders of business do now to make sure that they are well equipped to survive any sort of transition into their job becoming automated? And what are the skills that will be most useful for a business leader in the future?   30:40 - Some of the listeners are going to want to get your book, where do they go to do that?   If you have any questions, queries or comments, please contact Alison Humphries: alison@recruitmentleadership.co.uk   Connect with Jeff Wald on LinkedIn.   Find out more about Recruitment Leadership here.   This podcast is produced by Loaded Hype.  

A key take-away from our Business Leader Stories series is that the pandemic has impacted no two recruitment businesses the same.   In our final instalment of the series, we're joined by Sachin Ruparelia, the Chief Executive of Camino Partners, back-office to boardroom recruitment specialists for people-based service industries   Sachin kindly agreed to share with us what his experiences of running a business through lockdown have been, and what his variances of successful adaptation are.   Time-stamped agenda:   4:18 - How has the pandemic affected your market? 5:19 - Are recruitment businesses looking to the US? 06:48 - It's part of your commitment not just to take out of the recruitment industry, but also to put back, how do you achieve this? 8:00 - What changes have you made to your business as a result of the pandemic? What has worked and not worked? 10:48 - How reasonable and productive do you think it is to monitor the work of your team during the pandemic? 15:00 - Have you observed any non-typical behaviours surrounding working remotely? 16:57 - In terms of your products, services, processes and marketing, is there anything else that you can identify you have changed since the pandemic started? 19:10 - How have your marketing methods changed? 21:15 - What is an NBO? 25:30 - What do you predict for the future? 28:00 - How well do you think we treat non-sales or back-office staff as an industry? 30:55 - Leadership in the recruitment sector during times of crisis   If you have any questions, queries or comments, please contact Alison Humphries: alison@recruitmentleadership.co.uk Find out more about Recruitment Leadership here.   If you would like to get in touch with Sachin Ruparelia for more information, please email: sachin@caminopartners.co.uk    This podcast is produced by Loaded Hype.

After being postponed as the result of the pandemic, the shift in liability under the IR35 regulations will be implemented in April 2021. If you're seeking advice, we hope you find this podcast insightful - contact details for both Alison Humphries (Host) and Anna Sills (Guest, Director of Advance) can be found at the bottom of these show notes. This episode features Anna Sills, Director of Advance, trusted experts in regards to accountancy subcontracting in the UK. Alison and Anna discuss the fast-approaching deadline for IR35 and outline what it means for recruitment, clients and contractors. The agenda for this episode is: 02:50 - What reassurance does FCSA give recruiters? 06:06 - What are the persistent misconceptions for recruitment, clients and contractors?  10:28 - What proportion of employers are making blanket decisions? 11:28 - What proportion of people are aware of the contractor workforce moving to a PAYE model? 13:38 - What is a PSE and why is it important? 15:54 - Criteria for IR35 exemption 19:09 - The next step recruiters should be taking 21:34 - Determination statements  26:36 - Is there scope to change aspects of an assignment that would make it more likely to be outside IR35? 30:05 - New models or services for recruiters and workers  To get in touch with Anna for further insight and advice, please see visit the Advance website. To find out more about Alison Humphries, Recruitment Leadership and the work we do, visit our website, follow our page on LinkedIn, connect with Alison Humphries on LinkedIn - or just send an email to alison@recruitmentleadership.co.uk