EP316: The Future of Hiring in Asia and Beyond: Mark Francis, Founder & Director, Preferrd et al.

In this episode of The Recruiter’s Recruitment Podcast, host Lysha Holmes sits down with Hong Kong–based entrepreneur Mark Francis—an exited founder, recruitment leader, and HR tech innovator.Mark shares his journey from accidental recruiter to building and exiting multiple businesses across Asia, including executive search firms and a fintech platform supporting contractor funding. He dives into the evolution of recruitment tech—from spreadsheets and landlines to LinkedIn and now AI—and what it really means for recruiters today.The conversation tackles the realities of AI in hiring: from AI-generated CVs to automation challenges, bias concerns, and why human EQ still matters more than ever. Mark also shares predictions for the next 2–3 years, including the rise of side hustles, entrepreneurial recruiters, and new wealth creation models.Plus, practical advice for founders looking to scale and exit—why contractor books matter, how to build defensible niches, and what opportunities exist in fast-growing Asian markets.Expect honest insights, global perspective, and reassurance that recruitment isn’t going anywhere—it’s just evolving.Who this episode is for:Recruitment founders scaling or planning an exitRecruiters navigating AI and tech disruptionAnyone interested in global hiring trends (especially Asia)Aspiring entrepreneurs in recruitment or HR tech🔗 Connect with the guestMark Francis: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-francis-80337a8/Preferrd: https://www.preferrd.io/🔗 Connect with the hostLysha Holmes: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lyshaholmesr2r/Qui Recruitment: https://www.quirecruitment.co.uk/Follow the podcast on another platform:https://www.youtube.com/@therecruitersrecruitmentpodhttps://the-recruiters-recruitment-podcast.captivate.fm/——————The Recruiter's Recruitment Podcast is proudly sponsored by Paiger, and partnered with Needi, Keybridge IT Solutions, Bristow & Hardy and Diversity in Recruitment.Our sponsor:Paiger - Making Recruiters Smarter and Faster. Paiger helps recruiters build personal brands, identify new business opportunities, attract candidates, and have better conversations.Find out more about Paiger: https://paiger.co/Our partners:Needi is a concierge gift-matching service using psychology and AI, to pinpoint the perfect gifts and experiences for your recipient, from the best local independent businesses. Their team of expert gift finders save companies time and money with their complimentary corporate gifting service.https://needi.co.uk/Bristow & Hardy partners with SME recruitment agencies to accelerate growth through sales enablement and recruitment marketing. With over 7 years’ experience, we specialise exclusively in the recruitment sector, delivering strategy, branding, websites, marketing campaigns, and sales support. Our proven growth suite of products helps agencies attract more clients, win more business, and scale efficiently.https://www.bristowandhardy.co.uk/Diversity in Recruitment helps recruitment businesses understand diversity, equity, and inclusion in a way that makes sense. Our training and advisory work is designed to attract diverse talent, recruit inclusively, improve your candidate journey and confidently partner with their clients. DE&I doesn’t have to be complicated and scary - it’s simply about fair, ethical and high-quality recruitment.https://diversityinrecruitment.com/Keybridge IT Solutions is a London-based Fully Managed IT Support and solutions Provider - Providing 24×7 Support to all Customers. Specialities include Microsoft Cloud, including Office 365, Microsoft 365, Microsoft Azure, Security, Internet Connectivity, VoIP, and much more.https://www.keybridgeit.com/#RecruitmentPodcast #RecTech #AIinRecruitment #RecruitmentLeaders #ScalingBusiness #Entrepreneurship #HRTech #GlobalRecruitment #AsiaMarkets

In this episode of The Recruiter’s Recruitment Podcast, host Lysha Holmes sits down with Leo Harrison, founder and CEO of Chapter 2, to explore what it really takes to build high-performing recruitment teams and scalable talent solutions.Leo shares the journey behind Chapter 2 — launched just weeks before COVID — and how his experience scaling global teams (including growing Oliver from four people to 3,000 employees across 40 countries) shaped his approach to modern talent acquisition.The conversation dives into the evolution of recruitment models, from traditional agency approaches to embedded talent solutions, AI-powered recruitment tools, and employer brand strategies that help companies attract top talent at scale.Leo also reveals the leadership principles that drive his business: radical transparency with teams, the importance of innovation, and why founders must stay “positively paranoid” about change to avoid being left behind.Lysha and Leo discuss how to define and retain “A-players”, including the key traits Leo looks for when hiring: resilience, curiosity, customer obsession, and strong communication. They also tackle burnout in recruitment and how great leaders support high performers when they’re struggling.Finally, Leo opens up about balancing founder life with family, sharing the mindset practices, personal values, and marathon running that help him stay grounded while scaling a global business.🔗 Connect with the guestLeo Harrison: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leoharrison1/Chapter 2: https://www.chapter2.group/🔗 Connect with the hostLysha Holmes: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lyshaholmesr2r/Qui Recruitment: https://www.quirecruitment.co.uk/Follow the podcast on another platform:https://www.youtube.com/@therecruitersrecruitmentpodhttps://the-recruiters-recruitment-podcast.captivate.fm/——————The Recruiter's Recruitment Podcast is proudly sponsored by Paiger, and partnered with Needi, Keybridge IT Solutions, Bristow & Hardy and Diversity in Recruitment.Our sponsor:Paiger - Making Recruiters Smarter and Faster. Paiger helps recruiters build personal brands, identify new business opportunities, attract candidates, and have better conversations.Find out more about Paiger: https://paiger.co/Our partners:Needi is a concierge gift-matching service using psychology and AI, to pinpoint the perfect gifts and experiences for your recipient, from the best local independent businesses. Their team of expert gift finders save companies time and money with their complimentary corporate gifting service.https://needi.co.uk/Bristow & Hardy partners with SME recruitment agencies to accelerate growth through sales enablement and recruitment marketing. With over 7 years’ experience, we specialise exclusively in the recruitment sector, delivering strategy, branding, websites, marketing campaigns, and sales support. Our proven growth suite of products helps agencies attract more clients, win more business, and scale efficiently.https://www.bristowandhardy.co.uk/Diversity in Recruitment helps recruitment businesses understand diversity, equity, and inclusion in a way that makes sense. Our training and advisory work is designed to attract diverse talent, recruit inclusively, improve your candidate journey and confidently partner with their clients. DE&I doesn’t have to be complicated and scary - it’s simply about fair, ethical and high-quality recruitment.https://diversityinrecruitment.com/Keybridge IT Solutions is a London-based Fully Managed IT Support and solutions Provider - Providing 24×7 Support to all Customers. Specialities include Microsoft Cloud, including Office 365, Microsoft 365, Microsoft Azure, Security, Internet Connectivity, VoIP, and much more.https://www.keybridgeit.com/#RecruitmentPodcast #RecruitmentLeaders #TalentAcquisition #RecruitmentIndustry #Leadership #ScalingTeams #FounderStories

In this episode of The Recruiter’s Recruitment Podcast, host Lysha Holmes speaks with Natasha Klymczuk, founder of Kelham Partners, about her journey from an unexpected start in nursing to building a retained recruitment business in the global chemicals sector.Natasha shares how a chance interaction with a recruiter led her into the industry, how her background in sales shaped her recruitment approach, and why retained search became central to her business model. She also reflects on launching Kelham Partners in 2025 and the realities of stepping away from a salaried role to build something from scratch.Natasha also talks about launching her own podcast, Speciality Sessions, sharing why she recorded an entire first season early on and how podcasting has helped her connect with leaders across the chemicals industry while strengthening her brand in a new business.If you’re considering launching your own recruitment business, transitioning to a retained model, or building influence in a niche sector, this episode is packed with honest insights and practical lessons.🔗 Connect with the guestNatasha Klymczuk: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natashaklymczuk-chemicalrecruitment/Kelham Partners: https://kelhampartners.com/Listen to Speciality Sessions on YouTube, Spotify & Apple Podcasts:https://www.youtube.com/@SpecialitySessionsPodcasthttps://open.spotify.com/show/1CS8Qos21QX83508RL5WX3https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/speciality-sessions/id1850962012🔗 Connect with the hostLysha Holmes: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lyshaholmesr2r/Qui Recruitment: https://www.quirecruitment.co.uk/Follow the podcast on another platform:https://www.youtube.com/@therecruitersrecruitmentpodhttps://the-recruiters-recruitment-podcast.captivate.fm/——————The Recruiter's Recruitment Podcast is proudly sponsored by Paiger, and partnered with Needi, Keybridge IT Solutions, Bristow & Hardy and Diversity in Recruitment.Our sponsor:Paiger - Making Recruiters Smarter and Faster. Paiger helps recruiters build personal brands, identify new business opportunities, attract candidates, and have better conversations.Find out more about Paiger: https://paiger.co/Our partners:Needi is a concierge gift-matching service using psychology and AI, to pinpoint the perfect gifts and experiences for your recipient, from the best local independent businesses. Their team of expert gift finders save companies time and money with their complimentary corporate gifting service.https://needi.co.uk/Bristow & Hardy partners with SME recruitment agencies to accelerate growth through sales enablement and recruitment marketing. With over 7 years’ experience, we specialise exclusively in the recruitment sector, delivering strategy, branding, websites, marketing campaigns, and sales support. Our proven growth suite of products helps agencies attract more clients, win more business, and scale efficiently.https://www.bristowandhardy.co.uk/Diversity in Recruitment helps recruitment businesses understand diversity, equity, and inclusion in a way that makes sense. Our training and advisory work is designed to attract diverse talent, recruit inclusively, improve your candidate journey and confidently partner with their clients. DE&I doesn’t have to be complicated and scary - it’s simply about fair, ethical and high-quality recruitment.https://diversityinrecruitment.com/Keybridge IT Solutions is a London-based Fully Managed IT Support and solutions Provider - Providing 24×7 Support to all Customers. Specialities include Microsoft Cloud, including Office 365, Microsoft 365, Microsoft Azure, Security, Internet Connectivity, VoIP, and much more.https://www.keybridgeit.com/#RecruitmentPodcast #RecruitmentFounder #RetainedSearch #RecruitmentBusiness #RecruitmentLeadership #NicheRecruitment

In this episode of The Recruiter’s Recruitment Podcast, host Lysha Holmes is joined by Lucy Robinson, Founder & CEO of LCR International.Lucy shares her journey from FMCG recruitment into building a truly global, specialist search firm focused exclusively on senior appointments within the fresh produce industry. With clients in 22 countries and a team spanning the UK, South America and Asia, she offers a refreshingly honest look at what it really takes to lead a hybrid and international recruitment business.From launching in December 2019 on the brink of COVID, to navigating shifting global supply chains, Lucy talks candidly about resilience, mindset and the realities of scaling as a founder with a young family.Key themes include:Building and protecting culture across remote and hybrid teamsLeading across time zones and navigating cultural differencesWhy continuous personal development is non-negotiable for foundersMoving from contingent to retained searchPractical automation wins (AI note-takers, CRM integrations, outreach tools)Where AI helps recruitment – and where it absolutely shouldn’t replace the human touchLucy also discusses her podcast, Behind the Fruit, spotlighting leaders and innovators in the global fresh produce space.🔗 Connect with the guestLucy Robinson: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucyrobinsoninternational/LCR International: https://www.lcrint.com/Listen to Behind the Fruit on Apple Podcasts and Spotify:https://www.buzzsprout.com/2571507🔗 Connect with the hostLysha Holmes: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lyshaholmesr2r/Qui Recruitment: https://www.quirecruitment.co.uk/Follow the podcast on another platform:https://www.youtube.com/@therecruitersrecruitmentpodhttps://the-recruiters-recruitment-podcast.captivate.fm/——————The Recruiter's Recruitment Podcast is proudly sponsored by Paiger, and partnered with Needi, Keybridge IT Solutions, Bristow & Hardy and Diversity in Recruitment.Our sponsor:Paiger - Making Recruiters Smarter and Faster. Paiger helps recruiters build personal brands, identify new business opportunities, attract candidates, and have better conversations.Find out more about Paiger: https://paiger.co/Our partners:Needi is a concierge gift-matching service using psychology and AI, to pinpoint the perfect gifts and experiences for your recipient, from the best local independent businesses. Their team of expert gift finders save companies time and money with their complimentary corporate gifting service.https://needi.co.uk/Bristow & Hardy partners with SME recruitment agencies to accelerate growth through sales enablement and recruitment marketing. With over 7 years’ experience, we specialise exclusively in the recruitment sector, delivering strategy, branding, websites, marketing campaigns, and sales support. Our proven growth suite of products helps agencies attract more clients, win more business, and scale efficiently.https://www.bristowandhardy.co.uk/Diversity in Recruitment helps recruitment businesses understand diversity, equity, and inclusion in a way that makes sense. Our training and advisory work is designed to attract diverse talent, recruit inclusively, improve your candidate journey and confidently partner with their clients. DE&I doesn’t have to be complicated and scary - it’s simply about fair, ethical and high-quality recruitment.https://diversityinrecruitment.com/Keybridge IT Solutions is a London-based Fully Managed IT Support and solutions Provider - Providing 24×7 Support to all Customers. Specialities include Microsoft Cloud, including Office 365, Microsoft 365, Microsoft Azure, Security, Internet Connectivity, VoIP, and much more.https://www.keybridgeit.com/#RecruitmentPodcast #RecruitmentLeadership #GlobalRecruitment #FreshProduce #RetainedSearch #WomenInRecruitment #RecruitmentFounder #AIinRecruitment

In this powerful episode of The Recruiter’s Recruitment Podcast, Lysha Holmes is joined by Mel Knight and Naomi Hewitt, Co-Founders of Action Potential Performance, to tackle one of the biggest questions facing our industry right now: are we investing enough in people?From the decline in trainee hiring to the over-reliance on experienced billers, Mel and Naomi unpack the commercial pressures recruitment leaders are facing – and why short-term thinking could be costing businesses their future growth.Drawing on backgrounds spanning neuroscience, operations, sales and leadership, they explore:Why Gen Z’s relationship with communication is reshaping recruiter skillsetsThe growing confidence gap in early-career consultantsCoachability, curiosity and resilience as the new “DNA” markers of top recruitersThe real impact of hybrid working on culture, training and retentionWhy top billers don’t automatically make great leadersHow leadership blind spots, lack of L&D budgets and poor management are driving attritionThe conversation also dives into fractional L&D models, safe spaces for leadership development, and why even Mel and Naomi invest in their own coach to sharpen their edge.This is a candid, forward-thinking discussion about building sustainable recruitment businesses — not just profitable ones.🔗 Connect with the guestsMel Knight: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mel-knight-chartered-mcipd-46686422/Naomi Hewitt: https://www.linkedin.com/in/naomi-hewitt-0899b1161/Action Potential Performance: https://actionpotentialgroup.org/🔗 Connect with the hostLysha Holmes: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lyshaholmesr2r/Qui Recruitment: https://www.quirecruitment.co.uk/Follow the podcast on YouTube, Captivate, Spotify and Apple Podcasts:https://www.youtube.com/@therecruitersrecruitmentpodhttps://the-recruiters-recruitment-podcast.captivate.fm/——————The Recruiter's Recruitment Podcast is proudly sponsored by Paiger, and partnered with Needi, Keybridge IT Solutions, Bristow & Hardy and Diversity in Recruitment.Our sponsor:Paiger - Making Recruiters Smarter and Faster. Paiger helps recruiters build personal brands, identify new business opportunities, attract candidates, and have better conversations.Find out more about Paiger: https://paiger.co/Our partners:Needi is a concierge gift-matching service using psychology and AI, to pinpoint the perfect gifts and experiences for your recipient, from the best local independent businesses. Their team of expert gift finders save companies time and money with their complimentary corporate gifting service.https://needi.co.uk/Bristow & Hardy partners with SME recruitment agencies to accelerate growth through sales enablement and recruitment marketing. With over 7 years’ experience, we specialise exclusively in the recruitment sector, delivering strategy, branding, websites, marketing campaigns, and sales support. Our proven growth suite of products helps agencies attract more clients, win more business, and scale efficiently.https://www.bristowandhardy.co.uk/Diversity in Recruitment helps recruitment businesses understand diversity, equity, and inclusion in a way that makes sense. Our training and advisory work is designed to attract diverse talent, recruit inclusively, improve your candidate journey and confidently partner with their clients. DE&I doesn’t have to be complicated and scary - it’s simply about fair, ethical and high-quality recruitment.https://diversityinrecruitment.com/Keybridge IT Solutions is a London-based Fully Managed IT Support and solutions Provider - Providing 24×7 Support to all Customers. Specialities include Microsoft Cloud, including Office 365, Microsoft 365, Microsoft Azure, Security, Internet Connectivity, VoIP, and much more.https://www.keybridgeit.com/#RecruitmentPodcast #RecruitmentLeadership #TalentDevelopment #RecruitmentTraining #FutureOfRecruitment #AgencyGrowth #LearningAndDevelopment

In this episode of The Recruiter’s Recruitment Podcast, Lysha Holmes speaks with Sam Hameed, Co-Founder of SPG Resourcing and Director of SPG Intelligence, about challenging recruitment’s traditional playbook.Sam shares how SPG has built a technical recruitment model that prioritises credibility over clichés. Every consultant receives a £2–2.5k annual training budget to gain real industry certifications — and internal engineers technically interview candidates before they’re submitted to clients. The result? Higher success rates, reduced time-to-hire, and stronger client trust.But the real disruption? Moving away from commission-first thinking.Sam explains why SPG is transitioning toward running each recruiter’s desk as a profit centre — giving full visibility of desk costs, break-even points, and profitability. Instead of focusing purely on top-line fees, consultants are rewarded on sustainable profit and long-term value.The episode also explores:Post-2023 market realitiesCommercial accountability in recruitmentBuilding a tech-enabled services groupDeveloping stronger, more credible recruitersWho This Episode Is ForRecruitment founders rethinking commission modelsAgency leaders navigating tighter marketsTech recruiters wanting deeper industry credibilityConsultants who want to think like business ownersA candid, commercially focused conversation about elevating recruitment standards.🔗 Connect with the guestSam Hameed: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sam-hameed-spg/SPG Resourcing: https://www.spgresourcing.com/SPG Intelligence: https://www.spgintelligence.com/🔗 Connect with the hostLysha Holmes: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lyshaholmesr2r/Qui Recruitment: https://www.quirecruitment.co.uk/Follow the podcast on YouTube, Captivate, Spotify and Apple Podcasts:https://www.youtube.com/@therecruitersrecruitmentpodhttps://the-recruiters-recruitment-podcast.captivate.fm/——————The Recruiter's Recruitment Podcast is proudly sponsored by Paiger, and partnered with Needi, Keybridge IT Solutions, Bristow & Hardy and Diversity in Recruitment.Our sponsor:Paiger - Making Recruiters Smarter and Faster. Paiger helps recruiters build personal brands, identify new business opportunities, attract candidates, and have better conversations.Find out more about Paiger: https://paiger.co/Our partners:Needi is a concierge gift-matching service using psychology and AI, to pinpoint the perfect gifts and experiences for your recipient, from the best local independent businesses. Their team of expert gift finders save companies time and money with their complimentary corporate gifting service.https://needi.co.uk/Bristow & Hardy partners with SME recruitment agencies to accelerate growth through sales enablement and recruitment marketing. With over 7 years’ experience, we specialise exclusively in the recruitment sector, delivering strategy, branding, websites, marketing campaigns, and sales support. Our proven growth suite of products helps agencies attract more clients, win more business, and scale efficiently.https://www.bristowandhardy.co.uk/Diversity in Recruitment helps recruitment businesses understand diversity, equity, and inclusion in a way that makes sense. Our training and advisory work is designed to attract diverse talent, recruit inclusively, improve your candidate journey and confidently partner with their clients. DE&I doesn’t have to be complicated and scary - it’s simply about fair, ethical and high-quality recruitment.https://diversityinrecruitment.com/Keybridge IT Solutions is a London-based Fully Managed IT Support and solutions Provider - Providing 24×7 Support to all Customers. Specialities include Microsoft Cloud, including Office 365, Microsoft 365, Microsoft Azure, Security, Internet Connectivity, VoIP, and much more.https://www.keybridgeit.com/#RecruitmentLeadership #TechRecruitment #AgencyGrowth #ProfitOverCommission #RecruitmentPodcast

In this episode of The Recruiter’s Recruitment Podcast, Lysha Holmes is joined by global talent sourcing trainer and international speaker Vanessa Raath for a refreshingly practical conversation about AI in recruitment.This isn’t another hype-filled AI episode. Instead, Vanessa shares how recruiters can use AI intentionally to remove admin, save hours each week, and refocus on what truly drives success in recruitment – human connection, relationships, and personal brand.They explore why recruiters must “up their human” to stay ahead of AI, how to avoid shiny-tool syndrome, and what recruitment leaders should be thinking about right now as the industry settles into the next phase of AI adoption. Vanessa also shares insights from working with recruitment businesses globally, meeting 100+ AI vendors, and helping teams choose tech that actually improves time-to-hire rather than adding complexity.The conversation also covers launching and scaling a recruitment business, building a brand that creates inbound opportunities, the future of LinkedIn and sourcing tools, and why passionate curiosity is the most important skill recruiters can take into 2026 and beyond.Who this episode is for:Recruitment founders, agency leaders, solo recruiters, talent acquisition professionals, and anyone feeling overwhelmed – or left behind – by AI in recruitment.🔗 Connect with the guestVanessa Raath: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vanessaraath/Vanessa's Tried & Tested AI Tools: https://start.me/p/l6bkk7/vanessa-raath-s-tried-tested-ai-tools🔗 Connect with the hostLysha Holmes: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lyshaholmesr2r/Qui Recruitment: https://www.quirecruitment.co.uk/Follow the podcast on YouTube, Captivate, Spotify and Apple Podcasts:https://www.youtube.com/@therecruitersrecruitmentpodhttps://the-recruiters-recruitment-podcast.captivate.fm/——————The Recruiter's Recruitment Podcast is proudly sponsored by Paiger, and partnered with Needi, Keybridge IT Solutions, Bristow & Hardy and Diversity in Recruitment.Our sponsor:Paiger - Making Recruiters Smarter and Faster. Paiger helps recruiters build personal brands, identify new business opportunities, attract candidates, and have better conversations.Find out more about Paiger: https://paiger.co/Our partners:Needi is a concierge gift-matching service using psychology and AI, to pinpoint the perfect gifts and experiences for your recipient, from the best local independent businesses. Their team of expert gift finders save companies time and money with their complimentary corporate gifting service.https://needi.co.uk/Bristow & Hardy partners with SME recruitment agencies to accelerate growth through sales enablement and recruitment marketing. With over 7 years’ experience, we specialise exclusively in the recruitment sector, delivering strategy, branding, websites, marketing campaigns, and sales support. Our proven growth suite of products helps agencies attract more clients, win more business, and scale efficiently.https://www.bristowandhardy.co.uk/Diversity in Recruitment helps recruitment businesses understand diversity, equity, and inclusion in a way that makes sense. Our training and advisory work is designed to attract diverse talent, recruit inclusively, improve your candidate journey and confidently partner with their clients. DE&I doesn’t have to be complicated and scary - it’s simply about fair, ethical and high-quality recruitment.https://diversityinrecruitment.com/Keybridge IT Solutions is a London-based Fully Managed IT Support and solutions Provider - Providing 24×7 Support to all Customers. Specialities include Microsoft Cloud, including Office 365, Microsoft 365, Microsoft Azure, Security, Internet Connectivity, VoIP, and much more.https://www.keybridgeit.com/#RecruitmentPodcast #AIinRecruitment #RecruitmentLeadership #FutureOfRecruitment #TalentAcquisition #RecruiterLife #HumanFirst #RecruitmentFounder

This week Patrick Flanagan the Founder of Clarence George joins the podcast, to unpack nearly two decades in recruitment and the long-term strategy behind building a high-performing specialist agency.Patrick’s journey started with a business degree and graduate scheme before he fell into recruitment - initially working in Accounting & Finance, then pivoting into the actuarial market back in 2010. He shares what it was really like navigating the credit crunch, a period that rocked the recruitment industry and reshaped how he thought about resilience, risk, and specialism.Founded in 2019, Clarence George was always built with a clear end goal: to create a super-niche, high-end recruitment business focused on fully qualified professionals who remain in demand regardless of market cycles.Six years on, Patrick reflects on:Scaling a small-to-medium specialist agency from startup to £1m annual turnoverExpanding into overseas markets while remaining London-basedOperating a hybrid working model with flexibility at its coreWhy top-end contingency recruitment still works when done properlyThe conversation also dives into:Why choosing the right niche is critical for long-term successHow to research and pivot strategically without losing momentumWays to future-proof your recruitment career or businessWhy face-to-face relationship building is still the OG move in a digital-first worldConnect with Patrick here - https://www.linkedin.com/in/pbflanagan/-----------The Recruiter's Recruitment Podcast is proudly sponsored by Paiger and partners to Needi, Keybridge IT, Bristol & Hardy and Diversity and Inclusion .Our Sponsor:Paiger - Making Recruiters Smarter and Faster. Paiger helps recruiters build personal brands, identify new business opportunities, attract candidates, and have better conversations.Find out more details on Paiger here - https:// paiger.co/?utm_source=podcast..Our Partners:Needi is a concierge gift-matching service using psychology and AI, to pinpoint the perfect gifts and experiences for your recipient, from the best, local independent businesses. Their team of expert gift finders, save companies time and money, with their complimentary corporate gifting service . Find out more here -https:// needi.co.uk/Diversity in Recruitment helps recruitment businesses understand diversity, equity, and inclusion in a way that makes sense. Our training and advisory work is designed anidence to attract diverse talent, recruit inclusively, improve your candidate journey and confidently partner with their clients. DE&I doesn’t have to be complicated and scary - it’s simply about fair, ethical and high-quality recruitment.Keybridge IT Solutions is a London-based Fully Managed IT Support and solutions Provider - Providing 24×7 Support to all Customers. Specialities include Microsoft Cloud, including Office 365, Microsoft 365, Microsoft Azure, Security, Internet Connectivity, VoIP, and much more didence to attract diverse talent, recruit inclusively, improve your candidate journey and confidently partner with their clients. DE&I doesn’t have to be complicated and scary - it’s simply about fair, ethical and high-quality recruitment.Bristow & Hardy partners with SME recruitment agencies to accelerate growth through sales enablement and recruitment marketing. With over 7 years’ experience, we specialise exclusively in the recruitment sector, delivering strategy, branding, websites, marketing campaigns, and sales support. Our proven growth suite of products helps agencies attract more clients, win more business, and scale efficiently. Find out more here – https:// bristowandhardy.co.uk

Allicia Birch is the founder of 4tify, a specialist recruitment agency serving the new-build residential construction market across the UK and US.Allicia shares her journey of launching an agency in a challenging market, offering pragmatic, no-nonsense advice for anyone who’s thinking about starting a business, or trying to gain traction when conditions aren’t easy.We dive into:How Allicia has intentionally protected her mindset as a founderThe role of leadership, resilience, and self-awareness in building something sustainableWhy friendship and strong relationships sit at the heart of her successThis episode is packed with honest insights for founders, recruiters, and leaders navigating uncertainty—especially those building businesses from the ground up.🔗 Connect with Allicia:https://www.linkedin.com/in/allicia-birch/-----------The Recruiter's Recruitment Podcast is proudly sponsored by Paiger and partners to Needi, Keybridge IT, Bristol & Hardy and Diversity and Inclusion .Our Sponsor:Paiger - Making Recruiters Smarter and Faster. Paiger helps recruiters build personal brands, identify new business opportunities, attract candidates, and have better conversations.Find out more details on Paiger here - https:// paiger.co/?utm_source=podcast..Our Partners:Needi is a concierge gift-matching service using psychology and AI, to pinpoint the perfect gifts and experiences for your recipient, from the best, local independent businesses. Their team of expert gift finders, save companies time and money, with their complimentary corporate gifting service . Find out more here -https:// needi.co.uk/Diversity in Recruitment helps recruitment businesses understand diversity, equity, and inclusion in a way that makes sense. Our training and advisory work is designed anidence to attract diverse talent, recruit inclusively, improve your candidate journey and confidently partner with their clients. DE&I doesn’t have to be complicated and scary - it’s simply about fair, ethical and high-quality recruitment.Keybridge IT Solutions is a London-based Fully Managed IT Support and solutions Provider - Providing 24×7 Support to all Customers. Specialities include Microsoft Cloud, including Office 365, Microsoft 365, Microsoft Azure, Security, Internet Connectivity, VoIP, and much more didence to attract diverse talent, recruit inclusively, improve your candidate journey and confidently partner with their clients. DE&I doesn’t have to be complicated and scary - it’s simply about fair, ethical and high-quality recruitment.Bristow & Hardy partners with SME recruitment agencies to accelerate growth through sales enablement and recruitment marketing. With over 7 years’ experience, we specialise exclusively in the recruitment sector, delivering strategy, branding, websites, marketing campaigns, and sales support. Our proven growth suite of products helps agencies attract more clients, win more business, and scale efficiently. Find out more here – https:// bristowandhardy.co.uk

This week, we’re joined by Louise Davey, founder and owner of White Label Recruitment—engineering and manufacturing recruitment specialists since day dot. From the very beginning, Lou has stayed true to her niche while intelligently pivoting across markets when needed, building a business that’s both focused and resilient.Based in Manchester (with seriously impressive offices), Lou leads a team of 20 of whom have been with the business between four and thirteen years. Her approach to people, culture, and leadership clearly works.In this episode, Lou shares:• Her strategy for creating a strong, values-led culture• How she looks after her people and why low attrition isn’t accidental• What it really takes to retain a team long-term in a high-pressure industry• Why focus matters when building a specialist recruitment businessThis is an inspiring, practical conversation with a business owner who has built something sustainable by putting people, clarity, and culture at the heart of everything she does. A must-listen for recruitment founders and leaders who want to grow without burning out their teams, or themselves.Connect with Louise here - https://www.linkedin.com/in/louise-davey-0573647/