Season 2, Episode 12: From Transactional to Strategic: How to Adopt a Project-Based Recruitment Model with Sean McNicholas

In this episode, Sean McNicholas, Senior Commercial Manager at The OPRA Group, discusses the company’s shift from traditional transactional recruitment to a project-based model. This approach aims to align with a client's broader business goals, whether they are scaling up, launching new initiatives, or undergoing a transformation. Sean explains how this involves a comprehensive project implementation plan that includes market intelligence, talent mapping, and candidate attraction. The model emphasizes building a long-standing relationship with clients by providing continuous education and adapting to their evolving needs, rather than just filling a job.The SROP is hosted by James Lawton: ex-recruiter, now helping enterprise-level companies with high volume hiring with automation and AI.More about Sean McNicholasSean McNicholas is the Senior Commercial Manager at The OPRA Group, a recruitment specialist firm with over 35 years of experience. The OPRA Group offers a full range of people solutions, from recruitment and HR services to pre-employment screening and employee wellbeing.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Host James Lawton speaks with Stephanie Bateman, Owner and Managing Director of Educate Staffing, about the complex process of buying out her initial investor. Stephanie discusses the initial investment that launched the business, the support the investor provided in the early years , and her eventual decision to seek full ownership around year six or seven of the business. She shares a candid and practical look at navigating the process, including the emotional strain of a family-related business dispute , the high cost of legal battles , and the critical importance of settling out of court. Ultimately, Stephanie shares key project steps for a successful buyout, emphasizing the need to be fully prepared with financial data (EBITDA, costs, multiples) and a clear understanding of the shareholders agreement before entering negotiations.The SROP is hosted by James Lawton: ex-recruiter, now helping enterprise-level companies with high volume hiring with automation and AI.More about Stephanie BatemanStephanie Bateman is the Owner and Managing Director of Educate Staffing, a trusted executive search consultancy predominantly serving schools across London. She successfully built the firm by prioritizing compliance, efficiency, and recruiter enablement. Her business journey began with a £50,000 investment from a family member, with an initial 50/50 split that later moved to a 60/40 split. After nine years in business, Stephanie successfully navigated the complex operational and personal project of buying out her investor to take full ownership of the company. She now uses her experience to share practical advice on business setup, growth, and the strategic planning required for investor buyouts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, James Lawton speaks with Richard Caldicott about a critical topic often overlooked by businesses—device management. Richard, a seasoned IT professional, explains how a lack of proper device management is a "real big miss," especially for recruitment firms that handle a lot of personal data. He discusses the importance of securing devices to protect against data loss from stolen laptops or phones and highlights how robust security practices can not only mitigate risk but also attract new clients by helping a business become more appealing. Richard also covers essential security measures like multi-factor authentication, data encryption, and geographical restrictions, emphasizing that a strong security ethos is a vital foundation for any growing business.The SROP is hosted by James Lawton: ex-recruiter, now helping enterprise-level companies with high volume hiring with automation and AI.More about Richard CaldicottRichard Caldicott is a seasoned IT professional with more than 20 years of experience, including over eight years specializing in the recruitment sector. He is currently the Director of IT at La Fosse Associates and runs his own consulting firm, Caldicott Consulting. His firm provides a wide range of IT and technology services, from cloud migrations and infrastructure enhancements to CRM implementations and disaster recovery plans. Richard is notable for successfully migrating Henderson Scott's infrastructure to a cloud-first setup, completely eliminating their on-premise servers in 2021. Richard's expertise lies in helping businesses build a strong foundation for their IT and security, ensuring they are protected against modern data risks. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Matthew Evans, Director at MRG, talks about the company's aggressive international expansion. Matthew discusses the strategic decision to open offices in Mumbai and Gurugram, India, a market he describes as "one of the, if not the fastest growing, real estate economies in the world." He shares insights on the unique challenges and opportunities of entering a new country, from navigating local regulations and building the right team to adapting recruitment processes for a massive volume of applicants. Matthew also offers advice for other businesses looking to go global, emphasizing the importance of strong local leadership and consistent branding.The SROP is hosted by James Lawton: ex-recruiter, now helping enterprise-level companies with high volume hiring with automation and AI.More about Matthew EvansMatthew Evans is a Director at MRG, a London-based executive search consultancy. He specializes in executive recruitment within the real estate, property, asset management, development, and construction sectors. Beyond his day-to-day responsibilities, Matthew has been a key driver behind MRG's successful international expansion. Under his guidance, the firm has established operations in several global markets, including Malaysia, the Middle East, Europe, and South Africa.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we sit down with Claire Proudlove, Group Director of Client Program Services at The Serocor Group. With nearly three decades of experience in recruitment and workforce solutions, Claire has built and scaled client program services that unify multiple brands under one strategic vision. She shares how her team drives operational improvements, integrates recruitment technology, and partners with clients to create flexible, scalable talent solutions. Claire also discusses the future of talent services, the impact of AI, and what it takes to deliver best-in-class workforce programs.The SROP is hosted by James Lawton: ex-recruiter, now helping enterprise-level companies with high volume hiring with automation and AI.More about Claire ProudloveClaire Proudlove is the Group Director of Client Program Services at The Serocor Group, where she leads the design, delivery, and continuous improvement of client solutions across its family of brands. Over her 30-year career, Claire has progressed from front-line recruitment at Oracle to becoming a respected leader known for aligning complex workforce programs with evolving market needs. Her expertise spans contingent recruitment, RPO, MSP, bid management, and the integration of recruitment technology. Claire is passionate about building scalable, client-centric solutions that empower businesses to thrive in changing talent landscapes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When Toby Briant, founder and managing director of Rutherford Briant Recruitment, decided to change the firm’s long-standing CRM and ATS provider, he knew the stakes were high. In this episode, Toby shares how his team evaluated the market, why vendor alignment with company values was as important as the technology itself, and what made their final choice the right fit. He dives into lessons on planning, delegation, post-implementation success, and the crucial role of customer service in long-term tech partnerships. Whether you’re a recruitment leader or a tech buyer, Toby’s story offers a roadmap for making big tech changes with minimal disruption.The SROP is hosted by James Lawton: ex-recruiter, now helping enterprise-level companies with high volume hiring with automation and AI.More about Toby BriantToby Briant is the founder and managing director of Rutherford Briant Recruitment, a multi-award-winning firm specializing in accountancy, finance, HR, and executive search across East Anglia and the Home Counties. Since launching the business in 2009 during the financial crisis, Toby has grown it into a respected, values-driven agency known for cultural fit, relationship building, and delivering top-tier talent. A championship-winning racing driver, Toby brings a performance-focused mindset to both the track and the boardroom. Under his leadership, Rutherford Briant has placed over 2,500 candidates and built enduring partnerships with clients and suppliers alike. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we’re joined by Tom Beastall, Executive Director at Rullion, a UK-based recruitment agency with deep roots and ambitious plans. Tom shares the story behind Rullion’s sweeping technology transformation—from proprietary legacy systems to a flexible, cloud-first architecture. We unpack the leadership lessons learned along the way, including the political dynamics of driving internal change, why overcommunication is key, and how to balance customization with off-the-shelf solutions.Tom’s thoughtful, strategic approach to change management offers valuable takeaways for any leader navigating digital transformation at scale.The SROP is hosted by James Lawton: ex-recruiter, now helping enterprise-level companies with high volume hiring with automation and AI.More about Tom BeastallTom Beastall is Executive Director at Rullion, a privately owned UK recruitment agency founded in 1978. With over two decades of experience at Rullion, Tom has risen through the ranks from client information manager to IT leader, spearheading company-wide technology and process transformations. Known for his strategic vision and people-centric approach, Tom completed a technical leadership program at UC Berkeley Haas during the pandemic, deepening his understanding of influence, stakeholder engagement, and organizational psychology. He’s passionate about building scalable, resilient systems—and cultures—that enable growth and creativity across the business. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Mason Barendrecht, Director if Technology and Systems at Hales Group, discusses the role of AI in business development. Mason shares how his team is using AI tools and large language models to surface warm leads, deliver contextual prospecting insights, and help recruiters shift their focus from cold outreach to high-impact relationship building. He breaks down how Hales piloted and fine-tuned this AI-powered process, why data cleanliness still matters, and how technology can free up recruiters to do what they do best—connect with people. If you’re evaluating AI for lead generation in the recruitment industry, this one’s packed with practical takeaways.The SROP is hosted by James Lawton: ex-recruiter, now helping enterprise-level companies with high volume hiring with automation and AI.More about Mason BarendrechtMason Barendrecht is the Director of Technology and Systems at Hales Group, where he leads the firm’s digital strategy across its recruitment and healthcare divisions. With a background in systems implementation and operational efficiency, Mason is now focused on harnessing AI to drive smarter business development and recruiter enablement. He’s passionate about building technology that empowers people—not replaces them. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Glyn Blaize, COO at La Fosse Associates, shares the story of how he transformed two staffing businesses by designing and implementing scalable, fully automated systems across HR, finance, and delivery. Glyn reveals how he helped one firm grow from 200 to over 1,000 employees by connecting recruitment to onboarding, payroll, and ERP systems — all without ballooning the ops team. At La Fosse, he’s now retrofitting automation into a fast-paced, multidivisional firm and setting up a PMO to drive innovation from within. Glyn dives into lessons learned around agile project management, avoiding scope creep, mapping processes before automating, and building internal buy-in for operational change. A must-listen for staffing leaders ready to future-proof their back office and scale smarter.The SROP is hosted by James Lawton: ex-recruiter, now helping enterprise-level companies with high volume hiring with automation and AI. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Kate Harding, Marketing Manager at Montreal Associates, shares how she built a vibrant, personality-driven recruitment brand as a one-woman marketing department. She takes us behind the scenes of launching Careers in the Cloud, the agency’s flagship tech podcast, born during lockdown as a way to engage candidates and clients in an authentic, value-driven way. Kate explains how she leveraged video, studios, and short-form content to grow reach, measured success through brand awareness rather than conversions, and repurposed content strategically. She offers candid advice for staffing firms considering their own podcast — from finding the right host to managing resources and keeping the focus on audience value.The SROP is hosted by James Lawton: ex-recruiter, now helping enterprise-level companies with high volume hiring with automation and AI. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.