The Recruitment Leadership Podcast

Navigating the Complexities of Recruitment Leadership with Mike Horne, Executive Coach & Organisation Development Expert

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!

 

💡 Perfect for small business leaders, recruitment professionals, and anyone eager to elevate their leadership game.

 

Be sure to connect with Mike on LinkedIn 

Want to discuss this topic further with Alison? Contact her:

💬 alison@recruitmentleadership.co.uk

Navigating the Changing Tides: What the Employment Rights Bill Means for Recruitment Businesses with Neil Carberry, CEO of the Recruitment and Employment Confederation

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: 

 

💻 Importance of understanding the details vs. just the headlines

⚙️ Challenges posed by new requirements like day one statutory sick pay

💡 Balancing the government's mandate with the needs of the recruitment industry

📈 Market trends and the future of recruitment

 

Tune in and stay ahead of these changes! 

Be sure to connect with Neil on LinkedIn 

Want to discuss this topic further with Alison? 

Contact her:

💬 alison@recruitmentleadership.co.uk

Battling The Bot in Recruitment: How to Boost Revenue and Productivity with Alex Farrell, founder of Autometry

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:

💬 alison@recruitmentleadership.co.uk

Rethinking Agency Growth and Talent Development with Chris McCann, CEO of SOLIS Academy

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!

 

💬 alison@recruitmentleadership.co.uk 

 

See the report by Kelly Services here: https://www.kellyservices.com/press-releases/losing-talent-in-the-age-of-ai 

From Agency Owner to Recruitment Law Expert: Mastering Contracts & Combating Late Payments with Barry Cullen

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!

💬 alison@recruitmentleadership.co.uk

Optimising Your Pricing Strategy with Jon Brooks, Pricing Consultant & Founder of The Value Advantage

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!

A Measured Approach to AI and Automation in Recruitment with James Kingston, Managing Director at Kingston Barnes

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!

💬 alison@recruitmentleadership.co.uk

Scaling your Recruitment Business for Success with Ollie Whiting, CEO at La Fosse

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!

💬 alison@recruitmentleadership.co.uk

Recruitment Retention Strategies: Insights from an Industry Expert with Lysha Holmes, founder of Qui Recruitment

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!

💬 alison@recruitmentleadership.co.uk

Revolutions, Evolutions and Winning Awards with DeeDee Doke, Editor at Recruiter Magazine

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!

 

💬 alison@recruitmentleadership.co.uk