The Recruitment Leadership Podcast

Leading with Purpose in a Noisy Market: Business Development Lessons with Sarah Knight, Founder of Sarah Knight Consultancy

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:

💡 Why consistency is one of the most undervalued tools in business development

💡 How to approach new business without relying on generic outreach or tired sales techniques

💡 The importance of meaningful communication — and what makes it stand out

💡 How to ensure your team reflects your company’s values in every client interaction

💡 Why business development needs space, structure, and thoughtful reflection

 

Whether you’re a recruitment leader, a business owner, or a consultant looking to sharpen your approach, this episode is full of insight into how to build trust, develop long-term client relationships, and create space for what really works.

Listen now for a thoughtful and timely discussion on business development that works in the real world.

Want to discuss this topic further with Alison?

💬 Email her at alison@recruitmentleadership.co.uk.

Revolutionising Recruitment with Skills-Based Hiring: Insights from Tim Freestone, Founder of Alooba

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:

💡 The problem with resumes - Why CVs are an unreliable predictor of candidate ability and how skills assessments offer a more accurate alternative.

 

💡 Hiring for potential - How recruiters can assess aptitude, adaptability, and learning agility to identify future-ready candidates.

 

💡 The role of AI in recruitment - Why recruiters should embrace AI selectively while maintaining human-led decision-making.

 

💡 Automation vs. personalisation - How to balance efficiency and engagement to avoid losing top talent to impersonal hiring processes.

 

💡 The future of recruitment tech - What small and micro recruitment businesses should consider before investing in new AI-driven tools.

 

Whether you're a recruitment leader, hiring manager, or business owner looking to make data-driven hiring decisions, this episode is packed with practical insights to help you stay ahead in an evolving talent market.

 

Tune in to discover how to move beyond outdated hiring practices and build a more effective recruitment strategy.

 

Connect with Tim Freestone on LinkedIn.

Want to discuss this topic further with Alison?

💬 Email her at alison@recruitmentleadership.co.uk.

Building a Standout Personal Brand: LinkedIn Strategies for Recruiters with Jem Bevan, Founder of SocialJems

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:

💡 The power of personality: Why authenticity is key to standing out on LinkedIn and how to bring more of you into your content.

💡 Common LinkedIn mistakes: How recruiters get it wrong with overly corporate content - and what to do instead.

💡 Content that converts: The importance of brand guidelines, content pillars, and a strategic posting schedule.

💡 LinkedIn’s latest updates: How new features can boost visibility.

💡 Engagement over broadcasting: Why content is only half the battle - meaningful interactions are the real game-changer.

Whether you're a recruitment leader, consultant, or business owner looking to elevate your LinkedIn presence, this episode is packed with actionable tips to help you leverage the platform effectively.

Tune in now to discover how to turn your LinkedIn activity into real business results!

Connect with Jem on LinkedIn.

Interested in discussing this topic further with Alison?

💬 Email her at alison@recruitmentleadership.co.uk

How to Become a Bit Famous as a Recruiter with Penny Haslam, Founder and MD of Bit Famous Ltd

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:

💡 From Broadcasting to Coaching: Penny shares her journey and how she helps professionals boost visibility and communication skills.

💡 The Power of Relationships: Discover Penny’s strategies for meaningful networking through coffee meetings, mastermind groups, and consistent engagement.

💡 Visibility and Credibility: Learn how to secure speaking opportunities, leverage event photos, and deliver a clear, specialised message.

💡 Communication Mastery: Tips to captivate audiences, avoid common pitfalls, and balance professionalism with humour.

💡 Public Speaking Essentials: Actionable advice on crafting engaging, authentic presentations with tools like mind maps and audience interaction.

Whether you're a recruitment professional, business leader, or entrepreneur, this episode is packed with actionable advice to help you build your personal brand, communicate with confidence, and stand out in your industry.

Connect with Penny on LinkedIn.

Interested in discussing this topic further with Alison?

💬 Email her at alison@recruitmentleadership.co.uk

Empowering Female Solopreneurs in Recruitment: Insights from Helen Plumridge, Founder of Hypa Consulting

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.

💡 Perfect for female solopreneurs, recruitment professionals, and anyone interested in leadership development and business growth.

Connect with Helen on LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/49zuGAr 

As a Co-Founder of Women in Recruitment Leadership, this is a topic that Alison is particularly passionate about.

If you’d like to discuss this topic further with Alison, you can contact her here:

💬 alison@recruitmentleadership.co.uk

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