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Building a Recruitment Business the Right Way: Culture, Partnership & Growth

Setting up a recruitment business isn’t just about billing figures or market opportunity, it’s about building something sustainable, supportive, and successful for the long term. From day one, my aim was simple, create a business where people can thrive without the pressures and pitfalls that traditionally define the recruitment industry.

This is a reflection on what that journey has looked like so far the culture we’ve built, the partnerships that have supported our growth, and where we’re heading next.

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Doing Recruitment Differently: A Team-First Culture

Having worked for several recruitment companies before starting my own, I was very clear on what I didn’t want to recreate.

One of the biggest differences in how we operate is our team-first approach. We don’t encourage internal competition between consultants. There are plenty of people outside the business to compete with internally, collaboration always wins.

We’ve proven that when people work together, share knowledge, and support one another, everyone becomes more successful.

Equally important is how people are treated. We operate in an adult environment. There’s no school-style pressure, no immediate punishment for missing a KPI, and no culture of fear. We don’t run a crazy, KPI-driven business where people are under pressure the moment something slips — and that has made a huge difference to morale, retention, and performance.

What Motivates Me Day to Day

Success is the biggest motivator, but not just personal success.

I want the business to be successful.
I want the team within it to be successful.
And I want people to feel proud of where they work.

Building something people believe in is far more motivating than chasing short-term wins.

Why I Chose Hilton Lord as a Business Partner

When it came to choosing a business partner, I spoke to several companies offering similar services. Hilton Lord stood out immediately.

They were relaxed, transparent, and never tried to take control of what I wanted to build. Instead of trying to “be my boss,” they focused on enabling me to run my business the way I wanted to.

Their pricing structure was clear and easy to understand, without layers of jargon, and they had a much deeper understanding of how their systems actually worked in practice.

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The Value of Support, Systems & Compliance

One of the biggest advantages of working with Hilton Lord has been the all-in-one system combining billing, invoicing, and the tools recruiters use every day.

But beyond systems, their support around compliance and legislation has been invaluable. Over the past few years, recruitment has faced increasing regulatory complexity, and having access to up-to-date policies, procedures, and legal support has saved significant time, stress, and cost.

They’ve also connected us with industry experts we simply wouldn’t have had access to on our own particularly around areas like tax avoidance and compliance. Trying to navigate that independently would have been expensive and risky.

What’s Surprised Me Most About Hilton Lord

What genuinely surprised me, in a good way, was Hilton Lord’s depth of experience around the recruitment business journey.

From the very beginning, they were able to map out what my first year would look like, not just the good parts, but the difficult ones too. They had a clear understanding of the challenges businesses face in the first 12 to 36 months, and they were remarkably accurate in predicting how things would unfold.

That level of foresight meant they were always one step ahead, helping us prepare rather than react.

The Power of the Network

Another huge benefit of being a Hilton Lord partner is the network of other recruitment businesses.

There’s a genuine sense of collaboration partners know each other, share experiences, and help solve problems together. Whether it’s Dave, Rob, the accounts team, or other recruiters in the group, there’s always someone available to offer support or insight.

That collective knowledge is incredibly powerful.

Who Thrives in This Environment?

Both within our own business and within the Hilton Lord network, the people who thrive are those with drive, ambition, and determination.

If someone is motivated to be successful and willing to put the work in, they’ll get the support they need — without losing control of their own destiny.

The Biggest Personal Win: Freedom

The biggest personal win since setting up my own business has been freedom.

Freedom from endless KPIs.
Freedom from micromanagement.
Freedom to focus on delivering a genuinely good service to candidates and clients.

That freedom isn’t just for me — it’s something we deliberately try to give to our consultants too. Flexibility, trust, and autonomy allow people to perform at their best. When the focus shifts away from hitting arbitrary numbers and towards quality, the results follow naturally.

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Growth, Vision & the Road Ahead

Having established the foundations of the business — arguably the hardest part the focus now is on growth and diversification.

Our vision includes:

• Expanding into new markets and sectors
• Growing our existing teams
• Exploring different recruitment models such as RPOs and Master Vendor agreements
• Continuing to build our presence in the US
• Doubling headcount in Manchester over the next 12 months

As we grow, maintaining our team-first culture remains non-negotiable. We’re actively hiring people who bring enthusiasm, drive, and a genuine desire to succeed — not just individually, but as part of a team.

A Bit of Personality

Outside of recruitment, I’ve recently taken on another leadership role coaching my son’s under-8s football team.

I also don’t like bananas or cucumber which may or may not be relevant, but felt worth sharing.

Final Thoughts

Building a recruitment business doesn’t have to mean pressure-heavy KPIs, internal competition, or burnout. With the right culture, the right people, and the right partners, it’s possible to build something successful and enjoyable.

That’s exactly what we’re continuing to do.