Episodes

What if the real reason some recruiters thrive long-term while others burn out, stagnate or disappear isn’t market conditions, AI, or competition… but the way they think, work and serve people? In this episode, I’m joined by Sarah Leete, Co-Founder of Lawrence Dean Recruitment, a business she has grown and led for over 15 years through recessions, market crashes, COVID, and now the rise of AI. Sarah is one of those rare operators who didn’t “fall into” recruitment, she chose it, and built her ca...

What if the biggest problems holding recruitment agencies back right now aren’t bad markets, lack of candidates or not enough tools… but the simple truth that most agencies are running on broken processes? In this episode, I’m joined by Saeed Bor , Founder of Embedded Ops , and one of the most respected operators in the industry. After a career that spans enterprise tech recruitment, agency leadership, COO roles and now consulting across dozens of recruitment businesses, Saeed has developed a re...

What if the biggest opportunities in recruitment right now aren’t about more clients, more jobs or more tools… but about shifting how you position your service so you’re seen as a partner, not a CV supplier? In this episode, I’m joined by Nicholas Thomas, CEO and Founder of Everhire , who has built one of the fastest-growing civil engineering and renewable energy recruitment agencies operating across the UK, US and Scandinavia. After starting his career in a corporate environment, Nicholas went ...

What if the biggest mistakes recruitment agencies make aren’t about BD, sourcing or billing… but about scaling too fast, carrying too much headcount, and forgetting the fundamentals that actually win business? In this episode, I’m joined by Austin Clark , Co-Founder of SCI Partners and Entrust Resource Solutions , who has spent over 15 years building, scaling, right-sizing and rebuilding life sciences recruitment teams across the UK and Europe. After growing SCI to 30 heads before the market cra...

What if the fastest way to grow in recruitment wasn’t by trying to do everything… but by building a name so strong that your market starts coming to you? In this episode, I’m joined by Roxanne Kirkhope-Winnan , Head of Bolt Technical, who built her reputation the hard way — through consistency, honesty, personality, and showing up online even on the days life felt chaotic. From cabin crew to recruitment, from starting again in engineering to launching Bolt Technical, Roxanne has built both a nam...

What if the difference between a failing trainee and a £1M biller isn’t talent… but sacrifice, environment, and expectations? In this episode, I’m joined by Brandon White , Founder of Volta Search and one of the most honest voices in the Rec2Rec space. With 11 years in the industry, Brandon has seen exactly why some trainees quit early — and why a small few go on to build huge careers. We dig into the realities of becoming a top performer in recruitment: long hours, consistency, culture, communi...

What if the real problem in recruitment today isn’t the market… but how people are working? In this episode, I’m joined by Sheldon Clottey — Founder of Charles & Charles Recruitment , who’s built a global business spanning London, Dubai, and the US construction market. We dig into what “real recruitment” looks like in 2025 — from data-driven BD and candidate marketing, to exclusivity, client control, and why most recruiters have forgotten the basics. Sheldon shares how he built his US desk from ...

What if you expanded your recruitment business to America before everyone else thought it was cool? In this episode, I’m joined by Elliott Manning — Founder & Managing Director of Kayman Recruitment , who built one of the UK’s most recognised Rec2Rec firms, expanded into the US before it became the trend, and is now helping agencies scale globally through outsourcing and consultancy. Elliott lifts the lid on the reality of building in the US without a roadmap — from flying to New York ten times ...

What if being diagnosed with stage 4 cancer completely changed the way you think, lead, and live? In this episode, I’m joined by Naz Harrison — Director, Coach & L&D Leader , who opens up about his battle with Hodgkin’s lymphoma, how it transformed his outlook on life, and why it shaped his mission to help recruiters and leaders think, coach, and perform differently. We unpack Naz’s journey from recruiter to global L&D leader, what real coaching actually looks like (and why most managers get it ...

What if your dream job offer fell through the week before you started — and the world went into lockdown? In this episode, I’m joined by Jay Gurney , Director of Radiology at Projectus , who went from working warehouse shifts during COVID to becoming one of the company’s top global billers and leading its US expansion. Fun story, I actually interviewed Jay in 2020 to be my resourcer! We dig into Jay’s journey from rejection to resilience — from packing boxes and delivering food to billing hundre...

What if the best way to stand out in recruitment wasn’t about flashy KPIs or cold call sprints — but by being unapologetically yourself? In this episode, I’m joined by Adam , Director at At Talent , a Rec2Rec specialist helping recruiters find the right businesses, leaders, and environments to truly thrive in. We dive into Adam’s journey through recruitment and Rec2Rec, why authenticity is the ultimate sales advantage, and how too many recruiters still put clients on a pedestal. From finding the...

What if the best way to grow in recruitment wasn’t by chasing quick wins, but by mastering long-term relationships and persistence? In this episode, I’m joined by Fraser Graham , Founder of Nautic , a Rec2Rec business specialising in placing recruiters from consultant to director level across Manchester and the Northwest. We dive into Fraser’s journey from leaving football and sport behind at 18, to jumping into recruitment during the post-lockdown boom, and now launching his own agency. From th...

What if the best way to succeed in recruitment wasn’t to be everywhere, but to dominate a niche so well that clients had no choice but to come to you? In this episode, I’m joined by Emma April , Founder of HuntStart Consulting , a specialist recruitment agency for FX brokers and fintech companies across Cyprus, the UAE and beyond. We dive into Emma’s journey from HR in Cyprus to recruitment in London, the fear that held her back from starting her own business, and the personal challenges she fac...

What if you started in recruitment when CVs were faxed across town — and now lead teams navigating AI, automation, and a new generation of recruiters? In this episode, I’m joined by Stuart Biggs , veteran recruiter and sales leader, who’s lived through the full evolution of recruitment — from fax machines and cold calls to CRMs, automation, and AI-driven sourcing. Recorded in March 2025, we dive into how the industry has changed, why sales culture has declined post-COVID, and what leaders can do...

What if recruitment wasn’t about transactions, but about making every client and candidate feel like a VIP? In this episode, I’m joined by Sam Green, Co-Founder & COO at Few&Far , one of Europe’s leading digital product recruitment firms. We dig into how Sam and his team built a reputation for creating a “celebrity experience” — from community-led business development and events, to consultative client meetings and a culture that’s kept average tenure at 4.7 years. We unpack how to stand out in ...

What if you launched a recruitment business in the middle of a global pandemic — and then had to rebuild it from the ground up when the tech boom turned bust? In this episode, I’m joined by Ivor Stratford , Co-Founder of Morpheus, a recruitment business specialising in early-stage, VC/PE-backed tech companies with a strong focus on AI and machine learning. We dive into what it was really like starting a business in March 2020 , why their early success was built on sand, and how they pivoted to c...

What if winning new clients didn’t mean hammering cold calls all day? In this episode, I’m joined by Reece Warren , founder of Nameless Ventures in Dubai and former early employee at Few & Far in London. We dive into the brutal reality of business development in recruitment: what actually works when you’ve got no brand, no warm network, and no endless jobs falling on your desk. From pivoting his business model after a painful first year, to building a desk in Dubai without a single contact, Reec...

What happens when your agency scales — but your systems, ops, and people can’t keep up? In this episode, I’m joined by Charlie Hunt — fractional CFO & COO, former head of operations in recruitment, and trusted advisor to startups and scale-ups. We unpack what really breaks inside recruitment businesses when they try to grow too fast, why CRMs and tech stacks are so often misused, and how to build the right foundations before you add headcount. From AI note-takers to KPI debates, 180 vs 360 model...

Are you posting the wrong stuff on LinkedIn? In this episode of The 1% Better Recruitment Podcast, I’m joined by Sam Rasdall, founder of Potent Positioning, former MD at Bold Identities, and branding/marketing strategist for the recruitment industry. Sam breaks down the four LinkedIn content types, including the two that generate the most revenue but rarely get used, and shows how to turn branding and marketing into real business development results. We unpack how to build personal and employer ...

Is your recruitment team hiding behind keyboards instead of picking up the phone? In this episode of The 1% Better Recruitment Podcast, I’m joined by Terry Payne, Global MD at Aspire, leading recruitment teams across the UK, Singapore, Dubai, and New York, with nearly three decades in staffing. Terry lifts the lid on why sales culture has declined in recruitment, how to rebuild it without burning people out, and why hiring on behaviours (not just qualifications/experience) can transform your bus...

What happens when you build a fast-growing recruitment business, raise millions in investment… and realise you’ve completely lost yourself in the process? In this episode, I’m joined by Elaine Tyler — founder of Venatrix , a specialist SaaS sales recruitment firm, and a fearless voice for female founders navigating growth, pressure, and leadership burnout. Elaine opens up about the real cost of scaling too quickly, chasing the wrong kind of investment, and trying to lead while constantly people-...

What happens when automation takes over your BD — and you forget how to actually speak to people? In this episode, I’m joined by Marc Burgess — contract recruitment leader, sales director at 4mation Partners, and fierce advocate for process, structure, and proper human connection in recruitment. We dive into Marc’s no-BS take on lazy BD, automation culture, and why so many recruiters are losing deals they should be winning — all because they’re skipping steps and hiding behind tools. From multi-...

What happens when the party lifestyle becomes your identity — and you wake up one day with no goals, no purpose, and nothing left in the tank? In this episode, I’m joined by Jack Salmon — high-performance coach, extreme endurance athlete, and a brutally honest voice on sobriety, structure, and self-leadership. We dive into Jack’s journey from 48-hour benders and rock-bottom mornings to becoming a present dad, disciplined business owner, and the man he never had growing up. From rewiring his mind...

What happens when a young female recruiter launches two businesses before 30, pivots mid-pandemic, and bills over £2M — all while being constantly underestimated? In this episode, I’m joined by Sam Hunter , founder, temp recruitment specialist, and fierce advocate for leading from the front. We dive into what it really takes to scale a high-performing temp desk, how to pivot your business when the market shifts, and why mindset, structure, and resilience will always beat “hype” and shortcuts. Fr...