Do you own an SME recruitment firm and feel dissatisfied because you seem to work hard for your business rather than your business working hard for you? If so, it’s probably down to 3 reasons:  You aren’t earning what you want; you’re not leading the lifestyle you and your family would like you to lead; or, most of all, you’re no closer to financial security now than when you started. In this episode Simon is joined by scalability coach, Mike Ames. Mike helps recruitment company owners who want their business to give them the income, lifestyle, job satisfaction and financial security they desire. During 45 minutes of honest reflection, Mike and Simon discuss a whole range of topics that will help any recruitment business owner build a business to suit them. Whether that's independent, micro or SME. Because the truth is, whilst most of us enter recruitment expecting to build a business through people scale, very few achieve it. Recruit. Make money. Exit. Hot topics covered in this session include: Building a business for the future Keeping it lean and mean Attracting talent and KEEPING it by building a culture for retention Why commission-driven remuneration is detrimental to your business What does lazy management look like? Why all recruitment agency owners should get a coach How to avoid making short-term decisions that affect long-term gains And just what is 'refrigerator recruitment'? This is a cracking episode with one of the industry's true protagonists.

In this special off-the-cuff episode Gabi Preston-Phypers and Simon chat about everything from rec tech to removals. There’s soothsaying, myth-slaying and a whole lot of fanciful thinking. Candidate carnage, Boolean beauties and Disney dazzlers. Yes, this one’s a laugh. Gabi is co-founder of mobile robotics recruitment agency, Oscar Harrington, and co-founder of candidate sourcing tech, Tooled Up Raccoons. 

In this energetic episode Simon is joined by recruitment leader, Emma McNamara. A genuine industry protagonist, Emma founded one of the preeminent recruitment agency brands within the digital sector and became renowned for her no-nonsense approach. An MBO 16 years later saw Emma transfer her wealth of knowledge in house, where she now works as a talent and business strategy consultant, helping companies build or improve internal talent management and operational strategies. So, just what is the secret to becoming a great recruitment leader?  What does great leadership look like? Can leadership be taught? And what's charisma got to do with it? Whether you're a couple of decades down the recruitment track or just starting out on your journey, this episode lifts the lid on leadership and how the landscape has changed since the 90s. 

Culture. What is it? How do we create it? And why does it matter? In this episode I’m joined by Miles Lloyd, a professional skills coach and business mentor with a track record of developing people and businesses through transformational change. A wide and varied career has seen him work with recruitment consultancies, not-for-profit organisations and the Premier League, with the latter involving professional skills mentoring and business leadership coaching for Elite Academy Managers and Heads of Coaching. Miles is also a business culture expert, and it’s this subject we’re getting stuck into today.

In this insightful episode Simon speaks with talent development specialist, Ben Browning. Thoughtful, measured and articulate, Ben opens up on mental health, growth mindset and what it takes to become a high performing recruitment leader. This is a whizz-bang session featuring productivity, accountability, focus and discipline.  What does recruitment evolution look like? Why is laser focus so important? How does progress win over perfection? And what would Ben tell his 16-year-old self? This is a must for anyone in recruitment, particularly leaders.

Finding the right talent is tough, especially in unusual times. In this dynamic episode Simon is joined by business performance coach Katy Green, as they discuss the mechanisms required for modern-day attraction strategies. In a period when many recruitment agency owners have been put back 'on the tools', how do we make space to work ON the business and not just IN it? And just who did turn on the hose?! This in an episode full of energy, passion and grit.

In this episode Simon is joined by Stephanie Lythgoe, director of Multisector Recruitment, an independent recruitment agency supporting hiring managers across the UK in the Engineering, Legal and Business Support sectors. Having grown up in RAF confines, Stephanie found her way into recruitment via the Adecco door. Now with a fantastic family, business of her own, and the perks of working from home, life looks pretty sweet for Stephanie. But the journey to here hasn’t been easy. In this episode Stephanie shares her experiences around mental health and how the hidden issues of a childhood trauma have affected her life. Pressures, pick-ups, pick-me-ups and the pearls of ASDA, this is Stephanie’s story.

In this episode Simon is joined by recruitment performance trainer and coach, Ben Browning. This is a very frank, open and honest conversation around overcoming adversity, laying foundations for outstanding leadership and the value of communication and accountability. How does growth mindset impact business? And what's empathy got to do with it? Let's take a moment to thank Ben for this incredibly powerful, succinct and articulate reflection on high performance within recruitment.

In this episode Simon is joined by former professional inline hockey player and Team GB coach, Andrew Sillitoe.  After helping build a performance and leadership team within one of the most recognisable recruitment consultancy brands, Andrew began a path of learning and development that marks him as one of the pre-eminent leadership figures within the staffing and commercial sector. Andrew is a serious exponent of wellbeing and positive mindset, fusing lessons learned from his time spent in elite sports with business. What does Andrew think makes sustainable leadership? How does this transcend all walks of life? And why is locker room mentality so important? This is an episode about no regrets. And it's a belter.

In this episode Simon is joined by former Hays leadership coach, Ashley Rice. A decade spent at this internationally-renowned recruitment consultancy, promoted some critical thinking around what great leadership looks like and how it can be implemented in a profession often so relentless in pursuit of financial reward. So what does high performance mean to Ashley? What are Ashley's non-negotiable characteristics for anyone working in his team? And why is Ashley so passionate about the term 'connection'? This is a fantastic episode for any business leader wondering how to balance contemporary leadership with commercial pursuit.