The RAG Podcast - Recruitment Agency Growth Podcast

James Waissel set a modest goal of £125K in year 1 of launching his own agency. Instead,  he ended up billing over £300K in revenue in just seven months.On this week’s episode of The RAG Podcast, I’m joined by James Waissel, founder and CEO of Huntsman Consult, a construction and real estate recruitment business based in London.James started the business in June 2024, backed by a couple of key clients, and has built a small but growing team of three. In this conversation, he shares what it’s really like in the first nine months of running a recruitment agency: the wins, the lessons, and the pressure of getting it right.In this episode, we discuss:What helped him smash his first-year revenue goal in just seven monthsThe financial, emotional, and operational challenges of early-stage growthHow he’s building the foundation for long-term successIf you're in the early stages of launching a recruitment business (or thinking about it), this is a must-listen.Chapters00:00 Introduction to The RAG Podcast and James Waissel02:31 James Waissel's journey into recruitment10:02 The decision to start a business16:54 Building a recruitment business from scratch25:29 First steps and early successes33:23 Achieving growth in a challenging market34:27 Transitioning to a 360 role in recruitment37:30 Leveraging LinkedIn for business growth41:34 Exploring new business verticals44:16 Building a partner network for growth46:47 The role of AI in recruitment49:44 The importance of quality over quantity52:45 Understanding client needs for business success56:35 Lessons learned from past experiences01:00:06 The importance of financial management01:03:36 Combining sales, AI, and brand for success__________________________________________Episode Sponsor: AtlasYour memory isn’t perfect. So Atlas remembers everything for you. Atlas is an end-to-end recruitment platform built for the AI generation. It automates your admin so you can focus on the business tasks that matter. How many conversations do you have every day? With clients. Candidates. Your team. Service providers.Now how many of those conversations can you recall with 100% accuracy? How many hours a week do you spend making notes to try and retain as much as possible? And how much is still getting lost along the way? Traditional CRM systems weren’t built for the type of recruitment business you’re running right now. They were built to rely on the structured, tagged, categorised, and formal data you could feed it. Manual processes that needed you to input specific information, based on specific questions and answers. But what about all the other conversations you’re having every single day? Atlas isn’t an ATS or a CRM. It’s an Intelligent Business Platform that helps you perform 10X better than you could on your own. How? By removing all your low value tasks, acting as your perfect memory, and providing highly relevant recommendations to impact your performance. Learn more about the power of Atlas – and take advantage of the exclusive offer for The RAG listeners – by visiting https://recruitwithatlas.com/therag/ __________________________________________Episode sponsor: HoxoRecruiters: are you sitting on a goldmine of LinkedIn connections without knowing how to turn them into real opportunities?Most recruiters spend hours every day on cold outreach and endless scrolling, hoping for replies that never come. But what if LinkedIn could work for you instead?The Hoxo 7-Day LinkedIn Challenge is a simple, step-by-step framework designed to help you:Identify warm leads already in your networkStart meaningful conversations with potential clients and candidates—without feeling pushyShare content that gets noticed and builds trust – without spending hours onlineTransform LinkedIn into an inbound lead generator in just 7 days!This challenge isn’t about writing viral posts or spamming DMs.It’s about small, proven actions that take just 20 minutes a day – and start generating results from day one!Ready to unlock your LinkedIn potential?Over 7,000 recruiters worldwide have already used this framework to generate inbound leads, grow their pipeline, and win more business. Now it’s your turn.Join the FREE 7-day LinkedIn Challenge today and start unlocking the opportunities already in your network.Head over to https://hubs.ly/Q031DT2s0 to get started. See you there!

What happens when you go all-in on a niche? Graham Cosgrave shares how MatchMedics transformed from a traditional agency into one of Ireland’s leading medical recruitment brands by focusing solely on doctors.On this week's episode of The RAG Podcast, I'm joined by Graham Cosgrave, Director at MatchMedics, a recruitment business specialising in placing doctors from across the globe into roles in Ireland.Graham began as a recruiter and is now helping lead an international brand that’s relocating entire families, not just individuals. From six-figure results driven by content to high-stakes international events, MatchMedics is proof that a focused strategy and great storytelling can fuel serious growth.In this episode, we discuss:Why they went from a multi-discipline agency to 100% doctor-focusedHow their brand strategy attracts doctors from South Africa, Europe, and beyondThe power of podcasting, storytelling, and recruitment events to build trust and credibilityWhat it takes to build a recruitment business that changes lives and not just careersIf you're looking to grow your brand, go niche, or build an international talent pipeline, this episode is packed with practical insight and inspiration.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Graham03:13 Graham's journey in recruitment05:53 The impact of relocation on lives08:56 Transitioning to a niche market11:56 Building a brand and marketing strategy15:14 The evolution of roles and responsibilities18:05 The power of content and online presence20:49 Nurturing relationships and ambassador networks23:49 The decision to focus on doctors only26:57 Global recruitment strategies29:56 Conclusion and future outlook31:17 The impact of international medical professionals34:06 Challenges in South African healthcare37:40 The power of storytelling in recruitment40:34 Building credibility through real experiences43:00 The role of podcasts in recruitment46:02 Navigating the Irish job market49:19 Engaging with South African doctors52:05 Investment in recruitment events54:04 Long-term vision for recruitment success01:01:51 The future of medical recruitment__________________________________________Episode Sponsor: UntappedUntapped is THE market leader and go-to agency for finding and hiring tried-and-tested offshore talent into UK, US and Australian-based recruitment companies.They’re providing top-class TEAMMATES, NOT OUTSOURCES! We use Untapped for Hoxo’s own offshore hires, and it’s been a total game-changer for our team. No one else can compete with the quality of their network, their in-depth candidate assessment process or their time to hire. If hiring elite-level overseas talent into your business to boost sales and increase productivity whilst saving yourself a huge amount in employment costs isn’t on your radar for 2024, it should be!Untapped are hiring recruitment, sales, marketing and support staff into recruitment agencies of all shapes, sizes and specialisms globally and they are growing rapidly!Join the waiting list today so you don’t miss out on the next cohort of business-launching hiring projects. https://bit.ly/47GGdvZ __________________________________________Episode sponsor: HoxoRecruiters: are you sitting on a goldmine of LinkedIn connections without knowing how to turn them into real opportunities?Most recruiters spend hours every day on cold outreach and endless scrolling, hoping for replies that never come. But what if LinkedIn could work for you instead?The Hoxo 7-Day LinkedIn Challenge is a simple, step-by-step framework designed to help you:Identify warm leads already in your networkStart meaningful conversations with potential clients and candidates—without feeling pushyShare content that gets noticed and builds trust – without spending hours onlineTransform LinkedIn into an inbound lead generator in just 7 days!This challenge isn’t about writing viral posts or spamming DMs.It’s about small, proven actions that take just 20 minutes a day – and start generating results from day one!Ready to unlock your LinkedIn potential?Over 7,000 recruiters worldwide have already used this framework to generate inbound leads, grow their pipeline, and win more business. Now it’s your turn.Join the FREE 7-day LinkedIn Challenge today and start unlocking the opportunities already in your network.Head over to https://hubs.ly/Q031DT2s0 to get started. See you there!

Starting a recruitment business at 25 with just three years of experience takes serious courage. Haseena Mooncey did exactly that – and she’s built something special.On this week's episode of The RAG Podcast, I'm joined by Haseena Mooncey, co-founder of CHR Life Sciences, a modern boutique recruitment firm focused on niche roles across the UK, Ireland, and Europe.Haseena launched the business with a former boss as her co-founder, stepping into entrepreneurship with limited experience but a clear mindset and strong values. Her story is rare, especially as a young woman in recruitment. And it’s incredibly inspiring.In this episode, we discuss:What pushed her to take the leap from employee to business ownerThe early challenges of launching with limited experienceThe mindset needed to grow a global contract recruitment businessBalancing a modern outlook with traditional values in how she builds her teamIf you’re in your 20s and thinking about starting your own business - or you're just looking for a story that proves age and experience don't define success, this episode is one to tune into.Watch the full conversation live on my LinkedIn this Wednesday at 12 pm or search The RAG wherever you get your podcasts!Chapters00:00 Introduction to Haseena Mooncey and CHR Life Sciences03:00 The journey of starting a business at 2506:03 Navigating early challenges and building a network09:05 The decision to transition from employee to entrepreneur12:05 Establishing CHR Life Sciences and initial struggles14:56 First deals and market expansion18:11 Building a business from the ground up20:54 Reflections on growth and future aspirations22:00 Building relationships in recruitment24:32 Navigating market changes and opportunities26:06 The challenges of remote work and team dynamics28:06 The importance of hiring and team growth30:20 Learning from experience: hiring strategies32:32 The impact of market fluctuations on business36:52 Managing stress and maintaining team morale44:54 Building a values-driven recruitment company48:13 The role of AI in recruitment50:22 Pharmaceutical industry insights52:31 Navigating the future of work55:23 Life goals and work-life balance01:00:13 The importance of relationships in recruitment--------------------------------------------------------------------Episode Sponsor: AtlasYour memory isn’t perfect. So Atlas remembers everything for you. Atlas is an end-to-end recruitment platform built for the AI generation. It automates your admin so you can focus on the business tasks that matter. How many conversations do you have every day? With clients. Candidates. Your team. Service providers.Now how many of those conversations can you recall with 100% accuracy? How many hours a week do you spend making notes to try and retain as much as possible? And how much is still getting lost along the way? Traditional CRM systems weren’t built for the type of recruitment business you’re running right now. They were built to rely on the structured, tagged, categorised, and formal data you could feed it. Manual processes that needed you to input specific information, based on specific questions and answers. But what about all the other conversations you’re having every single day? Atlas isn’t an ATS or a CRM. It’s an Intelligent Business Platform that helps you perform 10X better than you could on your own. How? By removing all your low value tasks, acting as your perfect memory, and providing highly relevant recommendations to impact your performance. Learn more about the power of Atlas – and take advantage of the exclusive offer for The RAG listeners – by visiting https://recruitwithatlas.com/therag/ --------------------------------------------------------------------Episode Sponsor: HoxoReady to find 25+ warm leads within seven days on LinkedIn?As a recruiter, most of the working day is spent chasing people via cold outreach on LinkedIn.This method is super time-consuming, and most people don’t reply because they simply don’t know or trust you.But it can be different...If you follow the process in this document, you will hack the LinkedIn Algorithm in just 15 minutes per day and drive warm leads whenever you want them.A warm lead is a person who you can 100% guarantee knows who you are, and what you do and has shown interest in you and/or your services in the past 48 hours.Over 5000 recruiters around the globe follow this process daily, and the results have been amazing!You can have this, too!Access the Hoxo 20:10:5 guide here: https://bit.ly/3PLjaJYIf you’d prefer to consume this information directly from our Co-Founder and CEO, Sean Anderson (the creator of 20:10:5), you can join our free training course now!Get access to:4 bite-sized training videos that can immediately help you boost your business on LinkedInExclusive access to Hoxo 20:10:5 warm leads tracking templateFree support from the Hoxo team to help you implement the process and get the resultsThis course is part of the hugely successful Personal Brand Bootcamp which has seen over 5000 recruiters graduate and drive millions of warm leads and £££ in revenue as a result!Get free access to the course once you’ve downloaded our guide.

From Albanian refugee to running a seven-figure recruitment firm by age 27.  On this week's episode of The RAG Podcast, I'm joined by Klajdi Bega, founder and CEO of Luminary Group, a life sciences headhunting firm operating across the UK, Europe, and the US.  Born in Albania and raised in North London, Klajdi’s story is one of grit, vision, and relentless drive. After starting in sales at 16 and entering recruitment six years ago, he launched Luminary just two years back—and hit £1 million in revenue in his second full year!  In this episode, we discuss:  - Klajdi’s journey from refugee to successful founder  - How he’s building a high-performance, values-driven team  - The lessons learned from year one versus year two of trading  - Balancing marriage, family life, and business ownership  - The power of mentorship, goal-setting, and staying focused on a clear vision  If you're in your 20s and thinking of launching a business—or if you just want to hear an incredibly inspiring story—this episode is not to be missed.  Chapters00:00 Introduction to Klajdi Bega and Luminary Group02:59 Klajdi's journey from refugee to CEO06:01 Early life and challenges in North London08:55 Career beginnings and entry into recruitment12:13 The transition to entrepreneurship15:08 Building Luminary Group: vision and strategy17:52 Navigating the recruitment landscape21:01 Growth and future plans for Luminary Group24:03 Navigating marriage and business27:10 Year one: achievements and expectations29:29 Training the next generation32:10 Building client relationships34:48 Year two: growth and recognition39:02 Balancing work and family life45:03 Navigating recruitment challenges47:56 The impact of AI on recruitment50:08 Global expansion and client relationships52:02 Scaling for success55:06 Building a strong company culture56:56 Vision for the future59:53 Personal growth and work-life balance__________________________________________Episode Sponsor: UntappedUntapped is THE market leader and go-to agency for finding and hiring tried-and-tested offshore talent into UK, US and Australian-based recruitment companies.They’re providing top-class TEAMMATES, NOT OUTSOURCES! We use Untapped for Hoxo’s own offshore hires, and it’s been a total game-changer for our team. No one else can compete with the quality of their network, their in-depth candidate assessment process or their time to hire. If hiring elite-level overseas talent into your business to boost sales and increase productivity whilst saving yourself a huge amount in employment costs isn’t on your radar for 2024, it should be!Untapped are hiring recruitment, sales, marketing and support staff into recruitment agencies of all shapes, sizes and specialisms globally and they are growing rapidly!Join the waiting list today so you don’t miss out on the next cohort of business-launching hiring projects. https://bit.ly/47GGdvZ __________________________________________Episode sponsor: HoxoRecruiters: are you sitting on a goldmine of LinkedIn connections without knowing how to turn them into real opportunities?Most recruiters spend hours every day on cold outreach and endless scrolling, hoping for replies that never come. But what if LinkedIn could work for you instead?The Hoxo 7-Day LinkedIn Challenge is a simple, step-by-step framework designed to help you:Identify warm leads already in your networkStart meaningful conversations with potential clients and candidates—without feeling pushyShare content that gets noticed and builds trust – without spending hours onlineTransform LinkedIn into an inbound lead generator in just 7 days!This challenge isn’t about writing viral posts or spamming DMs.It’s about small, proven actions that take just 20 minutes a day – and start generating results from day one!Ready to unlock your LinkedIn potential?Over 7,000 recruiters worldwide have already used this framework to generate inbound leads, grow their pipeline, and win more business. Now it’s your turn.

What happens when you cold email Lord Sugar asking for investment? Tom Johnson did exactly that…and it worked!On this week's show, I am joined by Tom Johnson, founder of Hernshead Group, a recruitment business he launched six years ago with backing from Lord Alan Sugar after watching The Apprentice.In this episode, Tom shares the full story – from that bold email to building and scaling Hernshead Group, launching (and closing) multiple brands, and recently completing a management buyout to take full ownership of the company.In this episode, we discuss:How Tom secured investment from Lord Sugar and built the business from scratchThe reality of launching new brands and learning from failureThe highs and lows of building a team, navigating COVID-19, and scaling with clarityHow and why he bought back 100 percent of the sharesIf you're looking for investment, currently working with a business partner, or planning for long-term ownership and growth, this is an episode you need to hear.Chapters00:00 The journey begins: Tom Johnson's entrepreneurial path03:08 Investment and growth: Partnering with Sir Alan Sugar06:14 Navigating challenges: The impact of COVID-1908:56 Expanding horizons: The launch of multiple brands11:56 Learning from failure: The downfall of new ventures15:03 Refocusing on core strengths: The future of Hearnshead Group30:06 Scaling the team and business growth31:03 Implementing effective processes and training33:14 Leveraging AI and technology in recruitment34:21 Balancing AI assistance with human touch36:33 Data-driven management and performance tracking39:05 Overcoming fear and building confidence in sales44:04 Strategic business decisions and future planning49:09 Equity and incentives for team growth52:50 Vision for the future and sustainable growth__________________________________________Episode Sponsor: AtlasYour memory isn’t perfect. So Atlas remembers everything for you. Atlas is an end-to-end recruitment platform built for the AI generation. It automates your admin so you can focus on the business tasks that matter. How many conversations do you have every day? With clients. Candidates. Your team. Service providers.Now how many of those conversations can you recall with 100% accuracy? How many hours a week do you spend making notes to try and retain as much as possible? And how much is still getting lost along the way? Traditional CRM systems weren’t built for the type of recruitment business you’re running right now. They were built to rely on the structured, tagged, categorised, and formal data you could feed it. Manual processes that needed you to input specific information, based on specific questions and answers. But what about all the other conversations you’re having every single day? Atlas isn’t an ATS or a CRM. It’s an Intelligent Business Platform that helps you perform 10X better than you could on your own. How? By removing all your low value tasks, acting as your perfect memory, and providing highly relevant recommendations to impact your performance. Learn more about the power of Atlas – and take advantage of the exclusive offer for The RAG listeners – by visiting https://recruitwithatlas.com/therag/ __________________________________________Episode Sponsor: HoxoReady to find 25+ warm leads within seven days on LinkedIn?As a recruiter, most of the working day is spent chasing people via cold outreach on LinkedIn.This method is super time-consuming, and most people don’t reply because they simply don’t know or trust you.But it can be different...If you follow the process in this document, you will hack the LinkedIn Algorithm in just 15 minutes per day and drive warm leads whenever you want themA warm lead is a person who you can 100% guarantee knows who you are, and what you do and has shown interest in you and/or your services in the past 48 hours.Over 5000 recruiters around the globe follow this process daily, and the results have been amazing!You can have this, too!Access the Hoxo 20:10:5 guide here: https://bit.ly/3PLjaJYIf you’d prefer to consume this information directly from our Co-Founder and CEO, Sean Anderson (the creator of 20:10:5), you can join our free training course now!Get access to:4 bite-sized training videos that can immediately help you boost your business on LinkedInExclusive access to Hoxo 20:10:5 warm leads tracking templateFree support from the Hoxo team to help you implement the process and get the resultsThis course is part of the hugely successful Personal Brand Bootcamp which has seen over 5000 recruiters graduate and drive millions of warm leads and £££ in revenue as a result!Get free access to the course once you’ve downloaded our guide.

What if recruitment agency growth didn’t mean adding headcount?Helen Yarrow has spent over 30 years in recruitment—and for most of it, she felt like she was falling short of the industry’s definition of success.Why? Because she never scaled a big team.Despite launching her business 14 years ago and building a strong reputation in the B2B events space, she carried a sense that staying solo meant she hadn’t really “made it”.That belief stayed with her until her 50s.This week on The RAG Podcast, Helen shares how she finally let go of the pressure to scale, and found clarity in building a business that fits her life—not someone else’s idea of success.In this episode, we cover:- Her journey from Rec2Rec into B2B events recruitment- The realities of raising a family while running a business- The turning point that helped her stop chasing a model that didn’t feel right- Why staying solo might actually be the most powerful decision you can makeIf you’ve ever questioned whether bigger really means better, this one will resonate.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Helen Yarrow and Jackson Barnes02:58 Helen's Journey into Recruitment06:02 Career Progression and Challenges in Recruitment09:11 Transitioning to Motherhood and Work-Life Balance11:51 Establishing Jackson Barnes and Finding Clarity15:07 The Shift to Conference and B2B Events Recruitment17:52 The Role of Conference Producers20:55 Building a Business Around Family Life24:00 Reflections on Success and Team Building34:51 Redefining Success in Business37:12 The Journey of Solo Entrepreneurship39:34 Reflections on Parenting and Work-Life Balance42:57 The Importance of Self-Awareness45:00 Navigating Parenting Challenges50:20 The Impact of COVID-19 on Business54:58 Finding Fulfillment in Work01:01:12 Marketing as a Game Changer01:03:43 Advice for Women in Recruitment01:07:52 The Importance of Open Communication in the Workplace__________________________________________Episode Sponsor: UntappedUntapped is THE market leader and go-to agency for finding and hiring tried-and-tested offshore talent into UK, US and Australian-based recruitment companies.They’re providing top-class TEAMMATES, NOT OUTSOURCES! We use Untapped for Hoxo’s own offshore hires, and it’s been a total game-changer for our team. No one else can compete with the quality of their network, their in-depth candidate assessment process or their time to hire. If hiring elite-level overseas talent into your business to boost sales and increase productivity whilst saving yourself a huge amount in employment costs isn’t on your radar for 2024, it should be!Untapped are hiring recruitment, sales, marketing and support staff into recruitment agencies of all shapes, sizes and specialisms globally and they are growing rapidly!Join the waiting list today so you don’t miss out on the next cohort of business-launching hiring projects. https://bit.ly/47GGdvZ __________________________________________Episode sponsor: HoxoRecruiters: are you sitting on a goldmine of LinkedIn connections without knowing how to turn them into real opportunities?Most recruiters spend hours every day on cold outreach and endless scrolling, hoping for replies that never come. But what if LinkedIn could work for you instead?The Hoxo 7-Day LinkedIn Challenge is a simple, step-by-step framework designed to help you:Identify warm leads already in your networkStart meaningful conversations with potential clients and candidates—without feeling pushyShare content that gets noticed and builds trust – without spending hours onlineTransform LinkedIn into an inbound lead generator in just 7 days!This challenge isn’t about writing viral posts or spamming DMs.It’s about small, proven actions that take just 20 minutes a day – and start generating results from day one!Ready to unlock your LinkedIn potential?Over 7,000 recruiters worldwide have already used this framework to generate inbound leads, grow their pipeline, and win more business. Now it’s your turn.Join the FREE 7-day LinkedIn Challenge today and start unlocking the opportunities already in your network.Head over to https://hubs.ly/Q031DT2s0 to get started. See you there!

Founders fall out. Niches get blurred. This is what no one tells you about before you launch your own recruitment agencyOn this week's show, I am joined by Tom Essex, co-founder of Kigyo Solutions, a recruitment business based in Amsterdam focused on logistics and renewable energy.Tom launched the business in 2020 at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. What started as a niche SAP agency quickly became a generalist business that lost its direction. In this episode, we break down how he and his co-founder navigated a tough few years, rebuilt their relationship, and refocused the business to find traction again.In this episode, we discuss:The reality of launching a recruitment business during a global crisisWhat happens when you lose your niche and drift into unfamiliar marketsHow to manage the dynamics of a co-founder relationship through difficult periodsWhy doing less, better, can be the key to long-term successIf you're thinking of starting a business with a partner, or you’re in the early stages and feeling the pressure, this is a conversation you need to hear.__________________________________________Episode Sponsor: AtlasYour memory isn’t perfect. So Atlas remembers everything for you. Atlas is an end-to-end recruitment platform built for the AI generation. It automates your admin so you can focus on the business tasks that matter. How many conversations do you have every day? With clients. Candidates. Your team. Service providers.Now how many of those conversations can you recall with 100% accuracy? How many hours a week do you spend making notes to try and retain as much as possible? And how much is still getting lost along the way? Traditional CRM systems weren’t built for the type of recruitment business you’re running right now. They were built to rely on the structured, tagged, categorised, and formal data you could feed it. Manual processes that needed you to input specific information, based on specific questions and answers. But what about all the other conversations you’re having every single day? Atlas isn’t an ATS or a CRM. It’s an Intelligent Business Platform that helps you perform 10X better than you could on your own. How? By removing all your low value tasks, acting as your perfect memory, and providing highly relevant recommendations to impact your performance. Learn more about the power of Atlas – and take advantage of the exclusive offer for The RAG listeners – by visiting https://recruitwithatlas.com/therag/ __________________________________________Episode Sponsor: HoxoReady to find 25+ warm leads within seven days on LinkedIn?As a recruiter, most of the working day is spent chasing people via cold outreach on LinkedIn.This method is super time-consuming, and most people don’t reply because they simply don’t know or trust you.But it can be different...If you follow the process in this document, you will hack the LinkedIn Algorithm in just 15 minutes per day and drive warm leads whenever you want them.A warm lead is a person who you can 100% guarantee knows who you are, and what you do and has shown interest in you and/or your services in the past 48 hours.Over 5000 recruiters around the globe follow this process daily, and the results have been amazing!You can have this, too!Access the Hoxo 20:10:5 guide here: https://bit.ly/3PLjaJYIf you’d prefer to consume this information directly from our Co-Founder and CEO, Sean Anderson (the creator of 20:10:5), you can join our free training course now!Get access to:4 bite-sized training videos that can immediately help you boost your business on LinkedInExclusive access to Hoxo 20:10:5 warm leads tracking templateFree support from the Hoxo team to help you implement the process and get the resultsThis course is part of the hugely successful Personal Brand Bootcamp which has seen over 5000 recruiters graduate and drive millions of warm leads and £££ in revenue as a result!Get free access to the course once you’ve downloaded our guide.

Marc Cohen scaled his recruitment agency in the US and secured an 8 figure exit.On this week's RAG Podcast, I am joined by Marc, founder of ConSol Partners, who achieved something that 99.9% of recruitment founders will never do.Marc and his co-founder Graeme built their agency with an exit strategy in mind from day 1, navigating economic downturns, and predicting the success of future markets.In this episode, we discuss:Marc's unique story from Recruiter to FounderThe reason why he scaled the business statesideThe strategy behind selling 65% of the business before maximising the final saleHis thoughts on whether the US really is the golden dream for recruitment entrepreneursThe emotional and financial complexities of exiting a businessWhat life looks like post-exit and how to stay motivatedIf you have ambitions of scaling and selling a business—especially in the US—this episode is essential.Chapters00:00 Introduction03:00 Marc's journey to America06:09 Building a career in recruitment08:57 The entrepreneurial spirit11:56 Setting up ConSol Partners15:02 Vision and philosophy in business18:02 The startup journey 20:58 Navigating challenges in a new economy22:58 Identifying future trends25:10 Evolving business strategies27:54 Expansion into AI and robotics30:15 The move to the US35:41 Maintaining relationships across borders37:50 Preparing for an exit44:54 The exit process and negotiations50:02 Post-exit reflections and challenges52:40 Investment strategies after the exit56:49 Emotional connections in business01:01:20 Identity and purpose after exiting01:03:12 Daily life and new routines01:06:09 Future aspirations and community engagement01:10:18 Looking ahead: scaling in the US01:12:26 Closing thoughts and final reflections__________________________________________Episode Sponsor: UntappedUntapped is THE market leader and go-to agency for finding and hiring tried-and-tested offshore talent into UK, US and Australian-based recruitment companies.They’re providing top-class TEAMMATES, NOT OUTSOURCES! We use Untapped for Hoxo’s own offshore hires, and it’s been a total game-changer for our team. No one else can compete with the quality of their network, their in-depth candidate assessment process or their time to hire. If hiring elite-level overseas talent into your business to boost sales and increase productivity whilst saving yourself a huge amount in employment costs isn’t on your radar for 2024, it should be!Untapped are hiring recruitment, sales, marketing and support staff into recruitment agencies of all shapes, sizes and specialisms globally and they are growing rapidly!Join the waiting list today so you don’t miss out on the next cohort of business-launching hiring projects. https://bit.ly/47GGdvZ __________________________________________Episode sponsor: HoxoRecruiters: are you sitting on a goldmine of LinkedIn connections without knowing how to turn them into real opportunities?Most recruiters spend hours every day on cold outreach and endless scrolling, hoping for replies that never come. But what if LinkedIn could work for you instead?The Hoxo 7-Day LinkedIn Challenge is a simple, step-by-step framework designed to help you:Identify warm leads already in your networkStart meaningful conversations with potential clients and candidates—without feeling pushyShare content that gets noticed and builds trust – without spending hours onlineTransform LinkedIn into an inbound lead generator in just 7 days!This challenge isn’t about writing viral posts or spamming DMs.It’s about small, proven actions that take just 20 minutes a day – and start generating results from day one!Ready to unlock your LinkedIn potential?Over 7,000 recruiters worldwide have already used this framework to generate inbound leads, grow their pipeline, and win more business. Now it’s your turn.Join the FREE 7-day LinkedIn Challenge today and start unlocking the opportunities already in your network.Head over to https://hubs.ly/Q031DT2s0 to get started. See you there!

Kyle Winterbottom, founder of Orbition, shares his unique approach to recruitment, focusing on community building over outbound sales. He discusses the creation of a global network of 1,500+ Chief Data Officers, emphasizing trust and credibility as key sales drivers. Winterbottom dives into monetizing engaged audiences and the challenges of scaling a business reliant on inbound revenue. He also highlights how his brand, Driven By Data, has not only attracted clients but has also positioned his company as a potential acquisition target.

In 2022, Lloyd Gordon had just acquired Cognitive Group, bringing his team to over 100 people.Over the past 3 years, he has had the challenge of successfully integrating the two businesses.On this week’s episode of The RAG Podcast, I am joined for the fourth time by Lloyd, CEO of Focus Cloud Group, and this time we discussed:The challenges of merging two teams, cultures, and leadership styles.How to unify systems, processes, and back-office functions.The mistakes made along the way and the lessons learned.What’s next as Lloyd sets his sights on further growth and investment.If you're interested in scaling a business through acquisition, managing post-merger integration, or leading a company through rapid growth, this episode is a must-watch.Chapters00:00 Introduction02:24 Lloyd Gordon's journey and business overview05:15 Personal life and work-life balance12:31 Transitioning from acquisition to integration18:05 Cultural integration and team dynamics24:51 Technology and systems integration40:12 Transitioning to a unified CRM system42:04 Challenges in back office integration44:34 Implementing Workday Financials48:50 Navigating market challenges and workforce adjustments55:01 Leadership decisions in tough times59:51 Evolving leadership roles and responsibilities01:07:55 Future vision and strategic planning__________________________________________Episode Sponsor: AtlasYour memory isn’t perfect. So Atlas remembers everything for you. Atlas is an end-to-end recruitment platform built for the AI generation. It automates your admin so you can focus on the business tasks that matter. How many conversations do you have every day? With clients. Candidates. Your team. Service providers.Now how many of those conversations can you recall with 100% accuracy? How many hours a week do you spend making notes to try and retain as much as possible? And how much is still getting lost along the way? Traditional CRM systems weren’t built for the type of recruitment business you’re running right now. They were built to rely on the structured, tagged, categorised, and formal data you could feed it. Manual processes that needed you to input specific information, based on specific questions and answers. But what about all the other conversations you’re having every single day? Atlas isn’t an ATS or a CRM. It’s an Intelligent Business Platform that helps you perform 10X better than you could on your own. How? By removing all your low value tasks, acting as your perfect memory, and providing highly relevant recommendations to impact your performance. Learn more about the power of Atlas – and take advantage of the exclusive offer for The RAG listeners – by visiting https://recruitwithatlas.com/therag/ __________________________________________Episode sponsor: HoxoRecruiters: are you sitting on a goldmine of LinkedIn connections without knowing how to turn them into real opportunities?Most recruiters spend hours every day on cold outreach and endless scrolling, hoping for replies that never come. But what if LinkedIn could work for you instead?The Hoxo 7-Day LinkedIn Challenge is a simple, step-by-step framework designed to help you:Identify warm leads already in your networkStart meaningful conversations with potential clients and candidates—without feeling pushyShare content that gets noticed and builds trust – without spending hours onlineTransform LinkedIn into an inbound lead generator in just 7 days!This challenge isn’t about writing viral posts or spamming DMs.It’s about small, proven actions that take just 20 minutes a day – and start generating results from day one!Ready to unlock your LinkedIn potential?Over 7,000 recruiters worldwide have already used this framework to generate inbound leads, grow their pipeline, and win more business. Now it’s your turn.Join the FREE 7-day LinkedIn Challenge today and start unlocking the opportunities already in your network.Head over to https://hubs.ly/Q031DT2s0 to get started. See you there!