1% Better Recruitment Podcast
The 1% Better Recruitment Podcast, hosted by Charles Kyriakou, features conversations with a wide range of professionals within the recruitment industry. The show aims to provide valuable insights for those looking to enter recruitment, currently working in the field, running their own business, or planning to start one. Each episode is designed to leave listeners 1% better informed and more equipped to succeed in recruitment.
Episodes
How to Become the Go-To Recruiter in Your Market & High Performance Hybrid | Rich Westhead (EP 102)
What does it take to become the go-to recruiter in your market?In this episode of The 1% Better Recruitment Podcast, I'm joined by Rich Westhead, Managing Director of AJ Group.Having spent 25 years in recruitment across Manpower, Search Consultancy and now AJ Group, Rich has experienced everything from large corporate recruitment businesses to rapidly growing boutiques. We discuss how AJ Group
Has Recruitment Lost Its Sales Culture? | Adam Turner (EP 101)
Why are recruiters becoming afraid to pick up the phone?In this episode of The 1% Better Recruitment Podcast, I'm joined by Adam Turner, founder of Global Veterinary Careers (GVC). Having worked in veterinary recruitment since 2007, Adam has built GVC into an international recruitment business operating across the UK, US and Australia. We discuss why recruitment needs to get back on the phone, wha
The Best Recruiters Always Raise The Average | Sachin Ruparelia (EP 100)
How do the best recruitment leaders consistently raise the average across their teams?In this episode, I'm joined by Sachin Ruparelia, CEO of Camino Partners and Camino Search.Having spent more than 14 years building one of the recruitment industry's most respected businesses, Sachin shares the leadership lessons he's learned through rapid growth, losing key people, and rebuilding a hi
The Difference Between Good Recruiters & Top Billers | Ryan Collett (EP 99)
What separates a good recruiter from a consistently great one?Ryan shares the lessons he's learned over 16 years at SThree, from joining as a trainee after initially failing the recruitment process, to becoming a Sales Director responsible for building high-performing teams. We explore why consistency beats intensity, how the best recruiters build trust through genuine relationships, and why l
The Best Recruiters Play The Long Game | Luke Pitkin (EP 98)
What does it actually mean to play the long game in recruitment?Luke shares the reality of building a recruitment technology business from the ground up, from living in a shed to fund the business, overcoming failed partnerships, and learning why playing the long game always wins. We also explore why authentic relationships outperform transactional networking, how personal branding creates opportu
Recruiters Using AI Are Like Recruiters on Steroids | Elkie Holland (EP 97)
What happens when you combine nearly 40 years of recruitment experience with a genuine passion for AI?In this episode, I'm joined by Elkie Holland, recruitment entrepreneur, tech recruitment specialist, and founder of Prospectus Recruitment. Having been in the industry since the mid-1980s, Elkie has witnessed every major shift in recruitment and is now leading from the front by building her ow
How To Build A Recruitment Business That Runs Without You | Ash Knight (EP 96)
What does it actually take to build a recruitment business that people never want to leave?In this episode of The 1% Better Recruitment Podcast, I’m joined by Ash Knight, Founder at AJ Group, and an investor.Having built and scaled multiple specialist recruitment brands, Ash has created one of the UK's highest-performing recruitment businesses, with a relentless focus on leadership, culture, p
How To Build A High Performance Recruitment Culture | Dale Williams (EP 95)
What does it actually take to build a high-performance recruitment business that scales?In this episode, I’m joined by Dale Williams, CEO of The Recolution Group, a multi-brand recruitment business operating across professional services, SAP, aerospace, defence, space, and executive search.With over 18 years in recruitment and more than 15 years as a business owner, Dale shares the lessons he'
Recruiters Using AI Will Beat Recruiters Who Don't | Rob Saltrese (EP 94)
What happens when recruitment founders know they need to embrace AI, but have no idea where to start?In this episode, I’m joined by Rob Saltrese, AI strategist, recruitment technology specialist, and founder of Lyra Labs.Rob has spent years helping businesses understand, adopt, and implement AI properly. Rather than focusing on the fearmongering headlines, we discuss what recruitment founders and
Building A Recruitment Business With An Exit In Mind | Tara Ricks (EP 93)
What does it really take to build a recruitment business that someone actually wants to buy?In this episode, I'm joined by Tara Ricks, a highly respected advisor, chair, non-executive director, and former recruitment business owner who successfully built and sold her own company before going on to advise recruitment businesses across EMEA on growth, scale, acquisitions, investment, and exits.T
The Science Of Energy, ADHD, Burnout & Peak Performance | Debbie Bosworth (EP 92)
What if burnout, ADHD symptoms, energy crashes, and poor performance weren’t just mindset problems… but biological ones?Debbie Bosworth is a strategic genomist with 30 years of experience, and founder of Ideal Edge, where she works with founders, CEOs, leaders, and recruiters to understand what is really going on beneath the surface by testing and interpreting genetics, DNA, bloods, cells, energy
How An Introvert Became A Top Billing Recruiter | Craig Lewis (EP 91)
What happens when a naturally introverted recruiter, who struggles with confidence, rejects traditional recruitment stereotypes and still becomes a top performer?In this episode, I’m joined by Craig Lewis, a recruiter with over a decade of experience who has built a highly successful desk by doing things differently. Craig opens up about confidence struggles, ADHD, personality profiling, niche spe
How Recruiters Stand Out In Saturated Markets | Adam Wagster (EP 90)
What does it take to build a recruitment business that survives 20 years, thrives in a saturated UK market, and still wins through relationships in an AI-driven world?In this episode, I’m joined by Adam Wagster, CEO of Uniting Ambition, a technology recruitment business approaching its 20th anniversary. Adam has spent over two decades in recruitment, scaling teams, navigating private equity backin
From £0 to £100K Months: The Mindset of a Top Biller | Michael Christodoulides (EP 89)
What does it really take to become a top biller in recruitment and stay there?In this episode, I’m joined by Michael Christodoulides, a recruiter I’ve known my entire life, who shares his journey from starting in recruitment admin to becoming a multi-award-winning consultant billing huge numbers across the US construction market.Michael opens up about the mindset shifts that changed his career, th
From Consultant To Owner, Going Through an MBO | Ross McQuarrie (EP 88)
What does it actually take to go from trainee recruiter to business owner?In this episode, I’m joined by Ross McQuarrie, co-owner at Wilkinson & Associates, who shares his journey from falling into recruitment to leading and owning the business nearly 20 years later.Ross breaks down the real story behind stepping into ownership through a management buyout, the mindset shifts required to move f
Recruitment Agencies Are Wasting 75% of Their Effort | Steve Carter (EP 87)
What’s the real reason most recruitment agencies struggle to perform… lack of activity, or a broken process?In this episode, I’m joined by Steve Carter for a raw and insightful conversation about recruitment performance, efficiency, and why so many agencies are built backwards.With over 40 years in recruitment, from the desk to leading global businesses, Steve brings a no-BS perspective on what ac
The Behaviours That Actually Drive Billing | Chris Hart (EP 86)
What’s the real reason most recruiters don’t perform… lack of knowledge, or lack of action?In this episode, I’m joined by Chris Hart for a raw and honest conversation about recruitment performance, mindset, and why so many consultants stay stuck despite knowing exactly what they need to do.Chris brings a no-BS perspective shaped by years in recruitment, leadership, and personal experience, includi
Why Being More Consultative Will Win You More Business | Calum & Adam @ AddSomeZest
In this episode of The 1 Percent Better Recruitment Podcast, I’m joined by Adam Jennings and Calum Lyle from Zest to break down one of the biggest conversations in recruitment right now, AI vs the human element.With so much focus on automation, AI tools, and scaling outreach, many recruiters are moving in the same direction. But in this conversation, Adam and Calum share a different perspective, w
The Small Things That Separate Top Recruiters From The Rest | Jamie Burrows
Jamie is a recruitment trainer and coach with deep expertise in NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming), giving him a unique perspective on how top recruiters think, communicate, and consistently outperform others in the market.In this conversation, we explore the idea of “the difference that makes the difference” and why success in recruitment isn’t about one big breakthrough, but the accumulation of
How High-Performing Agencies Actually Use Tech | Richard Caldicott (EP 85)
What actually drives results in recruitment… more tech, or better use of what you already have?In this episode, I’m joined by Richard Caldecott, a recruitment technology expert and former IT Director who has spent years helping agencies build, optimise, and scale their tech stacks.Richard has worked with recruitment businesses of all sizes, from growing agencies to large-scale organisations, givin
Why Elite Recruiters Win With Simplicity | Kalpesh Baxi (EP 84)
What if the real reason you’re not winning more business isn’t your tech, your market, or your scripts… but the fact you’re not doing the basics well enough?In this episode of The 1 Percent Better Recruitment Podcast, I’m joined by Kalpesh Baxi, a 29-year recruitment veteran, advisor, investor, and founder who has helped build, scale, and transform recruitment businesses across the globe.Kalpesh h
26 Years in Recruitment, What Actually Works in BD? | Toby Babb (EP 83)
What actually changes in recruitment business development… and what stays the same after 26 years in the industry?In this episode, I’m joined by Toby Babb, founder of Harrington Starr, who has spent over two decades building recruitment businesses, developing teams, and evolving his approach to business development.Toby has seen recruitment through multiple cycles, from the early days of heavy out
F2F Beats AI? Why Recruiters Need To Meet Their Clients | Emily @ SourceWhale
Emily works closely with recruitment businesses using SourceWhale’s multi-channel outreach platform, giving her a front-row seat to how recruiters are evolving their business development strategies in a world increasingly driven by tech.While AI and automation are making outreach faster and more efficient, this conversation highlights something many recruiters are forgetting, the power of face-to-
Inside the Mind of a £2M Recruitment Biller | Oli Stockford (EP 82)
What does it actually take to go from billing big numbers to becoming a top-performing recruiter year after year?In this episode, I’m joined by Oli Stockford, a consistent top biller who has generated over £2M in revenue and built a reputation for delivering results through discipline, consistency, and process.Oli’s approach cuts through a lot of the noise in recruitment. While many recruiters loo
From Solo Recruiter to 11 Heads in 19months | Dan Payne (EP 81)
What does it actually take to go from solo recruiter to building a real recruitment business?In this episode, I’m joined by Dan Payne, founder of a fast-growing recruitment agency that has gone from just himself to 11 heads in only 19 months, with the business now approaching the seven-figure mark.Dan first came on the podcast when he had just launched the business and was operating alone. At the
How Recruiters Can Actually Get Replies to Emails | Ben Fielding (EP 80)
Ever wondered why your emails don't get replies? Or how you can maximise your email outreach to book more calls? In this episode of The 1 Percent Better Recruitment Podcast, I’m joined by Ben Fielding, an email deliverability and outreach specialist who helps recruitment businesses get their emails into inboxes instead of spam.Ben works closely with recruitment agencies to fix one of the most
The Psychology of Great Recruiters | Leon Brandon Mitton (EP 79)
In this episode of The 1 Percent Better Recruitment Podcast, I’m joined by Leon Mitten, Founder & Director of Agnes Cole Consulting, to unpack a topic that divides the recruitment industry:👉 Is recruitment a sales job?Leon started his career in hardcore software sales, making 100–150 calls a day, before moving into recruitment and building his own specialist tech recruitment business operating
The Financial Mistakes That Kill Recruitment Agencies | Pavan K (EP 78)
What if the biggest threat to your recruitment business isn’t the market… but your financial discipline?In this episode, I’m joined by Pav, also known as The Boring Accountant, to break down the financial mistakes that quietly damage recruitment agencies every single year.Pav works closely with recruitment founders on tax, cashflow, and long-term financial planning. That gives him a front-row seat
Is Recruitment a Sales Job… or a Marketing Job? | Kris Holland (EP 77)
What if recruitment isn’t just a sales job anymore… but a marketing job?In this episode, I’m joined by Kris Holland, Founder of Kitto, to unpack a debate that’s dividing recruiters right now, has recruitment fundamentally shifted from pure sales to sales enabled by marketing?Kris works with growth-focused recruitment agencies on brand, positioning, demand generation, and revenue enablement. That g
The Business Development Lessons That Still Win After 40yrs in Recruitment | Martin Crapper (EP 76)
What if the biggest problem in recruitment business development isn’t the market, tech, or competition… but forgetting what actually works?In this episode, I’m joined by Martin Crapper, Managing Director at Redline Group, to unpack the business development lessons that still win after 40 years in recruitment.Martin has spent four decades building and evolving a specialist recruitment business in t
Where AI Actually Helps Recruiters (And Where It Doesn’t) - w/ Derry Holt (EP 75)
What if AI isn’t the silver bullet recruiters think it is?In this episode, I’m joined by Derry Holt, Founder & CEO of OneUp Sales, to break down where AI actually helps recruiters, and where it causes more problems than progress.Derry works closely with recruitment founders and leaders on sales performance and execution, giving him a front-row seat to how agencies are really using AI and automatio
The Worlds First AI Only Recruitment Agency w/ Alex Odwell (EP 74)
What if the future of recruitment isn’t better recruiters… but fewer humans altogether?In this episode, I’m joined by Alex Odwell, founder of Referment, to explore one of the most challenging and controversial ideas in recruitment today, the rise of the zero-human recruitment agency.Alex has spent nearly two decades building and scaling recruitment businesses and is now operating an agency powered
EP 73 - Old-School Sales, New-School Tech, What Actually Works? w/Rohit Kapoor
What if the biggest mistake recruiters are making right now isn’t the market, AI, or competition… but forgetting the fundamentals that actually drive sales?In this episode, I’m joined by Rohit Kapoor to break down what really works when you combine old-school sales discipline with new-school recruitment technology. Rohit has spent his career across agency recruitment, tech sales, and building recr
EP 72 – What Recruiters Need to Get Right in 2026 w/ Dougie Loan
What if the biggest mistake recruiters are making as we head into 2026 isn’t the market, AI, or competition… but believing automation alone will drive success?In this episode, I’m joined by Dougie Loan, CRO at SourceWhale, to break down what recruiters, leaders, and founders actually need to get right as technology, automation, and AI continue to reshape the industry. Dougie has spent his career w
EP 71 – The Real Difference Between Average and Great Recruiters in Today’s Market w/ Sarah Leete
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. Sara
2025 Wrapped, Gratitude & What’s Next | The 1% Better Recruitment Podcast
What if the biggest milestone in building something meaningful isn’t the downloads, the sponsors, or the stats… but realising how many people you’ve helped along the way?In this special end-of-year episode of the The 1% Better Recruitment Podcast, there’s no guest and no script, just a raw reflection on 2025, the journey so far, and what’s coming next in 2026.Recorded at home, this episode starts
EP 70 - Fix Your Process, Fix Your Agency w/ Saeed Bor
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 leadershi
EP 69 - How He Sold a £2.1M RPO: The Future of Recruitment w/ Nicholas Thomas
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 acros
EP 68 - Is 360 Recruitment Dead? Will AI Replace Delivery Consultants? w/ Austin Clark
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 science
EP 67 - How To Build Your Name, Build Your Market & Build a Desk From Scratch w/ Roxanne
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 recruit
EP 66 Why Most Trainees Quit, But a Few Become £1M Billers w/ Brandon White
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 th
EP 65 – The Death Of Sh*t-House Recruitment w/ Sheldon Clottey
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 cont
EP 64 - How To Break Into The US Market + Outsourcing In South Africa w/Elliott Manning
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 lift
EP 63 - How To Coach, Practical Management Tools & His Crazy Battle with Cancer w/Naz Harrison
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 f
EP 62 - Habits of a Top Biller: How To Master Business Development w/Jay Gurney
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
EP 61 - Authenticity, Culture & Finding the Right Recruitment Business w/ Adam Holt
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 ultimat
EP 60 - Creative Outreach, Polite Persistence & Mastering Long-term Relationships w/Frazer Graham
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 j
EP 59 - Building and Dominating a Niche Market, From Fear of Starting Alone to Discipline & Resilience w/Emma April
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,
EP 58 From Fax Machines to AI: The Evolution of Recruitment w/Stuart Biggs
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
EP 57 – Starting a Business During the Pandemic, Personal Branding, and Sobriety w/ Ivor Stratford
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 startin
EP 56 - The Celebrity Experience: Standing Out in Recruitment w/Samm Green
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 consultat
EP 55 - The BD Process Every Recruiter Needs (Even If You Hate Cold Calling) w/Reece Warren
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
EP 54: Why Most Recruitment Startups Fail (and How to Avoid It) w/ Charlie Hunt
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 buil
EP 53 – The Two Types of LinkedIn Content You’re Ignoring (That Make the Most Money) w/ Sam Rasdall
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 a
EP 52 – Rebuilding Sales Culture in Recruitment w/Terry Payne
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 pe
EP 51 - Unlocking Performance Psychology in Recruitment w/Alex Elliott
What if performance psychology was the missing link in your recruitment business?In this episode of The 1% Better Recruitment Podcast, I’m joined by Alex Elliott — recruitment investor, advisor, and former founder who exited his own agency after scaling it over 10 years.Alex lifts the lid on what truly drives elite performance and sustainable leadership in recruitment — and why most businesses are
EP 50 - What It Takes To Be a Great Recruiter and Founder w/Elaine Tyler
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 scali
EP 49 – You Can’t Automate Your Way to a Million-Pound Desk w/ Marc Burgess
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 deal
EP 48 - High Performance Hacks That Works For Recruiters w/Jack Salmon
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 pr
EP 47 - The Challenges of a Young And Underestimated 7-figure Founder w/Sam Hunter
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 ma
EP 46 – Mass Spec-Outs Are Lazy. Here’s What to Do Instead w/ Dani-Louise & Kate
What happens when two recruiters say no to spec-outs, ditch the e-shots, and decide to raise the bar in Rec2Rec?In this episode, I’m joined by Dani-Louise and Kate, Co-Founders of Barkely Ellis Talent Solutions — a Rec2Rec brand built on high standards, strong relationships, and straight-talking honesty.We get into what Rec2Rec should look like in 2025 — and why most of the industry is getting it
EP 45 – The Harsh Truth About Scaling and Selling a Recruitment Business w/ Rob Saltrese
What if selling your recruitment business isn’t the dream you’ve been sold?In this episode, I’m joined by Rob Saltrese — serial founder, fractional C-suite advisor, and the brutally honest voice every recruitment entrepreneur needs to hear.We unpack the real story behind scaling a business, navigating ego, loneliness, ADHD, and why most exits are anything but sexy. Rob shares raw lessons from grow
EP 44 – Why Relationships Will Always Beat AI in Recruitment w/ Julian Lisaunskas
What if the best recruiters are still the ones who care the most?In this episode, I’m joined by Julian Lisaunskas, Founder of 5Q Consultancy and a seasoned Rec2Rec with 18+ years of battle-tested experience.We dive into what’s really missing in modern recruitment — genuine human connection.From donut deliveries that led to six-figure accounts to WhatsApp voice notes that win deals, Julian unpacks
EP 43 – Why Leaderboards Work & Lazy Recruiters Hate Data w/Mark Howell
"If your recruiters hate KPIs and ignore the CRM, this episode will explain why — and how to fix it."In this episode of The 1% Better Recruitment Podcast, I’m joined by Mark Howell, Founder of TenRecs Software, the all-in-one recruitment platform combining CRM, analytics, payroll, and real-time gamification to drive performance across your agency.We get brutally honest about:✅ Why leaderboards mot
EP 42 - How to Successfully Build a 100+ Person Recruitment Business w/Nick Barton
"How do you scale a recruitment firm to 100+ people without losing your niche?"In this episode of The 1% Better Recruitment Podcast, I’m joined by Nick Barton, Founder of The Barton Partnership — a global executive search firm built on strategy, transformation, and a relentless focus on customer service.Nick shares his 25+ year journey from packing boxes in a warehouse to leading a 100+ person fir
EP 41 – "Just Man Up" - The Truth About Mental Health In Recruitment & Construction w/Ben Gatt
"I was drowning… and no one knew."In one of the most honest conversations we’ve ever had, Ben Gatt, co-founder of Kanvas Recruitment Group, opens up about the real mental health struggles recruiters and construction professionals face behind the scenes.This episode pulls no punches. We talk anxiety, therapy, burnout, booze culture, and the toxic pressure to “man up” — and how to build so
EP 40 – Rugby, Recruitment & Robots: AI and High-Performance Teams w/Gary Trueman
When ex-professional rugby player Gary Trueman stepped off the pitch and into the world of tech recruitment, he brought with him a relentless drive for high performance — and a mindset shaped by elite sport.Now leading Arrows Group and pioneering AI adoption in recruitment, Gary joins me on The 1% Better Recruitment Podcast to break down how automation, data, and mindset are transforming our indus
EP39 – How to Perform Under Pressure Without Burning Out w/ Angie McGrandles
When Anji McGradles’ husband was diagnosed with a brain tumour — not once, but twice — it triggered a personal transformation that led her deep into the world of mindset, wellness, and neuroscience.Now a leading workplace wellness strategist, Anji joins me on The 1% Better Recruitment Podcast to share powerful, practical tools to help you thrive under pressure — without sacrificing your mental hea
EP38 – From Big Corporate to Boutique Agency: Mastering The Recruitment Basics w/ Joe West
Want to know what it’s REALLY like moving from a huge corporate agency to a boutique?In this episode of The 1% Better Recruitment Podcast, I’m joined by Joe West from Insite Recruitment — ex-Michael Page Director, now helping build something special in the boutique world.We dive into:✅ How big corporate training creates (and limits) recruiters✅ The key differences between corporate vs boutique age
EP 37 - From Lawyer to 7-Figure Biller: Secrets of a Million-Pound Biller w/Amy Hambleton
In this episode of The 1% Better Recruitment Podcast, I’m joined by the incredible Amy Hambleton, Director at RedLaw — one of the UK’s leading legal recruitment firms. 🚀We dive deep into:✅ What it really takes to bill 7 figures annually in legal recruitment✅ How to succeed in long sales cycles (think 6–18 months)✅ The 3 core traits Amy looks for in high-performing recruiters✅ Why mastering the bas
EP 36 - How to Master Cold Outreach, Crush Cold Calls & Build a Personal Brand W/Emily White
Want to master cold outreach, smash cold calls, and grow your personal brand? 🚀 Emily White from SourceWhale shares her full playbook: 9-step BD flows, killer cold call tips, email tactics, and how TikTok is winning her business.Full Episode Description:In this episode of The 1% Better Recruitment Podcast, I’m joined by the brilliant Emily White from SourceWhale — or as some of you might know her,
EP 35 - 26yo MD Billed £2.5m in 5 Years w/ Will Pringle
Will Pringle is the Managing Director of BigBlue, a recruitment business that specialises in the design & build construction market. He was promoted to Managing Director at a young age after showing both leadership qualities and consistently billing over £500k per year. In 2024, he managed to do 65 perm placements whilst managing the entire business... Topics we discussed:- How he manages to c
EP 34 - Transitioning from Biller to Leader - The Mindset Shift w/ Amy Williams
Amy started her consultancy business in Nov 23, where she helps develop 'accidental managers' into commercial leaders that build engaged, high performing, and profitable teams. Since we both set up our businesses at the same time, we would regularly jump on a Zoom to catch up and help each other out, but this time we got to record an episode which you are going to love! P.S Unfortunately,
EP 33 - Empowering Female Founders in Recruitment w/ Helen Plumridge
Helen is a recruitment entrepreneur, coach, mum, and half-iron woman who empowers female founders in recruitment. Topics we discussed:- The reality of growing, scaling, and exiting—and why she chose a different path- How to ditch the traditional recruitment model and build a business on your own terms- The mindset shifts that help women take the leap into entrepreneurship- Practical strategies for
EP 32 - How To Build a Values-Driven Recruitment Business w/ Alex Arnot
Alex Arnot is LinkedIn's number 1 recommended board advisor, who sits on the board for 30+ companies and has successfully exited 25+ companies. Topics we discussed:What you look for in a recruitment business that has potential How can recruitment businesses scale effectively and sustainably? What are the great companies doing, and why are some of them failing?What do 'million-pound billers
EP 31 - How To Build A Cold Desk In Recruitment w/ Dom Taujanskas
LIVE FROM THE RECRUITMENT AGENCY EXPO IN LONDON! Dom is an Ex-Arcitecht and now a high-performing recruiter within the construction space at Quest Personnel, who has successfully built up 4 new desks from scratch. We talked about:- Building a new desk - Will the desk actually work? - Looking at the data. - The candidate strategy, headhunting strategies, differenciating from other agencies. - How t
EP 30 - The Importance of Mental Wealth in Recruitment w/ Chris O'Connell
LIVE FROM THE RECRUITMENT AGENCY EXPO IN LONDON! We talked about:- Contract recruitment - AI- Candidate acquisition - Business Development - How to lead gen - How to into and pitch - And a lot more about recruitment But more importantly we spent the other half of the podcast talking about:- Mental Health- Wellbeing - ADHD- Fear and Anxiety- Men opening up and talking - How we have combatted depres
EP 29 - Behavioural Change Specialist Shares How To Hack Your Mindset With NLP w/ Ricky Virdee
Today is a special episode, because the man on this episode is the person who gave me my certification in NLP and helped shape my life, business, career, and many more things. Topics discussed: - Intro to Ricky, his background, and what he does today. - What is NLP, and how can it be utilized in recruitment? - What specific techniques work well for recruiters and vice versa for leaders? - How can
EP 28 - From Terminal Cancer Diagnosis at 20yo To Hitting £1million Revenue w/ Adam Lee
Adam Lee is the Founder & MD at Mobile Rocket. Topics discussed: - Adams's story of getting a cancer diagnosis at 20yo and overcoming adversity - The stresses and challenges of running, growing, and scaling a bootstrap business - How he hit the first £1m milestone - The sacrifices you have to make to grow a small business This was one hell of a conversation with Adam, and it's crazy to
EP 27 - From £200k - £2m Revenue, Why Keeping Your Standards High Is So Important w/ Gemma Downing
Gemma is the co-founder of a recruitment company called Mixxos. I met Gemma at the recruitment agency expo in Birmingham and was blown away by her passion for the industry. In today's episode, we cover the following topics: 🔥 Gemma's story and an intro to Mixxos 🔥 How they grew from just two founders to 15 heads. 🔥 How they went from £200k revenue to £2m revenue 🔥 Why keeping your standards high i
