AdvisorLink showcase April 2024

Mark Bull

Advisor, APSCo

In my career as a CEO leading private and public recruitment businesses and more recently in my Non Exec Director and Chair roles some things remain a constant area of focus and one of the key ones is the Readiness for Role when markets change, changes such as we are seeing now in many sectors. 

A significant element of my consulting work now is a deep dive into how ready, or not, teams, managers and directors are for the market as it is today and most likely tomorrow. There is a lot of conversation about the need to be more sales led, get closer to clients, establish relationships and in the embryonic era of generational AI where automation will be able to do so much more there will be a greater and ever growing emphasis on the human element in the recruitment process. However, until you establish precisely what all that means in terms of the skills, experience and behaviours needed now you cannot reliably assess how ready, able and willing people are to do what needs to be done, and in my view that is an essential piece of work that all recruitment businesses need to do regardless of size, sector or model.

Nigel Gausden

NED, HRJ Solutions

With 30 years of recruitment industry experience, at Board level with Global and SME companies, as Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operations Officer, Chief Commercial Officer, I have worked in the UK, USA, Australia and Germany.

Since 2008, I have focused on working with start-up, Small and medium sized clients in the UK and USA – advising on scaling and developing their businesses, process improvement and technology selection, pre-sale and sale process. These roles were as Board Advisor and Fractional CFO, COO, CCO and Chair of the Board.

For Larger Clients – Board advisor and Fractional CFO, COO for performance, scaling to world-wide operations, advising on pre sales and sales process.

I pride myself on being a contributor to businesses, working closely with owners and senior management team.

My interest in scaling, managing change and the adoption of AI into recruitment is a real focus, while maximising performance, cash management and funding, utilising data driven decision making to deliver exceptional results.

Specialisms

• Operational Excellence – Ensuring efficiency across front and back office to maximise performance, utilising technology and performance frameworks as a board Advisor and Fractional CFO
• Scaling – Developing high growth and defensive strategies as business grow, entering new markets and service offerings as Board Advisor or Fractional C Level
• Financial Excellence -  Funding, cost -efficiency and exceptional cash management to deliver profitably as Board Advisor or Fractional CFO
• Pre sales and Sales Ready – Managing the pre sales and sales process for those wishing to exit ensuring the owners and management team can concentrate on their business
• Technology - I have strong experience in AI, Automation and systems selection to support business of all sixes

: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nigel-gausden-27147214

Peter Holliday

APSCo Advisor, People & Potential

Following 35+ years of leading small, medium, large and MSP/RPO recruitment businesses I started as an independent adviser and NED in 2020 and have worked with both employers (our clients) and with recruitment businesses owners/leaders and their Boards for the last 4 years.

Despite Covid and lockdown, I have been fortunate enough to be engaged throughout, working with businesses on developing and executing growth strategies, devising and implementing positive change, securing major client wins, ensuring compliance and using it for business advantage, coupled with a ‘third view’ to help cement the right way forward for each unique business.

My strengths lie in constructively challenging the status quo, proposing alternative solutions and becoming hands-on where businesses are entering new space and facing new experiences.  My approach is always to call on my experience of ‘being there’ and ensuring my clients are fully briefed on what worked and what didn’t work - so that fully informed decisions are enabled.

Bradley Placks

Founder, To Augment

With over 25 years of experience within the Recruitment/Recruitment Technology industry, I have founded and led a variety of businesses, including being a Co-Founder of Broadbean.

I have successfully exited four businesses as well as experiencing a merger. Having invested in a Corporate Finance business specialising in M&A within the recruitment sector, I understand how to create value within your business.

I have also advised on a number of MBO’s within the sector. As such, I closely associate with the challenges and potential pitfalls facing founders and leaders as they grow their business from start-ups to scale up.

I've seen first hand how owners that successfully transverse these phases face a fresh series of challenges -many they have not had experience dealing with in the past. Consequently, they often seek outside help in order to make the transition.

I like to help my clients build a business that is reflective of modern culture. I work with owners and their senior leadership teams to help them be the best version of themselves in order to create the very best version of their business. Ultimately the work I do is to create more choice, for you and your business whilst always focusing on increasing shareholder value.

My clients find me honest, supportive and willing to go above and beyond to help them achieve their goals. I believe it is possible to develop business with kindness and compassion and still make money and these qualities are fundamental in my opinion to building successful businesses in the current world we live in.

I have implemented strategic plans with the clients I work with and seeing the results of growth year on year. In tougher market conditions I have also helped my clients navigate the challenges they face by enabling pragmatic decisions to be made across all aspects of their business.

Typical conversations I have with business owners are around scale, purpose, vision, exit, M&A and personal and business resilience. Please do get in touch if you think my experience may be able to help you in the development of your business.

Specialism

• Start Up - Having set my first business up 25 years ago I have experience of taking business from start to exit, developing both sales and back office structure.
• Growth Management & Business Planning - Helping leaders focus on high impact tasks. Setting key objectives and structured plans to achieve goals. Clearly define desired outcomes and plan accordingly.
• Merger, Acquisition & Exit - I have exited 4 businesses, one through an MBO. I have advised clients on MBO and scaling businesses to create successful exit strategies.
• Mentoring & Leadership Support - I pride myself on helping founders and their leadership team be the best versions of themselves to create the best business possible. Developing growth through compassion and empathy for individuals and their team.

Tara Ricks

Founder & Director, Consulting Eve

Tara is a highly experienced recruitment professional with over 20 years’ experience in the sector. She has a proven track record in leading and growing successful teams, developing strategy and driving new business lines and markets. Tara is now working as an NED and strategic advisor, mentor and coach to several companies in the UK market.

She was included in the 2015 Global Power 100 Women in Staffing list.

Tara’s specialisms include:

• Growth Management & Business Planning - Developing both strategic and operational plans and roadmaps - to scale businesses, achieve the objective of a capital event and/or international expansion.
• Organisational Design & Development - Extensive experience in the SME sector, both as a recruitment business leader and subsequently as an NED and board advisor.  
• Merger, Acquisition & Exit - Advising on the due diligence required for an exit, what “good” looks like and how to achieve it, strong portfolio of legal and corporate finance experts.
• Executive Coaching - Practitioner diploma via the Academy of Executive Coaching.  Utilising my business experience and coaching academics to support the development of business leaders.

: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tara-ricks-4b17112?min