Midlands Business Forum: Reviewing Your Business in a Challenging Market

Vanessa Collins

Founder & Director , Vanessa Collins Associates

Vanessa has a passion for operational excellence with extensive experience which enables her to bring a rounded approach, she is known for her pragmatic and effective solutions that support organisations of all sizes, in the last 25 years she has worked across many areas of the recruitment industry; Executive Search, Interim Management, Contingent & Volume Recruitment, Recruitment Communications, Employer Branding, Creative & Digital Marketing, Media, and Assessment Services, where she has led teams, developed services and implemented solutions both internally for Recruitment businesses and for Private and Public Sector clients.

As COO Vanessa’s remit included People & Culture, HR, Marketing, IT, Governance, Compliance and Legal, and working with the board to future proof and remove risk. But developing the talent across the business still remains her favourite part of the job.

Prior to that Vanessa has an interesting background from being a Creative Director of an award-winning agency, Operations Director where she jointly ran a Recruitment Advertising Agency specialising in Not-for-Profit clients, like Macmillan, Barnardo’s, British Museum and Care UK. Head of Sales for a large Full-Service Recruitment Agency and later running all the service areas as a Director (200 employees) reporting into Global Head office in Zurich.

Teri Etherington

Head of Talent Development, APSCo UK

Teri has spent over 20 years in and around the recruitment sector and absolutely loves it. She spent ten years in front line recruitment before moving to Recruitment International as Country Manager. Teri joined the APSCo team in 2018 as Partner Success Manager. Since this time, Teri has been supported through an Executive MBA programme before joining the Talent Development team in February 2022. 

Teri is passionate about the recruitment industry and believes the amazing individuals are a big part of what makes it so special. Throughout her recent studies, Teri has gained a new understanding and respect for the important role continued training and development play in bringing out the best in all of us. Teri’s role is to ensure the APSCo Talent Development offering is front of mind and best in class when it comes to professional training within the recruitment professional. 

Graham Lucas

Managing Director , Michael Page

Having joined the recruitment industry in 2004, Graham stepped onto the UK Board of Page Group in 2014. Currently responsible for Page Personnel and Michael Page across the North and Midlands. In addition to this he runs the Manufacturing, Logistics and Healthcare UK business units. With a team of over 300 people they deliver talent solutions across a broad range of sectors in over 4,000 organisations each year.

: https://www.linkedin.com/in/grahamlucas?miniProfil

Mike Scotney

Managing Director, Applause IT

Mike is the Managing Director of Applause IT, an independent Birmingham based IT, Marketing and Technical Sales Recruitment business, established over 20 years ago. Our aim is to stand-out and make a difference in providing a range of solutions, in being the 'go-to guys' for many successful technology-driven businesses and delivering the best recruitment experience to our candidates.

Mike is personally striven to ensure that Applause IT is an excellent employer of choice to experienced and aspiring consultants, and that they continue to be a valuable and lasting partner to the many organisations that we recruit for. 

: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikescotney?miniProfil

Harry Vlahakis

Co-Founder, CV Bay

Harry is a seasoned Recruiter and experienced Business Leader, boasting over 26 years of invaluable experience in the recruitment industry.

As a co-founder of CV Bay in 2006, he navigated through the trials and triumphs of recruitment, and is thrilled to announce that in 2024, CV Bay continues to thrive.

His expertise lies in the specialised realms of Engineering, Building Services, and IT markets, encompassing Permanent, Temporary/Contract, and Senior appointments.

Recruitment, to him, embodies the essence of transformation, be it on an individual or organisational level. His purpose has always been to facilitate positive change.