Formed SMK Recruitment in 2005 to offer a range of recruitment services to clients in all sectors.

• Assessment centre/competency based interviewing – was retained on behalf of a major logistics company to assist in the fast track recruitment of a national sales team.
• Agency Search and Selection - projects include the recruitment of IT staff, Sales Executives, Financial Advisers and Recruitment Personnel.
• Candidate screening and selection – was retained on behalf of a major on-line retailer to undertake the initial screen of applicants by evaluating their technical skills and attributes against pre-determined role specifications for the global implementation of a software development centre.
• Candidate interviewing – retained to undertake competency based telephone interviewing for applicants to work in both the UK and India. The interviews were to a set time and format and covered technical as well as competency based questions.
• Video interviewing – various assignments conducting candidate competency based interviews, role plays and video presentations.
• Selection and implementation of PSL agreements for a global recruitment provider.

Xansa Recruitment (previously FI Group)
2003 – 2005: Senior Account Manger
1997 – 2002: Sales Manager

Headhunted to join the FI Group by the incumbent MD of F.I. Recruitment with a remit to manage the Northern sales operation based in Manchester which included sales, sales support and administration staff. In addition I dealt with senior client contacts at a strategic level, and was also involved with operational issues on a day-to-day basis.

Key responsibilities included:
• To build and develop a strong sales team
• To contribute at a senior level to winning business and developing customers
• To assist Business Development by providing commercial and creative input to proposals and bids
• To set and agree objectives/targets for sales team ensuring employees were motivated to deliver against these
• To manage senior level relationships within allocated customers
• To assist key clients with Resource Planning Management
• To provide accurate management reporting information
• To roll out and manage cold calling campaigns/competitions throughout the national sales force
• To actively partake in the Xansa Recruitment extended executive forum contributing to strategic and tactical issues.

Between 1997 and 2001 achieved in excess of 120% of target in four out of five years. In recognition of this I was eligible for entry to the companies “Platinum Club” and was awarded with numerous incentive prizes including trips to Barbados and Jamaica.

The XR Management structure changed completely in 2003 and the positions of Sales Manager for the Northern, Southern and Scottish regions were disbanded. I was offered and accepted the role of Senior Account Manager with a remit to drive forward the permanent recruitment offering for Xansa to both new and existing customers.

Major achievements:
• Tendering and winning XR a position on the PSL for a major fast track permanent recruitment campaign for a leading UK Financial institution.
• Personally led the delivery team and was responsible for the successful recruitment of over 50 permanent IT staff of all levels, across various sites in the UK during an intensive 6 month campaign.
• Re-negotiated a framework agreement for a major Utilities company and personally managed their current requirement programme in England and Scotland

1991 – 1997
Staffwise Computing Ltd (formally Bellman Computing Ltd)
Senior Account manager

Was asked to return to Staffwise by the incumbent MD after an absence of 18 months. Initially the role was very much “hands on”. Achievements included the successful award of PSL status by one of the UK’s largest IT contract users at the time. Within 2 years the turnover of the company had doubled and the contactor/client base had increased significantly. Responsibilities also included the recruitment and training of additional sales and administration staff.

In 1996 a need for a new Agency Search and Selection database was identified. I led a small task force which evaluated the products available at the time. The Adapt system (marketed by Bond) was selected, I oversaw the successful implementation of the system, including data conversion and training.

In January 1997 I was asked to start a Permanent IT staff division. Although only operating for 8 months prior to my departure the placements and fees generated were well in excess of forecast.

Initially recruited to open their Manchester office. Unfortunately, the companies expansion plans changed and they deferred indefinitely the decision to open any satellite offices. I left the organisation to rejoin Bellman Computing which had merged with the Staffwise Employment Group and renamed Staffwise Computing Ltd.

Formed the company with two colleagues to concentrate on the IT Contract Recruitment and Data Preparation sectors. The company grew swiftly and expanded both organically and through acquisition. After enjoying significant growth over several years the company was acquired by Turriff PLC to add to their portfolio of recruitment companies. The company was later merged with the Staffwise Employment Group (another Turriff company), and the management of Staffwise subsequently performed a management buy out of the combined recruitment businesses from Turriff.