Recruiting Alchemy with Andy Simpson

James Wakefield went from the parade ground at Sandhurst and six years as an infantry officer into recruitment at Michael Page. He then spent 14 years at Cobalt, setting up offices across the Middle East, Europe, Asia Pacific and the US before becoming its first CEO. Since then he has sat on the board of his hometown football club, run a life sciences recruiter through the hardest market in decades, and returned to Cobalt as Executive Chair, while building an M&A advisory business on the side. 

Andy Simpson talks to James about why a CEO role is five years, why a good leader should be making themselves redundant, how he took a business from 90-odd percent perm to 50/50 in two years, what a recruiter's instincts are worth at a football club's board table, and why he thinks the firms that adapt will be the ones left standing. 

Recruiting Alchemy is sponsored by ryvr.ai, the conversational intelligence platform built specifically for recruitment and staffing businesses. Produced by Vertical Drop. 

Key Moments

07:18 Sandhurst, six years as an infantry officer and Iraq in 2003 

20:19 Cobalt goes international: Abu Dhabi, Germany, Singapore and New Zealand 

35:23 Why a CEO role is five years 

37:32 On the board of his hometown football club: transfer fees, kits and doubling the crowd 

49:20 CEO of a life sciences recruiter in the toughest market in decades 

Host

Andy Simpson, founder of ryvr.ai 

ryvr.ai https://linkedin.com/company/ryvrai

https://recruitingalchemy.com

Guest

James Wakefield, Executive Chair, Cobalt Recruitment

https://linkedin.com/in/jtwakefield

https://linkedin.com/company/cobalt-recruitment 

Produced By Vertical Drop  https://vertical-drop.com

Jim Ryan left Ireland at 17, knocked on doors selling cable TV, and walked into MSB in Bromley in 1997 with no recruitment experience. Eighteen years on from starting ERSG on the day Lehman Brothers collapsed, he runs a staffing group with £185 million in turnover, around £28 million in gross profit and offices from Seattle to Taiwan, and it has stayed independent without private equity.

Andy Simpson sits down with Jim, CEO of ERSG, to talk about how a business plan he now calls naive became the go-to specialist for the offshore wind industry. They get into verticalisation and why ERSG throws jobs away, building a career structure so growth becomes automatic, opening entities across Europe, the US and Asia, the 2022 and 2023 bump that very nearly knocked the business over, and why Jim thinks AI is already changing support roles long before it touches an engineer on a turbine.

Recruiting Alchemy is sponsored by ryvr.ai, the conversational intelligence platform built specifically for recruitment and staffing businesses. Produced by Vertical Drop.

KEY MOMENTS

• 17:22 Starting ERSG on the day Lehman went
• 21:51 Offshore wind projects and the Blackpool private jet
• 38:36 Verticalisation: specialise and throw jobs away
• 45:03 The Jaws on the beach moment
• 49:17 Why ERSG stayed independent

Guest, Jim Ryan: linkedin.com/in/jiryan
Company https://www.ersg-global.com/en-US/

Host, Andy Simpson linkedin.com/in/andyhsimpson 

Sponsor, ryvr.ai https://ryvr.ai/

Produced by vertical-drop.com

David Bloxham has spent 30 years in recruitment, almost all of it at GCS, the business he joined in 1996 and now leads as CEO. Andy Simpson asks how he got there, and what it cost along the way.

David talks through coming back to GCS just as the 2008 credit crunch wiped out half his contractors, and why he says you can always cut your cloth when the market turns. He explains how an MBO nearly fell through before Engage came in as backer, why GCS has never dual desked and now runs at around 95% contract, and what changes when a recruiter takes accountability for the outcome instead of sending a CV. They also get into why every CV now looks the same, the 305 applications for one role, and why David thinks AI is highly underestimated and dreadfully overestimated.

Recruiting Alchemy is sponsored by ryvr.ai, the conversational intelligence platform built for recruitment and staffing businesses.

KEY MOMENTS

• 16:40 Every CV now looks the same, so who explains the human?
• 20:30 Joining GCS in 1996: a 10k offer over a 16k one, on a chat about music
• 30:55 October 2008: the credit crunch takes half the contractors
• 37:20 The MBO that nearly fell through, and forecasting within 5%
• 49:20 From 50/50 to 95% contract, and never dual desking
• 54:12 Taking accountability for the outcome, not the CV
• 1:02:10 AI: highly underestimated and dreadfully overestimated

LINKS Guest linkedin.com/in/davidbloxham1
Company linkedin.com/company/gcs-recruitment-specialists
Host, Andy Simpson linkedin.com/in/andyhsimpson 
Sponsor, ryvr.ai www.ryvr.ai 
Produced by vertical-drop.com

Andy Simpson is joined by Rory Gaston, Group CEO and co-founder of Saragossa, the buy-side staffing and technology solutions business he built with Jimmy Lloyd after spinning out of Red Rock in 2015. Rory explains why success-fee contingent staffing creates what he calls perverse economics, why Saragossa almost never competes against other firms for the same role, and how the business grew from a niche hedge fund staffing boutique into a three-part technology solutions group spanning staffing, managed services and project delivery. The conversation also covers Saragossa's expansion from Bristol into Chicago and New York, and why Rory believes AI is pushing companies to hire more developers, not fewer.

FIVE KEY MOMENTS

• 10:28 Meeting co-founder Jimmy Lloyd, and how their old boss backed both of them to spin Saragossa out of Red Rock in 2015.
• 19:42 The chess board origin of the Saragossa name, and using chess to win over sceptical hedge fund quants.
• 32:40 Why contingent staffing's success fee model creates perverse economics, and Saragossa's rule of never competing against other firms for the same role.
• 57:10 Rory's Jevons paradox take on AI: why Saragossa is hiring more developers, not fewer, and cutting ticket volume by 30% in its managed services arm.

GUEST
Rory Gaston, linkedin.com/in/rory-gaston-01539817

GUEST COMPANY
Saragossa, linkedin.com/company/saragossa

HOST
Andy Simpson, linkedin.com/in/andyhsimpson

HOST COMPANY,
 ryvr.ai https://ryvr.ai/

SPONSOR 
Recruiting Alchemy is sponsored by ryvr.ai.

Produced by Vertical Drop.

Andy Simpson is joined by Bradley Lewington, CEO and founder of Generative and former CEO of Spencer Ogden, the energy and infrastructure recruiter he scaled to over 500 people before a private equity backed MBO closed on 20 February 2020, three weeks before COVID hit. Brad explains why the business had to become one a private equity firm actually wanted to buy, what it was like to sign the deal and watch the plan disappear within four weeks, and why he chose to build an AI focused staffing business rather than return to energy. The conversation also covers why recruiters who assume AI platforms cannot do the human bit are in for a surprise, and where the trust element still gives them the edge.

FIVE KEY MOMENTS

0:00 Cold open: growing Spencer Ogden from zero to £28M in fees in six years, "no more jam tomorrow."

38:30 Discussion of exit strategy: was it always destined to be a private equity deal, trade sale, or MBO?

41:06 The core insight on what drives sales and motivates people in recruitment businesses.

55:03 The deal closed Feb 20, 2020, then COVID hit weeks later.

01:11:28  On AI in recruitment: "they are way better than you think."

GUEST
Bradley Lewington, CEO and Founder
linkedin.com/in/bradlewington

GUEST COMPANY
Generative
linkedin.com/company/generativegroups

HOST
Andy Simpson
linkedin.com/in/andyhsimpson

HOST COMPANY
ryvr.ai
https://ryvr.ai/

SPONSOR
Recruiting Alchemy is sponsored by ryvr.ai.
https://ryvr.ai/

PRODUCTION CREDIT
Produced by Vertical Drop.
https://www.vertical-drop.com/

Is AI really going to replace recruiters, or will it simply expose the ones who were never adding value in the first place?

In this episode of Recruiting Alchemy, Andy Simpson sits down with Craig Whiting, Founder of RecOS , to unpack one of the biggest shifts the recruitment industry has ever faced.

Craig shares how his business has evolved over the last 18 months, why he's fully embraced AI, and what it means for recruiters, software engineers and businesses trying to stay ahead. The conversation dives into the changing value of talent, why the best recruiters will become even more valuable, and why average performers should be paying close attention.

This is a fascinating discussion on technology, productivity, accountability and how AI is reshaping recruitment faster than most people realise.

Whether you're a recruiter, agency owner, business leader or simply curious about where AI is taking the world of work, this episode is packed with insight.

Timestamps

04:43 – What's changed in the business over the last 18 months?
08:04 – Why Craig believes AI is changing recruitment forever
16:30 – AI as a productivity tool, not a replacement
20:10 – Why 70% of recruiters could disappear
29:33 – The recruiters who will thrive in the AI era
55:30 – Story behind RecOS

Connect with Craig Whiting

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/craig-whiting-b75a8ba/\
RecOS : https://www.linkedin.com/company/rec-os/\
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/craigwhiting1/

Connect with Andy Simpson

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andyhsimpson/\
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andyhsimpson/

This episode is proudly sponsored by ryvr.ai

Find out more:

Website: https://ryvr.ai/\
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ryvr.ai/\
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ryvrai/

Produced by Vertical Drop

Recruiting Alchemy is produced by Vertical Drop, helping founders and businesses turn conversations into content that builds authority, creates opportunities and drive growth.

From podcast production and strategy to social media content, guest management and distribution, Vertical Drop helps brands create content that delivers long after the recording ends.

Is AI really going to change recruitment forever, or is it just the latest technological scare the industry will outlast? And would you fire your two best billers if they were poisoning your culture, even knowing exactly what it would cost you?

In this episode of Recruiting Alchemy, Andy Simpson sits down with Russell Clements, former CEO of SThree plc, one of the world's most successful specialty staffing businesses, to unpack four decades of lessons on building highperformance culture, leading through technological upheaval, and why AI might be the first innovation that genuinely changes the rules for recruitment.
Russell takes us from his working-class beginnings in West London to joining SThree in 1986 and leading the company through its flotation on the London Stock Exchange at more than a quarter of a billion pounds. He shares the story behind SThree's famous 'no mascots, no pets' culture rule, why the business let go of two of its highest-billing consultants despite the revenue they generated, and why he believes culture is the single biggest driver of commercial success.

The conversation also covers why Russell believes AI represents a genuinely different kind of threat to the recruitment industry than any previous technological shift, what it means for the future shape and size of staffing businesses, and his advice for leaders navigating tougher markets today. This is a fascinating discussion on leadership, culture, ruthlessness and resilience, and what separates good recruitment businesses from truly great ones.

Whether you're a recruitment leader, founder, or simply interested in what three decades at the top of the industry teaches you about building a business that lasts, this episode is packed with insight.

TIMESTAMPS
04:06 Russell's working-class upbringing in West London
22:16 The wrong'uns: letting go of two top billers over culture
27:00 Building a culture that let people build their own businesses inside the business
58:20 Why AI is a genuinely different kind of threat
01:00:22 What makes a good CEO today

CONNECT WITH RUSSELL CLEMENTS
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/russell-clements-7313818a/

CONNECT WITH ANDY SIMPSON
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andyhsimpson/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andyhsimpson/

THIS EPISODE IS PROUDLY SPONSORED BY ryvr.ai
Find out more:
Website: https://ryvr.ai/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ryvr.ai/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ryvrai/

PRODUCED BY VERTICAL DROP
Recruiting Alchemy is produced by Vertical Drop, helping founders and businesses turn conversations into content that builds authority, creates opportunities and drives growth. From podcast production and strategy to social media content, guest management and distribution, Vertical Drop helps brands create content that delivers long after the recording ends.

What does it really take to build one of the UK's biggest recruitment businesses?

In this episode of Recruiting Alchemy, Andy Simpson sits down with Dean Kelly, entrepreneur, investor and one of recruitment's best-known founders, to explore the highs, lows and lessons from an extraordinary career.

Dean shares how he went from growing up on a North London council estate to becoming a multi-millionaire before the age of 30. Along the way, he opens up about setbacks, near business failures, acquisitions, scaling at speed, leading PLCs, and why some of his biggest lessons came from the toughest moments.

This is an honest conversation about ambition, resilience, leadership and what success really looks like once you've achieved it.  

Whether you're building a recruitment business, leading a team or simply fascinated by entrepreneurial journeys, there's something in this episode for you.

Timestamps

00:00 – Highlights from Dean's journey
01:00 – Sponsor: ryvr.ai
02:00 – Introducing Dean Kelly
04:00 – Growing up in North London and early ambitions
11:00 – Falling into recruitment by accident
14:00 – Nearly losing his job before everything changed
18:00 – Developing self-belief and changing his mindset
22:00 – The drive to build something bigger
32:00 – Being headhunted and stepping into leadership
35:00 – Starting his own recruitment business
42:00 – Scaling at speed and almost going under
45:00 – The realities of rapid growth
56:00 – Leadership, culture and getting the best from people
01:02:00 – Exits, acquisitions and what success really means
01:06:00 – Leading through crisis and lessons from the boardroom
01:10:00 – Final advice for founders and recruitment leaders

Connect with Dean Kelly

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deankellyuk/

Connect with Andy Simpson

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andyhsimpson/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andyhsimpson/

This episode is proudly sponsored by ryvr.ai
Find out more about ryvr:

Website: https://ryvr.ai/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ryvr.ai/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ryvrai/

Produced by Vertical Drop

Recruiting Alchemy is produced by Vertical Drop, helping founders and businesses turn conversations into content that builds authority, creates opportunities and drives growth.

From podcast production and strategy to social media content, guest management and distribution, Vertical Drop helps brands create content that delivers long after the recording ends.

What does it take to completely reinvent a recruitment business that's already successful?

In this episode of Recruiting Alchemy, Andy Simpson sits down with Elliott Manning, Founder of Kayman Recruitment, to unpack a journey that's anything but conventional.

From leaving school at 15 to become a chef, to building a thriving recruitment business across the UK, US and South Africa, Elliott shares the lessons he's learnt from taking risks, making mistakes, and constantly adapting to a changing market.

The conversation explores entrepreneurship, international expansion, outsourcing, offshoring, and why sometimes the biggest opportunities come from tearing up the original plan and starting again.

Whether you're a recruitment founder, agency leader or simply interested in building businesses differently, there's plenty to take away from this one.

Timestamps

00:00 – Highlights from Elliott's journey
01:00 – Sponsor: ryvr.ai
02:00 – Introducing Elliott Manning
04:00 – Growing up in East London and life before recruitment
07:00 – Becoming a chef and working in Michelin-starred kitchens
10:00 – First steps into recruitment
13:00 – Building a successful healthcare recruitment desk
16:00 – Why entrepreneurship always felt inevitable
19:00 – Taking the leap and starting his own business
20:00 – Accidentally discovering rec-to-rec recruitment
22:00 – Growing the business and early leadership lessons
25:00 – Expanding into the US market
30:00 – Why South Africa became the next big move
36:00 – Building an outsourcing and offshoring business
40:00 – Launching new ventures and changing direction
42:00 – Scaling internationally and helping recruitment firms hire globally
45:00 – The future of recruitment and offshore talent
50:00 – Advice for founders looking to scale internationally
55:00 – Final thoughts and key lessons

Connect with Elliott Manning

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elliott-manning-4b3b6b7/
Kayman Recruitment: https://www.linkedin.com/company/kayman-recruitment/

Connect with Andy Simpson

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andyhsimpson/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andyhsimpson/

This episode is proudly sponsored by ryvr.ai

Find out more:

Website: https://ryvr.ai/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ryvr.ai/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ryvrai/

Produced by Vertical Drop

Find out more:

https://vertical-drop.com/

On Recruiting Alchemy, Logan Naidu, founder and Group CEO of Kernel Global, shares his personal background and path from investment banking at J.P. Morgan and corporate finance at PwC into recruitment, after being fired from his first recruiting role. He founded The Cornell Partnership in 2005, built it to around 30 people, then after a cancer diagnosis in 2010 and disagreements over shifting from a dividend-led lifestyle business to a growth-and-exit strategy, left in 2011 to start Dartmouth Partners. He describes building a high-performance culture centred on making winning “intoxicating,” a long-term “classroom to boardroom” candidate strategy, and growing with a 30% annual growth target. Naidu talkes about private equity, completed PE deals in 2018 and March 2023 (closing shortly after SVB), acquired Pure, grew to 10m EBITDA, paid out a staff pot of about £30m to 170–180 people, navigated post-COVID market shifts, and emphasised in-office culture and US expansion.

00:00 Apartheid Roots
00:26 Sponsor ryvr AI
01:45 Meet Logan Naidu
03:27 Family and Identity
06:04 School and Ambition
08:09 Banking Disillusionment
09:26 PwC and Pivot Point
11:14 Landing in Recruitment
13:22 Fired by Text
16:10 Starting Cornell Partnership
18:23 Lifestyle Business Reality
20:07 Cancer Wake Up Call
23:08 Leaving to Build Dartmouth
23:53 Growth Culture Blueprint
27:50 Classroom to Boardroom
32:29 Kernel Group Today
32:42 Multi Brand Strategy
33:12 Private Equity Explained
34:20 First PE Deal Journey
38:48 De Risking And Growth
40:28 Acquiring Pure
42:52 Boardroom Changes
45:13 Second PE Deal
48:46 Market Turns Down
51:55 Culture And Performance
53:50 Future Plans And AI
57:29 Office First Culture
01:03:40 Vision And Wrap Up
01:05:02 Production Credits

Guest, Logan Naidu:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/logan-naidu-3b10b51/
Kernel Global: https://www.linkedin.com/company/kernelglobal/

Host, Andy Simpson:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andyhsimpson/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andyhsimpson/

Thank you to ryvr.ai for sponsoring this episode read more about them below:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ryvr.ai/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ryvrai/
Website: https://ryvr.ai/