Recruiting Alchemy with Andy Simpson

In this episode of Recruiting Alchemy, Andy Simpson is joined by Chris Moylan, CEO of Tech Link Partners, who shares the raw and real journey behind launching and scaling two recruitment businesses. From growing up on construction sites to billing £90K months, selling one company, and rebuilding after personal tragedy. Chris's story is a testament to resilience, grit, and purpose.

He opens up about how life on the phones taught him discipline, what it's really like starting a business from scratch with limited runway, and the unseen emotional toll of entrepreneurship. This is a candid look at the realities behind the founder life, the wins, the losses, and the cost of staying the course.

Whether you're thinking of launching your own agency or just want to hear from someone who's been through the fire, this episode is packed with lessons in perseverance, discipline, and starting over stronger.

🎙 Key Topics:

🔹 Why KPIs still matter, especially when scaling
 🔹 What most people get wrong about contract recruitment
 🔹 Cash flow vs. profit in growing a contract book
 🔹 Losing £280K and how it shaped his next move
 🔹 The emotional cost of entrepreneurship (and pushing through grief)
 🔹 Why consistency beats hype on LinkedIn branding

Show Notes & Timestamps

[00:00] – Opening & Introduction

• Chris on his early career in construction and sales
• How a cold call job taught him mindset and structure

[06:00] – First Steps in Recruitment

• Transitioning into recruitment with purpose
• Why he chose to go into SAP contract roles
• Learning 360 recruitment without a delivery background

[12:00] – High Performance & Culture

• The impact of working in strong sales cultures
• Thoughts on KPIs and why tracking matters
• How sales discipline drove long-term success

[18:00] – Launching His First Business

• Leaving a top billing role to go solo
• Setting up West Work Engineering
• Winning and scaling with blue-collar contract recruitment

[25:00] – Lessons from Scaling & Exiting

• From 140 contractors to 3 in a week during COVID
• Losing £280K to non-payments
• Why he exited construction to go all-in on tech

[32:00] – Personal Tragedy & Professional Rebuild

• Losing his brother and father within weeks
• How grief shaped his return to the business
• The emotional cost behind the scenes

[38:00] – Culture, Office & Discipline

• Why his team still wear suits and work in the office
• His non-negotiables and team expectations
• The long-term impact of sticking to your values

[45:00] – Advice for Future Founders

• Understanding profit vs. cash flow
• The true time to get new recruiters billing
• Avoiding comparison culture and staying in your lane

[47:00] – Building a Personal Brand

• Why he avoided posting on LinkedIn for years
• What changed and why it matters now
• Final thoughts on leadership, resilience, and growth

In this episode, Andy Simpson sits down with Simon Brown, founder of Richard Knows Best and one of the most candid voices in recruitment, for a no-holds-barred conversation about agency growth, leadership, and learning the hard lessons of running a recruitment business.

From selling Turtle Wax door-to-door as a teenager to building and exiting multiple recruitment businesses, Simon shares his unfiltered story—including the reality behind growing a business, dealing with imposter syndrome, and the shift from recruiter to strategic consultant. They explore what most recruitment founders get wrong, why culture eats process, and the importance of strategic planning in a sub-50 headcount world.

If you're a recruitment founder, leader, or just someone in the game trying to build something sustainable, this one is a must-listen.

🎙️ Key Topics
🔹 How Simon went from the phones at Walls Ice Cream to recruitment leadership
🔹 The role of strong female leaders in shaping his career
🔹 Why growing a business is harder than it looks from the outside
🔹 The story behind Richard Knows Best and redefining recruitment consultancy
🔹 How founders can get out of survival mode and plan for long-term growth

Show Notes & Timestamps

[00:00] – Opening & Introductions

• Simon’s cheeky take on agency know-it-alls
• Why he and Andy hadn’t crossed paths until recently

[03:00] – From Liverpool Estate to Sales Hustler

• Selling Turtle Wax from factory skips
• Early lessons in sales and graft
• Choosing uni after working at Walls Ice Cream

[10:00] – Entering the Workforce

• How a customer service job led to internal recruitment
• The women who mentored him into leadership
• Making the leap to agency side with Reed

[17:00] – Discovering His Strengths in BD

• Why Simon thrived in strategic sales
• Lessons from working with the police and public sector
• The power of process and relationships over smash-and-grab recruitment

[27:00] – Hitting a Ceiling and Moving South

• The laptop breakdown that changed his career
• Moving from Liverpool to London
• Creating a client services division at Morgan Hunt

[32:00] – Board Roles & Leadership Lessons

• Imposter syndrome on the board
• Female leadership and emotional intelligence in action
• Changing his accent to fit into London business life

[40:00] – Why Richard Knows Best Was Born

• The problem with short-term thinking in recruitment
• Why founders need long-term strategic planning
• The “Tactical Review Day” explained

[47:00] – Final Thoughts & Takeaways

• The most common struggles recruitment founders face
• Why sub-50 headcount agencies need real strategy, not just hustle
• Efficiency, clarity, and getting out of your own way

In this episode of Recruiting Alchemy, Andy Simpson sits down with Martyn Holme, founder and managing director of A&B Recruitment, to explore what it really takes to build and lead a high-growth recruitment business. From losing £150K in one deal to opening offices overseas, Martyn shares the key decisions and defining moments behind his success.

They discuss how early adversity shaped his work ethic, the shift from being a top biller to leading a team, and why surrounding yourself with the right people is crucial for scale. Martyn also opens up about the realities of managing cash flow, the importance of trust, and the mindset it takes to stay in the game when things get tough.

Whether you're a recruiter, agency leader, or someone scaling a business of your own, this conversation is packed with honesty, lessons learned, and inspiration.

🎙 Key Topics:

🔹 From pipefitter to recruiter: how Martyn broke into the industry
🔹 The deal that cost £150K and what he learned from it
🔹 Building a team culture focused on loyalty and ambition
🔹 Why leadership means getting out of your own way
🔹 Opening a Dubai office and expanding internationally

Show Notes & Timestamps

[00:00:00] – Opening & Introduction

Andy introduces Martyn Holme, founder of A&B Recruitment

Framing the episode: growth, risk, and resilience in business

[00:01:40] – The Two Beginnings

Martyn’s upbringing and early family life

Moving from Liverpool to the Wirral and lessons from childhood

[00:05:30] – Breaking into Recruitment

How Martyn got started in the industry

First sales role and early mentors

Realising recruitment was the path

[00:12:45] – Learning the Hard Way

Losing £150,000 on a deal

Why it was the most important lesson in his career

The mindset shift that followed

[00:20:00] – Building A&B Recruitment

Founding the business and getting through year one

The value of sticking with it when it’s tough

Investing in people and building trust

[00:32:30] – Culture, Loyalty, and Growth

Why building a business starts with the right people

Martyn’s approach to hiring and internal team culture

What loyalty looks like in a modern recruitment agency

[00:40:00] – Expansion and Risk

Opening an office in Dubai

Letting go of control and empowering leaders

Advice for founders stepping into new markets

[00:48:00] – Final Thoughts & Reflections

Martyn’s take on what makes great leadership

The importance of values, purpose, and moral compass

Why he still loves recruitment after 20 years

In this episode, Andy Simpson sits down with Kalpesh Baxi, recruitment leader, advisor, and former UK Senior Partner of SThree PLC to explore what it takes to thrive in today’s evolving hiring landscape. They talk about the importance of culture in scaling teams, the impact of generational shifts in the workplace, and how technology is changing the way recruitment businesses operate.

Kalpesh shares stories from his 20+ year journey in the recruitment world, including what made SThree such a strong platform for high performers, the lessons he's learned from working across geographies, and why human connection still drives the best results even in an AI-powered world.

Whether you’re running an agency, leading a team, or just thinking about what’s next in your career, this conversation is packed with practical insight and candid reflections.

🎙 Key Topics:

🔹 What makes great culture in high-performing teams
🔹 How recruitment leaders should adapt to generational shifts
🔹 Why being open to discomfort fuels career growth
🔹 The role of authenticity and transparency in leadership
🔹 The balance between people, process, and tech in recruitment

Tune in for a grounded, engaging conversation on leadership, learning, and the mindset needed to succeed in the recruitment industry.

Show Notes & Timestamps

[00:00] – Opening & Introduction

Andy introduces Kalpesh and frames the episode

Early lessons from growing up in a working-class household

[03:00] – Recruitment Beginnings & Early Influence

How Kalpesh found recruitment and stayed for 22 years

Lessons from the early SThree culture and environment

[09:00] – Leading Through Culture

What makes a good culture

Why authenticity and people-first values matter

The power of curiosity and transparency in leadership

[18:00] – Generational Shifts in Work

How Gen Z and millennials are reshaping the workplace

What modern leadership needs to look like

Balancing career progression with life priorities

[30:00] – Building for the Future

The role of AI in recruitment and business

The importance of simplicity and clarity in process

Finding meaning and momentum in moments of discomfort

[42:00] – Final Thoughts & Reflections

Why recruitment is still a people business

The value of working with good humans

Final advice on leadership, risk, and reinvention

In this episode of Recruiting Alchemy, Andy sits down with Craig Whiting, Managing Director of RLS Search, a recruitment agency specializing in placing top technology talent into the global hedge fund space. Craig shares his journey from falling into recruitment to running a highly profitable, specialized search firm.

They discuss how hedge funds approach hiring, why recruitment has changed, and how agencies can evolve to stay ahead. Craig also sheds light on the importance of deep market knowledge, why most recruiters struggle to add real value, and how technology is reshaping the industry.

Whether you're a recruiter, hiring manager, or business leader, this episode is packed with insights into recruitment strategy, building high-performing teams, and navigating the evolving job market.

🎙 Key Topics:

🔹 The challenges of hiring top tech talent for hedge funds
🔹 Why recruitment is broken & how agencies can fix it
🔹 How specialization leads to long-term success
🔹 The impact of AI & automation on recruitment
🔹 Offshoring & remote hiring: lessons from South Africa

Tune in for an in-depth discussion on recruitment, hiring strategies, and what it takes to build a sustainable, high-performing recruitment business.

Show Notes & Timestamps

[00:00] – Opening & Introduction

• Craig’s journey into recruitment and founding RLS Search.
• Why hedge funds require a different approach to hiring.

[05:00] – The Challenges of Recruiting for Hedge Funds

• How hedge funds evaluate and hire top talent.
• Why niche expertise is critical in recruitment.
• The changing landscape of tech hiring in finance.

[15:00] – Why Recruitment is Broken & How to Fix It

• The flaws of traditional recruitment models.
• Why recruiters struggle to add real value.
• How agencies can stand out in a competitive market.

[25:00] – The Role of AI & Automation in Recruitment

• How technology is reshaping talent acquisition.
• Why AI won’t replace recruiters but will change their role.
• Using automation to enhance, not replace, human interaction.

[35:00] – Offshoring & Remote Hiring: Lessons from South Africa

• Why RLS Search expanded to South Africa.
• The benefits & challenges of offshoring recruitment operations.
• How global talent can support high-performance teams.

[45:00] – Building a Sustainable, High-Performance Recruitment Business

• Why specialization leads to better results.
• How agencies should rethink their approach to hiring.
• The future of recruitment & Craig’s outlook on the industry.

[55:00] – Final Thoughts & Key Takeaways

• The importance of deep market knowledge.
• Why recruitment should prioritize quality over volume.
• How the best recruiters add long-term value beyond placements.

Building a Successful Healthcare Recruitment Business: Insights from Kathryn Scott

In this episode of Recruiting Alchemy, host Andy Simpson speaks with Kathryn Scott, a former managing director in the recruitment industry who has recently embarked on her journey as a consultant.

Kathryn discusses her career trajectory, starting from her early days in the travel industry, her eventual transition into recruitment, and her nearly two-decade-long tenure at a prominent healthcare recruitment firm.

She shares valuable lessons about the criticality of financial management, specifically the importance of understanding P&L, cost per head, and productivity metrics. Kathryn also reflects on the impact of various market conditions, including the COVID-19 pandemic, on recruitment strategies and how agility and diversity helped her company navigate these turbulent times.

She emphasizes the value of specialized consultancy for businesses and how a consultant's objective perspective can offer quick, expert-driven solutions without the long-term commitments and costs associated with permanent hires.

The conversation closes with Kathryn's thoughts on the evolving role of technology in recruitment and the irreplaceable value of good people in building a successful business.

00:00 Introduction and Welcome
00:16 Meet Kathryn Scott
01:25 Kathryn's Early Career Journey
03:54 Transition to Recruitment
04:04 Success in Recruitment
11:40 Challenges and Changes in Healthcare Recruitment 1
8:41 Impact of COVID-19 on Healthcare Staffing
19:56 Setting Up Nightingale Hospitals
20:34 Managing Stakeholders Under Pressure
22:18 Defining Success Metrics
23:56 Cost Management and Operational Efficiency
26:14 Navigating Market Changes
29:37 Recruitment Challenges and Strategies
37:24 The Importance of Good Recruitment
38:21 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Andy Simpson (https://www.linkedin.com/in/andyhsimpson/) is joined by  Ben Musgrave (https://www.linkedin.com/in/benmusgrave/), COO and Head of Product at Hinterview (https://hello.hinterview.com/) to discuss USPs in recruitment and working smarter, not harder

00:00 Introduction and Podcast Welcome

01:12 Ben Musgrave's Early Life and Education

02:43 Transition to Recruitment

04:14 Challenges in Recruitment

07:33 Consultancy and Recruitment Dynamics

16:51 The Role of KPIs in Recruitment

21:35 The Pitfalls of KPI-Driven Recruitment

22:27 The Birth of Hinterview: Solving Recruitment Challenges

23:18 A Game-Changing Candidate Experience

25:36 The Video Interview Breakthrough

27:59 Building and Scaling a Recruitment Business

40:59 The Future of Recruitment: Automation and Personalization

get in touch to hear more at hello.hinterview.com

Andy Simpson (https://www.linkedin.com/in/andyhsimpson/) is joined by  Nigel Fox (https://www.linkedin.com/in/nigelfoxaphr/), CEO of Annapurna Recruitment (https://www.annapurnarecruitment.com/) discuss how to grow a new recruitment business, even in a down market; how they've blended different business models, sector specialisms and geographical focus to balance security and growth.

Show notes:
(01:05) Nigel's start in recruitment
(03:55) Launching a recruitment business
(08:45) The HR recruiting space
(11:00) The evolution of the Annapurna Recruitment
(12:40) Strategy vs opportunity
(13:24) Embedded delivery model
(14:10) Innovating out of the contingent delivery model
(19:05) What's the revenue mix and why
(21:55) Maintaining company culture across delivery models
(24:00) Creating and keeping client relationships
(27:50) Video calls vs meetings in the post COVID world
(31:05) Customer retention
(33:08) Where is the business going
(35:45) AI in recruitment
(40:30) What have you learned from the recent downturn?
(43:50) Have we reached the bottom of the downturn?
(47:00) UK politics vs the market
(51:05) The future of the industry


Get in touch to hear more - hello.hinterview.com

Andy Simpson (https://www.linkedin.com/in/andyhsimpson/) and Sam Slade (https://www.linkedin.com/in/samsladehinterview/) discuss the state of the market, common problems they're seeing and productisation.

Show notes:
(01:20) - Intro to Sam and his recruitment experience
(04:30) - How did Sam build a more consultative and productised offering
(07:00) - Wafer thin difference between consultancy and recruitment agencies
(10:40) - state of the recruitment market
(14:30) - What is commoditisation?
(17:30) - Why not work for a lower fee?
(20:00) - Why is commoditisation a problem?
(23:30) - Productisation in recruitment
(33:30) - Where does video fit in to productisation?
(37:40) - AI CVs & Resumes
(40:30) - 1st Interview KPIs vs customer experience
(44:25) - What's the next couple of years of recruitment?

Get in touch to hear more - hello.hinterview.com