This week on Ideas Club, we’re joined by Sophie O’Brien, founder of Pollen, a recruitment platform that flips the hiring process on its head—putting people, purpose, and potential at the heart of every application.

After experiencing the frustration of applying to hundreds of jobs without meaningful feedback, Sophie set out to fix what she saw as a broken system. Pollen now connects young talent with small businesses through fair, transparent, and values-driven recruitment methods—helping candidates discover roles where they truly belong, while giving employers confidence they’re hiring the right people.

In this episode, Sophie talks about:

• What’s wrong with traditional recruitment—and how Pollen is changing it
• Why employer brand and candidate experience matter more than ever
• The power of values, competencies, and chemistry in building great teams
• Lessons on leadership, fundraising, and growing a purpose-led company

Links & Resources:

• Visit Pollen Careers to sign up as a job seeker or employer - pollencareers.co.uk
• Watch the Best Boss in Britain video - https://youtu.be/leaPm61pD7E?feature=shared
• Follow Pollen on TikTok for career tips and updates - www.tiktok.com/@pollencareers