Talking Recruitment

In this episode of Talking Recruitment, Olga Frańczak is joined by Beth Foley and Helen Tomlinson to discuss how approaches to equality, diversity and inclusion are changing across recruitment and the wider workplace.

The conversation explores how EDI has shifted from awareness campaigns and performative activity towards something more measurable, operational and commercially focused. The guests discuss why inclusion is increasingly being embedded into systems, processes and decision making, and how organisations are being challenged to demonstrate real impact rather than intention.

The episode also looks at the role of middle management in shaping workplace culture, the importance of retention and progression, and why psychological safety and inclusive leadership are becoming more important to business performance.

Alongside this, the discussion examines how AI and technology are reshaping hiring practices. The guests explore the risks of bias in automated systems, why human judgment still matters, and how recruitment businesses can balance speed and efficiency with fair and inclusive outcomes.

The discussion offers a practical discussion on what meaningful inclusion looks like in 2026 and how recruitment businesses can build EDI into long-term business strategy, workforce experience and future growth.

Host:

• Olga Frańczak, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Lead, REC

Guests:

• Beth Foley, CRO, Liquid Friday

• Helen Tomlinson, Head of Inclusion & Employability at The Adecco Group

In this episode of Talking Recruitment, Maxine Bligh is joined by Ross Thompson and Jurgen Jaarsma to discuss what is happening across global recruitment markets and what it means for UK agencies.

They explore current trends including regional growth, ongoing talent shortages and the continued shift towards remote and offshore hiring. As costs rise in the UK and other established markets, more agencies are looking overseas to scale their teams and improve efficiency.

The episode also looks at changing candidate expectations, particularly around flexible working, and how this is shaping hiring decisions in different regions. The guests share insights from markets including the US, Europe and South Africa, highlighting where demand is growing and where opportunities exist.

Alongside this, they discuss the risks. From compliance and worker classification to choosing the right partners, the conversation offers practical advice for agencies thinking about international expansion.

Overall, a useful overview of how recruitment businesses can adapt and grow in a more global market.

As the pace of legislative change accelerates, this episode of Talking Recruitment asks a bigger question: is the recruitment model itself starting to shift?

Neil Carberry is joined by Ross Thompson (Infinity Staff Global) and Simon Whitehead (Brabners) to explore how rising compliance demands, increased enforcement and ongoing economic uncertainty are reshaping how agencies operate.

The conversation looks at the growing weight of risk on recruitment businesses, the impact on traditional high-volume, contingent models, and the need for agencies to better articulate their value to clients. With compliance taking up more time and resource, there is a clear shift towards more advisory, specialist approaches; supported by better use of technology and, in some cases, offshore delivery.

At the same time, the fundamentals remain: understanding clients, building trust and delivering quality. The agencies best placed to succeed will be those that adapt quickly, invest in their operating model and take a more transparent, consultative approach in a changing market.

Guests

• Ross Thompson, Executive Manager, Infinity Staff Global

• Simon Whitehead, Partner, Brabners

In this episode of Talking Recruitment, Neil Carberry is joined by David Levenston (Orbital) and Lee McChrystal (Brookson) to explore how agencies are responding to a market that is improving, but still uncertain.

They discuss early signs of recovery in 2026, particularly in the temporary market, alongside the impact of upcoming legislative changes as part of the Employment Rights Act. The conversation highlights how these shifts are driving greater collaboration between agencies, clients and payroll providers, as well as a stronger focus on managing both financial and brand risk.

A key theme is the importance of due diligence across the supply chain. The guests share practical advice on what agencies should be asking of their partners, from financial stability to compliance and transparency, and why real-time data and visibility of payments are becoming essential.

The episode also looks ahead, with a focus on where growth may come from, including increased demand for temporary workers and the role of AI and technology in improving productivity.

Overall, a practical and grounded discussion on how agencies can reduce risk, build confidence and position themselves for growth in a changing market.

Guests

• Dave Levenston, Senior Business Development Manager, Orbital Group

• Lee McChrystal, Group Sales Director, Brookson

In this episode of Talking Recruitment, Maxine Bligh, Chief Membership and Innovation Officer at the REC, is joined by Dominic Waters (Paul Waters Associates) to explore what drives performance in recruitment and what businesses should be prioritising if growth returns to the market.

The conversation focuses on what separates high-performing recruiters from the rest, challenging common assumptions around experience and highlighting the importance of mindset, resilience and consistent sales behaviours. As hiring activity begins to pick up again, the episode also examines where agencies continue to make costly hiring mistakes and how they can avoid them.

Drawing on insights from working with over 250 recruitment businesses, Dom shares why relying on instinct and interviews alone often leads to poor hiring decisions, and makes the case for a more objective, data-led approach to assessing potential.

The episode also looks ahead to how the recruiter role is evolving, with technology reducing administrative tasks and increasing the importance of relationship-building and value creation.

Ultimately, the discussion reinforces that while the tools and context may change, the fundamentals of success in recruitment remain the same and getting hiring right will be critical to the next phase of growth.

Guest

• Dominic Waters, Managing Partner, Paul Waters Associates

In this episode of Talking Recruitment, Neil Carberry is joined by Paul Chamberlain (JMW Solicitors), David Johnson (PayStream) and Lewis Gosling (Liquid Friday) to discuss what the Employment Rights Act means for recruitment businesses right now and how agencies can prepare for the changes coming into force from April 2026.

The conversation focuses on the immediate operational challenges around day-one Statutory Sick Pay, supply-chain accountability and the creation of the Fair Work Agency, as well as the wider shift toward greater transparency and compliance across the temporary labour market.

While the panel highlights the risks and uncertainty that remain as details of the legislation continue to emerge, they also emphasise the opportunity for recruitment businesses to strengthen client relationships, demonstrate expertise and differentiate themselves through compliant and transparent supply chains.

The panel explores:

• Why the Employment Rights Act will be implemented in stages and why many details are still being shaped through consultation

• The practical implications of day-one Statutory Sick Pay for recruitment businesses and labour supply chains

• How agencies should prepare operationally for increased eligibility and potential cost impacts

• Why supply-chain accountability is becoming a central theme of labour market regulation

• The role of the new Fair Work Agency in enforcing labour market standards

• Why stronger compliance and transparency could become a commercial advantage for recruiters

Despite a challenging regulatory landscape, the discussion concludes that recruitment businesses that invest in compliance, transparency and stronger client partnerships will be well positioned to adapt and succeed.

Guests:

• Paul Chamberlain, Partner, JMW Solicitors

• David Johnson, Head of Legal, PayStream

• Lewis Gosling, Head of Tech Ops, Liquid Friday

In this episode of Talking Recruitment, Neil Carberry is joined by Daniel Haslam (Giant Group), Rob Leake (NumberMill) and Sebastien Sauca (SafeRec) to unpack what compliance risk looks like in 2026 and why this moment represents both a threat and an opportunity.

The panel explores:

> The compliance risks recruiters may be underestimating, from umbrella expense practices to solvency risk

> Why joint and several liability should be seen as a business-critical risk

> How HMRC enforcement mechanisms could play out in practice

> Whether “quick and cheap” supply models are becoming unsustainable

> Why strong compliance can now be a commercial advantage

> How a level playing field could reshape parts of the temporary labour market

However, alongside the risk is opportunity: recruiters who get this right can reposition as professional services businesses, using compliance not just as protection, but as a differentiator.

Guests:

Rob Leake, Commercial Director, NumberMill

Rob is a director at NumberMill, an ACCA-chartered accountancy, FCSA-accredited employment intermediary and GLAA-licensed employer supporting contractors and the organisations that engage them. He has over 15 years’ experience advising recruiters on IR35 reform, worker engagement structures and compliant outsourced employment models.

Dan Haslam, Chief Business Development Officer, Giant Group

Dan Haslam has more than 15 years’ experience in the recruitment and contractor services sector. As Chief Business Development Officer at Giant Group, he works closely with recruitment businesses to navigate worker engagement, payroll and compliance challenges, including IR35, AWR and upcoming umbrella reforms.

Sébastien Sauca, CEO, SafeRec

Sébastien Sauca is CEO of SafeRec, a compliance and technology firm that helps protect workers, agencies and end clients from risks associated with non-compliant umbrella companies. SafeRec is known for its certification standard, designed to bring greater transparency and accountability to the temporary labour supply chain.

In Episode 75 of the Talking Recruitment Podcast, REC Chief Executive, Neil Carberry OBE, is joined by the REC’s 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award winner Kate Allen, Founder of Allen Associates.

Kate shares the story behind building a relationship-led recruitment business in Oxfordshire – from launching solo in 1998 to creating a debt-free, specialist consultancy service that engages the community and builds long-term client trust.

The conversation explores:

> Why relationship-focused consultancy beats transactional recruitment

> The power of market transparency through insight and research

> Why curiosity, integrity and marketing investment remain critical in a tougher market

At a time when the industry is navigating legal reform, technological change and fragile confidence, Kate makes a compelling case: the fundamentals still matter, but leaders must stay curious and keep evolving.

Guest:

Kate Allen is Founder, Executive Chair and Marketing Director for Allen Associates Limited based in Oxford

In this episode of Talking Recruitment, REC Chief Executive Neil Carberry OBE is joined by recruitment reformer and tech innovator Keith Langbo to explore how hiring is being reshaped by AI, shifting workforce expectations, and growing skills uncertainty.

They argue recruitment needs to move beyond CV and skills-based matching towards “signal-based” hiring that focuses on behaviours, adaptability, and culture fit. The conversation explores the risks of automating broken processes, and the opportunity for agencies to add more value by asking better questions, improving role definition, and building trusted candidate communities.

Guest:

• Keith Langbo is Founder and CEO of Kelaca and leads RGH Global’s expansion across the Americas

In this episode of Talking Recruitment, REC Chief Executive Neil Carberry OBE is joined by James Osborne, Founder of The Recruitment Network (TRN), to explore how the role of recruiters is evolving in a complex and fast-changing market. The conversation looks at the shift away from purely transactional recruitment towards deeper client partnerships, with Neil and James discussing how the strongest recruiters are increasingly acting as consultants, helping organisations understand skills shortages, workforce planning and long-term talent strategy. In a market shaped by hesitation, cost pressures and uneven demand, this advisory role is becoming a clear differentiator.

The episode also looks ahead at how recruitment models are changing, including the impact of technology, data and AI on how agencies operate and deliver value. Neil and James discuss what recruiters need to stay ahead of that change, from skills and mindset to the support structures around them. The new partnership between REC and TRN is designed to support members through this transition, bringing shared insight, collaboration and enhanced resources to help recruitment businesses adapt, grow and stay relevant in the years ahead.

Guest:

James Osborne (TRN Founder)