The Staffing RecOps Podcast

In this episode, James Lawton speaks with Ben Hansen, The Profit Doctor, about the common traps scaling firms fall into, which he terms "Profititus"—solid revenue growth but flat net profitability. Drawing on his experience building a multi-million dollar staffing business, Ben advocates applying the Pareto principle (80/20 rule) to profitability, starting by eliminating the worst 20% of low-performing customers and employees. He emphasizes that for staffing and recruiting firms, the biggest profit leaks often come from straying outside their niche or "sweet spot" to fill challenging roles, and from a growth-obsessed psychology adopted from the VC-backed tech world. Ben encourages operations leaders to focus 20% of their energy on profitability and offers free resources to help identify and triage major profit leaks.The SROP is hosted by James Lawton: ex-recruiter, now helping enterprise-level companies with high volume hiring with automation and AI.More about Ben HansenBen Hansen, known as The Profit Doctor, is an expert in helping businesses uncover profit leaks, fix inefficient operations, and scale sustainably. Through his flagship program, The Profit Accelerator, he helps business owners achieve an additional five points of net profitability in 90 days. Ben’s expertise centers on leveraging best practices—and learning from his own past mistakes—to optimize profitability in staffing, recruiting, and other service-based firms.To learn more about the Profit Accelerator go to www.profitdoctor.com/accelerator  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Sean McNicholas, Senior Commercial Manager at The OPRA Group, discusses the company’s shift from traditional transactional recruitment to a project-based model. This approach aims to align with a client's broader business goals, whether they are scaling up, launching new initiatives, or undergoing a transformation. Sean explains how this involves a comprehensive project implementation plan that includes market intelligence, talent mapping, and candidate attraction. The model emphasizes building a long-standing relationship with clients by providing continuous education and adapting to their evolving needs, rather than just filling a job.The SROP is hosted by James Lawton: ex-recruiter, now helping enterprise-level companies with high volume hiring with automation and AI.More about Sean McNicholasSean McNicholas is the Senior Commercial Manager at The OPRA Group, a recruitment specialist firm with over 35 years of experience. The OPRA Group offers a full range of people solutions, from recruitment and HR services to pre-employment screening and employee wellbeing.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Host James Lawton speaks with Stephanie Bateman, Owner and Managing Director of Educate Staffing, about the complex process of buying out her initial investor. Stephanie discusses the initial investment that launched the business, the support the investor provided in the early years , and her eventual decision to seek full ownership around year six or seven of the business. She shares a candid and practical look at navigating the process, including the emotional strain of a family-related business dispute , the high cost of legal battles , and the critical importance of settling out of court. Ultimately, Stephanie shares key project steps for a successful buyout, emphasizing the need to be fully prepared with financial data (EBITDA, costs, multiples) and a clear understanding of the shareholders agreement before entering negotiations.The SROP is hosted by James Lawton: ex-recruiter, now helping enterprise-level companies with high volume hiring with automation and AI.More about Stephanie BatemanStephanie Bateman is the Owner and Managing Director of Educate Staffing, a trusted executive search consultancy predominantly serving schools across London. She successfully built the firm by prioritizing compliance, efficiency, and recruiter enablement. Her business journey began with a £50,000 investment from a family member, with an initial 50/50 split that later moved to a 60/40 split. After nine years in business, Stephanie successfully navigated the complex operational and personal project of buying out her investor to take full ownership of the company. She now uses her experience to share practical advice on business setup, growth, and the strategic planning required for investor buyouts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, James Lawton speaks with Richard Caldicott about a critical topic often overlooked by businesses—device management. Richard, a seasoned IT professional, explains how a lack of proper device management is a "real big miss," especially for recruitment firms that handle a lot of personal data. He discusses the importance of securing devices to protect against data loss from stolen laptops or phones and highlights how robust security practices can not only mitigate risk but also attract new clients by helping a business become more appealing. Richard also covers essential security measures like multi-factor authentication, data encryption, and geographical restrictions, emphasizing that a strong security ethos is a vital foundation for any growing business.The SROP is hosted by James Lawton: ex-recruiter, now helping enterprise-level companies with high volume hiring with automation and AI.More about Richard CaldicottRichard Caldicott is a seasoned IT professional with more than 20 years of experience, including over eight years specializing in the recruitment sector. He is currently the Director of IT at La Fosse Associates and runs his own consulting firm, Caldicott Consulting. His firm provides a wide range of IT and technology services, from cloud migrations and infrastructure enhancements to CRM implementations and disaster recovery plans. Richard is notable for successfully migrating Henderson Scott's infrastructure to a cloud-first setup, completely eliminating their on-premise servers in 2021. Richard's expertise lies in helping businesses build a strong foundation for their IT and security, ensuring they are protected against modern data risks. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Matthew Evans, Director at MRG, talks about the company's aggressive international expansion. Matthew discusses the strategic decision to open offices in Mumbai and Gurugram, India, a market he describes as "one of the, if not the fastest growing, real estate economies in the world." He shares insights on the unique challenges and opportunities of entering a new country, from navigating local regulations and building the right team to adapting recruitment processes for a massive volume of applicants. Matthew also offers advice for other businesses looking to go global, emphasizing the importance of strong local leadership and consistent branding.The SROP is hosted by James Lawton: ex-recruiter, now helping enterprise-level companies with high volume hiring with automation and AI.More about Matthew EvansMatthew Evans is a Director at MRG, a London-based executive search consultancy. He specializes in executive recruitment within the real estate, property, asset management, development, and construction sectors. Beyond his day-to-day responsibilities, Matthew has been a key driver behind MRG's successful international expansion. Under his guidance, the firm has established operations in several global markets, including Malaysia, the Middle East, Europe, and South Africa.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we sit down with Claire Proudlove, Group Director of Client Program Services at The Serocor Group. With nearly three decades of experience in recruitment and workforce solutions, Claire has built and scaled client program services that unify multiple brands under one strategic vision. She shares how her team drives operational improvements, integrates recruitment technology, and partners with clients to create flexible, scalable talent solutions. Claire also discusses the future of talent services, the impact of AI, and what it takes to deliver best-in-class workforce programs.The SROP is hosted by James Lawton: ex-recruiter, now helping enterprise-level companies with high volume hiring with automation and AI.More about Claire ProudloveClaire Proudlove is the Group Director of Client Program Services at The Serocor Group, where she leads the design, delivery, and continuous improvement of client solutions across its family of brands. Over her 30-year career, Claire has progressed from front-line recruitment at Oracle to becoming a respected leader known for aligning complex workforce programs with evolving market needs. Her expertise spans contingent recruitment, RPO, MSP, bid management, and the integration of recruitment technology. Claire is passionate about building scalable, client-centric solutions that empower businesses to thrive in changing talent landscapes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When Toby Briant, founder and managing director of Rutherford Briant Recruitment, decided to change the firm’s long-standing CRM and ATS provider, he knew the stakes were high. In this episode, Toby shares how his team evaluated the market, why vendor alignment with company values was as important as the technology itself, and what made their final choice the right fit. He dives into lessons on planning, delegation, post-implementation success, and the crucial role of customer service in long-term tech partnerships. Whether you’re a recruitment leader or a tech buyer, Toby’s story offers a roadmap for making big tech changes with minimal disruption.The SROP is hosted by James Lawton: ex-recruiter, now helping enterprise-level companies with high volume hiring with automation and AI.More about Toby BriantToby Briant is the founder and managing director of Rutherford Briant Recruitment, a multi-award-winning firm specializing in accountancy, finance, HR, and executive search across East Anglia and the Home Counties. Since launching the business in 2009 during the financial crisis, Toby has grown it into a respected, values-driven agency known for cultural fit, relationship building, and delivering top-tier talent. A championship-winning racing driver, Toby brings a performance-focused mindset to both the track and the boardroom. Under his leadership, Rutherford Briant has placed over 2,500 candidates and built enduring partnerships with clients and suppliers alike. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we’re joined by Tom Beastall, Executive Director at Rullion, a UK-based recruitment agency with deep roots and ambitious plans. Tom shares the story behind Rullion’s sweeping technology transformation—from proprietary legacy systems to a flexible, cloud-first architecture. We unpack the leadership lessons learned along the way, including the political dynamics of driving internal change, why overcommunication is key, and how to balance customization with off-the-shelf solutions.Tom’s thoughtful, strategic approach to change management offers valuable takeaways for any leader navigating digital transformation at scale.The SROP is hosted by James Lawton: ex-recruiter, now helping enterprise-level companies with high volume hiring with automation and AI.More about Tom BeastallTom Beastall is Executive Director at Rullion, a privately owned UK recruitment agency founded in 1978. With over two decades of experience at Rullion, Tom has risen through the ranks from client information manager to IT leader, spearheading company-wide technology and process transformations. Known for his strategic vision and people-centric approach, Tom completed a technical leadership program at UC Berkeley Haas during the pandemic, deepening his understanding of influence, stakeholder engagement, and organizational psychology. He’s passionate about building scalable, resilient systems—and cultures—that enable growth and creativity across the business. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Mason Barendrecht, Director if Technology and Systems at Hales Group, discusses the role of AI in business development. Mason shares how his team is using AI tools and large language models to surface warm leads, deliver contextual prospecting insights, and help recruiters shift their focus from cold outreach to high-impact relationship building. He breaks down how Hales piloted and fine-tuned this AI-powered process, why data cleanliness still matters, and how technology can free up recruiters to do what they do best—connect with people. If you’re evaluating AI for lead generation in the recruitment industry, this one’s packed with practical takeaways.The SROP is hosted by James Lawton: ex-recruiter, now helping enterprise-level companies with high volume hiring with automation and AI.More about Mason BarendrechtMason Barendrecht is the Director of Technology and Systems at Hales Group, where he leads the firm’s digital strategy across its recruitment and healthcare divisions. With a background in systems implementation and operational efficiency, Mason is now focused on harnessing AI to drive smarter business development and recruiter enablement. He’s passionate about building technology that empowers people—not replaces them. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Glyn Blaize, COO at La Fosse Associates, shares the story of how he transformed two staffing businesses by designing and implementing scalable, fully automated systems across HR, finance, and delivery. Glyn reveals how he helped one firm grow from 200 to over 1,000 employees by connecting recruitment to onboarding, payroll, and ERP systems — all without ballooning the ops team. At La Fosse, he’s now retrofitting automation into a fast-paced, multidivisional firm and setting up a PMO to drive innovation from within. Glyn dives into lessons learned around agile project management, avoiding scope creep, mapping processes before automating, and building internal buy-in for operational change. A must-listen for staffing leaders ready to future-proof their back office and scale smarter.The SROP is hosted by James Lawton: ex-recruiter, now helping enterprise-level companies with high volume hiring with automation and AI. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Kate Harding, Marketing Manager at Montreal Associates, shares how she built a vibrant, personality-driven recruitment brand as a one-woman marketing department. She takes us behind the scenes of launching Careers in the Cloud, the agency’s flagship tech podcast, born during lockdown as a way to engage candidates and clients in an authentic, value-driven way. Kate explains how she leveraged video, studios, and short-form content to grow reach, measured success through brand awareness rather than conversions, and repurposed content strategically. She offers candid advice for staffing firms considering their own podcast — from finding the right host to managing resources and keeping the focus on audience value.The SROP is hosted by James Lawton: ex-recruiter, now helping enterprise-level companies with high volume hiring with automation and AI. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Sam Porter, IT Director at Morgan Hunt, shares the story of a sweeping digital transformation in their staffing operations. Facing fragmented systems and rising pressures from AI and automation, Sam and his team undertook a full overhaul of their CRM, onboarding, and pay-and-bill platforms — all at once in a “big bang” approach. He explains how they used a detailed time and motion study to uncover inefficiencies, engaged every department to shape the new systems, and balanced ambition with stability during implementation. Sam offers valuable lessons about prioritizing ROI, managing change, and sustaining momentum beyond go-live.The SROP is hosted by James Lawton: ex-recruiter, now helping enterprise-level companies with high volume hiring with automation and AI.More about Sam PorterSam Porter is the IT Director at Morgan Hunt, a leading staffing and recruitment firm specializing in the public sector. With a background in IT leadership, Sam has spearheaded transformative technology initiatives, including a company-wide overhaul of core systems to leverage AI, automation, and data-driven efficiency. He is passionate about aligning technology with business goals to empower teams and improve operational performance. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, James sits down with John Gargan, Head of Operations at Manpower Northern Ireland, to discuss how they transformed a highly manual hiring process by integrating AI. The conversation explores how this shift streamlined operations and boosted recruiter productivity.The SROP is hosted by James Lawton: ex-recruiter, now helping enterprise-level companies with high volume hiring with automation and AI.More about John GarganJohn Gargan is the regional manager at Manpower UK. He currently managing a portfolio of 38 client accounts in Northern Ireland, with end-to-end ownership of team performance, commercial outcomes, and stakeholder engagement.We want to talk to youWherever you are in the world, if you work for a high volume staffing and/or recruitment firm then we want to talk to you! So do not hesitate to reach out to us if you would like to be on the podcast.The Staffing RecOps Podcast is sponsored by Sense. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Introducing The Staffing RecOps Podcast hosted by James Lawton. Want to be on our podcast? See our website for all the details and get in touch with us. https://www.staffingrecops.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In today’s episode, our host and founder James takes a moment to reflect on the incredible journey we've had on The Staffing RecOps Podcast and we dive into the highlights of the past quarter.Throughout the quarter, we had the pleasure of hosting 4 amazing guests, Mason Barendrecht, Frank Gullo, Martin Allen and Michael Whitmer. A recurring theme in our conversations was automation in the recruitment landscape. Our guests, representing various recruitment firms, provided valuable insights into the different stages of their automation transformations.As we look back on the past quarter and year, we are grateful for the knowledge shared by our guests and the support of our dedicated listeners. Thank you for being a part of The Staffing RecOps Podcast community.More about James LawtonThe SROP is hosted and founded by James Lawton: ex-recruiter, now helping enterprise-level companies manage their high-volume contingent workforce. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this new episode, James talked with Michael from RGF Staffing about all things AI and data related. Michael talked about leveraging AI in matching, using tools in deep learning and natural language to manage both active candidates and to match passive candidates with open job opportunities. They are utilizing boolean search strings and refining them by examining skills in their taxonomy of data, thereby honing the search with automated enhanced searches. They are currently experimenting with Large Language Models (LLM) on enterprise licenses instead of publicly OpenAI data models, but they don't know where this will lead yet.The top 3 tips Michael shared with us are get your data clean, experiment and don't be afraid to fail and learn from this.The SROP is hosted by James Lawton: ex-recruiter, now helping enterprise-level companies manage their high-volume contingent workforce.More about Michael WhitmerMichael Whitmer is Global CIO at RGF Staffing. RGF Staffing is one of the world's largest providers of HR services.Every day around 265,000 people are employed through the network of RGF Staffing at companies and institutions across the world.We want to talk to youWherever you are in the world, if you work for a high volume staffing and/or recruitment firm then we want to talk to you! So do not hesitate to reach out to us if you would like to be on the podcast.The Staffing RecOps Podcast is sponsored by Mployee. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this new episode, James talked with Martin about the significance of treating data as a valuable asset, emphasizing the importance of thoughtful consideration regarding its input and utilization, rather than merely viewing it as a byproduct of output. Martin advised that we need to start with why, why and what are we looking to achieve and very importantly how do we deliver on it.Martin shed light on the potential insights that can be derived from leveraging the data accessible to recruitment agencies. He highlighted how harnessing this data can not only provide valuable information but also enhance the overall value we offer to our clients.The SROP is hosted by James Lawton: ex-recruiter, now helping enterprise-level companies manage their high-volume contingent workforce.More about Martin AllenMartin Allen is a reference and master data modernisation consultant freelancer. Martin is a highly-experienced and pro-active reference and master data modernisation consultant / Senior Programme Manager. He has a successful background in B2B, B2C, telecomunications, retail, real estate, travel, financial services, defence, consulting, central and local governments. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this new episode, James talked with Frank about the shift in organisational focus since Nov 2022, and the excitement and the concerns around AI. Frank talked about the need to understand the business strategy and the problems that need to be solved before thinking about where to invest in AI. Assessing what resources are available to the business, and what the use cases are. Frank talked about the importance of governance, privacy and security, and having an AI policy.More about Frank GulloFrank Gullo is Chief Technology Officer at Aleron. Aleron is a global workforce and business solutions company that builds relationships, connects people, and empowers the workplace. An industry leader since 1957, Aleron specializes in total talent solutions, workforce management, IT services, and more.Extra sources and reading material provided by FrankEconomist and writer Tyler Cowen https://marginalrevolution.com/marginalrevolution/2023/08/ai-update.htmlBusiness Consultant Melissa Copeland https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/elephant-room-one-wants-admit-what-dont-know-ai-melissa-copeland/Reading materialHow to Create the Best ChatGPT Policies: https://www.shrm.org/resourcesandtools/hr-topics/technology/pages/how-to-create-the-best-chatgpt-policies-.aspx?mkt_tok=ODIzLVRXUy05ODQAAAGNZB7EstpQ7CYs4da-Wjimt7P64ppD-v-qVb9HK6Y5P9BcG-lnicb8gSbuv38arvmgJ_kqzxrqb1rfdpovaBQep-JezNSrUsie-88PUrMRligFwY_S The A-Z of AI: 30 terms you need to understand artificial intelligence: https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20230717-what-you-should-know-about-artificial-intelligence-from-a-zBuying AI? The questions HR leaders should be able to answer: https://hrexecutive.com/buying-ai-questions-hr-leaders-should-be-able-to-answer-ai-governance/?oly_enc_id=8242I6865212B1M Generative AI tips and warnings from 5 providers: https://www.ciodive.com/news/Generative-AI-myths-tips-tricks-adoption/691496/ How Generative AI Will Transform Your Industry: https://www.gartner.com/en/webinar/534330/1202251 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this new episode, James talked with Mason about data, the quality of data, and migrating that data. Mason specified the key challenges for this; volume, complexity & ensuring have the right data. The importance of making sure the data you migrate into your new system is relevant, so clean the data before the move.Retention of data is always Mason's biggest concern and perceived risk, which is part of why Hales Group are moving from a legacy server based solution into the cloud. Mason's last tip for anyone about to conduct a data migration themselves is to create a Checklist before they start!The SROP is hosted by James Lawton: ex-recruiter, now helping enterprise-level companies manage their high-volume contingent workforce.More about Mason BarendrechtMason Barendrecht is Director of Technology and Systems at Hales GroupHales Group Ltd is one of the UK's leading home care providers and staffing businesses, delivering recruitment services to a wide range of sectors throughout the UK.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In today's episode, James recaps on the last quarter where he talked about customer & candidate care, automation & messaging with the SROP guests. The idea behind the Staffing RecOps Podcast is that by interviewing professionals from high volume staffing & recruitment firms about the operations strategies and business processes they have implemented or are implementing, why they did it and how, we can obtain and share insights for other staffing & recruitment professionals about to embark on similar projects.If you haven't already done so, do go back and listen to the individual episodes! The SROP is hosted by James Lawton: ex-recruiter, now helping enterprise-level companies manage their high-volume contingent workforce.Plans for next quarterNext quarter we will be focusing on Data & Security, Automation & Artificial Intelligence. We predominantly interview professionals from the UK and the US, but would love to hear from professionals in our industry from other regions.So if you are based somewhere other than the UK or the USA, and you work in strategic management or are operational please do reach out. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.