The RAG Podcast - Recruitment Agency Growth Podcast

• Season 8 | Ep23 Marc Cohen on scaling in the US and securing an 8-figure exit!

  Marc Cohen scaled his recruitment agency in the US and secured an 8 figure exit.On this week's RAG Podcast, I am joined by Marc, founder of ConSol Partners, who achieved something that 99.9% of recruitment founders will never do.Marc and his co-founder Graeme built their agency with an exit strategy in mind from day 1, navigating economic downturns, and predicting the success of future markets.In this episode, we discuss:Marc's unique story from Recruiter to FounderThe reason why he scaled the business statesideThe strategy behind selling 65% of the business before maximising the final saleHis thoughts on whether the US really is the golden dream for recruitment entrepreneursThe emotional and financial complexities of exiting a businessWhat life looks like post-exit and how to stay motivatedIf you have ambitions of scaling and selling a business—especially in the US—this episode is essential.Chapters00:00 Introduction03:00 Marc's journey to America06:09 Building a career in recruitment08:57 The entrepreneurial spirit11:56 Setting up ConSol Partners15:02 Vision and philosophy in business18:02 The startup journey 20:58 Navigating challenges in a new economy22:58 Identifying future trends25:10 Evolving business strategies27:54 Expansion into AI and robotics30:15 The move to the US35:41 Maintaining relationships across borders37:50 Preparing for an exit44:54 The exit process and negotiations50:02 Post-exit reflections and challenges52:40 Investment strategies after the exit56:49 Emotional connections in business01:01:20 Identity and purpose after exiting01:03:12 Daily life and new routines01:06:09 Future aspirations and community engagement01:10:18 Looking ahead: scaling in the US01:12:26 Closing thoughts and final reflections__________________________________________Episode Sponsor: UntappedUntapped is THE market leader and go-to agency for finding and hiring tried-and-tested offshore talent into UK, US and Australian-based recruitment companies.They’re providing top-class TEAMMATES, NOT OUTSOURCES! We use Untapped for Hoxo’s own offshore hires, and it’s been a total game-changer for our team. No one else can compete with the quality of their network, their in-depth candidate assessment process or their time to hire. If hiring elite-level overseas talent into your business to boost sales and increase productivity whilst saving yourself a huge amount in employment costs isn’t on your radar for 2024, it should be!Untapped are hiring recruitment, sales, marketing and support staff into recruitment agencies of all shapes, sizes and specialisms globally and they are growing rapidly!Join the waiting list today so you don’t miss out on the next cohort of business-launching hiring projects. https://bit.ly/47GGdvZ __________________________________________Episode sponsor: HoxoRecruiters: are you sitting on a goldmine of LinkedIn connections without knowing how to turn them into real opportunities?Most recruiters spend hours every day on cold outreach and endless scrolling, hoping for replies that never come. But what if LinkedIn could work for you instead?The Hoxo 7-Day LinkedIn Challenge is a simple, step-by-step framework designed to help you:Identify warm leads already in your networkStart meaningful conversations with potential clients and candidates—without feeling pushyShare content that gets noticed and builds trust – without spending hours onlineTransform LinkedIn into an inbound lead generator in...

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• Season 8 | Ep22 Kyle Winterbottom on how building his brand isn’t just attracting clients—it’s making his business an acquisition target!

  Here is a recruitment business that doesn’t rely on outbound salesKyle Winterbottom has done things a little differently to the restKyle and I sat down for this week’s episode of The RAG Podcast to discuss how his business has evolved since he was last on the show in 2022.He’s built a global community of 1,500+ Chief Data Officers, driving all of his revenue through inbound relationships. His brand, Driven By Data, isn’t just attracting clients – it’s making his business an acquisition target.In this episode, we break down:How community building generates sustainable, high-value recruitment revenue.Why brand trust and credibility are the ultimate sales drivers.The strategies behind monetising an engaged audience.How inbound business creates new challenges for scaling and delivery.If you’re serious about building a recruitment business that thrives on brand, credibility, and inbound opportunities, this episode is for you.Chapters00:00 Introduction to growth in recruitment02:56 Kyle's journey and business evolution06:08 Market challenges and business adjustments09:01 Streamlining operations and team structure12:00 The importance of community in recruitment15:07 Revenue insights and business sustainability18:10 Future vision: recruitment landscape shifts21:06 Driven by data: building a community23:58 Monetising community engagement28:53 Removing bottlenecks and building community30:00 The power of quality networks in recruitment31:50 Monetising community engagement33:43 Sponsorship and revenue growth strategies35:06 Consistency as a key to success37:09 Building trust and credibility in recruitment38:11 The importance of inbound relationships40:11 The role of brand in sales42:23 Long-term strategies for community building44:55 Facilitating knowledge and connections45:33 Valuing community in business acquisitions47:28 The power of audience in monetisation50:35 Expanding community beyond borders52:44 Purpose beyond placements54:30 Balancing short-term and long-term strategies57:20 Future opportunities and business value_________________________________________Episode Sponsor: UntappedUntapped is THE market leader and go-to agency for finding and hiring tried-and-tested offshore talent into UK, US and Australian-based recruitment companies.They’re providing top-class TEAMMATES, NOT OUTSOURCES! We use Untapped for Hoxo’s own offshore hires, and it’s been a total game-changer for our team. No one else can compete with the quality of their network, their in-depth candidate assessment process or their time to hire. If hiring elite-level overseas talent into your business to boost sales and increase productivity whilst saving yourself a huge amount in employment costs isn’t on your radar for 2024, it should be!Untapped are hiring recruitment, sales, marketing and support staff into recruitment agencies of all shapes, sizes and specialisms globally and they are growing rapidly!Join the waiting list today so you don’t miss out on the next cohort of business-launching hiring projects. https://bit.ly/47GGdvZ _______________________________________Episode sponsor: HoxoRecruiters: are you sitting on a goldmine of LinkedIn connections without knowing how to turn them into real opportunities?Most recruiters spend hours every day on cold outreach and endless scrolling, hoping for replies that never come. But what if LinkedIn could work for you instead?The Hoxo 7-Day LinkedIn Challenge is a simple, step-by-step framework designed to help you:Identify warm leads already in

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• Season 8 | Ep21 Lloyd Gordon: Merging 2 rec firms with 100+ staff into one unified team

  In 2022, Lloyd Gordon had just acquired Cognitive Group, bringing his team to over 100 people.Over the past 3 years, he has had the challenge of successfully integrating the two businesses.On this week’s episode of The RAG Podcast, I am joined for the fourth time by Lloyd, CEO of Focus Cloud Group, and this time we discussed:The challenges of merging two teams, cultures, and leadership styles.How to unify systems, processes, and back-office functions.The mistakes made along the way and the lessons learned.What’s next as Lloyd sets his sights on further growth and investment.If you're interested in scaling a business through acquisition, managing post-merger integration, or leading a company through rapid growth, this episode is a must-watch.Chapters00:00 Introduction02:24 Lloyd Gordon's journey and business overview05:15 Personal life and work-life balance12:31 Transitioning from acquisition to integration18:05 Cultural integration and team dynamics24:51 Technology and systems integration40:12 Transitioning to a unified CRM system42:04 Challenges in back office integration44:34 Implementing Workday Financials48:50 Navigating market challenges and workforce adjustments55:01 Leadership decisions in tough times59:51 Evolving leadership roles and responsibilities01:07:55 Future vision and strategic planning__________________________________________Episode Sponsor: AtlasYour memory isn’t perfect. So Atlas remembers everything for you. Atlas is an end-to-end recruitment platform built for the AI generation. It automates your admin so you can focus on the business tasks that matter. How many conversations do you have every day? With clients. Candidates. Your team. Service providers.Now how many of those conversations can you recall with 100% accuracy? How many hours a week do you spend making notes to try and retain as much as possible? And how much is still getting lost along the way? Traditional CRM systems weren’t built for the type of recruitment business you’re running right now. They were built to rely on the structured, tagged, categorised, and formal data you could feed it. Manual processes that needed you to input specific information, based on specific questions and answers. But what about all the other conversations you’re having every single day? Atlas isn’t an ATS or a CRM. It’s an Intelligent Business Platform that helps you perform 10X better than you could on your own. How? By removing all your low value tasks, acting as your perfect memory, and providing highly relevant recommendations to impact your performance. Learn more about the power of Atlas – and take advantage of the exclusive offer for The RAG listeners – by visiting https://recruitwithatlas.com/therag/ __________________________________________Episode sponsor: HoxoRecruiters: are you sitting on a goldmine of LinkedIn connections without knowing how to turn them into real opportunities?Most recruiters spend hours every day on cold outreach and endless scrolling, hoping for replies that never come. But what if LinkedIn could work for you instead?The Hoxo 7-Day LinkedIn Challenge is a simple, step-by-step framework designed to help you:Identify warm leads already in your networkStart meaningful conversations with potential clients and candidates—without feeling pushyShare content that gets noticed and builds trust – without spending hours onlineTransform LinkedIn into an inbound lead generator in just 7 days!This...

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• Season 8 | Ep20 Alex Dick on why 400 recruiters apply to work with his business every week!

  Why 400 recruiters apply to work with Alex’s business every single week.On this week's show, I am joined by Alex Dick, founder of Alexander Lyons Solutions.Alex built a £1m legal recruitment desk for nearly a decade before a personal event led him to rethink everything.Now, he’s on a mission to scale with a revolutionary recruitment model – one that sits between the traditional agency and incubator structures.With 13 recruiters today and ambitions to grow to 200+, he’s a pioneer of what’s possible in recruitment in 2025!In this episode, we discuss:The unique commission model that’s offering recruiters up to 80% take-home pay.Why 400 recruiters apply to work with Alex’s business every week.The shift from solo high-billing to building a scalable, exit-ready company.How personal challenges can reshape your vision for success.If you’re interested in scaling a recruitment business, challenging industry norms, or finding new ways to attract top talent, this is one you won’t want to miss.Watch the full conversation live on my LinkedIn this Wednesday at 12 pm or search The RAG wherever you get your podcasts!Chapters00:00 Introduction02:23 Alex Dick's unique recruitment model03:23 Early career and transition to recruitment06:40 Building a successful legal recruitment business16:04 Life changes and business realisations24:14 Shifting focus: from legal to recruitment30:34 Creating a flexible and rewarding work environment37:13 Recruitment strategy and ideal candidates41:47 International hiring and recruitment strategies48:42 Building a company culture remotely01:01:11 Personal health challenges and their impact01:07:21 Future plans and business growth strategies__________________________________________Episode Sponsor: UntappedUntapped is THE market leader and go-to agency for finding and hiring tried-and-tested offshore talent into UK, US and Australian-based recruitment companies.They’re providing top-class TEAMMATES, NOT OUTSOURCES! We use Untapped for Hoxo’s own offshore hires, and it’s been a total game-changer for our team. No one else can compete with the quality of their network, their in-depth candidate assessment process or their time to hire. If hiring elite-level overseas talent into your business to boost sales and increase productivity whilst saving yourself a huge amount in employment costs isn’t on your radar for 2024, it should be!Untapped are hiring recruitment, sales, marketing and support staff into recruitment agencies of all shapes, sizes and specialisms globally and they are growing rapidly!Join the waiting list today so you don’t miss out on the next cohort of business-launching hiring projects. https://bit.ly/47GGdvZ __________________________________________Episode sponsor: HoxoRecruiters: are you sitting on a goldmine of LinkedIn connections without knowing how to turn them into real opportunities?Most recruiters spend hours every day on cold outreach and endless scrolling, hoping for replies that never come. But what if LinkedIn could work for you instead?The Hoxo 7-Day LinkedIn Challenge is a simple, step-by-step framework designed to help you:Identify warm leads already in your networkStart meaningful conversations with potential clients and candidates—without feeling pushyShare content that gets noticed and builds trust – without spending hours onlineTransform LinkedIn into an inbound lead generator in just 7 days!This challenge isn’t about writing viral posts or spamming DMs.It’s about small, proven actions that take just 20 minutes a day – and start generating results from day...

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• Season 8 | Ep19 FIFA to Founder: How a 20yr old Harry Portch built HM Staffing by accident

  On this week’s episode of The RAG Podcast with Harry Portch, founder of HM Staffing. Harry’s journey is anything but ordinary. He started his business at just 20 years old – almost by accident – while playing FIFA! Now, six years later, he’s built a leading sales and marketing recruitment agency, transitioned to a fully remote model, and became a LinkedIn Top Voice. In this episode, you’ll hear about: - How Harry started his business + the COVID-19 challenges he had to face right from the start- Why he wanted to take the risk and launch a business so early in his career (and the lessons he learned from his mistakes) - How Harry is building a recognisable personal brand and staying authentic online - His insights into managing business growth, going fully remote, and dealing with industry negativity If you’re interested in building a business, growing your personal brand, or scaling a company with Gen Z talent, this episode is for you! Chapters00:00 Introduction to Harry Portch and HM Staffing02:46 Harry's journey into recruitment05:01 The accidental entrepreneur09:00 Early challenges and growth14:40 Navigating COVID-19 and its impact19:47 Scaling the business post-COVID21:11 Building a personal brand on LinkedIn25:50 The importance of authenticity in content30:00 Handling negativity and staying positive34:21 Introduction to Atlas and Founders License35:19 Negotiating with clients: the art of influence36:14 Handling unsolicited opinions37:09 The trade-off of public exposure38:35 The emotional journey of content creation39:34 The shift from private to public identity40:58 Authenticity in online presence42:21 The impact of remote work on lifestyle44:14 The challenges of letting people go45:37 Navigating business growth and challenges46:35 Transitioning to a remote work model49:20 The benefits of remote work culture52:12 Future hiring strategies54:05 Balancing work and family life57:31 The realities of business ownership01:00:18 Vision for the future of the business----------------------------------------Episode Sponsor: AtlasYour memory isn’t perfect. So Atlas remembers everything for you. Atlas is an end-to-end recruitment platform built for the AI generation. It automates your admin so you can focus on the business tasks that matter. How many conversations do you have every day? With clients. Candidates. Your team. Service providers.Now how many of those conversations can you recall with 100% accuracy? How many hours a week do you spend making notes to try and retain as much as possible? And how much is still getting lost along the way? Traditional CRM systems weren’t built for the type of recruitment business you’re running right now. They were built to rely on the structured, tagged, categorised, and formal data you could feed it. Manual processes that needed you to input specific information, based on specific questions and answers. But what about all the other conversations you’re having every single day? Atlas isn’t an ATS or a CRM. It’s an Intelligent Business Platform that helps you perform 10X better than you could on your own. How? By removing all your low value tasks, acting as your perfect memory, and providing highly relevant recommendations to impact your performance. Learn more about the power of Atlas – and take advantage of the exclusive offer for The RAG listeners – by visiting

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