New start business, Staff Solutions UK Limited, was set up in February 2008 and has enjoyed a successful start with its Hertfordshire-based operation.

Focusing on the industrial market, Staff Solutions looks to place drivers, warehouse staff and office workers, both in the local region and further afield.

Claire Dawson, Director at Staff Solutions, confesses that setting up the business was quite demanding and stressful: “Being a new small business, we knew it would be important to deliver a more personal service, and this meant spending much time in the early days building relationships in face-to-face meetings with businesses and candidates.”

In order to free up more time to promote the new business and build their profile in the market, Claire approached recruitment business outsourcing specialist, Oriel, to help with finance and back office support. Claire knew Oriel from a previous company and knew that they could provide that all-important support to help the new business get off to a flying start.

The Cheltenham-based Oriel team provide factoring, payroll and credit control services to Staff Solutions, which allows them to concentrate on what they first went into business to achieve. This takes the hassle out of setting up their own back office processes, while providing a valuable cash injection to the business through factoring their invoices.

Commenting on Oriel’s services, Claire says: “I am very happy with Oriel – our customer relationship manager, Tracey, is brilliant and she has managed our account since day one. Working with Oriel is very much a partnership and they often go over and above what they really need to do for us. For example I’ve been able to get a lot of very helpful advice regarding terms and conditions of employment which has saved me searching around elsewhere. I would recommend Oriel to anyone looking to start a recruitment business.”

Claire’s approach is paying off. Now with four staff, and some successful early business growth, she is looking ahead to a healthy 2009.

Written by Oriel Group, providers of support services for new start up recruitment agencies.

Everest Recruitment Limited, a recruitment agency specialising in driving, industrial and commercial recruitment, was set up by Ben Holder in January 2008.

Based in Eastleigh, Hampshire, the fledgling agency was keen to make an impact on the market from the very beginning and build a strong client base.  Ben was introduced to Oriel, the specialists in recruitment agency support, and received help and advice from the outset to set up the business with Companies House.

Ben comments: “Right from the start, the support we’ve received from Oriel has been superb.  Matt, our account manager, has been extremely helpful and gone above and beyond what we would expect in terms of daily support.”

Everest Recruitment is using a wide range of support services from Oriel, including accounting, business finance, business start-up advice and payroll for their candidates as well as their own staff.  In addition, the business makes good use of Orion, Oriel’s user-friendly online system, which allows them to manage the payroll for contractors as well as providing a helpful overview of reports such as VAT returns and work schedules.

Ben adds: “Everest Recruitment wouldn’t be the business it is today without the invaluable support we’ve received from Oriel, just when we really needed it.”

Written by Oriel Group, providers of support services for new start up recruitment agencies.

• Don’t just rely on the advice from banks and accountants – although it’s easy to access, it can be quite general and not specifically geared to the recruitment sector

• Read all the recruitment trade press – it’s a great source but also spread your intelligence gathering net wider to include new business sites, marketing journals, business advice columns, local networking groups, Business Link and industry gurus

• Particularly in the current economic climate, make sure the packaging and pricing of your service is correct by testing it thoroughly with potential clients and business introducers

• Make sure that any finance is sustainable in line with your projected business growth and don’t be tempted by sales offers that aren’t backed up by evidence of great client service

• The Internet is awash with general business start up advice – be wary of companies just pushing product without understanding the specific requirements of the recruitment sector and insist on seeking out tailored recruitment support

• Asking clients to do business with a new brand in the market requires much trust on their part – take the time ahead of setting up to network like crazy and use all your existing contacts, and their contacts, to raise awareness of your new venture and offering

• Be single minded – choose your market carefully, fully understand what you are offering and focus on making it better than competitors operating in the same recruitment niche

• Stick to your plan – don’t even think about moving into new markets or developing new recruitment services before breaking even

• Be patient – don’t expect to make lots of money quickly – good businesses take time to build credibility and a sound reputation, especially people-based businesses like recruitment

• Cashflow is one of the main concerns for people contemplating setting up in recruitment – make sure you research the alternatives and get an effective solution in place before it becomes too late – avert a cashflow crisis!

• Understand your opportunities and risks within the wider context of what’s happening out in the markets – for example the need for drivers in distribution may be lower due to decreased demand so don’t put all your eggs in one basket

• In reviewing potential suppliers, really quiz the sales person you meet – do they echo the professional, corporate, friendly image you might be looking to achieve in your own business and can you trust their knowledge of practical issues in the recruitment sector?

• All our clients in this position tell us the same: Seize the opportunities presented by any redundancy and take the plunge to set up on your own – you won’t regret it!

Written by Oriel Group, providers of support services for new start up recruitment agencies.