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New to Market

14 April 2025
Creative/Digital/Media, Engineering

NEW TO THE MARKET: 14-18 APRIL 2025

• Manufacturing and engineering specialist Busy Bee Recruitment has relaunched its website. The refreshed online platform has a modern design and enhanced user functionality, offering an intuitive browsing experience that makes it easier than ever to explore current vacancies, submit CVs quickly and securely, access expert recruitment advice via a blog and submit vacancies directly online.

• Deel, a global payroll and HR provider, has launched a suite of AI-driven products to help companies hire, manage, and pay international teams. Deel will offer an all-in-one global workforce platform integrating payroll, HR, and IT, designed to support compliant operations across borders. Key updates include: Real-Time Payroll in over 53 markets (expanding to 130+ by 2027), offering instant calculations and faster processing; Deel PEO for offering top-tier benefits without enterprise-level costs; Benefits Admin for simplified, compliant benefits management across countries; Deel Talent for streamlined recruitment via trusted agency networks; Workforce Planning, Compensation, and Engage tools – powered by AI – for smarter headcount strategy, global pay management, and employee development; IT Lifecycle Management features like MDM, IAM, and EPP, supporting global device and security control.

11 April 2025
Creative/Digital/Media, IT/Telecoms

Spotted Zebra merges Interview Intelligence and Assessment in one platform

This is technology that transcribes, analyses and evaluates conversations through an AI-powered lens. The merger connects assessment results with interview data, addressing the growing challenge enterprise talent leaders face: making confident, objective hiring decisions when candidate information can be fragmented across multiple tools.

In a statement, Spotted Zebra says that enterprise talent acquisition teams are facing twin pressures from AI-generated candidate applications and deepening skills shortages. 

The launch responds to a critical market challenge, the statement continues; while more than three in four businesses report widening skills gaps, employers are inundated with applications with around half of all jobseekers using AI tools to apply for roles. Current solutions force companies to choose between expensive, disconnected systems or compromise on either assessment breadth and depth, or a scalable interview process and structure.

“We’ve integrated Interview Intelligence with Assessment because our enterprise customers are facing unprecedented challenges in talent acquisition,” said Ian Monk, co-founder and CEO of Spotted Zebra. “By unifying these previously siloed technologies, we’re enabling talent teams to make data-informed decisions based on a complete picture of each candidate’s capabilities.”

Unlike standard Interview Intelligence tools that primarily transcribe conversations, Spotted Zebra’s implementation establishes a data framework that truly connects skill measurements across different evaluation methods:

  • Real-time skill evidence mapping: Comprehensive role skills profiles are automatically created thanks to AI-powered intake meetings between recruiters and hiring managers. 
  • AI-assisted interview questioning technology: The AI-powered Interview Guides automatically generate targeted question paths for specific role skills profiles and each candidate.
  • Consolidated hiring evidence dashboard: The Decision Kit combines summarised skill data from both assessment scores and interview evidence, weighting each source appropriately based on predictive validity for specific skill types. 

According to the company statement, AI in Spotted Zebra enhances human decision-making, ensuring the final call on a candidate’s suitability for a role is objective, data-backed and always in the hands of the hiring team.

Headquartered in the UK, Spotted Zebra was launched in 2020 by Monk and co-founder and chief commercial officer Nick Shaw.

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10 April 2025
Creative/Digital/Media, Executive search

NEW TO THE MARKET: 7-11 APRIL 2025

• UK recruitment firm HRGO has launched ‘Betty’, an AI agent tackling recruitment ghosting by ensuring all job applicants receive feedback. Since its December 2024 launch, Betty has provided personalised insights to over 40,000 candidates. A survey of 1,000 users found 90% valued the feedback, addressing a major frustration in the hiring process at scale. Betty was named after Elizabeth ‘Betty’ Parkinson, the founder of HRGO back in 1957.

• Recruitment firm Sowena Group has moved into new headquarters in Manchester city centre. Perran Cooke launched Sowena Group last summer after more than a decade in the recruitment industry, including roles as regional MD for the North at executive search company PSD Group and as a director at Axon Moore. Sowena now has a team of five and has taken office space at The Tootal Buildings on Oxford Street. The company statement says Sowena Group is expected to deliver more than £650k in revenue this year.

Senior recruitment consultants Dave Kreitz and Mackenzie Harrop have joined Sowena in recent weeks, along with Leah Allen as head of marketing and Megan Buckley as marketing executive. Cooke said he expects the team to grow to 10 by the end of this year, creating roles for recruitment consultants, back office and support staff, market research specialists and a non-executive director. Sowena Group focuses on senior finance posts in high-growth and private equity and venture capital-backed businesses across the North-West and beyond.

3 April 2025
Creative/Digital/Media, Executive search

Dragon-backed Chapter 2 boosts talent offering with transformation service

Backed by Steven Bartlett (from BBC Dragons’ Den and his Diary of a CEO), this strategic expansion aims to solidify “Chapter 2’s 360-degree talent solutions offering, delivering comprehensive, data-driven solutions to the most pressing talent challenges facing businesses today”, according to a company statement. 

Spearheading the new service is talent strategy director David Brammer. The Transformation & Advisory practice will tackle every area of talent acquisition, from capability and capacity to hiring process optimisation and workforce planning. The practice will also provide talent strategies to prepare businesses for AI-focused roles for the future of work.

As part of this offering, Chapter 2 will conduct in-depth talent and hiring audits, identifying opportunities and reducing hiring-related challenges, through structured hiring diagnostics and benchmarking. 

The service also includes recruitment efficiency assessments, policy and risk evaluations (including IR35 compliance) and contingent workforce strategy development.

Leo Harrison, founder and CEO of Chapter 2, says: “Establishing the Transformation Advisory completes our 360 offering, making sure that we’re able to provide solutions to both common and uncommon challenges that companies face in not only today’s workplace, but the one of the future.”

With 26 years’ experience leading global talent acquisition strategy for brands such as Boots, Kingfisher and Ocado, Brammer will be supported by experienced hire Marta Wasowicz, as the director of advisory and transformation.

L-r: Steven Bartlett, Marta Wasowicz, David Brammer, Leo Harrison ©Chapter 2

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3 June 2019
Public sector, Creative/Digital/Media, Legal, Executive search, IT/Telecoms, HR, Healthcare/Medical

NEW TO THE MARKET: 3-7 JUNE 2019

• The CIPD has funding from the government’s Equalities Office to run a new pilot scheme to help parents get back into work in Yorkshire and the Humber. The CIPD Parent Returner Programme will provide free mentoring to 150 parents in the region, while 25 employers will receive training to improve their ‘returner’ recruitment policies and practices.

Once the pilot is completed, the CIPD aims to roll out the programme across the rest of the country. Steps Ahead mentors – HR professionals from the CIPD’s membership network – will use their expertise to help ‘returners’ build their CV, create or update their online profiles, succeed at interviews and boost their confidence. The ‘returners’ will then be supported by CIPD members in a coaching capacity once they’ve secured a job in a bid to ensure a smooth transition back into work.

• Tech recruitment platform hackajob has launched in Amsterdam – the firm’s fourth European office following on from London, Paris and Berlin.

• Recruitment giant Hays has opened new offices in Broad Gate, Leeds to accommodate for future growth plans. The 12,800sq ft space allows for expansion as Hays plans to grow their offering in IT and digital technology, as well as construction and property in the region.

• Payroll and HR solutions specialist Moorepay has launched a solicitor-led employment law advisory service that is SRA (Solicitors Regulation Authority) approved to give legally privileged advice for a retainer fee. The service enables customers to access advice directly from an allocated solicitor, 9am-5pm Monday to Friday, and includes a specialist defence employment tribunal preparation and representation service.

• The NHS has released its interim NHS People Plan. The plan, released yesterday, contains details of an upcoming initiative, which sees Health Education Health Careers launch a new marketing campaign, including a partnership with Mumsnet, designed to get more nurses to return to practice, and make them aware of the opportunities and support available.

As part of the full People Plan, the NHS says it will consider what more can be done to encourage everyone completing courses to return to practice in the NHS. The NHS also plans to develop a new procurement framework of approved international recruitment agencies for ‘lead recruiters’ in a bid to ensure consistent operational and ethical standards, to support increased international recruitment.

• Technology giants BT and Avanade have backed an industry-wide mentoring initiative, led by international executive search firm Odgers Berndtson, to fast-track senior women to reach leadership roles in technology. The Rebus Programme, which will begin this autumn, follows a study from Odgers earlier this year showing the extent to which women’s prospects in technology leadership roles still lag behind men.

• European selective recruitment provider for software developers talent.io has launched an online recruitment platform dedicated to technology contractors.

• Recruitment software specialist TriSys has launched its new website designer, Platformix. The website hosting platform, which enables users to design their own webpage, features a multi-screen site editor enabling helps users to personalise their webpage and implement changes instantly.

28 May 2019
Marketing & Sales, Social care, Education, Engineering, Executive search, Interim recruitment, IT/Telecoms, Healthcare/Medical, Accounting/Finance

NEW TO THE MARKET: 27-31 MAY 2019

• BAPN, a membership organisation for nannies, and childcare agency Nannyjob, have partnered to produce a Code of Best Practice for Safer Online Recruitment Processes – ‘The Code’ – a self-regulatory framework for the online recruitment and sourcing of nannies.

Nanny agencies and online specialist nanny websites featuring jobs from both parents and nanny agencies can download a copy of the code here.

• Professional recruitment & talent consultancy Broster Buchanan is opening a new office on Chancery Lane in Central London. Owen Myers, Jenna Mackie and Christopher Batters will oversee the London office. Broster Buchanan has offices in eight other regions in the UK, including the South-West, the Midlands, the North-East and the North-West.

• Flime, an Amsterdam-headquartered online management service, which aims to help ease processes between businesses and freelancers and reduce paperwork levels with its cloud-based service, is launching in the UK.

• Technical and engineering recruiter NRL has set up a branch at Quay West Business Village in Sunderland, headed by branch manager Emma Lowden.

• Tech recruiter Talentful, with the help of a psychometric expert, has created a personality-matching platform for jobseekers to find and apply for jobs matched to their personality. The results of the platform’s quiz matches the candidate to the most suitable jobs to apply for based on their ‘cultural fit’ to a company.

23 May 2019
Legal, Executive search, HR, Accounting/Finance

Start-up of the Month: Iconic Resourcing

Iconic Resourcing

Hannah Green and Lauren Jow, who together have 26 years-plus experience in the recruitment sector, have joined forces to launch Glasgow-based professional services staffing specialist and executive search firm Iconic Resourcing.

Speaking to Recruiter, Green said their combined experience would be a unique selling proposition for the business. Green’s career has included eight-and-a-half years at Scottish recruitment giant Search Consultancy, and Jow’s included eight years at global recruitment and talent consultancy firm Hudson.

“We’ve got length and breadth of experience between us so we are using that as a niche,” Green said. “We’ve come from two specialist backgrounds and joined forces. Quite often you get people who have come from one agency who set up together, whereas we have come from two different backgrounds.” Jow added: “We like to think we’re bringing the best of both together.”

Green added Iconic would seek to stand out in the market by offering consultants they hire a relaxed environment and flexible hours. To candidates and clients alike, they offer a true partnership approach to help them meet their goals, while the duo plans to take a hands-on approach to recruiting for their clients.

Looking ahead, Jow revealed the agency would seek to extend its reach beyond the initial sectors of HR, accountancy and finance to legal, sales & marketing and technology. They will also add value for clients through senior leadership consultations, and seminars and coaching in areas such as eliminating unconscious bias in a bid to improve diversity at clients’ organisations.

21 May 2019
Transport & logistics, Creative/Digital/Media, Engineering, Construction & property, Charity & not-for-profit, IT/Telecoms, Apprentices/Grads/School leavers, Accounting/Finance

NEW TO THE MARKET: 20-24 MAY 2019

• Multi-sector recruiter Acorn has launched a specialist social housing division in response to the increasing demand of its construction sector clients. The division is headed up by consultant Jack Williams.

• Multi-sector recruiter Connect Appointments is expanding opportunities through its equity partnership programme. The EPP was launched four years ago as a way of expanding the brand, while giving aspiring and experienced recruitment professionals the opportunity to further their career by running their own business, without any of the associated risks. There is no monetary buy-in for participants on the programme.

• Global engineering recruitment and workforce solutions agency Fircroft is opening a new office in Port Arthur, Texas. The new office will provide a complete range of contingent and direct hire recruitment services backed up by Fircroft’s global support network and US head office in Houston.

• Construction firms have teamed up with the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA) to produce practical tools aimed at preventing modern slavery and labour exploitation on building sites. The package includes a presentation for new starters, which will be shown at the end of health & safety inductions, along with complementary posters on spotting the signs of exploitation and a toolbox talk aimed at raising awareness of workers’ rights on site.

• Technology, digital and change recruiter La Fosse Associates has launched La Fosse Pro Bono, which recruits cybersecurity professionals into advisory positions at charities and not-for-profit organisations requiring advice and support – for free. Neither La Fosse nor the individuals involved gain any monetary renumeration.

The division has already made five adviser placements at major charities and not-for-profit organisations at the likes of Amnesty International, The Natural History Museum, Comic Relief, United Response and Cancer Research. La Fosse adds that though the practice is currently focused on recruiting cybersecurity advisers, it is hoping to expand to recruiting advisers in data and broader technology, with a focus on bringing more diversity to advisory roles.

• The West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) and work-placement charity Movement to Work (MtW) have launched a placement programme. This will see more than 1,000 unemployed young people in the West Midlands offered work placements in a bid to cut youth unemployment in the region.

Employers including the British Army, BT, BUPA, Diageo, Marks & Spencer, Starbucks University Hospital Birmingham and the WMCA have already committed to provide the 1,000 work placements for young people – and the WMCA is now encouraging businesses across the West Midlands to get involved.

The WMCA has also teamed up with MtW to deliver the national pilot of the government-led Transition to Work project, which aims to support unemployed young people into work.

• Tech and digital recruiter Talent International has published Human – a book featuring global perspectives on diversity in tech.

• Boutique accountancy recruiter Williams Munroe has officially launched following investment from James Caan’s investment group Recruitment Entrepreneur. The Birmingham-based recruiter, founded by director Phil Evans, will now have access to infrastructure, investment and operational support from the wider Recruitment Entrepreneur group.

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