Two of the North East’s recruitment entrepreneurs have teamed up to expand both their businesses in the face of the economic downturn and as employers take a cautious approach to recruitment by reducing their pool of suppliers in favour of one trusted partner.
Mark Ions, managing director of Exclusive Human Resources and Nicky Archibald, co-founder and director of Archibald & Dutch, met at an event in Newcastle organised by The Bridge Club, a specialist networking organisation, and immediately spotted the potential for a partnership that would benefit the clients of both companies.
Exclusive Human Resources was established in 2007 and is the region’s only independent HR recruitment consultancy dedicated to HR professionals; while Archibald & Dutch deals in senior level appointments across the manufacturing, engineering and FMCG sectors.
While the two businesses will continue to operate in their own specialised areas of recruitment, the partnership will see them join forces when clients ask for their help on assignments that individually, they might have previously had to turn away.
Mark Ions said: “When we were first introduced Nicky and I found we had a lot in common. For a start we both have very high standards and values, which is vital to a successful business partnership.
“We also started comparing notes about how continually delivering a high quality service to clients was more essential than ever, given the current economic circumstances. Both of us have seen more and more employers reducing the pool of suppliers they use in favour of a trusted supplier who has gone the extra mile on previous assignments.
“This conversation led on to how we could work together to offer a service with a wider reach, but maintain the same high standards our clients had come to expect from us individually.”
Nicky Archibald continued: “As often happens in the recruitment field, once you have built up a level of trust with clients they start to ask for help in recruiting staff outside of your specialist area.
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“While Mark and I will continue to concentrate on our core strengths, having a trusted business partner in place is the next logical step in expanding both our businesses without any risk.
“Both of our companies were built on a professional, honest and down to earth approach and that’s how we will continue, while at the same time being able to offer clients a wider range of services to the same high standards.”
