The RAG Podcast - Recruitment Agency Growth Podcast

This week on The RAG Podcast, I’m joined by Stuart Mitchell, the founder of Hampton North, a specialist cybersecurity search firm based in the US.Stuart launched his business, and in just nine months, he had already surpassed the seven-figure mark. There were no cold calls, no marketing spend, just LinkedIn and a consistent commitment to personal branding.We talk about:How he’s built a brand that attracts top talent and clientsWhat it was like launching through RecruitHubHis remote first mindset and how that’s shaped the teamThe “Magic Inbox” that helped him scale at record speedAnd why authenticity is his biggest competitive edgeEvery one of Stuart’s hires so far has approached him directly after following his content. He’s building an Avengers-level team of high performers who believe in his approach and are now reaping the rewards of it.If you’re running a recruitment business or thinking about starting one, this is the episode to watch.Catch it live on my LinkedIn at 12 pm on Wednesday or listen back afterwards wherever you get your podcasts.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Stuart Mitchell and Hampton North02:53 Stuart's Journey into Recruitment06:08 Building a Personal Brand08:59 Transitioning to Cybersecurity Recruitment11:57 The Launch of Hampton North14:34 The Role of Recruit Hub17:36 The Impact of Personal Branding on Business20:40 Navigating the Recruitment Landscape23:28 Hiring and Building a Team26:46 Work-Life Balance as a New Parent29:40 Advice for Aspiring Recruitment Entrepreneurs__________________________________________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: HoxoRecruitment agency founders - this one’s for you.What’s your plan for the rest of 2025?If it’s based on more cold outreach, referrals, or hiring more recruiters… we’ve got news for you. That’s not where the smart money is going.The market has changed. AI is everywhere. Noise is louder than ever.So if you want to scale profitably this year, you need to do things differently!It starts with what you already have.Your experience. Your network. Your voice.And we are showing you exactly how to use it in a brand-new, FREE Masterclass - built specifically for recruitment leaders like you.You’re going to learn:Why your LinkedIn content isn’t working - and how to fix it fastHow to generate inbound leads without being “LinkedIn famous”And the exact Hoxo 3X System agencies are using to book more calls - in just a few hours a week78% of our clients made over 100K in the first 6 months using this. No fluff. No guesswork. Just stuff that works.The Masterclass is free - but it’s only available for a limited time.So if you’re serious about growing this year, don’t wait.Head to https://hubs.ly/Q03lBpYC0  to get started. See you there!

Chris Redmond is back on The RAG for the third time and his story keeps getting better.When I first interviewed Chris in 2019, he’d just gone fully remote and was chasing a digital nomad lifestyle with no fixed office. At the time, I thought he was mad.Then COVID hit, and while the rest of the industry scrambled, Chris and his team were already built for the new world.Fast forward to now, Redholt is a retained headhunting firm running at 60 percent profit with just 8 people. Chris lives in Dubai, has transformed his health (losing 35kg in six months), and is building towards something much bigger: a business that runs without him and can one day be sold.In this episode, we cover:His unique forensic recruitment modelWhat it takes to move from lifestyle business to scalable businessThe pressure of being the only BD engine in your companyWhy personal reinvention is key to professional growthAnd how social media is helping drive both brand and client retentionWatch the episode live on my LinkedIn this Wednesday at 12 pm or catch up afterwards wherever you get your podcasts.If you're a founder thinking about long-term value and lifestyle alignment, this one’s not to be missed.Watch our ten-minute video on “The most profitable way to grow your recruitment agency in 2025” here: https://hubs.ly/Q03lBpYC0Apply to be on the next RAG season here: https://hubs.ly/Q03yjlLd0 Chapters00:00 Introduction to The Rag Podcast03:23 Chris Redmond's Journey and Business Evolution10:13 Red Hole's Unique Recruitment Methodology17:56 Scalability and Future Plans for Red Hole22:02 The Impact of Moving to Dubai29:06 Personal Transformation and Health Journey50:36 The Power of Social Media in Business01:04:30 Future Vision and Exit Strategy for Red Hole__________________________________________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: HoxoRecruitment agency founders - this one’s for you.What’s your plan for the rest of 2025?If it’s based on more cold outreach, referrals, or hiring more recruiters… we’ve got news for you. That’s not where the smart money is going.The market has changed. AI is everywhere. Noise is louder than ever.So if you want to scale profitably this year, you need to do things differently!It starts with what you already have.Your experience. Your network. Your voice.And we are showing you exactly how to use it in a brand-new, FREE Masterclass - built specifically for recruitment leaders like you.You’re going to learn:Why your LinkedIn content isn’t working - and how to fix it fastHow to generate inbound leads without being “LinkedIn famous”And the exact Hoxo 3X System agencies are using to book more calls - in just a few hours a week78% of our clients made over 100K in the first 6 months using this. No fluff. No guesswork. Just stuff that works.The Masterclass is free - but it’s only available for a limited time.So if you’re serious about growing this year, don’t wait.Head to https://hubs.ly/Q03lBpYC0  to get started. See you there!

What I’ve learned from 40 recruitment founder interviews in a yearThis week’s episode of The RAG is a little different - it’s just meAfter 40 in-person interviews across the UK, Dubai and Sydney, I wanted to take a moment to reflect on what I’ve learned in season 8 and what’s next for the show.Here’s 3 key learnings that I cover in this solo episode:Why headcount is no longer the main measure of successWhy remote teams, offshore talent and AI are shaping the future of recruitmentWhy profit is becoming more important than scale and exitIf you’re a founder who's rethinking what growth really means and you want to build something profitable, sustainable and enjoyable - then this will helpWatch our ten-minute video on “The most profitable way to grow your recruitment agency in 2025” here: https://hubs.ly/Q03lBpYC0Apply to be on the next RAG season here: https://hubs.ly/Q03yjlLd0 Chapters00:00 Season Reflection and Future Plans02:48 Shifts in Recruitment Success Metrics05:44 Personal Business Transformation and Insights09:01 Profit Maximization Focus for Future Seasons11:43 Engagement and Community Building__________________________________________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: HoxoRecruitment agency founders - this one’s for you.What’s your plan for the rest of 2025?If it’s based on more cold outreach, referrals, or hiring more recruiters… we’ve got news for you. That’s not where the smart money is going.The market has changed. AI is everywhere. Noise is louder than ever.So if you want to scale profitably this year, you need to do things differently!It starts with what you already have.Your experience. Your network. Your voice.And we are showing you exactly how to use it in a brand-new, FREE Masterclass - built specifically for recruitment leaders like you.You’re going to learn:Why your LinkedIn content isn’t working - and how to fix it fastHow to generate inbound leads without being “LinkedIn famous”And the exact Hoxo 3X System agencies are using to book more calls - in just a few hours a week78% of our clients made over 100K in the first 6 months using this. No fluff. No guesswork. Just stuff that works.The Masterclass is free - but it’s only available for a limited time.So if you’re serious about growing this year, don’t wait.Head to https://hubs.ly/Q03lBpYC0  to get started. See you there!

Would you walk away from recurring revenue to chase a bigger opportunity overseas?On this week's episode of The RAG Podcast, I’m joined by Jamie Trevett, founder of Just Construction. Jamie was last on the show in 2022 when his UK construction recruitment firm had 25 staff and a growing contract book.Fast forward to today and Jamie has completely transformed the business. He shut down the contract side in the UK and relocated the company’s focus to the US market, where he now runs a similarly sized team doing 95% of their work stateside.In this episode, we discuss:Why he made the bold decision to leave the UK market behindThe operational and cultural shifts required to succeed in the USHow time zones and remote management work across continentsThe growing influence of AI on recruitment deliveryWhat the future could look like for Just Construction, including a potential saleIf you're thinking about scaling into the US or questioning how to futureproof your business in a changing market, you’ll get real insight from this one.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Jamie Trevett and Just Construction02:59 Transitioning from the UK to the US Market05:56 Challenges in the UK Construction Recruitment Market08:49 Shutting Down the Contract Side of the Business12:07 Building a Stronger Focus on Permanent Recruitment14:57 Navigating Time Zones and Work Arrangements17:53 Strategies for Expanding into the US Market21:04 The Impact of AI on Recruitment23:43 Future Plans and Potential Sale 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 https://recruitwithatlas.com/therag/ __________________________________________Episode Sponsor: HoxoRecruitment agency founders - this one’s for you.What’s your plan for the rest of 2025?If it’s based on more cold outreach, referrals, or hiring more recruiters… we’ve got news for you. That’s not where the smart money is going.The market has changed. AI is everywhere. Noise is louder than ever.So if you want to scale profitably this year, you need to do things differently!It starts with what you already have.Your experience. Your network. Your voice.And we are showing you exactly how to use it in a brand-new, FREE Masterclass - built specifically for recruitment leaders like you.You’re going to learn:Why your LinkedIn content isn’t working - and how to fix it fastHow to generate inbound leads without being “LinkedIn famous”And the exact Hoxo 3X System agencies are using to book more calls - in just a few hours a week78% of our clients made over 100K in the first 6 months using this. No fluff. No guesswork. Just stuff that works.The Masterclass is free - but it’s only available for a limited time.So if you’re serious about growing this year, don’t wait.Head to https://hubs.ly/Q03lBpYC0  to get started. See you there!

What’s the point in building a business if you lose everything at home?On this week’s episode of The RAG Podcast, I’m joined by Matt Tyson, founder of Knockout Consulting and former owner of two successful payroll companies.Matt has achieved what many founders dream of—two life-changing exits in 15 years. But behind the success was a personal cost he never expected. In his pursuit of business growth, he lost sight of the very reason he started—his family.In this deeply honest conversation, we discuss:How Matt built and exited two payroll businessesThe pressure of selling a company during uncertain timesWhat he’d do differently to protect his marriage and mental healthWhy emotional balance matters just as much as financial goalsStrategies for building a business that doesn't cost you everything elseIf you’re a founder chasing an exit or deep in growth mode, this is a powerful reminder to check in on what really matters.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Growth and Balance02:52 Matt Tyson's Journey and Business Philosophy06:03 Transition from Banking to Payroll09:08 Building and Exiting Businesses12:01 The Importance of Compliance and Contractor Welfare14:54 Navigating Business Growth and Personal Life17:47 The Emotional Impact of Business Success20:54 The Role of Family and Support Systems23:49 Establishing Walker Smith and Growth Strategies27:01 Innovations in Contractor Support29:41 The Journey of Building a Group of Businesses32:56 Recognizing Personal Struggles and Changes35:48 Reflections on Work-Life Balance38:43 Conclusion and Lessons Learned42:43 Navigating Business Exits During Uncertain Times45:38 The Importance of Financial Control and Cost Management49:27 Identity and Purpose After Selling a Business50:39 The Emotional Impact of Business Transitions56:52 Lessons Learned from Personal Relationships and Business01:00:44 Finding Balance: Work, Life, and Personal Fulfillment01:09:29 Key Strategies for Business Growth and Exit 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: HoxoRecruitment agency founders - this one’s for you.What’s your plan for the rest of 2025?If it’s based on more cold outreach, referrals, or hiring more recruiters… we’ve got news for you. That’s not where the smart money is going.The market has changed. AI is everywhere. Noise is louder than ever.So if you want to scale profitably this year, you need to do things differently!It starts with what you already have.Your experience. Your network. Your voice.And we are showing you exactly how to use it in a brand-new, FREE Masterclass - built specifically for recruitment leaders like you.You’re going to learn:Why your LinkedIn content isn’t working - and how to fix it fastHow to generate inbound leads without being “LinkedIn famous”And the exact Hoxo 3X System agencies are using to book more calls - in just a few hours a week78% of our clients made over 100K in the first 6 months using this. No fluff. No guesswork. Just stuff that works.The Masterclass is free - but it’s only available for a limited time.So if you’re serious about growing this year, don’t wait.Head to https://hubs.ly/Q03lBpYC0  to get started. See you there!

Why most recruitment businesses fail to attract top-tier leadership talentOn this week’s episode of The RAG Podcast, I’m joined by Dan Grim, founder of Inside Recruitment.With 25 years in the industry and two previous equity partnerships under his belt, Dan now runs a solo rec-to-rec firm helping recruitment businesses hire the kind of leadership talent that drives real scale.In this episode, Dan explains:Why most founders can't attract true A playersThe key traits and expectations that top 10% performers are looking forWhy having a clear shareholder agreement matters more than you thinkHow personal struggles shape better leadership decisionsWhat a good general manager or MD actually enables in a recruitment firmIf you're thinking about stepping back from the day-to-day or need someone to drive your next phase of growth, this is essential listening.Chapters00:00 Introduction to The Rag Podcast and Dan Grimm02:36 Dan Grimm's Journey in Recruitment09:52 Transitioning from Recruitment to Business Leadership18:35 The Importance of Values in Business25:57 Understanding Roles and Responsibilities in Business31:26 Navigating Business Partnerships and Agreements38:10 Personal Challenges and Career Resilience40:21 Navigating Expat Life and Family Dynamics43:11 Career Transitions and the Role of Networking47:13 Challenges of Leadership and Personal Struggles51:25 Reflections on Career Choices and Business Dynamics55:07 The Importance of Self-Reflection in Leadership59:44 Building a Business: Insights and Strategies01:05:47 Finding the Right Fit: Recruitment and Company Culture01:10:17 The Value of Retaining Top Talent01:15:23 Final Thoughts on Leadership and Business Growth__________________________________________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/ 

Most recruitment founders try to do it all and burn out in the process.On this week's episode of The RAG Podcast, I’m joined by Martin Smith, founder of Talent Group, who shares how he's structured his business to double down on what he's best at and handed over the rest.Martin runs TalentDrive and Talent Finance, with a 12-person team across the UK. In this episode, we talk about:His journey from agency to founderThe lessons he learned from early mistakesBringing in an MD to run one brand while he focuses on growthSpending 90% of his time on BD, brand, and communityWhy self-awareness and strategic delegation can lead to long-term successMartin’s also brutally honest about the personal side of business, living on the South Coast, navigating the loneliness of leadership, and staying motivated through tough times like COVID.If you’re a founder who’s still figuring out where you add the most value or how to step back without slowing down, this one’s a must-listen.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Growth in Recruitment02:15 Martin's Journey: From Recruiter to Founder11:11 Transitioning from Agency to In-House Recruitment18:35 The Decision to Start Talent Group21:56 Navigating the Early Days of Entrepreneurship24:21 Navigating Challenges During the Pandemic27:32 Building Resilience and Community in Business31:46 Leadership Lessons and Team Dynamics35:30 Scaling the Business: Growth Strategies and Challenges39:57 Adapting to Market Changes and New Ventures46:51 Defining the Role of a CEO and Business Strategy47:57 Navigating Life on the South Coast50:07 Balancing Remote Work and Team Dynamics52:05 Future Growth and Business Strategy55:26 The Role of AI in Recruitment01:01:16 The Human Element in Recruitment01:04:30 Motivation and Personal Values in Business01:10:11 Finding Balance in Work and Life__________________________________________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: HoxoRecruitment agency founders - this one’s for you.What’s your plan for the rest of 2025?If it’s based on more cold outreach, referrals, or hiring more recruiters… we’ve got news for you. That’s not where the smart money is going.The market has changed. AI is everywhere. Noise is louder than ever.So if you want to scale profitably this year, you need to do things differently!It starts with what you already have.Your experience. Your network. Your voice.And we are showing you exactly how to use it in a brand-new, FREE Masterclass - built specifically for recruitment leaders like you.You’re going to learn:Why your LinkedIn content isn’t working - and how to fix it fastHow to generate inbound leads without being “LinkedIn famous”And the exact Hoxo 3X System agencies are using to book more calls - in just a few hours a week78% of our clients made over 100K in the first 6 months using this. No fluff. No guesswork. Just stuff that works.The Masterclass is free - but it’s only available for a limited time.So if you’re serious about growing this year, don’t wait.Head to https://hubs.ly/Q03lBpYC0 to get started. See you there!

What happens when your 15-person agency runs out of cash and you have to start over from scratch?On this week's episode of The RAG Podcast, I’m joined by Philippa Smith, founder of Silver Swan Recruitment, a luxury staffing agency for ultra-high net worth individuals.After growing her team to 15, COVID and poor cash flow caught up with her. In August 2024, she made the entire team redundant and scaled the business back to just herself.Nine months later, Philippa is now generating more than £1 million in pro-rata EBITDA. She's happier, more focused, and running a business built around lifestyle and profit, not just headcount.In this episode, we cover:How she pivoted her model to charge upfront and improve cash flowWhy personal branding has transformed her client relationshipsThe emotional cost of scaling too fastHow she’s using podcasting and community to drive inbound growthThe upside of running a smaller, more agile agencyIf you’re questioning whether scale is really the goal, this episode will give you a new perspective.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Silver Swan Recruitment02:04 Philippa's Journey into Recruitment07:52 Transition to Silver Swan Recruitment10:00 Growth and Challenges in Recruitment18:22 The Impact of COVID-19 on Business22:01 Navigating Revenue Challenges24:05 Strategies for Business Development24:17 Building the Team: Structure and Challenges25:08 The Turning Point: Running Out of Money27:19 Facing Reality: Making Tough Decisions30:01 The Aftermath: Adjusting to Change32:10 Rebuilding: A New Business Model34:12 Commitment to Change: Charging Upfront39:04 Success Redefined: Filling Roles Effectively41:21 The Power of Personal Branding46:47 The Power of Podcasting in Recruitment49:00 Building Communities for House Managers52:58 Creating Value Through Events and Networking56:58 The Balance of Work and Personal Life01:01:02 Lessons Learned and Future Aspirations__________________________________________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: HoxoRecruitment agency founders - this one’s for you.What’s your plan for the rest of 2025?If it’s based on more cold outreach, referrals, or hiring more recruiters… we’ve got news for you. That’s not where the smart money is going.The market has changed. AI is everywhere. Noise is louder than ever.So if you want to scale profitably this year, you need to do things differently!It starts with what you already have.Your experience. Your network. Your voice.And we are showing you exactly how to use it in a brand-new, FREE Masterclass - built specifically for recruitment leaders like you.You’re going to learn:Why your LinkedIn content isn’t working - and how to fix it fastHow to generate inbound leads without being “LinkedIn famous”And the exact Hoxo 3X System agencies are using to book more calls - in just a few hours a week78% of our clients made over 100K in the first 6 months using this. No fluff. No guesswork. Just stuff that works.The Masterclass is free - but it’s only available for a limited time.So if you’re serious about growing this year, don’t wait.Head to https://hubs.ly/Q03lBpYC0  to get started. See you there!

From recruiter to CEO and majority shareholder, Matt Murphy’s journey at Levy Global is nothing short of remarkable. Now, with Rory McGowan joining from Opus as COO, the business is entering what they call "Levy 2.0" - a new chapter focused on scale, structure, and serious wealth creation.On this week's episode of The RAG Podcast, I’m joined by Matt and Rory, who now lead a 50-person business headquartered in the UK with offices in Amsterdam and Belgium.Matt shares how he joined Levy as a recruiter 22 years ago, led two management buyouts, and transitioned from top biller to CEO. Rory explains why he left a global leadership role managing 150+ people to join a high-margin, high-growth business with a clear trajectory and massive opportunity ahead.In this episode, we discussHow Matt took ownership through phased MBOs to lead Levy into its next phaseRory’s decision to downsize the team size but upscale in ambitionWhat it really takes to scale a recruitment business for exitHow they’re building a leadership team and operational engine to match their visionWhy clarity, culture, and autonomy are key to navigating the AI eraIf you're thinking about scale, succession, and what comes after strong performance, this episode is full of lived experience and strategy.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Levy Global and Its Growth Journey03:03 Matt Murphy's Transition from Recruiter to CEO06:05 Rory McGowan's Move to Levy Global08:54 The Management Buyout Experience12:03 Challenges and Lessons from the First MBO14:49 Building a Leadership Team and Managing Growth18:00 Navigating COVID-19 and Its Impact on Business21:12 Cultural Differences in Professional Environments25:11 Transitioning Leadership and Team Dynamics28:41 The Drive for Growth and Legacy36:36 The Role of a COO in Scaling Business41:27 Navigating Change and Building a Strong Team49:09 Financial Strategies and Preparing for Growth50:57 Navigating Unique Deal Structures52:05 Personal Reflections on Career Transitions54:51 Exploring Business Opportunities and Challenges57:58 Initial Impressions and Early Contributions01:00:23 Gathering Insights from Team Members01:02:22 Combining Business Models for Growth01:05:08 Strategic Changes in Client Management01:10:59 Future Vision for Recruitment and Growth01:17:25 Advice for Future Leaders01:23:49 Closing Thoughts and Future Aspirations__________________________________________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: HoxoRecruitment agency founders - this one’s for you.What’s your plan for the rest of 2025?If it’s based on more cold outreach, referrals, or hiring more recruiters… we’ve got news for you. That’s not where the smart money is going.The market has changed. AI is everywhere. Noise is louder than ever.So if you want to scale profitably this year, you need to do things differently!It starts with what you already have.Your experience. Your network. Your voice.And we are showing you exactly how to use it in a brand-new, FREE Masterclass - built specifically for recruitment leaders like you.You’re going to learn:Why your LinkedIn content isn’t working - and how to fix it fastHow to generate inbound leads without being “LinkedIn famous”And the exact Hoxo 3X System agencies are using to book more calls - in just a few hours a week78% of our clients made over 100K in the first 6 months using this. No fluff. No guesswork. Just stuff that works.The Masterclass is free - but it’s only available for a limited time.So if you’re serious about growing this year, don’t wait.Head to https://hubs.ly/Q03lBpYC0 to get started. See you there!__________________________________________

What does it take to bill over $1 million a year for seven years straight, while leading the highest-performing team in your company?On this week’s episode of The RAG Podcast, I’m joined by Jay Wynter, SAP Practice Lead at Precision Sourcing in Australia. From a tough start in recruitment to becoming a standout performer, Jay has built an elite billing record and helped shape a team known for its consistency and culture.In this episode, we discussHow Jay has billed $1 million annually for seven consecutive yearsThe leadership mindset that built the most consistent team in the businessHow personal branding and podcasting helped deepen relationshipsWhy balancing delivery, culture and family is at the heart of his approachIf you’re serious about high performance in recruitment—either as a biller or a leader—this is the one to watch.Chapters00:00 Introduction to The Rag Podcast and Guest Introduction01:07 Jay Wynter's Journey to Australia and Recruitment07:25 Transition from Football to Recruitment14:29 Early Challenges in Recruitment19:45 Adapting to COVID-19 and Leadership Response23:02 Embracing LinkedIn and Personal Branding27:29 Early Wins and Building a Personal Brand28:52 The Power of Podcasting in Recruitment31:37 Leadership and Team Dynamics36:19 Value-Driven Recruitment Strategies41:36 Work-Life Balance and Family Impact47:55 Future of Recruitment and Business Growth__________________________________________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: HoxoRecruitment agency founders - this one’s for you.What’s your plan for the rest of 2025?If it’s based on more cold outreach, referrals, or hiring more recruiters… we’ve got news for you. That’s not where the smart money is going.The market has changed. AI is everywhere. Noise is louder than ever.So if you want to scale profitably this year, you need to do things differently!It starts with what you already have.Your experience. Your network. Your voice.And we are showing you exactly how to use it in a brand-new, FREE Masterclass - built specifically for recruitment leaders like you.You’re going to learn:Why your LinkedIn content isn’t working - and how to fix it fastHow to generate inbound leads without being “LinkedIn famous”And the exact Hoxo 3X System agencies are using to book more calls - in just a few hours a week78% of our clients made over 100K in the first 6 months using this. No fluff. No guesswork. Just stuff that works.The Masterclass is free - but it’s only available for a limited time.So if you’re serious about growing this year, don’t wait.Head to https://hubs.ly/Q03lBpYC0  to get started. See you there!