Recruitment firm aims for the top after tricky first four years in business
TWO recruitment consultants who left their company to set up on their own are hoping for an even brighter future as work floods in.
Tom James and Simon Horspool set up Source Solutions four years ago and have survived the perilous beginnings of a new business and the challenges of the pandemic to make their mark in the recruitment industry.
Their firm, which provides recruitment solutions in IT and engineering, moved into Fareham Innovation Centre 18 months ago.
Source Solutions is now on track to develop new revenue streams after mentoring by Monika Dabrowska, the centre’s innovation director.
Tom, from Portsmouth, said: ‘Simon and I set up the business with an old mindset of hitting targets, working on that dyed-in-the-wool basis. It was very much an eyes-wide-shut approach, and the first few years were tough.
‘That changed when we moved in to a two-desk office – our eyes were opened by how the centre actively helps occupiers improve operations and hone long-term goals.
‘Delivering results efficiently for our clients and candidates is essential but Monika made us look beyond that, taking steps back to work on the business rather than in the business.’
Tom added: ‘If you’ve never run a business, don’t leave it to chance thinking you’ll strike lucky - the best thing you can do is get professional mentoring. We have reaped the benefits from the centre’s in-house business coaching, from structure to objectives, with the brand emphasis on quality over quantity.’
Monika said: ‘Source Solutions is a successful consultancy which is planning its future rather than falling into the trap of taking each day as it comes. It has been pleasing to see Tom and Simon deliver on goals and share their experiences with other occupiers at the centre.
‘Prior the national emergency, there were 31,140 recruitment enterprises in the UK – Source Solutions is well placed for competitive advantage.’
Fareham Innovation Centre is run by Oxford Innovation, the UK’s leading operator of innovation centre, on behalf of Fareham Borough Council, the building’s owner.
There are 55 serviced offices, 20 workshops and a range of meeting rooms and conference facilities.