An interview with our founder & director Jo Oakley
Jo is co-founder and director of HELP Recruitment. Before setting up HELP recruitment Jo worked in the hospitality & events industry for over 25 years. We sat down with Jo over a virtual coffee to find out a little more about her and HELP Recruitment.
What did you do before moving into the recruitment industry?
I have worked across various sectors within the industry. In summary, my career started within hotels and restaurants and then progressed into contract catering, event catering and agency. My passion for food and beverage has followed through my career!
I have focused upon the sales, operations and planning throughout these positions. This included the corporate, commercial and private sectors on both large and small scales.
What made you want a career in recruitment?
Recruitment has allowed me to continue working across the industries I love, whilst maintaining relationships with candidates and clients that have been created over the years.
The diversity and fast pace of the industry allow for constant evolving. There is nothing more satisfying than assisting with an individuals career path whilst meeting the needs and criteria of a client. Ultimately both of which benefit personal and company growth.
It has also allowed me to strike that balance between work and home life-not that I’m ever going to be a 9-5 worker-that is one habit the industry has installed within me!
What made you decide to set up HELP Recruitment?
My co-founder Claire and I have known each other since 2007. We have crossed paths in the industry for many years and worked closely together within event catering. Having both previously worked in recruitment, we decided to take the plunge and set up HELP recruitment. We wanted to provide an honest and comprehensive service for all parties involved. Building relationships on the back of reputable work is something we pride ourselves on.
Ultimately we wanted to build our own brand identity which allowed us to work and support the industries we love; hospitality, events & leisure.
Who are HELP Recruitment and what makes them different to other agencies?
At the heart of things, HELP Recruitment is a recruitment agency, working with top hospitality, event and leisure brands throughout the UK to source and place candidates. Alongside recruitment, our focus has very much so been emphasised upon both supporting and developing the industry. Our strategy is to offer continued support whether that be through our professional partners, one to one guidance or virtual workshops.
Having worked across diverse sectors within the industry throughout my career, I feel we have a complete understanding from both a client and candidate perspective. We have actually worked in the industry we recruit within. This allows us to have the knowledge and understanding to find the best-fit solutions for all parties involved.
We pride ourselves on offering a complete service whilst never enforcing a hard-sell approach. We have the ability to tailor our services subject to client specifications.
How are you adapting to the current market and supporting your clients?
Well, recent months have certainly provided us with the time to re-focus our business strategy. Recruitment is not at the forefront of our business at present and we have refocused upon the support element of our brand whilst building and maintaining relationships.
For example, we are offering support packages to clients which are more fitting for the current climate. These are reflected through both financial and support packages.
What advice would you give to anyone out of work at the moment?
There’s no escaping the fact that the industry is suffering beyond anyone ever anticipated. To be 12 months in and still unable to inform candidates as and when the market will start to reopen is very hard. We are very honest with candidates, and will always provide transparent information as and where we have the answers.
I would advise anyone out of work at present to revisit and decide what is going to be important to them in their next position. Whether it be career development, company culture/ ethos, work-life balance, now is the time to reflect. During this interim period, there is absolutely nothing wrong with either stepping down in career or completely diversifying. Bills ultimately still need to be paid and no respectable future employer will judge you for this.
It’s very easy for candidates to lose self-esteem and momentum during this period we find ourselves in. There are many support networks out there where you can virtually drop in for a chat or simply seek reassurance. We offer virtual meetings/chats to any candidate that wishes to arrange a call.
We do have to remain optimistic, I am confident that as an industry we will come back stronger than ever from this.
How are you supporting your candidates in these difficult times?
With such negativity across the industry at present, whether that be in the tabloids or social media, it is more important than ever that we can offer a platform for people to express their thoughts and worries during this time.
We currently offer relevant supportive content on our website blogs. We are also partnering with industry professionals to offer specialised support whether that be career coaching, one to one workshops for CV and cover letters or wellbeing advice. Our Friday coffee mornings have proved to be very popular, enabling candidates to discuss anything from CV advice to simply wishing to have a catch-up.
Ultimately we hope these tools will enable candidates to re-enter the industry with confidence, high self-esteem and the tools to find that job when the market re-opens.
While business is not at 100% how have you been using your downtime?
Early last year I took up some charity work within the local community supporting the elderly and vulnerable through a befriending service. This has been surprisingly rewarding!
The strength of character of some of these elderly people many of whom are in their late 80’s – the mid-’90s is so inspiring. One lady Ida recently celebrated her 90th Birthday. Early last year she was registered blind. She wanted me to teach her how to text for her birthday (on her adapted mobile phone!) I now receive a daily message from her- see it’s never too late to learn!!
I’ve learnt that very simple acts of kindness can really make a difference in someone’s life!!
Like so many others, I’ve also found myself walking more so than ever before. I often steel my sister’s dog for a company which is a great motivator to head out into the outdoors!
After a year of changing and adaptation are there any lessons you will continue with as the market starts to re-open?
Self-motivation - By no means am I up at 6 am everyday exercising, but I have learnt the importance of trying to achieve something daily by setting myself targets and timeframes. Adding such structure into my daily life really has helped with self-motivation.
Learning the art of adaption- as much as I love to plan, this was very difficult in the last year so living in the moment and adapting is vital!
If the last year has taught me anything, do not take anything for granted, time and people are precious!