News & Events

Aidan heads up the Finance desk here at MorePeople, dealing with an array of Finance roles within the Food, Fresh Produce, Agriculture, Horticulture and Garden & Leisure industries. He also recruits for professional services such as HR, IT and admin roles.​What did you want to be when you were at school? Fireman (like my dad) Don’t really know why I didn’t pursue it, too hot probably. How did you get into recruitment? ‘Fell into it’ classic line, I had done a couple of field sales roles and it seemed a natural next step. What do you specialise in at MorePeople? Finance and Professional Services – HR, IT, Admin, the works. What’s been the biggest challenge you’ve faced since working at MorePeople? Staying on the emotional roller-coaster that recruitment is, managing your own expectations against the fact that we are dealing with people’s next massive life decisions. Something on your bucket list you’re hoping to tick off soon? Go to an NFL game in America (done London so getting there) The best piece of advice I've ever been given is…..? To give up on my hair… Cats or dogs? Cats, I do like dogs but some are just too needy. ​

Our first week of spring like weather has been (and gone now it seems…) but the plans for getting the garden summer ready and it seems the garden industry is picking up in time for Spring as well. While Garden Centre sales don’t match the record highs of this time last year, we’re currently not in any lockdowns or restrictions and so cannot directly compare. However, Garden Trade News reports “Garden Centres aggregated sales are 28% higher than the average for nine ‘normal’ years prior to the pandemic.” Hortweek have identified a growing trend in google searches relating to Garden Centres over the past weeks, and Dobbies research shows ‘76% of Britons can’t wait to get back gardening now that spring is here’. Ben Woodward heads up our Garden Centre recruitment for various roles within the sector. Our Garden Centre jobs are vast and varied, and of course nationwide. We regularly recruit for: Growers General Managers and Assistant Managers Account Managers Hospitality roles Sales and Marketing Planteria roles With the demand for roles we’re still experiencing, we’re expecting another great year for Garden Centres! Get in touch with Ben to see how he can be of assistance, whether you have a role you’d like help with or looking for a new opportunity within Garden Centres.You can find Ben's details here!https://www.hortweek.com/google-trends-show-garden-terms-searches-reaching-2019-levels/retail/article/1750517 http://tgcmc.newsweaver.co.uk/gtnxtra/1xids6ofw4j?lang=en&a=1&p=61450851&t=20355185

​As part of our commitment to company growth and to ensure that we have not only the best people working for MorePeople, but also the best onboarding possible, we have created a new role. The ‘Head of Academy’. We have been using a training/onboarding framework for a long time, but we have recently overhauled some of the content and created a structure whereby new starters can join into a 3 month ‘Academy’ program. Tom Edmondson-Matthews is to take up the role as Head of Academy in addition to his day-to-day recruiting responsibilities.Tom has been with MorePeople for five and a half years and embodies best practices, systems use and what our processes are. Therefore, who better to learn from?! With a Business and Accounting degree, Tom joined MorePeople in 2019 when he returned to the UK after a stint working in Canada in real estate. Prior to that Tom worked in Management and Business Development roles working for World of Watches and Enterprise. The future for MorePeople looks extremely bright. We are set to move to a new office in the coming weeks and aside from being a step up in quality, the new office gives us the room to grow. We have hired 11 new recruiters over the past 12 months, and we have many more in the crosshairs for the coming months. The impact of the Head of Academy role is definitely going to help us realise our potential. We wish Tom heartfelt congratulations and all the best of luck. – Andrew Fitzmaurice CEOWant to join the team and make your way through our academy to become a recruiter? Get in touch - 01780480530!

Why James is your go to recruiter for your New Product Development and Chef career in the food industry… James currently is our go to for roles in the food sector within New Product Development, such as; Head of Development Development technologists Development Managers Process Development Technologists Chefs and development chefs Graduates wanting to start out in the industry James only joined us in January – not even 3 months ago! But he has quickly shown he’s an absolute natural in this world of recruitment, especially in this sector. Why? Because of his fantastic career prior to joining MorePeople. Find out why James really can help and give you the best advice for your next career move… From Chef to Recruiter… Despite not achieving the academic results he may have wanted, James went on to complete an HND course in hotel catering and Management with a plan to go onto bar management in pubs, but he quickly found a passion for cooking. During the course he completed a work placement in a hotel kitchen working with chefs, and loved it so much he then specialised in gastronomy. This led to his first two chef jobs, the first in a big conference banqueting hotel and then onto a Raymond Blanc Brasserie in Birmingham, which then resulted in James opening up a new brasserie in Manchester. The next move was onto a Country House Hotel in Lake Vyrnwy, Wales, working as Sous Chef. This came with the added benefit of working with estate management and resourcing local meat and game. Due to the nature of this location and it being pretty remote, the city life was calling and James went back to Solihull, landing his first Head Chef role at a Boutique Hotel Restaurant. Enjoying the challenge of writing menus, costing, managing food supply and keeping consistency across all areas with the hectic life of being in a busy kitchen – then, a recruiter comes into the mix! A recruiter contacted James – his first experience of working with a recruitment agency. The agency opened new doors for James and saw him enter a new role within Food Manufacturing for Northern Foods. He was working on developing M&S ready meals, sauces and soups! This then enabled James to move on to Bakkavor as Business Development Chef. He worked on salads, dips, soups, sauces and food-to-go products for a variety of different UK retail customers and ran the chef team. Whilst at Bakkavor James also held a Development Manager role for Tesco, and headed up the Development Team for Bakkavor Salads, sitting on the exec team. The next move was to Samworth Brothers as Development Manager, developing food-to-go and party food products for the likes of Waitrose, Costa Coffee, Asda and John Lewis. Enter MorePeople…After quite the career, it was time for a new challenge and to change things up. What better way to put all James’ fantastic expertise, knowledge and experience to use than recruiting for the same roles, companies and industry he knows so well?! So, here we are, nearly 3 months in at MorePeople. James comments… ‘What can I say, honestly 3 months have never gone so quickly in my life! Throughout my career I have genuinely enjoyed hard work and now I have entered a new world that at times I feel a bit like a fish out of water but overall, I have loved every second, there is pressure of course, but balanced with a load of fun with a great team who have welcomed me and continue to guide me through the transition. I have never spoken so much in my life and wouldn’t be surprised if some of the candidates who I speak to must be thinking, ‘I need go’, but supporting people and helping them find their next role excites me. Have I made mistakes – oh yes! But who doesn’t - this is learning after all. And finally, I think I can call myself a recruitment consultant now as I have helped 2 of my candidates get their next roles.’ If you’ve made it this far, and you’re open to new opportunities, need new talent for your business or even just want some advice and to know more, then just have a quick chat with James. You’ll find all his details here, or just give us a call on 01780 480 530 and we’ll put you straight through! ​

​Luan, Associate Director, has just celebrated her 10 year anniversary at MorePeople!Luan joined MorePeople back in 2012 having had a successful career in procurement and account management within the Fresh Produce sector and made her way through the Career Pathway and being promoted to Associate Director in January 2021. Luan is one of MorePeople's most successful recruiters - having the title of 'Top Biller' 7 times during her career here - impressive stuff!Luan is now the go to for Technical recruitment in the Midlands and North, get to know Luan a little better...What did you want to be when you were at school? I wanted to work for an estate agent – I love looking round houses !! How did you get into recruitment? I had previously been a candidate of MorePeople who had placed me twice before. I had been made redundant from my role, so I was talking to Andrew about vacancies when he mentioned working in recruitment, it wasn’t anything I had ever thought of, but thought I would give it a go and the rest is history - I have been here 10 years! What do you specialise in at MorePeople? I currently look after the Technical recruitment for the Midlands and North, along with HR across the UK. I have also previously covered procurement and NPD roles. What’s been the biggest challenge you’ve faced since working at MorePeople? We talk to so many people, and when people have been made redundant or are out of work, I always feel terrible when we have to deliver the bad news that they didn’t get the role they wanted and came a very close 2nd. Something on your bucket list you’re hoping to tick off soon? Since covid hit I’m so looking forward to going abroad on holiday. The best piece of advice I've ever been given is…..? Whatever you do …. Give it 100% Cats or dogs Cats – but I can assure you I am no crazy cat lady ! ​

​International Women’s Day 2022International Women’s Day promotes showcasing commitment to women’s equality and celebrating women’s achievements whilst raising awareness and highlighting how far we’ve come, and how much more can be done.The theme for this year’s International Women’s Day is Break The Bias.Whether deliberate or unconscious, bias makes it difficult for women to move ahead. Knowing that bias exists isn’t enough, action is needed to level the playing field.Gender inequality still very much exists, and the needs for the workplace to be flexible is in demand more than ever. CIPD states; “The gender pay gap in the UK stands at 17.3%, the reasons for the gap being complex and interrelated, including economic, cultural, societal and educational factors:A lack of flexible working optionsWomen being the main providers of unpaid caring responsibilitiesOccupational segregationThe undervaluing of women’s workPay discrimination.’”When researching into gender inequality, ‘flexibility’ stands out as a keyword in helping to ‘close the gap’. Flexible working is seen as something to help women, and men, achieve their professional goals whilst also managing the likes of child care, and helps to create a culture where people feel comfortable and confident.Sarah, Team Manager at MorePeople talks us through her achievements whilst being part of the MorePeople team;“At MorePeople I’m lucky enough to work alongside 7 women who share my enthusiasm for the recruitment industry. We get to bounce ideas off each other and support each other in our own career journeys. Personally, I’ve had some great achievements whilst being at MorePeople. In my first full year of recruitment, I won two of our three annual awards, with the third going to my colleague Luan. Over the course of three years, I’ve had two promotions and currently get to manage Ben, who’s recently new to the recruitment scene.I’m an active member of the YPHA, who was set up by two passionate women (and an equally passionate man). I get to support in the upkeep of social media, blogs and job boards whilst other members of the group work on face-to-face events and bring us together. Between Nat, Mollie and Liam they have managed to bring over 180 passionate individuals together and I’m so excited to be a part of it.”​The women of MorePeople have thought about this year’s IWD theme and the questioned;Imagine a gender equal world. What does a world free of bias, stereotypes and discrimination mean for you?In a world where we can be who we want to be and follow our dreams. It is everyone’s responsibility to play a role in creating and maintaining a culture where women feel confident to be themselves. As for achievement here at MorePeople, I have been biggest biller 7 times during my time here– Girl Power !Favourite quote:"If you want something said, ask a man. If you want something done, ask a woman.” – Margaret ThatcherLuan – Associate Director​A world where women don’t have to worry what they wear, they don’t have to share their taxi drivers details ‘just-in-case’ and they don’t feel they lack authority or confidence in the workplace. It's not up to one leader in an organisation to ensure equality within the workforce, we all need to educate ourselves on the words we use, how we treat people and the way we make decisions. Knowledge is power, and education is key. Have the uncomfortable conversations, support one another and speak up when needed.Natalie – Marketing Manager​For me, a gender equal world would mean that the gap between male and female ‘big bosses’ is drastically reduced (there is currently only 8 women CEOs in the top 100 UK companies). It would be a world where we can walk home alone feeling safe, without worrying about what we’re wearing or having something to defend ourselves with, just in case. It would be a world where women don’t need to worry about their careers after maternity leave, or whether we can have careers and be mothers.Not something that is going to chance instantly, but with continued education, awareness and constant conversations it will begin to happen.Sarah – Team Manager​A world where women do not have to justify their choices or decisions just because ‘they’re a woman’. Natalie – Consultant​A place where we don’t have to stress over the small things. A world where women don’t read over their emails twice to see if they sound too friendly or worry if being too nice to someone comes off as flirtatious. Society has created a stereotype where women are bossy, but men are assertive, when men are passionate, we are emotional. If we all start small and are conscious of the little things, big changes can happen. Equality isn’t a monumental concept; we can get there with conversations and education. Rae - Consultant​Invisible Women: Exposing data bias in a world designed for men (Chatto & Windus, 2019). I have read this book multiple times, a gender unbiased world is a world where statistics like these don't exist:71% of women wear protective work clothing that isn't designed for women's bodies.British men enjoy five hours more leisure time per week than women.Husbands create an extra seven hours of housework a week for women.The average smartphone is 5.5 inches too big for the average woman's hand.Current offices are on average 5 degrees too cold for women.Tor - Consultant​Collectively, we can all #BreakTheBias.#IWD2022https://www.internationalwomensday.comhttps://www.cipd.co.uk/news-views/viewpoint/gender-equality-work