Six and a half years ago, I stepped into the world of operational recruitment with a very naive understanding of how food and fresh produce made it onto our supermarket shelves.

When I joined, I thought I was hired to just fill vacancies for our clients (which we are, btw!), but I quickly realised I was helping power the nation’s food supply chain.

From the hum (sometimes much louder than just a hum!) of machinery on the factory floor to the controlled chaos of a produce packhouse, to the massive distribution centres that store the majority of our supermarkets, here’s what the last six years have taught me.

1. People are still the Pulse of Production

You can have the best tech, the slickest processes, and the most polished SOPs but without the right people, nothing moves or progresses. Technology might be the future, but great talent is always going to be needed to keep that business moving in the right direction.

2. CVs Don’t Tell the Whole Story – A conversation will

Some of the best candidates I’ve placed didn’t have flashy resumes or didn’t always have the “round peg” product category knowledge. What they had was a fantastic approach to business and their people. The kind of person who shows up early, learn fast, and leads by example, but then brings the whole team with them, no matter how tough or challenging the task at hand may be. I’ve learnt not to judge a book by its cover, but to delve deeper into the details.

3. Actions speak louder than values printed on a wall.

I’ve walked production facilities with Operations Managers and watched the difference between a team that is engaged and a team that is just waiting for their next break. I have seen Engineering Managers pick up waste product to ensure the area stays clean and tidy, and I have had teams greet me as though I had been working in that business for years (it was the first time ever meeting them!). These experiences taught me about what makes a great hire and culture, more than any job spec ever could.

4. Seasonality……what seasonality?

Recruiting for fresh produce and food manufacturing means dancing with the seasons.

I have learnt more about what food/veg is in season and what is out of season in the past 6.5 years than I ever thought I would. Whether that is peak Flowers, from Christmas right through to Easter, or whether that is Soft Fruit, from May to October, I’ve learned to plan ahead, build talent pipelines, and try and stay three steps ahead of what our clients’ needs and challenges may be.

5. Respect Is Earned - Not Assumed

Many recruiters have a bad reputation when it comes to chasing the next quick buck or sending a million and one CVs that don’t actually reduce the stress of the client. However, I soon realised that, like any business, a good relationship is built on honesty and trust. Unfortunately, there are too many recruiters out there that don’t listen to the challenges being faced, or what the client is looking for, and frustrations therefore build. Open and transparent communication is a fantastic starting point.

6. Recruitment Is Not a Transaction

I used to think recruitment was about speed, the here and now. To some degree that might be the case, however, a lot of the time, it is about long-term strategy and finding a solution to a much bigger problem. The right person in the right role doesn’t just fill a gap, they elevate the whole team. They move the business towards the future version.

Looking Ahead

Six and a bit years in, and I’m still learning. Still listening. Still chasing that perfect match between person and position. Still trying to better my service to my clients.

Food never stops being made, and people will always need to eat. The challenges may be different year in year out, but that is what we all enjoy and so I can’t wait to try and help alleviate some of those with our trusted clients, for many years to come.

​