​Reflecting on the Year Gone By – and Looking Ahead with Confidence

As the year draws to a close, Richard and Andrew returned to The More People Podcast for one of those rare but refreshing episodes where it’s just the two of them - no guest, no script, just an honest reflection on the year that’s been and what lies ahead.

With the end of the year fast approaching, the conversation naturally turned to pace, progress, and perspective.

And the overwhelming takeaway?
The year has flown by, and for all the right reasons.

A Year That Moved Fast (In a Good Way)

Coming into the year, there were understandable nerves. Economic uncertainty, changes to National Insurance, wavering confidence in hiring markets - all of it could easily have slowed momentum.

But that’s not what happened.

Despite a challenging start to the year for many sectors, clients continued to hire. The weather turned in favour of garden centres, horticulture, fresh produce, and logistics. Confidence returned. Momentum built.

Records were broken. Retention stayed high. And the business found itself finishing the year in an incredibly strong position.

Rather than getting caught up in negative headlines, the focus stayed firmly on what could be controlled - serving clients well, supporting candidates properly, and continuing to build something sustainable.

Why Time Feels Compressed

One recurring theme was just how quickly the year disappeared.

Part of that comes down to how the team operates. Wins are celebrated, but briefly. A great month or quarter is acknowledged, the team is recognised, and then attention quickly shifts back to what’s next.

There’s no resting on laurels. That relentless forward momentum compresses time and it’s a big part of why growth continues year after year.

Progress, Growth, and Taking More Shots

This year wasn’t just about results, it was about evolution.

New divisions became standalone teams. People stepped up faster than expected. Ideas moved from concept to reality at pace. Executive recruitment and development gained real traction, and MorePeople found itself consistently “in the room” for senior, high-impact roles that simply weren’t on the radar a few years ago.

Not everything landed perfectly and that’s part of the point.

Mistakes were made. Lessons were learned. And there’s a growing acceptance that progress doesn’t happen without a few stumbles along the way. In fact, embracing mistakes has become part of the strategy, because trying nothing new guarantees standing still.

Networks, Visibility, and Raising the Standard

From executive dinners and conferences to exhibitions across the UK and Europe, the sheer volume of conversations taking place continues to grow.

That visibility matters.

The stronger the network, the stronger the business becomes and it’s not just leadership driving that anymore. More and more of the team are out there, building relationships, adding value, and representing the brand.

The marketing function has evolved dramatically too. Candidate journeys, client experience, and the overall value offering are light years ahead of where they were five years ago, even if that progress sometimes goes unnoticed in the rush to move forward.

As was perfectly summed up at the recent conference:

“What was once believed to be unachievable is now our standard.”

Looking Ahead with Confidence

So what about the year ahead?

There’s no sense of scrambling for a silver bullet. The to-do list is long, but it’s clear. The direction is right. Execution won’t always be perfect but the foundations are solid.

There will be curveballs. There will be mistakes. There will also be new opportunities that weren’t even on the radar yet.

And that’s what makes it exciting.

The confidence comes from knowing that the team is resilient, well-trained, and deeply invested - in each other, in clients, and in doing things properly.

Why It Still Feels Exciting

Even decades into recruitment careers, the work still feels fresh, because every year is genuinely different.

New people step up. New clients appear. New partnerships form. Some ideas stick, others are scrapped, and better ones take their place.

That sense of evolution is what brings the energy back on day one of a new year - even when it’s dark, cold, and payday feels a long way off.

Final Thoughts

As this reflective episode came to a close, one thing was clear: the excitement isn’t just about what’s already been built, it’s about the people, opportunities, and ideas that haven’t even appeared yet.

And that’s exactly what makes the future so compelling.

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