• Recruitment Smarts #1214

    A Note from the Editor
    Just 3 weeks to go until Recruitment Agency Expo London 2026 and this year’s line-up is bigger than ever.
    We’re thrilled to welcome Claudine Collins, trusted advisor to Alan Sugar on The Apprentice. She’ll share boardroom-level insight on judging talent beyond the CV, spotting credibility, capability and potential under pressure.
    Across two packed days, you’ll hear from industry experts on AI, compliance, growth, BD and scaling smarter in 2026.
  • Recruitment Smarts #1213

    A Note from the Editor
    The results are in from last week’s survey. Among almost 100 recruitment agency professionals, AI’s impact is far from decisive. While 63% report at least some improvement, a substantial 31% say it hasn’t really improved their process – suggesting that although AI adoption is widespread, meaningful transformation isn’t yet universal across agencies.
    This might be because many agencies are adopting AI in small, surface-level ways without fully
  • How Recruitment Funding Really Works (Beyond The Percentage)

    The recruitment funding percentage doesn’t tell the full story. When recruitment agencies review funding options, the conversation often starts, and end, with the percentage.
    But experienced agency owners know the headline rate rarely reflects how funding behaves day to day. What really matters is how funding works when contractor numbers increase, invoices age, or risk levels change.
    Understanding these mechanics is what determines your real cost, margin predictability and operational con
  • Closing the Candidate: Fact versus Fiction

    How much time have you spent focusing on improving your skills at identifying and recruiting new candidates? Probably a great deal. Now ask yourself this. How much time have you spent thinking about and learning advanced level closing principles and techniques? Much less, right?
    This isn’t your fault. There is a serious deficiency of the knowledge of how to close effectively in our industry. And along with that, there are serious misunderstandings. These will cause any recruiter – no
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  • Growing a Recruitment Agency Without Cash Flow Bottlenecks

    Scaling a recruitment business is often portrayed as a simple equation – win more clients, place more candidates, grow revenue. Because recruitment businesses must manage payroll alongside client payment terms, growth can place pressure on both operational capacity and cash flow. Aligning these areas is often key to scaling sustainably.
    True expansion requires more than simply increasing placements. Agencies need a deliberate balance between operational capability and financial structure t
  • Recruitment Smarts #1212

    A Note from the Editor
    Sorry to mention AI so early in the newsletter – but we’d love to hear your thoughts
    Has AI actually improved your recruitment process yet? Yes – significantly  Somewhat  Not really  Too early to tell
    Share your vote on our Linkedin poll.In the newsletter this week, we shared insights on:The Technology Decisions That Make or Break a New Recruitment Agency from JSBC Labs
    Recruitment Pay Facts and Stats Hub from New Millennia
    6 Poin
  • Recruitment Pay Facts and Stats Hub: Updated for 2026

    This article from New Millennia compiles up-to-date UK recruitment pay data, explaining how recruiter compensation and agency fees work, typical salaries by role and location, hiring costs, and industry earning potential to help readers understand pay trends in 2026. Perfect if you’re starting a recruitment agency!
     
    See the full article on the New Millennia website.
    The post Recruitment Pay Facts and Stats Hub: Updated for 2026 appeared first on UK Recruiter.
  • Best EOR Companies in the UK: Post-Brexit Guide

    Our partners at Borderless AI have put together this guide exploring the UK Employer of Record landscape in a post-Brexit environment.
     
    The United Kingdom maintains its position as a premier destination for global talent, featuring a highly educated, diverse workforce with exceptional capabilities across financial services, technology, creative sectors, and life sciences. While Brexit has reshaped EU labor movement patterns, the UK preserves a mature business ecosystem with robust worker p
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  • How the French Job Search Platform Landscape is Evolving

    The French labour market has undergone a significant digital transformation over the last decade. What was once driven primarily by public employment services and informal networks is now shaped by a diverse mix of digital platforms, algorithms, and candidate experience tools.
    For both local talent and international professionals, navigating this landscape is no longer about simply uploading a CV. It requires understanding how different platforms operate, what they prioritise, and how effectivel
  • The Technology Decisions That Make or Break a New Recruitment Agency

    Launching a recruitment agency has never been easier. Scaling one successfully is another story.
    In the early days, most new agencies focus on winning clients, placing candidates, and generating cash flow. Technology decisions are often made quickly, sometimes reactively, and usually with short-term convenience in mind. But those early choices have long-term consequences.
    Get the tech foundations right, and you create a business that can scale without friction. Get them wrong, and you quietly bu
  • Joint and Several Liability (JSL): What the April 2026 Reforms Mean for Recruitment Agencies

    You’ll have heard a lot about the upcoming Law change already. It dominated industry conversations at the end of 2025, and agencies that haven’t started preparing really do need to start now. This shift has the potential to disrupt contractor payroll and increase your agencies exposure to liability costs.
     
    …. Read the full blog on the 3R website.
    The post Joint and Several Liability (JSL): What the April 2026 Reforms Mean for Recruitment Agencies appeared first on UK Rec
  • Recruitment Smarts #1211

    A Note from the Editor
    Recently, we ran a LinkedIn poll asking agency recruiters what they mostly rely on for interview scheduling today, and the results were telling.
    It’s one of those processes that should be “solved” by automation or AI. In theory, calendar links and scheduling tools promise speed and efficiency. In reality, the poll showed that manual scheduling, often outside the CRM, still leads the way for many agencies.
    One respondent summed up why: calendar tools quic
  • Recruitment Smarts #1210

    A Note from the Editor
    One of our big focuses on our Recruiter Zone channel this year is building conversations that actually matter to recruiters – the kind you’d genuinely make time for in a busy week, designed to be practical, honest, and grounded in the realities of running and growing a recruitment business today.
    Over the coming weeks, we’ll be digging into topics like how to build a recruitment podcast or webinar people actually want to listen to (Mon 2 Feb),
  • £100k Won’t Save You If Your Fees Aren’t Protected

    This blog from RecLAW is part of our “The £100k Growth Question for Recruiters” series.
    If a recruitment agency was handed £100,000 tomorrow, most would instinctively think the same things.
    More recruiters. New tech. A shiny CRM. A bigger marketing push.
    All sensible on the surface. But here’s the uncomfortable truth: you can double your billings and still go backwards if the foundations of your business aren’t right.
    Growth doesn’t fail because recruite
  • Recruitment Smarts #1209

    A Note from the Editor
    How are agency recruiters handling interview scheduling today?
    Hung Lee recently ran a poll with in-house/TA teams and shared the results in Recruiting Brainfood. The responses were more mixed than expected, which got us wondering whether agencies are in a different place.
    We’ve run a similar poll focused on agency recruiters and would love you to take part – and if you don’t already get Recruiting Brainfood, it’s well worth a read.Building a
  • Tech Roles Top Salary Scale in 2026: New Totaljobs Analysis Reveals the Sectors Where UK Workers Are Earning the Most

    If you want to know more about salary surveys in the UK, check out our Salary Survey and Salary Calculator page.
    The Report
    UK salary growth is becoming concentrated in high-skill, specialist roles, according to new analysis from Totaljobs. Analysis of over 21.6M job ads across the market found that median advertised pay has risen 7.5% year-on-year to just over £33,500, driven largely by strong demand for technical, data and AI expertise, while lower-paid industries and regions continue to
  • Contract vs Perm: The Reality for Recruitment Agencies Today

    The big question for many agency owners is: should a recruitment agency focus on contract or permanent recruitment? The truth is, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer. Decisions are driven by strategy and your aspirations to scale – your business plan, your market, the sectors you operate in, and what your clients actually need all play a part.
    Read the full article from 3r here.
    The post Contract vs Perm: The Reality for Recruitment Agencies Today appeared first on UK Recruiter.
  • A Recruiter’s Guide to Smarter Talent Assessment Strategies

    Hiring the wrong person costs more than money. It drains team morale, disrupts workflows, and sets projects back by months. Yet many recruiters still rely on gut instinct and polished Curriculum Vitae (CVs) to make decisions that shape entire departments.
    The best candidates aren’t always the ones who interview well or have the shiniest credentials. They’re the ones whose skills, thinking patterns, and working styles actually match what your role demands. But spotting them requires a
  • Recruitment Smarts #1208


    A Note from the Editor
    Shape the AI in Recruitment Benchmarks for 2026 
    Take a 5-minute survey and be first to get Access Recruitment’s 2026 AI Outlook. Most recruitment agencies say they’ve adopted AI. Far fewer can say whether it’s actually delivering value.
    The 2026 AI in Recruitment Outlook Report will show what’s driving success and the reality gap between AI adoption and results. The findings will shape how hundreds of agencies ap
  • The £100k Growth Question for Recruiters Series

    Our last blog series, The 2026 Playbook: What Recruiters Need to Do Differently, struck a chord with recruiters everywhere. It brought together voices from across the industry, experts in tech, training, marketing, people, client strategy, and more, all sharing one goal: to help recruitment agencies understand what needs to change to thrive in 2026.
    In the £100k Growth Question for Recruiters Series our contributors will be imagining that your recruitment agency has just been handed &poun
  • ‘‘Should I Stay, or Should I Go?” Totaljobs Data Reveals a Workforce Set to Split in 2026 Between Jobseekers and ‘Job-Huggers’

    Job ads
    New research from Totaljobs reveals a workforce increasingly split between those preparing to move for better pay and those staying put in search of security.
    Totaljobs’ Salary and Benefits Report 2026 found that over two-fifths of workers (41%) are either actively looking for a new role, or plan to in 2026, with higher pay (51%) stated as the main motivation for doing so. Movement is highest among younger workers, rising to 48% of those aged 18–29 and 47% of those aged 30&nd
  • Immediate Job Market Bounce Back in the Balance as 2026 Begins

    A survey of businesses suggests that rising costs from the National Minimum Wage, National Insurance changes and new employment rights puts an immediate job market recovery in the balance.
    An online survey of employers conducted by Whitestone Insight on behalf of the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) straight after the Autumn Budget, suggests a sudden major bounce back in the labour market is unrealistic at the start of this year – but there is scope in business sentiment for
  • Recruitment Smarts #1207

    A Note from the Editor
    We plan to spend time this year giving our UK Recruiter Supplier Directory some serious attention, making it more comprehensive and useful than ever.
    The directory is an online hub of trusted suppliers to the recruitment industry, covering everything from Job Boards and Financial Services to Software Developers and specialist providers.
    With hundreds of suppliers listed across categories including Business Services, Financial & Legal, Start-Ups, Job Advertising, Techn
  • Recruitment Smarts #1206

    A Note from the Editor
    Well… here we are. The final UK Recruiter newsletter of the year.
    If this year has felt like it flew by and dragged on at the same time, you’re not alone. It’s been a year of shifting markets, evolving candidate expectations, and no shortage of “well, that’s new” moments for anyone working in recruitment.
    As always, we’re grateful you’ve spent some of that time with us, reading, sharing, and replying with thoughts of your ow
  • How Traditional Recruiters Are Catching Up with Crypto Jobs

    The world of recruiting is finally catching up with crypto. For years, most recruiters dismissed blockchain as a passing trend. Now, with Web3 companies scaling fast and investment flowing back into the space, traditional recruiters are racing to understand and serve this booming job market.
    For everyone interested in landing remote crypto jobs, this evolution matters. It changes how jobs are found, how talent is evaluated, and how recruiters think about digital-first work.
    From Ignorance to Int
  • Recruitment Smarts #1205

    A Note from the Editor
    Pretty much every week Louise hosts Recruitment Smarts Live over on Crowdcast. Here’s a little snapshot of some of the content you might have missed, and can watch on replay:
    Just last week she talked with Peter Felix from Sonovate about Funding US Expansion: A Strategic Briefing for UK Recruitment Leaders. Peter shared advice for UK recruiters looking to expand into the US. She also spoke with Nick Woodward, from ETZ about The Autonomous Recruitment Agenc
  • 5 Effective Ways to Enhance Recruitment with Technology

    Technology has completely flipped the script on how we find and hire talent, and frankly, if you’re not keeping up, you’re falling behind.
    Gone are the days when posting a job ad in the newspaper would bring in dozens of qualified candidates. Now? We’re dealing with talent shortages, remote work complications, and candidates who expect a seamless digital experience. The good news is that technology can solve most of these headaches – if you know how to use it right
    1. Aut
  • Recruitment Smarts #1204

    A Note from the Editor
    If you’ve ever felt that recruitment still suffers from outdated stereotypes and siloed thinking, the JobAdder Breakfast Club offers something different.It’s a series of three-hour, no-fluff in-person workshops around the country designed to equip agencies, whether large or boutique, with actionable tools: a bite-size AI implementation plan, a revenue-ops audit, and a 90-day business-development + client-retention roadmap.Add in networking over breakfast and y
  • Navigating 2026: What High-Performing Agencies Are Doing Now

    The past few years have shown that waiting for the “right moment” to scale is rarely a winning strategy. Recruitment has been operating under sustained pressure, and as we move into 2026, that reality isn’t changing quickly. Competition is intensifying, margins are tighter, and clients are more cautious than ever.
    Yet, within this challenging environment, a clear pattern is emerging. Some agencies are standing still, hoping for stability to return. Others are taking decisive a
  • REC Awards 2025

    REC Awards 2025 showcased the best of recruitment in a demanding year for the sector
    Recruiters who went above and beyond in a challenging year for the sector and economy were celebrated at the REC Awards 2025, held last night (Thursday). This included firms which have helped career returners into jobs, the homeless get ready for work and provided training for people who are Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEETs).
    The Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) stages the REC Awards
  • Simplicity – Safe to Recruit? Know Your Client, Protect Your Business – VIDEO

    This week Louise was joined by her guest speakers, Jessica Howard and Sarah Williams, from Simplicity In Business.powered by Crowdcast
    The post Simplicity – Safe to Recruit? Know Your Client, Protect Your Business– VIDEO appeared first on UK Recruiter.
  • 2026 Playbook: Rethinking Cash Flow & Back Office – Where Recruitment Growth Really Happens

    This blog from Simplicity in Business is part of our 2026 Playbook: What Recruiters Need to Do Differently series.
    When planning for 2026, much of the industry focus is on front-office activity: BD, marketing, AI sourcing, and talent attraction. But the recruitment agencies that will thrive next year won’t just win more work; they’ll run safer, tighter, more financially resilient operations behind the scenes.
    Margins are under pressure, payment terms are stretching, compliance risks
  • Leading Employee Monitoring Software for Productivity and Security

    In an era where work is happening everywhere – at home, in offices, across time zones – leaders face a new challenge. How do they keep their team productive, secure, and aligned without micromanaging or losing trust?
    For many organisations, the answer lies in Employee Monitoring Software.
    These tools aren’t just digital surveillance systems, but smarter, more nuanced productivity assistants, allowing businesses to understand how work is actually getting done.
    They uncover bottl
  • Recruitment Smarts #1203

    A Note from the Editor
    We’ve recently kicked off a new series on our blog: The 2026 Playbook: What Recruiters Need to Do Differently. This builds on the momentum from our last series – From Surviving to Thriving – which resonated with so many recruiters by helping them boost margins, protect profits and work smarter. Now, as 2026 approaches, we’re looking ahead: recruitment is changing fast, and this playbook is all about how agencies can adapt to stay competit
  • 2026 Playbook: From Résumés to Revenue – How AI Will Redefine the Recruitment Workflow

    This blog from Allsorter is part of our 2026 Playbook: What Recruiters Need to Do Differently series.
    Recruitment has never been more complex… or more competitive.Agencies have automated sourcing, outreach, and CRM processes, yet one fundamental challenge remains: disconnected workflows that drain recruiter time and limit scale.
    In 2026, the winning agencies won’t just “do recruitment faster.” They’ll rebuild their operational backbone — integrating AI across
  • CloudCall – Recruiter and Sales Productivity in the Age of AI – VIDEO

    This week Louise was joined by her guest speakers, Ashley Bowlin & Steven Collins, from CloudCall.powered by Crowdcast
    The post CloudCall – Recruiter and Sales Productivity in the Age of AI– VIDEO appeared first on UK Recruiter.
  • Trust in Recruiting: Balancing AI, Authenticity, and Compliance in 2026

    This blog from Stormie Haller at Tracker is part of our 2026 Playbook: What Recruiters Need to Do Differently series.
     
    As we head into 2026, recruiting is moving faster than ever, but trust is becoming harder to earn. AI can now write résumés, simulate interviews, and screen thousands of candidates in minutes. That kind of speed is powerful, but it also opens the door to a growing wave of fraud and impersonation. 
    The next phase of recruiting isn’t just about
  • 2026 Playbook: Trust in Recruiting: Balancing AI, Authenticity, and Compliance in 2026

    This blog from Stormie Haller at Tracker is part of our 2026 Playbook: What Recruiters Need to Do Differently series.
     
    As we head into 2026, recruiting is moving faster than ever, but trust is becoming harder to earn. AI can now write résumés, simulate interviews, and screen thousands of candidates in minutes. That kind of speed is powerful, but it also opens the door to a growing wave of fraud and impersonation. 
    The next phase of recruiting isn’t just about
  • Recruitment Smarts #1202

    A Note from the Editor
    Final call for speakers – Take the Stage at Recruitment Agency Expo London 2026
    The recruitment industry is navigating one of its toughest cycles – slower hiring, changing client expectations, and constant market shifts. Agency owners and recruitment practitioners are looking for real, practical strategies to help their businesses adapt and grow.
    That’s why we’re inviting recruitment business owners, leaders, and hands-on recruiters to apply t
  • Take the Stage at Recruitment Agency Expo London 2026

    Final call for speakers – Take the Stage at Recruitment Agency Expo London 2026
    The recruitment industry is navigating one of its toughest cycles – slower hiring, changing client expectations, and constant market shifts. Agency owners and recruitment practitioners are looking for real, practical strategies to help their businesses adapt and grow.
    That’s why we’re inviting recruitment business owners, leaders, and hands-on recruiters to apply to speak at Recruitment
  • 2026 Playbook: Recruiters Who Win Will Think Like Technologists

    This blog from JSBC Labs is part of our 2026 Playbook: What Recruiters Need to Do Differently series.
    The recruitment world isn’t short on technology – it’s short on time. Over the past few years, we’ve seen agencies rush to adopt new platforms, CRMs, and automation tools, only to realise that more tech doesn’t always mean better performance.
    As 2026 approaches, the recruiters who win won’t be those with the most tools – they’ll be the ones wh
  • 2026 Playbook: What Recruiters Need to Do Differently – from Access

    This blog from Access is part of our 2026 Playbook: What Recruiters Need to Do Differently series.
     
    As we approach 2026, recruitment agencies across the UK are asking a vital question: What needs to change to stay competitive? Whether it’s technology, people, training, marketing, or client relationships, the answer lies in how agencies adapt to a rapidly evolving landscape – one increasingly shaped by AI, automation and data intelligence.
    Agencies are transforming their operati
  • 2026 Playbook: Amplify the Human Touch with Smarter Communication

    This blog from CloudCall is part of our 2026 Playbook: What Recruiters Need to Do Differently series.
    Recruitment has always been about people. But in 2026, it’s also about precision.The most successful firms next year won’t just adopt AI — they’ll know how to use it to strengthen, not replace, human connection.
    From our work with UK and European staffing firms, three priorities stand out for 2026:Help recruiters master AI.
    Double down on genuine human connection.
    Make mo
  • Recruitment Smarts #1201

    A Note from the Editor
    Jeremy Snell is launching a new Build in Public series for recruiters – and it looks seriously useful.Across six live sessions, he’ll walk through building five custom GPTs designed to boost recruiter performance and profits, sharing every prompt, tweak, and workflow along the way.Expect real demos, practical insights, and zero fluff — just clear, hands-on guidance to help you actually implement AI in your recruitment workflows.Louise will be tuning in (
  • Sign Smarter. Bill Faster. Get Paid.

    This blog from recLAW is part of our 2026 Playbook: What Recruiters Need to Do Differently series.
     
    Recruiters work hard enough chasing deals, that getting paid for them shouldn’t be a battle. 2026 is the year agencies get sharper with their contracts, faster on their feet, and firmer with clients who push boundaries.
    At recLAW, we help recruiters protect what they’ve earned.
    Here’s how to make sure your fees stay yours.
    Make your terms work for you
    Too many agencies are
  • 2026 Playbook: Sign Smarter. Bill Faster. Get Paid.

    This blog from recLAW is part of our 2026 Playbook: What Recruiters Need to Do Differently series.
     
    Recruiters work hard enough chasing deals, that getting paid for them shouldn’t be a battle. 2026 is the year agencies get sharper with their contracts, faster on their feet, and firmer with clients who push boundaries.
    At recLAW, we help recruiters protect what they’ve earned.
    Here’s how to make sure your fees stay yours.
    Make your terms work for you
    Too many agencies are
  • Talisman – AI in Recruitment: What’s Actually Working (and What’s Just Hype) – VIDEO

    This week Louise was joined by her guest speaker, Robyn Neal, Head of Customer Success, for Talisman.powered by Crowdcast
    The post Talisman – AI in Recruitment: What’s Actually Working (and What’s Just Hype)– VIDEO appeared first on UK Recruiter.
  • Recruitment Smarts #1200

    A Note from the Editor
    Our From Surviving to Thriving series was a huge success and now we’re taking it a step further.
    This month we launch The 2026 Playbook: What Recruiters Need to Do Differently, a new series packed with expert insight and practical advice to help agencies plan and adapt for the year ahead.
    Across technology, people, training, marketing, and client strategy, we’ll be sharing how recruiters can evolve to stay competitive in a fast-changing landscape.
    Each article
  • Have you Changed Timesheet Platform? Here’s Why Agencies Should Pay Attention

    If your agency’s timesheet or payroll platform has recently switched providers, or you’re planning a change, it’s not just a tech update. Behind the scenes, sensitive contractor and client data may be moved or shared in ways that expose your business to risk. A recent Freelance Informer article, written by Nick Woodward, CEO of ETZ Group explores what happens when platforms migrate data without notice, and why agencies must take a proactive role in safeguarding personal informa
  • From Surviving to Thriving… to What’s Next: Introducing the 2026 Playbook

    Our last blog series, From Surviving to Thriving, struck a chord with recruiters everywhere. It was packed with practical advice from across the industry, helping agencies find ways to boost margins, protect profits, and work smarter in a challenging market.
    Now, as we move toward 2026, one thing is clear: recruitment is changing again. Fast.
    The conversation has shifted from “How do we stay afloat?” to “What do we need to do differently to stay competitive next year?”
    Th

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