From Redundancy to Running a Thriving Recruitment Business
How the right support helped one recruiter turn uncertainty into freedom, growth, and long-term success
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When Everything Changed Overnight
For Kieran Boyle, the decision to start his own recruitment business wasn't part of some long-term masterplan. It came during one of the most difficult periods of his life.
After relocating to Gloucester with his wife and young son to launch a new office for his employer, everything suddenly changed. Shortly after the move, and sadly following the loss of his father, both Kieran and his wife were made redundant within weeks.
"We were sitting there thinking, 'What are we going to do?' We had a young son and a mortgage to pay."
At the time, local recruitment opportunities were limited, which forced Kieran to think differently about his next step. After seeing one of Dave Kershaw's LinkedIn posts, he reached out and quickly found himself in conversation with Hilton Lord.
What stood out immediately wasn't just the model itself, but the people behind it. Kieran felt reassured by the honesty and straightforward approach Dave and Rob brought to the conversations, particularly at a time when trust mattered more than anything.
"As soon as I met them, I knew I could work with them."
Within a matter of days, plans were already underway to launch the business.
Building a Business Without Going It Alone
Although the timing was difficult personally, Kieran was confident in his ability as a recruiter. The challenge wasn't recruitment, it was the risk that comes with starting a business while supporting a young family.
"If I'd just gone completely on my own, how many months would it have been before I earned any income? That would've been a huge risk."
Hilton Lord provided the operational backing needed to remove much of that pressure. From systems and CRM access to payroll, invoicing, compliance, and tech support, everything was put in place quickly so Kieran could focus entirely on recruitment.
Within two weeks, the business was fully operational.
"I had a website, systems, CRM access; everything was there. It genuinely felt like I'd just moved from one job into another and carried on working."
Today, CKB Recruitment specialises in insurance recruitment across the UK, primarily within the broker market, underwriting agencies, and MGA space.
One of the biggest advantages of the partnership has been the ability to focus on building relationships and billing, without getting pulled into the operational side of running a business.
"One of the biggest benefits is not having to chase invoices yourself. Hilton Lord handles that, which protects your client relationships because you're not the one chasing payment."
Growing Faster Than Expected
Momentum came quickly.
Having recruited within the insurance market since 2008, Kieran had built a strong reputation and long-standing relationships across the industry. That existing network meant clients were eager to support him when he launched independently.
"I made a placement within about a week and a half."
For Kieran, it reinforced a belief many experienced recruiters already know deep down: people buy from people.
"When you've built a reputation in your niche, you become the brand."
While the business has expanded geographically since launch, recruiting nationally rather than just across London and the South East, the core market has remained consistent. That focus has helped create stability, repeat business, and steady growth.
More Freedom, More Reward
Financially, the move into business ownership has transformed Kieran's earning potential. By billing for himself rather than for someone else's agency, the difference in income became clear very quickly.
But the biggest change has been lifestyle and autonomy.
"The freedom is completely different."
Like many recruiters who step into business ownership, Kieran now has full control over how he works, how he grows the business, and how he spends his time.
The wider Hilton Lord network has also played a huge role in that journey. Rather than feeling isolated as a business owner, Kieran became part of a wider group of experienced recruiters who support each other, share ideas, and genuinely collaborate.
"It makes you feel like you're part of something bigger, even though everyone runs their own separate business."
Nearly a decade later, the relationship with Hilton Lord remains just as important as it was at the start, with ongoing support, advice, and guidance always available when needed.
Build Your Own Recruitment Business
Looking back, Kieran believes starting his own business was absolutely the right move.
"Personally, it's the best thing I've ever done."
His advice to recruiters considering the leap is simple: if you're consistently billing, trusted within your market, and confident in your own ability, there's a huge opportunity in building something for yourself.
Hilton Lord helps experienced recruiters launch and grow their own recruitment businesses without dealing with the operational headaches alone. From payroll and invoicing to tech, legal support, and ongoing guidance, we provide the infrastructure and support that allows recruiters to focus on what they do best.