From Solo Recruiter to Growing a Specialist Team
How Hilton Lord Helped Matt Develop MTWO On His Own Terms
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A Decision He Never Planned to Make
Matt didn’t set out to build his own recruitment agency. It was only after being introduced to Hilton Lord that the idea became a possibility.
“Honestly, I never had aspirations to set up on my own. I was happy where I was. I wasn’t actively looking. However, once I’d had the conversation, it felt silly not to explore it properly.”
Matt’s hesitation had nothing to do with his ability. Instead he was concerned about how he would balance running a business with his other responsibilities.
“The scariest thing was failure. I’ve got a family and providing for them was the biggest concern. Could I get it off the ground? Could I make it work without that safety net?”
After speaking with Hilton Lord, Matt realised he wouldn’t be walking into it alone. The operational risk including finance, compliance, tech, and invoicing, would be handled by us. He could focus on what he already knew how to do: recruit.
Why Hilton Lord Was the Right Fit
Hilton Lord’s all-round support and operational expertise were a big part of Matt’s decision to work with us. But what really sealed the deal was our authenticity.
“When I researched Hilton Lord, the tone of voice, the website, the messaging, it all aligned with what I wanted to do. I spoke to Dave and he was exactly how the brand presents itself. Just a real guy. My choice wasn’t about who could give me the ‘best deal’. It was about who I could see myself partnering with long-term.”
From the very first day, our processes reinforced that choice. Within four weeks of launching, his first invoice was paid, and that first invoice changed everything.
“It was seamless. It’s my brand, my name, my way of doing things. It’s my business but they took the stress away. Everything they said they’d do, they did, on the timeline they promised. That immediately built trust.”
Growing a Business Confidently
Initially, Matt set out to build a business that would give him autonomy, support his lifestyle, and allow him to spend more time with his family. However, nearly five years into his journey he was ready to grow. And we were there to support him. Growing a team wasn’t always straightforward. But with our support he was able to step back and target the right person for his business.
“I tried to hire before and it knocked me back a bit. The business wasn’t right for them, and they weren’t right for the business. Then I found Nathan. He reminded me of me. He had experience in my market, local, had a young family, and that’s a strong mix of motivation and responsibility.”
From that first hire, MTWO’s structure became clearer. Matt needed strong heads for each specialism. He leads print, Nathan leads signage. Packaging was the last missing piece and MTWO’s growth isn’t stropping there.
“There was an opportunity to bring Elle in. Culture fit was massively important. And, this is mad that I’m even saying it… but we’ll likely hire a fourth person to cover hardware and equipment across all three specialisms.”
What began as a solo venture has evolved into a specialist team. Crucially, that decision to grow was all Matt’s.
“There’s no pressure from Hilton Lord to push you in a direction that suits them. They back people they believe in.”
Achieving Financial and Personal Freedom
Today, MTWO operates as a specialist recruitment business across print, packaging and signage. Matt hosts a podcast, judges industry awards and speaks on panels. Building authority within his niche has become a core part of the business.
Not chasing invoices. Not managing payroll. Not worrying about compliance. Just recruitment and client relationships.
“It felt like being employed but with total autonomy. I didn’t have to worry about CRM costs, website, advertising, tech. In the early months, it was just ‘go and bill, we’ll handle the rest.’ Knowing someone else’s sole job is to support you frees you up to focus on recruitment and leadership.”
One unexpected benefit has been the wider Hilton Lord community.
“Incredible. Everyone helps each other, whether you’re solo or running a 35-person business. There’s always someone who’s been through what you’re going through.”
Do you have a vision for something different? Learn how we helped another founder create a recruitment agency with a new kind of culture.
How You Build Your Business Matters to Us
MTWO shows what’s possible when an experienced recruiter has autonomy and the right operational support. Partnering with Hilton Lord allowed Matt to move faster and grow with confidence.
If you’re billing well but wondering whether you could build something of your own, the answer is yes. With the right partner behind you, you can do anything! We’ll let Matt have the last word . . .
“It’s got to be right for you. But it’s not as scary as you think. Once that first invoice is paid, you’re flying. Hilton Lord allowed me to do more because I had support behind me.”
Hilton Lord backs experienced recruiters to become business owners. If you’re ready to explore what that could look like, we’re ready to have the conversation.