Run a Business, Not a Back Office
Experience all the freedom of running your own recruitment business, without the boring bits
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Taking the First Step into Ownership
When Hilton Lord first contacted Louis, the timing happened to be just right. He was already considering his options and was open to what might come next. There were other routes he could have taken, but the Hilton Lord model stood out.
Of course, knowing recruitment and starting a recruitment business are two different things.
What helped cement the decision was knowing the relationships he had built throughout his career would travel with him. Conversations with clients and candidates gave him confidence that people would continue working with him when he made the move. And, we gave him the confidence when it came to running the company.
“Going out on your own is always going to be nerve-wracking. It's a big step to start your own business, but the advice from the team has been fantastic all the way, and is always supportive.”
That combination allowed Louis to make the leap and launch Moore Green Recruitment in 2020.
Straight Back to Recruitment
One of the concerns for any recruiter starting an agency is how long it will take before they can actually recruit again.
There’s a company to set up. Systems to choose. Banking. Tech. Job boards. Legal paperwork. Branding. The list gets dull fairly quickly.
For Louis, it was remarkably painless. Rather than spending weeks trying to stitch together the infrastructure of a recruitment company, Hilton Lord handled the setup.
“Really straightforward. It was basically new logins and new logos! Once everything was set up, I was straight back to recruiting within a couple of days.”
Becoming a business owner doesn’t mean having to learn a whole new profession. An experienced recruiter just needs the freedom to get on with the profession they already know.
“The job itself definitely feels different. There's more autonomy, more flexibility and more control over how you work and how you run the business.”
A Back Office That Actually Works
The biggest difference for Louis has been what he doesn't have to do.
CRM, IT, legal, finance, payroll and accounts are all handled by us, giving Moore Green the infrastructure of an established recruitment business without Louis having to build and manage those functions himself.
“Hilton Lord takes care of all the back-office functions, so you don't really need to worry about any of it.”
And that support isn’t tucked away behind an outsourced helpdesk somewhere. Having previously experienced businesses where systems were outsourced, slow to respond and spread across multiple platforms, Louis has seen first-hand how much difference a good back office makes.
“With Hilton Lord, the Hub brings everything together in one place; sales activity, financial activity, invoices, everything. It’s also UK-based, which makes communication really straightforward and efficient.”
Admin may not be the glamorous side of starting a recruitment company. Nobody quits their job because they’ve always dreamed of overseeing payroll. But when it works properly, it gives a founder something far more useful. Time.
“Having everything accessible makes a massive difference to the day-to-day running of the business. I see how efficient the Hilton Lord accounts team is weekly. They do a fantastic job. Not having to worry about those things means I can concentrate on running and growing the business.”
More Control Without Doing Everything Yourself
Business ownership has given Louis what many experienced recruiters are craving; more control over their work and a bigger share of the value they create.
“You definitely see more of what you generate, and I'm now earning more than I was when I was employed.”
But independence hasn’t meant isolation. Through Hilton Lord, Louis has access to other recruitment business owners, training, events and people he can turn to when he wants another perspective.
“It's great to have a sounding board and to be able to meet with colleagues and peers who are in a similar position.”
That balance is an important part of the model. Moore Green is Louis’ business. He decides how to run it. But there’s a team behind him handling the operational work and a wider network around him when he needs it.
“It's given me the flexibility and autonomy to run the business the way I want to run it, without having to worry.”
Build Your Recruitment Business with Hilton Lord
However, there is one thing Louis wishes he had known earlier.
“That Hilton Lord existed! I'd have done it in about 2010. Have the conversation. It might not be quite right for you, or it might be perfect timing. But I think as a recruiter, you should always be curious about opportunities.”
Hilton Lord backs experienced recruiters to build businesses of their own while taking care of the operational work that can distract them from recruitment.
You run the business. We run the engine room.
If you’re wondering whether it could work for you, have the conversation and see where it takes you.