Recruitment firm doubles headcount
Denholm Associates, the Edinburgh-based recruitment specialist, has posted record revenue and doubled its headcount since the onset of the pandemic.
Chief executive Nicki Denholm said the executive search and recruitment agency had “reinvented itself during the pandemic”, which “spurred diversification” at the business she founded 20 years ago.
In the year to the end of December 2021, Denholm increased revenue to £2.5 million, up from £1.2m a year earlier after income was impacted by the economic fallout from the pandemic. The firm launched a hub-style office in Leith, and is said to be “actively looking” at opening similarly styledofficesinotherlocations.
Driven by its new strategy, the agency has hired extensively over the last 18 months and nowhasaheadcountof32,with further hiring planned for the rest of 2022. The firm launched four specialist practices in 2021 - technology, accounting and finance, business services, and manufacturing and engineering.
Denholm said: “During the pandemic we had to adapt and find new markets by offering recruitment support to our clients beyond our traditional marketing specialisation. We now have five divisions covering all our clients’ key business functions.thecommonthread
isourabilitytoleverageourdigitalmarketingheritagetoattract and enthuse scarce talent.”
She added: “When you look at areas like remote working, hybrid working, mental health and wellbeing, these subjects, quite rightly, have more importancetodayintheworldofwork than at any point before.
“Employers can’t ignore how these changes are influencing employees’ attitudes to how and where they want to work. Their employer brand is absolutely integral to attracting and
retaining people, and their ability to be competitive in today’s war for talent.”
John Denholm, executive chairman, said: “While two decades of specialist marketing expertise, including recent digital marketing trends, are still very much in our DNA, we’ve been able to apply those marketing principles to how we attract talent across multiple industry sectors, and that’s proving to be a big differentiator for us in the market.”
Thecompany’sgrowingclient
base includes Glenmorangie, The R&A, Edrington UK, Edinburgh International Festival, Irn-bru maker AG Barr, Virgin Money, Scottish Investment Trust, Beam Suntory and Hilton Worldwide.
Nicki Denholm said the firm remained in a “period of significant disruption”.
She added: “Covid-19 has made us all reflect on our priorities and it’s had a huge impact on the recruitment market. People want to work in a way that fits better with
their lifestyle and commitments.
“They also want to feel energised and engaged at work, to keep learning and developing their skills, and to be part of a diverse and inclusive environment. Businesses have to convince staff that they genuinely offer all this. It’s a challenging time because the war for talent rageson.butit’salsoanexciting time,asemergingtrendsshiftto become the norm.”