Boost helps recruitment firm to business growth

Independent recruitment consultancy Cummins Mellor Recruitment has expanded its workforce by 20 per cent after taking part in Boost Business Lancashire’s Growth Mentoring programme.

The Accrington-based business has also developed a comprehensive business plan, restructured its operational departments, and created an effective succession strategy.

Established in 1990, Cummins Mellor Recruitment operates nationally as well as locally and recently added six new members to its 30-strong staff.

It specialises in recruiting across employment sectors including hospitality, accountancy & finance, commercial office support, and sales & marketing, in temporary, permanent and interim contracts.

Cummins Mellor Recruitment is part of the Cummins Mellor Group which includes Chefs Jobs UK, specialist chef recruiters for the catering industry, and Personnel Checks, a top-50 disclosure and barring service (DBS) umbrella body providing DBS checks for companies and organisations nationwide.

Operations director, Michelle Mellor, commented: “Our challenge was to look at succession and a realistic growth plan across the business, as well as deciding on a business development strategy for our three-product offering. At the same time, we needed to introduce a new management layer in the business that we didn’t previously have in place.”

Michelle found out about Boost’s mentoring programme as a result of a longstanding relationship with business support organisation Community & Business Partners (CBP).

She continued: “We’ve worked closely with Jane Houghton Fenning and her team at CBP and have always found them really helpful and informative.”

As a result, Michelle enrolled on the programme and was matched with CBP mentor Imelda O’Keefe.

Michelle added: “Imelda threw ideas around by asking great questions, challenging our answers and giving us her thoughts. We got excellent support and input. Imelda’s knowledge helped enormously and it was great to have her as a sounding board.

“We learned to slow down and look at what we already had. Next we formulated a plan of where we wanted to be in one, three and five years, taking into account revenue and headcount needed to achieve the objective.”

Cummins Mellor has continued to attend the Employers’ Forums run by CBP and has now also accessed Boost’s Growth Accelerator Programme to continue its development journey.

Jane Houghton Fenning commented: “Michelle was exceedingly receptive to the mentoring and enjoyed the stretch and challenge of the process that assists with innovative thinking and making decisions. Having a non-judgmental external perspective challenges owners immersed in their own sector. The implementation of early planning has led to a new chef’s school and the creation of new jobs.

“The team has also attended the Skills Assist interactive workshops run by CBP, developing their own competencies to assist with growth. There is an ideal mentor for every type of business – just pick up the phone and ask for the support your business requires to move to the next stage.”

Boost Business Lancashire is the £7.2m Lancashire Business Growth Hub, offering free and part-funded business support to ambitious and growing businesses. Delivered by Lancashire County Council and the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership, and supported by £3.6m from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), it aims to grow Lancashire’s economy by £20m and create at least 1,200 new jobs and safeguard 700 more by summer 2015. To apply for support call 0800 488 0057.