A couple have bounced back from a crushing double redundancy to establish their own recruitment company.
When Clare Quick was made redundant by Reed Employment and husband Craig suffered the same fate at XpertHR in Surrey, the couple decided to launch human resources recruitment and training firm Morgan Reid.
In between losing their jobs and launching the company at the University of Warwick Science Park’s Business Innovation Centre in Binley, their first child, Harrison, was born just before Christmas.
Mr Quick admitted it has certainly been a busy few months. He said: “We have both been in the recruitment industry for several years and I met Clare while working at Reed Employment.
“Running our own business was something we had always wanted to do, We had been looking to put our idea into action when the recession had ‘bottomed out’ and there were some green shoots of recovery but when we were both made redundant, we took the opportunity to start it now.
“Our first child, Harrison, was born on December 20, and we started the business in the New Year so it has been a bit manic.”
Morgan Reid supplies permanent and temporary workers for clients in the financial services, public sector, industry and commerce, professional services and not-for-profit organisations.
As well as recruiting through traditional methods, the company also undertakes executive searches or dual branded advertising.
Mr Quick said the name of the company had been inspired by entrepreneur and former Dragons’ Den investor James Caan. “We studied James and his career due his success in the recruitment industry. His autobiography talks about how he started out, creating brand awareness and client and candidate attraction. Obviously there were a lot of things in there that made commercial sense and even though the recruitment industry has moved on since his early days, the fundamental processes are the same,” he said.
“It’s all about service and delivery; we’re trying to promote a professional organisation and the name fits with that.”
Karen Aston, the centre manager of the University of Warwick’s Binley site, said Morgan Reid was benefiting from its Ignite programme which had been set up to help start-up companies and businesses in the early stages of growth.
She said: “Morgan Reid is one of many businesses at our innovation centre in Binley who have been able to tap into this resource and also to gain use of our meeting rooms and conference facilities and wireless broadband – all areas which give a professional image when starting out. Craig and Clare have certainly had their professional and personal lives transformed over the last six months and I’m sure their careers are going to become even busier.”
