I had another blog planned for today. However, following some “hot off the press” news, I have become a victim of my own cutting-room floor. Instead of a thoroughly boring blog about the RCSA Awards, today’s blog finds us delving into recruitment’s newest kid on the block, Evolve Recruitment.
A new recruitment firm is usually only worth a couple of lines in this esteemed publication. I mean, what recruiter hasn’t set up a firm? However, if we look into the history and characters involved in this one, then it becomes clear that not only do Evolve mean business, but the repercussions for Accounting, Finance, and Technology stalwarts Consult, could be incredibly painful.
Consult are a firm that have always divided opinions. To candidates, clients, and their own management team, their reputation has always been stellar. To those who have worked there (or been a supplier to them)…well, you’ll have to ask them. To their credit, Consult have always employed a good number of high performing A&F recruiters, and were wise enough to purchase an IT recruitment firm in Halo with an equally high number of top performers. And again in their defence, they have a good track record of retaining some very good recruiters, albeit by similar methods as the Reverend Jim Jones.
Over the last few years however, Consult seemed to have entered some turbulent waters. “Of course they have Sean, it’s a recruitment firm” you may scoff, and of course you’d be right. It’s been miserable for all of us. Consult’s situation may be worse than most however. Before we look into this, a bit of history. Consult was formed in 2008, and fast became a leading A&F recruitment firm. Many attribute much of this success to Steve Langerak, an early director and shareholder of the business. Not only is Steve a top A&F recruiter, but by all accounts, a seriously good dude and arguably the powerhouse behind Consult’s growth. People like working with and for Steve. Focus, as this becomes relevant later on. Following 11 years of growth, and a team then totalling 25, Consult was acquired by Japanese investment firm EFU Investments limited, delivering a nice little pay day to all those concerned. Later that year, following the demise of Gaulter Russell, Consult hoovered up a load of quality sales and marketing recruiters, including the leader of a new practice, the wonderful yet acerbic Richard Gray-Smith. The following year, still full of gusto, Consult made Richard Lloyd and Alastair Shorten wealthy young men, when they acquired the IT recruitment firm Halo. Again, remember these names. It was around this time that Steve Langerak exited the business to focus on whatever people focus on when they sell shares in recruitment firms. In time, both Al Shorten and Rich Lloyd left the Consult group to pursue modelling careers. However, they left behind two IT mega billers, and some very good A&F recruiters. One of these mega billers (think $3m a year in margin), was Laura Douglas. Again, write this one down.
In August 2022, Richard Gray-Smith left to join Inside Recruitment. In July 2024, A&F expert Adam Napper, having served over 7 years, left to join Madison. In February 2025, the excellent Teresa Jordan left to join TribeTech. Last month Richard Lloyd resurfaces to run…TribeTech – turning them into a truly serious player in the space. Of course people leave recruitment firms all the time, but the challenge Consult find themselves faced with is not that they’ve left, it’s where they’ve gone.
As per LinkedIn this week, we see that the IT mega-biller Laura Douglas has left Consult to team up with her former boss Alastair Shorten to form Evolve Recruitment. If you’re Consult, that’s gotta hurt. At least Evolve won’t touch Accounting & Finance right? Oh actually, the other director in the company is none other than…drum roll please… Steve Langerak! And the firm is already positioning itself as an IT, Digital, Accounting & Finance recruitment specialist. Gulp.
Consult are still of course a far bigger business. They also have high overheads with many support staff. Losing the significant revenue that Laura Douglas has always delivered will hurt. Add two former directors of Consult/Halo, who have a track record of building valuable businesses, stepping up against them, and you can see why I say times are tough at Consult HQ. Recruitment is about momentum, and Evolve seem to have that before they even launch. They’ve even signed Brightspark-trained Holly Greenwood before a single invoice has been sent. And it could be getting even worse for Consult. According to a slightly cryptic Alastair Shorten LinkedIn post, they also have one more hire “to be announced soon”. Maybe it’s just another good recruiter? Maybe it’s another big biller from Consult? Ouch!
Anyway, it’s good to be blogging about some industry moves again. Let’s see how this one plays out.
^SW
