Yes, I know this is old news, but bear with me. A run of workless Friyays and then some BIG recruitment news last week had buried this one. As last week’s blog was one of the most read ever, this week was always going to be a struggle. Thankfully, many years ago I set the precedent of predicting the winners for both the RCSA Awards and the SARAs. This has meant four blogs a year which can be categorised as “tap ins”. Although a tap in, I somehow manage to upset at least one firm every time I do this. Let’s see how I do this time round.
Excellence in Business Innovation
You know, this is really difficult. Both SEEK and the RCSA release a list of finalists, but never tell us in advance what “innovation” said firm has come up with. Next year, instead of the just the firm, can we have the firm AND the innovation? As it stands, this is a stab in the dark, and not the highly scientific methodology that this blog typically employs. Medrecruit has a website that is too Aussie-centric, Robert Walters are too international so I’m picking….
Prediction: AWF
Excellence in Candidate Care
Doctors are a precious bunch. I know – I’m married to one and heaven forbid I forget to add her collagen supplement to her morning coffee. Here we have two firms who both recruit Doctors. Good Together are new on my radar and sound more like a romantic comedy. They’re also owned by non-recruiters. This means one of two things: either they don’t know that they’re meant to treat wildly inappropriate applicants like they would Elton John, and their candidate care is crap. Or they haven’t recruited long enough to be sick of dealing with wildly inappropriate candidates and treat them with the reverence usually reserved for the sulky homosexual songsmith. It’s a coin toss, and toss I will.
Prediction: Good Together
Excellence in Client Service
We’re getting a lot of repeats already. This either means that some firms have paid bid writers, or not many people have entered. Possibly both. Frog always do well on nights like this, so they’re in the mix. Trade Assist are probably wonderful, providing you don’t want to work as a recruiter once you resign, and Dynamix are one of four firms who are up for three or more awards. Will they get lucky this time?
Prediction: Frog Recruitment
Excellence in Safety and Wellbeing Culture
A real glamour award this one. Just remember, some poor bastard has to write the submission for this. The big question is…who can boast the longest number of days without an avocado related injury? I’m going with my faves….
Prediction: Stellar
Excellence in Social Purpose
Frog will win this as they donate money to actual frogs (Frogs being both social AND hopping with purpose)
Pediction: Frog
Outstanding Boutique Agency
Fundraising Talent Recruitment
The good thing about this exercise is that it shines a spotlight on firms that I either don’t know of, or haven’t spent much time thinking about. I co-own a rec to rec business, but have never heard of the snappily-named Fundraising Talent Recruitment. Having checked them out, they seem to have an interesting niche. Is it outstanding enough to bring home the bacon though? Good Together have already received by prediction, so, based on proven quality, I’m going for…
Prediction: Rothley
Outstanding Medium Agency
Dynamix find themselves in the mix again, as do Frog. I don’t think we have the biggest spread this year folks. Digital Garage however will be committed to enjoying the evening more than most, and they’re certainly doing good work – both these qualities appeal to me.
Prediction: Digital Garage
Outstanding Large Agency
Remarkable People seem remarkably good at shedding staff, so unfortunately I won’t be picking them this year. Trade Assist may assist trades, but not former employees, so this leaves only one. Alas, this isn’t the reason I’m picking those good folks at RW. They sulked off early at the SARAs last year after picking up the wooden spoon, and that really kills a party. No one wants that. Party on dudes!
Prediction: Robert Walters
Recruitment Leader
Three good shouts for this one, but always hard (perhaps impossible) to ignore Kara at Talent. As much as I like to be controversial, I need to predict at least one result.
Prediction: Kara Smith
Recruitment Professional
Katie France – Stellar Recruitment
I am not aware of the work of Moana Bywater, but that does not mean she isn’t supremely talented. Picking her however would be true dart against a map stuff. I often tell my clients who decide to diversify from their core offering to “stick to what you know”, and I know how well Stellar have performed in a very tough market. Through no other reason than my own ignorance (well…maybe a couple of reasons), I’m picking…
Prediction: Katie France
Rising Star
Madison McMeekin – Randstad Limited
How can it be an RCSA Awards and thus far, no mention of Potentia? Next you’ll be telling me that Jonathan Greening won’t be carried in on a palanquin, topless Amazonians on each corner, to collect his orb and sceptre. Surely, this must go to Ryan Bevens? But wait a moment….I always predict the recruiter with the best name, and the alliteration of “Madison McMeekin” really works for me. Arghhh! This one is tough.
Prediction: Ryan Bevens
As always, good luck to all the finalists. Enjoy the evening, and would someone text me the winners so I can blog about it?
^SW
