The blogging gods are smiling on me currently. Typically, these missives take me about twenty five minutes to write, but can take hours to think of a topic. Writing a weekly, non-repetitive, decade-long recruitment blog is no easy feat – just look at those who sporadically try. However, this year, we’ve had the AoG debacle giving me almost two months of content, we have an election, which I reckon is good for at least two or three posts, and just when I think I have at least a week before I can take the piss out of ACT supporters, SEEK go and announce their finalists for the 20th SARA Awards. Thank you SEEK. A small price to pay for the tens of thousands we spend with you. Anyway, here’s the finalists with my always-wildly-inaccurate predictions.
Small Recruitment Agency of the Year
Duo Services
Talent Hive
Digital Garage Limited
Recruitment Studio
Frame Retail
Category 1, and I’m already hitting Google trying to figure out who at least two of these firms are. Although sounding like what I’d order from a high-end Escort Agency, I think Duo Services are this lot here. At first I thought “no chance”, but then I noticed Anabella Bianchi is the GM, who not only talks incredibly quickly but is also a fantastic operator. Interesting. They’re not my pick however. Fresh off a surprise inclusion on AoG, there’s some magic in the bid-writing pens of Mike Farrance and Jamie Blackwell currently, so I think Digital Garage will sneak the win.
My Prediction: Digital Garage
Medium Recruitment Agency of the Year
Frog Recruitment
Cultivate
Lynx Recruitment
Talent Army
Assemble
Thankfully, no need to Google this lot. Troy Hammond does enjoy winning awards, and his firm Talent Army (or their staff) are up for three this year. I’m not picking them for this one however. Frog have slipped off the radar of late, following their “merger” with People2People, but I think they stand a chance here. I’m going to let my own preference cloud my prediction on this one slightly here and go with Assemble. Mostly because I know the thought and consideration that Guy Davidson and his team put into building a great recruitment company, compared to the rest of us chancers who flick CVs around from the pub and call it “strategy”.
My Prediction: Assemble
Large Recruitment Agency of the Year
Consult Recruitment
Potentia
Salt
Fluid Recruitment
Remarkable People
Here’s where things get tricky. As much as SEEK claim that all submissions are assessed independently, we know that this is nonsense. So it’s around this time in the evening that we see some “diversity” in the winner’s circle. Being predominantly blue collar, if Lynx are overlooked for Medium agency, I can see Remarkable People up on stage via the Tradesman’s entrance. It will be tough however. Fluid are big in the regions, and SEEK love that. Potentia are always a class act. And Consult will win if they are judged purely on the beautifully crafted, expensive-PR-firm-written submission. Of course this won’t be the case if the judge knows someone unfortunate enough to have actually worked there. Tough one this, but I’ll have faith that cream will rise to the top and go Potentia.
My Prediction: Potentia
Innovation in Recruitment
JOYN
Talent Army
Fluid Recruitment
Robert Walters NZ
OneScope
As we all know, our other business JOYN should win this. That’s a given. We won’t of course. Instead, once again I find myself on Google. Contrary to what I first thought, “OneScope” is a collection of Labour Hire agencies working together, and not a private colonoscopy clinic. Although looking at the age and gender of the leadership team, this certainly wouldn’t be a foreign concept. Talent Army do well on categories like this, although I’m not sure what they’ve done differently this year from last, and Robert Walters have removed their ties, so I suppose that’s something. I think it’s between Fluid and OneScope (don’t ask me why), but I’m going…OneScope
My Prediction: OneScope
Outstanding Progress in Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Find Recruitment
Accordant Group / The Work Collective
Recruitment Studio
Beyond Recruitment
1st Call Recruitment
Find are good guys, and I can imagine this stuff just being seen as common sense internally. Perhaps not enough Razzle-dazzle to win it though. The Accordant Group are a powerhouse, and have the infrastructure and cash to deliver on this stuff in the way that smaller firms may not. Beyond, nah. 1st Call is the dark horse. Again, fresh on to AoG, there’s a spring in the step of those 1st Callers. However, I think the Accordant machine may prove to be too big and powerful, so I think they’re winning by a nose.
My Prediction: Accordant Group / The Work Collective
Excellence in Candidate Experience
Potentia
Lynx Recruitment
Archway Recruitment
Frog Recruitment
Recruitment Studio
Put it this way, I’d most like to be a candidate of Lynx, as I believe them most likely to take me out for a beer. I am not (and never will be) a SEEK judge however. Potentia do loads in this space, Archway probably do, and I do not know much about Recruitment Studio. Since their inception after the First World War, Frog have always been staffed by nice people, so for no other reason, I’m picking them.
My Prediction: Frog
Recruitment Leader of the Year
Danielle McFadyen, Retailworld Resourcing
Brooke Nelson, Randstad
Lee Marshall, Hunter Campbell
Lisa Cooley, BrightSpark
Erin Woods, Action Personnel
To be clear, I have never picked a winner in this category, so I feel my prediction is more of a curse than endorsement. Both Lee and Lisa win everything, so I can’t be that obvious. Danielle, Brooke, and Erin are all great operators, but I know who I’m picking. To know Erin Woods is to love her, so SEEK, let’s see her bring home the bacon!
My Prediction: Erin Woods
Recruitment Consultant of the Year
Laura Douglas, Consult Recruitment
Dom Gunn-Taylor, Talent Army
Jason Boot, Lynx Recruitment
Jessica Pearson, Medrecruit
Lisa Marie Anderson, Action Personnel
If you want someone who bills a bazillion dollars, then go Laura. If you want someone whose parents were clearly massive Elvis fans, go Lisa Marie. If you want someone who’s name is better suited to a 1980s US Fighter Pilot, go Dom Gunn-Taylor. If you are purely basing this on who Rice & Co made a fee out of, go Dom Gunn-Taylor.
My Prediction: Dom Gunn-Taylor
Anyway, there we have it. Feel free to add your predictions below if you feel like today is the day to commit career suicide.
^SW
