Ten Years in Business
10 Years On: What We Learned Building a Recruitment Consultancy
Ten years ago, the best decision I ever made was to set up a business with my best friend, Grace McGrane. At the time, we had energy, ambition, and just enough experience to believe we could make it work. What we didn’t fully grasp then—but have come to understand over the years deeply—is what it truly takes to build and grow a recruitment consultancy from the ground up.
Here’s what I’ve learned a decade on:
1. Friendship and Business Can Mix—If There's Mutual Respect
Working with your best friend, Grace McGrane, it is possible—if you have deep trust, open communication, and respect for each other’s strengths and space. We learned early on that we didn’t have to agree on everything, but we did have to listen. Disagreements became strategic conversations rather than personal conflicts.
2. Recruitment Is a People Business—It’s Also a Resilience Business
It’s not just about finding talent. It’s about handling rejection, managing expectations, navigating market shifts, and sometimes rebuilding from scratch. Resilience has been our most valuable currency. We’ve been through economic ups and downs, talent shortages, demanding clients—and we’ve kept showing up.
3. Culture Starts with the Founders
The tone we set in year one still echoes in the business today. We wanted a culture that was supportive, ambitious, honest, and real. That meant leading by example: celebrating wins, owning mistakes, and treating people as individuals—not just as numbers.
4. Growth Isn’t Always About Scale
We assumed “growth” meant headcount and bigger offices. And yes, we’ve grown in that way. However, some of the most meaningful growth has been internal, including better systems, smarter hiring decisions, tighter client relationships, and stronger leadership. Sustainable growth means knowing when to say no—and where to focus energy.
5. You Will Never Regret Investing in Good People
This industry is people. The consultants who believed in our vision, the clients who stuck with us, and the candidates who trusted us with their careers. Investing time, training, and genuine care in people has always yielded more benefits than any tool or technology ever could.
6. Know Your Values—and Stick to Them
When you're tired, when deals fall through, when competitors undercut you—your values are your anchor. We decided early on what we stood for, and those principles helped guide some of the most complex decisions we’ve had to make. It kept us proud of our brand- Monroe Recruitment Teams, and of ourselves.
7. Celebrate. Often.
Ten years go fast. Too fast. There’s always another target, another quarter, another challenge. But we’ve learned to pause and celebrate—the milestones, the little wins, and even just surviving the tough weeks. That’s what creates loyalty and lasting memories.
Would I do it all over again? In a heartbeat.
Setting up a Monroe Recruitment Consultancy was the leap. Growing it with Grace McGrane has been the legacy. And 10 years on, we’re just getting started.
