On target for success after receiving support
A Coventry entrepreneur has launched a new recruitment company in the city – and it is already 30 per cent up on its business target
David Whittle has spent his career working for a small number of specialist recruitment agencies but decided to go it alone and launched Bespoke Recruitment in July this year, after support from the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce.
Bespoke Recruitment specialises in professional recruitment services, in particular finance and accountancy professionals and, despite some companies holding back slightly on recruitment due to Brexit uncertainty, Bespoke is way ahead of its turnover target just a few months since setting up.
The Chamber’s Start-Up Business Programme, which forms part of the Coventry & Warwickshire Business Support Programme and is part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund, provided invaluable information to support the first steps in setting up the business.
David said he kept regular contact with the Chamber to discuss strategy and help him develop his business plan, while he attended regular workshops to help with matters such as cashflow forecasts, website optimisation and other day-to-day business practices.
He said: “After 17 years working in the recruitment industry, I felt it was the right time to take the plunge and set out on my own.
“The aim of Bespoke is to provide people with a high level of personal service, which I’ve always had a passion for, combined with 17 years of industry experience and excellent local market knowledge.
“While I had great knowledge of the recruitment industry itself, and a substantial network of contacts, I had less idea on the practical side of how to successfully run a business by myself.
“The Chamber’s support programme, its many workshops, seminars, and the opportunity to learn from others has helped me endlessly on not only achieving a great start, but also planning for the future.
“I’d like to thank my mentor from the Chamber, Hardeep Sandhu, for her support along the way and providing extremely useful assistance as well as a genuine interest in my business and its success.”
Hardeep Sandhu, Enterprise Coach Team Leader at the Chamber, said: “It’s great to see David doing so well in his new venture and we are very pleased to have supported the company in its infancy.
“The support we offer is available to all business start-ups in the Coventry and Warwickshire region, and David is a fantastic example of how success can be achieved when you have all the right tools and advice.”
For more information about Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce’s business support services visit www.cw-chamber.co.uk/business-support
For more information about Bespoke Recruitment visit www.bespoke-recruitment.com