The MorePeople Podcast

Recruitment companies typically attract a younger workforce, with the ability to earn a lot of money. Financial planning isn't something younger generations think about, Sam Gibson is part of SGM Financial Management - independent chartered financial advisors. Sam tells us how financial planning works well when you start early - they love young clients! But it's so hard to get in front of them. Realistic financial planning isn't favoured by most social media algorithms, and with the likes of Klarna allowing us to buy things we can't actually afford, it's even harder! Tune in to find out more!

Our very own Rural Recruitment Consultant at MorePeople, Hannah Cuthbert, joins us on the podcast this week. We learn how Hannah began her journey into Agriculture, whilst doing an incredible job promoting Young Farmers, especially as the face of our Young People in Food and Farming events. Hannah provides insight into her previous rural positions, including one in Australia! Listen to find out more.

This week, Suneel Appan joins us on the podcast. Suneel joined ABFs Graduate scheme 15 years ago and now works in the world of anaerobic digestion, which forms part of his full-time role at Future Biogas. Tune in to learn how Suneel got into the energy sector, how Future Biogas works with farmers across the UK to help decarbonise and what else Suneel is getting up to as a NED.

CEO of Worldwide Fruit, Steve Maxwell joins us on the podcast to discuss some of the biggest industry challenges within an own label business. With a commendable 26 years of industry experience at WorldWide Fruit, Steve shares the importance of Purpose, Process and People within his company ethos, while discussing the retention of talent, specifically the balance between experience and fresh perspectives. Tune in to hear more!

Join Andrew and Rich in discussing what even is recruitment. What does the job entail, what are we doing day in and day out? The importance of networking, being resilient, being disciplined, planning your days, and actually caring about customer service… find out more in this episode!

Alex Marshall, Associate Director at MorePeople has worked in recruitment for over 19 years since finishing University. Specialising in Technical recruitment, including NPD and Process. Alex and Andy discuss the changes seen over the past 19 years, how candidates are more likely to jump from Food Manufacturing to Fresh Produce and vice-versa than they used to and how you don't have to have a food science-based degree to work in this space. Tune in to learn all about Technical, and how AI and robots can't take over this area the need for human touch is needed, especially in the New Product Development space.

Shayne Tyler, owner of TylerBladon Practical Ethics after a long and successful career within Operations in the produce sector, and an expert in exploitation and modern slavery. In this impressive episode, Richard and Shayne talk about how he was exposed to illegal employment early in his produce career and how over the years this has led to opening his consultancy business. Learn how employers need to look for the absence of normal, how to de-escalate NOT escalate and how he learnt the hard way when he accidentally unearthed a gang of 60 slaves early on in his career.

Aggie Mutuma started her impressive People career in the food industry in the likes of Tesco, McDonalds and being Group People Director for Agent Food working on all things recruitment, talent, succession, development, values and behaviours - all things every organisation needs to do to maximise the potential of its people. Since then, Aggie runs Mahogany Inclusion Partners supporting organisations on their diversity and inclusion journeys from big global companies to smaller local brands. Join Andrew and Aggie in this insightful episode on how to manage the topic of diversity, especially in the work place when leaders can find the conversation difficult to navigate. They cover how to approach these conversations when they're coming from a place of 'love', the mindset shift, the difference between equality and equity, and more!

Richard chats with Mark Spurdens, Senior Lecturer at the University of Lincoln and the National Centre for Food Manufacturing. With a 40-year career in the food industry, Mark has worked across food and fresh produce, including the flower industry, from Technical Manager to Ops Director to MD to COO within the whole food supply chain. They discuss the biggest challenges, how the sectors differ in audits and the stress of peak periods. As well as learning how Mark moved over to working for Lincoln University and how this way he's supporting the industry on a larger scale.

Chris Francis, Retail and Wholesale Director for Hillier Nurseries and Garden Centres explains the three parts of the Hillier business and the scale of their growing operation, supplying all trees for the London Olympic Park and growing over 1 million plants a year. We learn about what role new technology has in Hilliers Garden Centres and how RFID can actually improve and humanise customer service and increase sales. Find out more on episode 25 of The MorePeople Podcast.

People and Culture Director of FairFax Meadow, Suzanne James joins Richard on the podcast this week. They discuss the function of HR and how it's evolved over the years, what the current challenges are for HR, including managing a multi-generational workforce, and how the workplace can manage retirement now that we are living longer. All this and more on The MorePeople Podcast.

James Ash is back with Andrew in discussing the role of a non-exec, how James has evolved and his thoughts on succession planning and the wider talent agenda. Alongside this, we discuss the difficulty of ensuring a business not only promotes the best salespeople but also identifies the talent with the necessary skills to move up into management, especially in recruitment.

This week, Associate Director Tom Edmonson-Matthews joins MD Richard in discussing Tom's journey during his 8 years at MorePeople and his experience in focusing on Executive Search. Find out more on episode 22 of The MorePeople Podcast

Join us for part two with the HTA, find out the benefits of being a member and how they work with other trade associations. We talk about about how the values of the HTA are still the same 125 years on and their upcoming conference this September.

Senior Consultant, Jordan joins us on the podcast this week! Hear how Jordan has created a successful career in recruitment using his Biology Degree and his fantastic knowledge on all things body health and mind! From beetroot juice to cold water therapy Jordan is an expert on bringing consistency into the inconsistent world of recruitment.

CEO and Vice President of the HTA, Fran Barnes and Will Armitage join us to discuss the HTA's involvement in getting new people into the industry and the importance of apprenticeship schemes. As well as what environmental horticulture does for the UK and activity since the new government was announced. Tune in for part two in a couple of weeks!

James Ash, NED for MorePeople joins MD Richard Hanwell to discuss his experience working in the recruitment industry and how if you can succeed in the UK recruitment industry you can succeed anywhere. Tune into episode 18 of The MorePeople Podcast to find out more.

Join Andrew and Jon Poole discussing Jon's career history in the food science space to now running a coaching and training business. Find out the difference between management, leadership and coaching and why it's so important to put the effort into training your workforce and not worried about them leaving.

Richard speaks with our Marketing Manager, Natalie Smith on all things recruitment marketing. The challenges of recording ROI, working collaboratively and the rise of AI. Listen to find out more on episode 16 of The MorePeople Podcast

How do businesses train and develop their staff ensuring a variety of learning styles are used to suit everyone, how do we make sure training is remembered and how do you choose the best training techniques? Andrew and Richard discuss how MorePeople manage their training and development and the importance of showing vulnerability being comfortable to know where you need that extra help.