I am extraordinarily fortunate to do the work I do. I spend most of my time meeting with people who are working on some of the most exciting projects. From businesses developing new product lines or creating community-minded programmes, through to entrepreneurs expanding businesses that will see their dreams come true and new employment pathways for talented people.
Occasionally, I get the opportunity to work on a project that has the potential to be life changing. One where, if everything comes together, I’ve matched superb talent with an exciting business.
I had the pleasure of working on one of those recruitment projects recently when High Street Stitch and Print (HSSP) partnered with Sheffield to appoint a new Business Development Manager, after a period of significant growth and investment in the business.
HSSP is a fast-growing brand, design, embroidery and screen-printing business, located in Geraldine. The company produces a range of products, including workwear, corporate branded clothing, sports team clothing and merchandise accessories.
The brief described a self-starter with a track record of growing business through building relationships with existing clients and uncovering new business opportunities.
What’s more, if the business meets its growth targets, there is an opportunity for the successful candidate to move into a General Manager role and take the lead on the direction of the company.
One significant requirement was that the candidate would be based in Geraldine or Timaru.
The moment I stepped foot into the HSSP factory, the opportunity was palpable.
On one machine they were screen-printing, on another they were embroidering corporate clothing, and over by the computer they were supporting the design of a sports teams uniform. That’s three industries in the space of 20 paces.
I was excited to get started.
Our advertising campaign went very well.
However, it was our Search process that turned up the real talent, when Tania Macdonald and her Search team approached Shaun Todd. With a solid track record of sales success, a great relationship builder and an exceptionally nice guy, he stood out from the beginning.
His comment to me early in the piece was “I was starting to think I needed to consider a move but I hadn’t taken the first step towards getting myself out there.”
That’s the magic of the Sheffield Search process. Tapping into candidates who are on the verge of starting a search but haven’t yet updated their CV or LinkedIn and got themselves “market ready”.
When HSSP met with Shaun, sparks flew. There was a mutual recognition that what was on offer from each party was a great match. HSSP wants to grow, and Shaun has the skills to get them there.
From my Consultant viewpoint, it is obvious that this is a game-changing moment for HSSP and Shaun. Both have ambitions and aspirations that when realised together will lay the foundation for an exciting future.