Our Founder and Managing Director Sam Spoors has launched a new podcast focussed on supporting new business owners to achieve success whilst avoiding the pitfalls many new entrepreneurs face.
With around 1 in 5 new businesses in the North East expected to close within the first year, the new podcast aims to empower and support businesses across the region.
Sam comments - “It's tough, and there are ups and downs – that is the reality. The highs are fantastic, and the lows feel tougher than you had imagined before establishing a business. You, therefore, need more resilience than ever. It feels personal, but it's not. It's just business.”
Sam started Talentheads from her kitchen table in 2020. In just over four years, Talentheads has won multiple awards and has expanded across the region. Coupled with the opening of a second office and the onboarding of a diverse array of growing clients across the North East, the UK, and indeed across the globe – Sam is keen to share her journey of growing a businesses with other entrepreneurs looking to do the same.
Reflecting on her significant learnings Sam says, 'you can't be everyone's cup of tea.’ “As a previous people pleaser and someone who wanted to help everyone – it's important to find your tribe, do the best you possibly can, and let those things you can't control… go. Overthinking or assigning too much emotion to one thing – that is out of your circle of influence – slows you down.”
The new fortnightly podcast, The Journey of a North East Entrepreneur, will be an honest account of a week in the life of Sam. It will provide a dose of reality for those looking to establish a business and comfort to those currently growing a business.
Sam continued, "If I were establishing a business again - for the first time - I would find this podcast super useful as it shows - warts and all - how a week pans out when you are growing something you love, have the ultimate dedication to and have made sacrifices for. I am also hopeful the authenticity shows others they can be vulnerable and real about the journey. We can then help and learn from each other.”
Subscribe to our YouTube channel ‘The Journey of a North East Entrepreneur’ to never miss an episode! You can also sign up to our newsletters so you can keep up to date with relevant Talentheads news by completing the contact form on our website with the message ‘Subscribe to newsletters’.
Happy listening!
Looking to make 2025 a year of growth and success? ✨
Sam Spoors, founder & MD at Talentheads, shares her expert insights into recruitment strategies and how employers and job seekers alike can embrace the opportunities 2025 will bring. From building diverse teams to standing out in a competitive market, Sam’s reflections offer plenty of food for thought as we kick off the New Year.
Author - Erika Armanino
Date published:
A New Year always brings with it the thought of new beginnings, new opportunities and fresh starts.
With changes within the economy and the arrive of 2025, employers and job seekers alike are looking at what the New Year will bring.
As employers we are considering when our teams will be engaging in learning and development and growth activities, and when those all-important new team members will join us to ensure 2025 is a year of success.
Furthermore, those looking for new job opportunities are also wondering how to make that super brave leap onto new horizons in 2025.
If you are an employer looking to recruit, here are a few tips you may want to consider:
“Approach the New Year with resolve to find the opportunities hidden in each new day” – Michael Josephson
With the start of a new year, the opportunities for employers and job seekers alike are boundless. By embracing diversity, conducting thorough research, streamlining recruitment processes, and showcasing your unique value, employers can ensure their teams are set up for success in the New Year.
Let’s make 2025 a year of opportunity for our North East business community!
The workplace has evolved at breathtaking pace since the pandemic, and hybrid working has been one of the best steps in that evolution.
Flexibility has been a benefit to employees, who enjoy a far richer work/life balance – and it can also benefit employers.
Giving staff more wiggle room shouldn’t be feared. Embracing flexible working enhances your workplace culture, which can help with recruiting and retaining the very best individuals.
Research backs this up, with team members statistically more likely to refer family and friends to a business with a good culture.
And it isn’t like flexible working is a rare offering.
Most British businesses now offer it in some form, shape or size.
So even before these Government proposals, it was here to stay – and so it should be.
It expands a business’ talent pool, opening it to candidates living further away or seeking a hybrid model, and to those that might not have been able to apply due to commitments in their personal lives.
At Talentheads, we’ve always embraced flexible working.
I’ve witnessed first-hand the enormous benefits it brings to my team’s culture, in terms of productivity, energy, engagement and happiness.
Gone are the days of missing big family moments because of non-urgent work commitments.
Staff no longer spend hours stuck in traffic, or spend Sunday night with that sinking feeling in their stomachs, arriving for work tired from the rush-hour commute.
They are fresh, engaged – and crucially – more willing to be flexible with their employer in return.
We have recently expanded and now have two offices – in Morpeth and County Durham – which have proven to be fantastic for meetings, brainstorming and team building.
Our workplace culture has undoubtedly benefited from ending the expectation of presenteeism that was once ingrained within business.
The proof is in the pudding; we’ve grown year on-year and, in 2023, our flexible workforce helped us deliver record turnover.
Remote work, flexible hours and the ability to impact schedules are major factors when considering job satisfaction, increased productivity, lower staff turnover and team happiness.
And Britain’s rapidly-evolving business landscape insists on cultivating an inclusive culture and a flexible and engaged workforce.
These new measures will benefit everyone and, like flexible working, should be embraced rather than feared.
Article featured https://netimesmagazine.co.uk/magazine/talking-point-finding-the-right-balance/
It has been quite the 2024 here at Talentheads!
We’ve grown in size and stature, expanding into County Durham with a wonderful second office.
Additionally, our pioneering approach to talent acquisition and development resulted in our founder Sam Spoors, being recognised as an ‘innovative disruptor’ at the Global 100 Women in Leadership awards.
Both innovation and disruption have always been at the very core of Talentheads.
Our model is unlike any other business in the sector.
As talent acquisition, learning, and development specialists we take care of everything – from recruiting to coaching and training – embedding ourselves within your business to understand your values, helping us to find the talent that is a perfect fit both on paper and in personality.
That award-winning approach has resulted in the creation of our Talent Success Cycle, a model that has lit a fuse under the businesses that have embraced it since it was launched earlier this year.
In fact, our innovative approach to recruitment and talent development has to date not only assisted almost 600 local people find their perfect job, but has also helped to develop 4,700 staff at around 80 businesses across the North East and beyond.
So with 2025 just around the corner, ask yourself this – is your team firing on all cylinders and could it be strengthened?
With upcoming changes in the economy, you may be right in thinking that the new year is the perfect time to look at growing your business and recruiting some fresh faces.
If so, take our advice to give yourself the best chance of finding the perfect candidates:
• Widen your talent pool as much as possible. Think outside the box to include as many individuals as possible removing any unnecessary barriers, qualifications or experience. Diversity is key for any thriving team and business.
• Do your research before placing the advert and establish if your ideal candidate exists. Make sure you know who your audience is and how they like to be engaged with. Check everything you need about the relevant job market before going live with your vacancy so it hits the job boards and social media with impact.
• Map out each stage of your recruitment process from the advert closing to the interview dates. Make sure the job advert contains all this information as it can really help with commitment and sets clear expectations for candidates.
• Ensure your shop window accurately represents your business. Sought-after candidates need to be able to visualise how your company differs from your competitors. What is your offer and what does it truly feel like to be one of your team members?
However, if you really want to find that perfect candidate then why not connect with the experts?
At Talentheads, we know how to build high-performing teams. We do it every day and we’re constantly recognised for the outstanding results we deliver.
Those results are driving our own business forward, and we are heading into 2025 with a talent development team that has grown at an exciting pace throughout the past year to help keep up with the unprecedented demand for our services.
Our learning and development service is already almost at full capacity, and we are proud to say that we recently upskilled our 1,500th (and counting) hiring manager, who is now armed with the confidence and skills needed to recruit and grow their team.
Yet for all the awards and growth milestones here at Talentheads, the key reason people trust us with their teams is the fact that we do it differently.
We recruit to retain and don’t just put bums on seats. We believe local jobs matter – to employers and team members – and we genuinely believe staff are more than just a number.
So if your 2025 resolution is to grow your team, grow it with Talentheads
Your Why: The Importance of your purpose!
Having authentic purpose in business is increasingly recognised as the key driver of long-term success. Its key is not only to the company’s identity, but also to its relationship with stakeholders, customers, employees and future talent.
Business leaders set up their businesses because of their “why”, it’s their differentiator, their sense of purpose, based on their belief on what their market/industry is needing or missing…
At Talentheads our why is about putting people front and centre, to impact individuals, communities, and local businesses by sourcing the right talent, with the right values and skills match to their roles, without the complication of placement fees; and retaining and developing those teams to ensure that they are truly high performing.
We routinely go back to our why – as a business of over four years its important to continue to “check back in” and ensure we are still on course with our purpose… is it still true and reflective, knowing why we are different and still disrupting our industry – yes it is! For us, it’s being a voice – an expert in our industry – it’s about our community thriving and our clients’ businesses growing!
We still believe in local jobs for local people, we believe our services and our expertise provide help and support to ensure communities grow and develop, and help businesses create legacies through getting the right people in through our recruitment team and holding on and retaining and developing them through our learning and development strategies, continually making impact, not just to our clients, but our community!
If we know our “why” is strong and it enables Talentheads to thrive, how can it help your business do the same and build high performing teams, we have shared our thoughts… and why that genuine purpose within a business is so powerful:
If you don’t have that authentic purpose in your business, how do you summon the motivation and determination to keep growing, to move those boundaries, continue to build on your business success! Knowing your why and your purpose supports building you high performing teams!
Work Culture: The path to success!
A winning company culture ensures your business is on the path to success, your people are key - to attract and retain your top talent make sure your workplace is top notch!
2024’s rapidly evolving business landscape insists on cultivating an inclusive culture and a flexible and engaged workforce.
What is work culture? well it’s your shared set of values, beliefs and attitudes that guide your business and is reflected in how you work with your clients and how you treat your employees. It also impacts upon the types of candidates your want to attract. Having a strong work culture boosts your productivity, decreases turnover and improves employee engagement
Did you know….
Creating and maintaining such an environment requires concerted efforts from both leaders ad employees. Consider, what is the Sunday night vibe for your team members? How do they feel the night before they come to work in your business? What does it feel like to be at work, every business has its personality, atmosphere and their “way”.
If you feel that your culture might need a little development, there are things that can be done. Start your culture health check by considering these factors:
Culture is not the sole responsibility of a business owner, it's the collective responsibility of the team. As a leader you should not dictate your culture, as much as you wish to steer it, but safeguard it fiercely, like you would any other key investment.
Watch your culture as it evolves and matures over time and be sure to keep your finger on the pulse to ensure that it is inclusive, open, flexible and developing effectively.
Building a positive workplace culture is a continuous journey that requires the commitment and participation of everyone in the organisation. Together, a conducive work environment that promotes growth, satisfaction, and success can be established, making your business not just a place to work but a place to thrive!
Inclusive Recruitment
Inclusive recruitment is not just a statutory obligation - it is strategically imperative when building high performing teams.
As organisations strive to remain competitive and innovative, the importance of inclusive recruitment is hard to overstate.
It is the practice of ensuring that hiring processes are fair, equitable and welcoming to candidates, regardless of their background, ethnicity, gender, age, disability or any other characteristic. Importantly, inclusive recruitment is not only about fostering a positive recruitment and onboarding process, it translates into an environment where everyone has an equal opportunity to succeed.
Inclusive recruitment allows you to reach diverse Talent and supports your business growth by -
Do you want an environment where everyone’s opinions are the same and their life experiences are broadly similar? Is it better for business owners to be surrounded by those that think in a similar way, or is it actually better for teams to made up of a diverse group of people that bring different experiences and viewpoints?
Yes, you will be challenged, and yes sometimes you will be faced with opinions that are not aligned with your own – but isn’t that a bit healthier? Might thinking outside of your own lived experience lead to enhanced innovation and creativity?
You would like your employees to stay for the long term right? People who feel valued and included are more likely to be committed and engaged in their work. Fair recognition in renumeration, advancement and promotion opportunities, are more likely to bring loyalty to their employer and stay for the long term. If an inclusive culture of aspiration is in place, why would your employees feel they need to look elsewhere?
Companies which prioritise inclusive recruitment often enjoy an enhanced reputation and a stronger brand image. In our modern post Covid world, corporate social responsibility and ethical business practices are increasingly important to consumers, being known as an inclusive employer can have a positive effect on job seekers and consumers alike.
Employer values are also increasingly recognised as the reason to, or not to, work for or engage in business with an organisation. People are inherently more inclined to join a business that are aligned with their own values regarding equality and fairness.
By implementing inclusive recruitment practices such as encouraging applications from underrepresented groups by proactive advertising, looking at flexible working patterns and ensuring that interviews are structured and conducted by a diverse panel, unconscious bias and discrimination in the recruitment process is reduced. A more level playing field is created where candidates are successful due to their talents, skills and qualifications – and that is what we love to see!
A minor but important point – by ensuring inclusive recruitment practices, as a happy by product an employer ensures that they remain on the right side of UK employment law.
In a snapshot, inclusive recruitment practices are a must for all employers. To build engaged, innovative and high performing teams it is essential!
Recruitment Experts of the Year 2024 - North East England
In its eighth year, SME News’ mighty UK Enterprise Awards programme has landed again to remind us of the outstanding excellence sweeping across the UK. Our winners stand tall with their strong values, which make up the very cornerstone of the region as a whole. Prioritising respect, innovation, excellence, and tireless hard work, our awardees have truly triumphed in their realms.
SMEs such as these act as a buttress for their wider industries while maintaining a personalised, client-focused approach. Our winner’s overall sizes vary and their tenacity is unwavering, making them a brilliant force in the corporate landscape not simply in the UK but across the globe.
Yet again this year, our UK Enterprise Awards 2024 is home to a plethora of award-winning businesses of note.
Our Awards Coordinator Laura O’Carroll took a moment to discuss the success of this year’s programme: “Hosting this year’s UK Enterprise Awards has been an excellent experience again, and I truly wish all of our winners all the best as they continue to elevate their spheres Congratulations on your success!”
SME News prides itself on the validity of its awards and winners. The awards are given solely on merit and are awarded to commend those most deserving for their ingenuity and hard work, distinguishing them from their competitors and proving them worthy of recognition.
Talentheads are overjoyed to be winners again in these prestigious awards, especially with the North East focus
How do we translate the unique essence of a firm into a leadership skills programme?
Newcastle-based independent chartered accountancy and business advisory firm UNW has built its strong reputation for expertise alongside an established guiding principle to do things differently and be ‘unlike others’.
When it came to developing a leadership programme to invest in its people, this demanded something unique that could translate the essence of the firm into the skills needed to be the leaders of tomorrow.
As HR Manager at UNW, Kasia Durma was tasked with seeking out a solution and engaged talent business, Talentheads to design and deliver the programme.
Here, Laura Barker, Head of Talent Development at Talentheads, chats to her about the approach they took and how it is going so far.
Q: What were your key priorities when looking to create this new approach to leadership development, Kasia?
A: We wanted to create something unique that celebrated the differences within our firm and played to everyone’s strengths. We already offer fantastic technical training across the firm but wanted to ensure that we prioritised human skills equally. We knew that for a leadership programme to have real impact we had to create something bespoke to the personality of UNW.
The goal was to be creative in our approach, whilst being guided by the determination to genuinely invest in the brilliant people we have here at UNW. The programme needed to encourage and facilitate their growth as individuals, while building a learning culture of continuous improvement for the whole firm.
Q: What got you started?
A: We knew we wanted to engage with a partner who had true expertise and knowledge in this field as this was such a huge priority for the firm. We wanted to get some help to make it as impactful as possible for our people. I therefore spoke to a number of different training providers, but quickly found that they were looking to impose their way of doing things on us. I respected their experience but wanted something that would feel unique and reflect what makes us so different. Our people deserve better than something ‘off the shelf’.
That’s when we came across Talentheads. From my first meeting with you I could feel that this business wasn’t afraid to break the mold either. Your approach was so refreshing and I quickly felt excited about what we could achieve together. There was a genuine ‘blank canvas’ approach, with an openness to all ideas and never basing the programme on what worked elsewhere alone. We have been guided by the voices of the people at UNW; their objectives, ambitions and challenges. You and your team now really do work as if you are our Internal Talent Development function. We are true partners and you understand what the firm stands for, embracing this in all that you design and deliver for us.
Q: How is the programme going now from your perspective?
I’m really proud that our ‘Take the Lead’ programme is now fully established with participation from our qualified team members right up to partner level, especially as we have seen 90% uptake of those who were eligible. Talentheads are using a combination of development and coaching approaches to ensure a truly active approach to learning that is personalised to each individual.
Although there was sometimes a temptation to stick within our comfort zone, we kept our focus on the outcomes that we aspired to, putting our people first. We are already seeing real impact and getting great feedback. I’m excited for the positive transformation this can bring for our people as well as us as a firm. I know talent development is crucial to the continued success of UNW.
Talentheads have been shortlisted for not one but two Awards at the National Recruiter Awards!
We have been shortlisted for Recruitment industry Entrepreneur of the Year and Best Client Service for our work as inhouse recruitment and learning and development specialist with our partners!
With submissions and meeting the judges interview put Talentheads through to head to the event in London!
Was it the fact that we do recruitment differently? That we practice what we preach when it comes to retention by having a BANGING Talent Development team who focus on keeping those all important hires in those businesses for our clients? Or is it they saw the blood, sweat, tears, love, compromise and kick ass determination we have to be disruptors in our industry?
