Winning The Specialist Recruitment Company of the Year Award at the TIARA Recruitment Awards UK&I highlights VHR’s exceptional expertise in addressing challenges within industries such as aviation, marine, and engineering. In this Q&A, Danny Brooks shares the innovative solutions and ethical commitments that earned them this recognition, including bespoke training programs and a dedication to fair labour practices.
What do you think were the key factors that set VHR apart in The Specialist Recruitment Company of the Year Award?
VHR’s success stems from our deep understanding of niche sectors like aviation, marine, and engineering, combined with a commitment to addressing skill shortages ethically. Operating across 58 countries, we’ve built tailored solutions that go beyond recruitment, including bespoke training programs, relocation support, and compliance management. Our consistent focus on delivering value to both clients and candidates while fostering long-term relationships has been pivotal. Additionally, our diverse team, fluent in 22 languages, ensures we can adapt to and support the unique needs of our global clients.
The judges praised your exceptional innovation, particularly your tailored service offerings to niche market sectors. Can you share more about these tailored services and how they go beyond traditional recruitment practices?
VHR takes a consultative approach, tailoring services to meet specific client challenges. For example, our partnership with A leading Middle Eastern aviation client involved recruiting, training, and deploying 140 aircraft cabin technicians within six months, addressing post-COVID-19 skill shortages. We developed a custom training program in Manila, ensuring technicians were equipped with the exact skills required.
Another example is our Virtual Design Services for the construction sector, offering offshore AutoCAD design solutions that reduce costs for clients while providing better wages and conditions for workers. These services demonstrate how we integrate recruitment with training and operational support to deliver comprehensive solutions.
VHR’s purpose extends beyond profit, focusing on improving the working lives of our contractors and driving positive change in the recruitment sector.
How has VHR’s focus on innovation in specialist recruitment contributed to your success in niche sectors, and what are some of the standout innovations that have had the most impact?
VHR’s focus on innovation has been instrumental in achieving success in niche sectors by addressing critical challenges with creative and effective solutions. One standout innovation is our Fixed Price Solutions, a service that allows clients to outsource entire projects to us at a predefined cost. This model has been particularly impactful in aviation, where we completed several Boeing 737 pickle fork modifications for a client in record time, saving costs and improving efficiency.
Our recruitment Academy is another key innovation. This six-month program equips new recruiters with the skills to excel in specialised recruitment, ensuring a steady pipeline of sector experts within our own team. We’ve also embraced AI-driven tools to enhance candidate sourcing and match them to client requirements more effectively.
Finally, our investment in digital marketing and remote training platforms has extended our reach and enhanced service delivery. We invested in five new pieces of software, including social media automation and tools for collecting candidate and client feedback. This has enabled our staff to generate 18% more placements, highlighting the effectiveness of their training and technological integration. These innovations have not only differentiated us from competitors but also enabled us to deliver measurable benefits to clients, such as improved retention rates, reduced costs, and increased operational efficiency.
In what ways has VHR’s dedication to ethical recruitment influenced your relationships with clients and candidates, and how has this helped you build long-term trust and loyalty?
VHR’s purpose extends beyond profit, focusing on improving the working lives of our contractors and driving positive change in the recruitment sector.
Our co-founding of the Fair Labour Alliance underscores our commitment to ensuring fair treatment of workers and compliance with global standards. This focus on ethics extends to every aspect of our work, from transparent hiring processes to providing comprehensive support for candidates, such as relocation assistance, visa facilitation, and access to healthcare.
For example, in partnership with a leading airline, our talent creation programs have provided employment opportunities for over 1,000 workers with this client alone, leading to a 500% salary uplift for mechanics and a retention rate of 95%. We ensured that all were treated ethically, receiving fair wages, housing, and transport. This not only improved their quality of life for both them and their families but also resulted in significant cost savings and operational improvements for our client.
These practices have helped us build a reputation for reliability and fairness, fostering trust and loyalty among both clients and candidates. Clients see us as a partner that safeguards their employer brand, while candidates view us as a company that prioritises their well-being and career development.
Looking forward, how do you plan to continue innovating within the specialist recruitment space, and what steps will you take to further integrate ethical practices into your growth strategy?
Looking ahead, VHR plans to expand into complementary sectors such as rail and deepen our presence in high-growth regions, including the Americas & Saudi Arabia. We aim to continue addressing global skill shortages by developing bespoke training programs in partnership with clients, enabling candidates to transition into high-demand roles.
We’re also investing in cutting-edge technology, including AI and automation, to streamline recruitment processes and enhance service delivery. This will enable us to scale operations without compromising on quality or client satisfaction. Feedback is crucial for continuous improvement. Our Google review score is 4.9/5 and our NPS system allows us to take the necessary action to develop and grow our service. Talent Analytics – Our NPS system provider, have communicated that VHR is in the top 5% of their customers for both our NPS score and response rate / engagement level.
To further integrate ethical practices, we plan to strengthen our collaboration with organisations like the Fair Labour Alliance and expand our diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. By continuing to prioritise the welfare of candidates and supporting clients in meeting their ESG goals, we aim to drive sustainable growth that benefits all stakeholders.
