Perfect partners

3R is one of the most complete recruitment agency start-up providers in the UK offering a unique solution for top-billing recruitment consultants to experience all the financial benefits of owning a business, yet still experience the support and infrastructure that they would expect if they were working for an agency. With a dedicated focus on growing true partnerships with its clients, 3R is proving to be a small tech company that packs a big punch!

Having worked in the recruitment sector for over 12 years, Kim De’Ath is passionate about supporting new recruitment start-ups to launch and scale, as well as partnering with SMEs to deliver back-office technology and funding solutions.

DW: The market today is a challenging one with skill shortages and a apparent increase of employee expectations of their employer.

: Typically, in this kind of uncertain market, permanent recruitment struggles. Businesses are hunkering down and using the resources that they’ve got already within their organisation. So, often, what we see is that perm businesses can start to level out and go down slightly. This is something that clients with a perm-only offering should take into consideration.

DW: Does this mean that employers hire temp and contract workers to bridge that skills gap until the permanent market improves?

KD: Definitely. Contractors tend to do better in a recession, regardless of what is going on in the industry and economic climate. There’s always pressure on businesses to source the right talent, particularly in highly skilled tech and stem sectors - where in those industries there is still a massive skills shortage.

DW: We keep talking about the recession that never comes, but the market is behaving as if we are in one with cost-of-living and inflation so high. How does 3R support its existing clients to manage these challenges?

KD: Recruitment is a people-led industry. We can bring out as much brilliant technology that we want to, but people are at the heart of it. The great thing about the tech we provide to our clients is that it does enable them to have clear visibility of real-time data in relation to their clients and their workforce. They can use that data to help make tiny changes, homing in on every single step to ensure you’re being as efficient as possible and cutting costs where you can without losing efficiencies. That’s something we’re good at it.

DW: Can you give an example of how tech enables you to help your clients?

KD: We’re supporting clients with monitoring the creditworthiness of their client base. From a compliance and risk point of view, it’s imperative that they’re working with businesses that are sustainable and can pay, as well as businesses that are growing. We’re doing more of a deeper dive on creditworthiness considering the current market.

DW: What sets 3R apart from its competitors?

KD: We’re in partnership with our clients and we’re experiencing clients coming to us from other providers who are looking for more support from experienced people operating and working within their industry. With 3R, we’re not just a random person at the end of the phone, we’re all wellestablished within the business and the majority of us have worked in recruitment as well. We have a deep understanding of the industry and offer our clients a true partnership. We’ve even attended board meetings with some clients!

The tech gives you more time and efficiencies within your business. It gives you automation, but relationships are key. The human touch element is so important. We are seeing a real shift in people moving across to work with us because they see value in that level of support and guidance that we can offer for no additional cost. It’s a premium service.

DW: What size of business would be your ideal client?

KD: Anything from start-up to SME, so it could be a business at the very beginning of their journey, and we are giving them the infrastructure to hit the ground running and create that level playing field within the market. We also partner with multimillion pound recruitment companies with 1,000 plus staff who are looking to grow and continue working with us.

DW: Let’s talk about back office support and funding. Obviously, payroll is a very big and growing area. What is your view and your offering here?

KD: Well, we can be very flexible. So that’s a key a differentiator for us. Again we are a smaller business and have the ability to be flexible within the industry and move where our clients need us most. We provide a fully outsourced back office solution for businesses. It deals with the compliance and risk up front so we can ensure they are operating securely and safely, which is imperative to growth.

A big corporation could take a hit of somebody not paying an invoice, but for a small business, it will shut you down. So we really want our clients to be operate securely and safely, and we do a lot of analysis and work up front (on credit worthiness for example) before they even get to the placement stage, to help our clients to be in a position to work with the best of their sector, ensuring that not only the contractors and recruiters are paid, but that we are paid too. In the instances where aged-debt creeps in we provide real-time reporting and recovery.

DW: What role do women play in your company?

KD: We’re proud to be leading the way with women in technology and in STEM. Within our own business this strategy is reflected as well. We’ve got a 2:1 female to male ratio of senior members of staff within the company and a 50% female workforce.

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