Boost Profitability
Improving profitability isn’t about working harder. It’s about tightening your model, improving quality and shifting the behaviours that drive commercial outcomes.
Alison Humphries
Hon (FREC) | Strategic Consultant to the Recruitment Industry
Expertise Grounded in Real Results
With four decades in the industry, Alison Humphries has recently scaled recruitment businesses from boutique operations to award-winning market leaders, advised companies through international expansion, and led businesses to high-value exits.
Her experience spans contingent, retained, temp/contract, RPO, statement of work and consulting models to give you insight, structure and strategy grounded in proven commercial success, not textbook theory.
Recognise any of this?
You may be ready for change if:
- Fees, fill rates or BD performance are inconsistent
- Refunds, rebates or discounts are increasing
- Winning new business feels harder than it used to
- Your cost base has grown faster than revenue
- Improved reputation isn’t translating to higher retained work
- The team expect more, but their contribution isn’t increasing
- You know the business has more potential, but progress has paused or moved backwards
If even one of these feels familiar, it’s time to make a change.
What profitable transformation looks like
When profitability improves, the shift is noticeable across the business:
- Increased fee value and stronger negotiation confidence
- Better client relationships, referrals and repeat work
- Higher billing consistency across the team
- Improved margin discipline and commercial awareness
- Less discounting and fewer avoidable rebates
- Clearer behaviours and expectations around performance
- A leader who makes decisions based on evidence — not pressure
Profitability isn’t only a financial outcome - it’s a cultural one.
How We Approach Boosting Your Business’ Profitability
A strategic development programme for recruitment business leaders who need to transform performance and commercial outcomes within a six-month period.
This programme gives you the structure, confidence and commercial clarity needed to lead change, and make it stick.
What You’ll Gain
What ROI Can You Expect?
If fully implemented, typical results include:
20%
Increase in Average Fee Value
Strengthen your pricing strategy to boost average fee value and improve overall commercial performance.
10%
Reduction in Refunds & Rebates
Achieve tighter process control to minimise costly refunds and rebates across your client portfolio.
18%
Uplift in Billings Within the First Year
Drive meaningful revenue growth with enhanced delivery performance and commercial discipline.
What’s Included
A structured four-session programme delivered in-person or via Zoom.
Session 1: Business strategy & competitive edge
• Analyse performance drivers and gaps
• Conduct a SWOT review aligned to current market dynamics
• Explore new markets, products and commercial opportunities
• Develop a Balanced Scorecard for measurable improvement
• Strengthen brand positioning and point of difference
Session 2: Sales, business development & brand impact
• Strengthen BD processes — even for non-natural sellers
• Identify priority buyer personas and market messaging
• Make marketing and sales operate as one engine
Session 3: People, leadership & performance
• Build an EVP that attracts and retains the right people
• Implement practical performance management techniques
• Review and align reward structure with expected behaviours
• Improve team confidence, ownership and delivery
Session 4: Commercial resilience & future-proofing
• Strengthen contracts, terms and commercial governance
• Reduce avoidable risks and revenue leakage
• Negotiate confidently and protect value
• Leave with a tailored recruitment-specific policy handbook
Investment & Commitment
• £1,500 + VAT per ½-day session
• Minimum commitment: 4 sessions
• To be completed within 6 months
• Delivered in-person or via Zoom
(Travel and accommodation apply for sessions 50+ miles from Manchester.)
Proof In Practice
Is This You?
Leadership for Change is right if:
- You’re ready to regain control of performance and profitability
- You want commercially confident leadership, not firefighting
- You’re committed to change and follow-through
If so, this is your strategic turning point.
Book a consultation to explore whether this programme is the right fit.
Prefer an embedded partnership or ongoing advisory support?
If you feel you may need hands-on support such as fractional advisory or executive partnership, there are alternative ways to work together.
Is Your Recruitment Business Ready For Change?
Take our free benchmarking tool to understand how healthy your recruitment business is.