- In this special episode of the Talent Talks podcast, we have a new host, Warren Munson, founder of Evolve and The Evolve to Succeed Podcast interviews our usual host Martin Smith, about his journey as an entrepreneur and running a recruitment group of businesses.

Martin shares his early experiences in recruitment, the challenges he faced during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the growth of his company, Talent Drive. He discusses his aspirations to be a market disruptor and his passion for the procurement community.

Martin also talks about the expansion of Talent Drive into the accountancy and finance sector with the launch of Talent Finance. He reflects on the growth and success of Talent Drive over the past four years. He emphasises the importance of focusing on the quality of people and building a trusted and valued team.

Martin discusses the future of the recruitment industry, highlighting the need for adaptability to technology and the rise of ESG and sustainability. He also shares insights on fostering a positive culture and transparent communication within a remote business. He envisions the future of Talent Drive as a growing international presence with a focus on diversification and a one-stop-shop service offering.

Check out the ‪@evolvetosucceedpodcast‬ here!
Connect with Martin:   / talentdrive  
Check out our jobs here: https://talentdrive.co.uk/jobs

takeaways
Starting a recruitment business can be challenging, but with perseverance and a competitive spirit, it is possible to succeed.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Talent Drive faced significant challenges, but by pivoting their approach and doubling down on marketing, they were able to overcome the obstacles.
Talent Drive aims to be a market disruptor in the recruitment sector by focusing on building relationships, providing thought leadership, and championing the procurement community.
The expansion of Talent Drive into the accountancy and finance sector with Talent Finance allows the company to diversify its revenue stream and better serve clients in the procurement community.
Focus on the quality of people and building a trusted and valued team.
Foster a positive culture through trust, transparency, and open communication.

Chapters
00:00 - The Journey of an Entrepreneur
10:02 - The Itch to Start Something Myself
19:15 - Scary, Exciting, and Fun: Early Days of Talent Drive
23:24 - Being a Market Disruptor: Building Relationships and Providing Thought Leadership
25:49 - Expanding into New Horizons: Talent Drive's Venture into Accountancy and Finance
26:18 - Building a Trusted and Valued Team
27:47 - Opportunities and Potential in Finance
29:41 - Shifting Focus from Numbers to Quality of People
30:05 - Creating a Great Business that Serves Customers
33:26 - Balancing Work and Personal Life
35:24 - Being Present and Grounded
37:17 - Thriving in the Recruitment Industry
41:37 - Adapting to Technology in Procurement
42:59 - Emotional Intelligence in Recruitment
43:56 - Fostering a Positive Culture in a Remote Business
48:42 -The Future of Talent Drive: International Expansion and Diversification
50:58 - Defining Success: Working with People Who Want to Work with You