RecTalk Podcast - Explore Recruitment Insights

Nitin Sharma, founder of rectools.io
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Welcome to RecTalk, the UK's biggest recruitment industry podcast on YouTube and a Top 15% Video Podcast on Spotify! Hear from trailblazers in the recruitment industry who want to have their say on all things recruitment - unbiased, unfiltered, unscripted.

  1. 2D AGO

    Winning with South African Recruitment Talent: Offshore Done Right with Ross Thompson

    In this episode of RecTalk, Nitin is joined again by Ross Thompson, founder of Infinity Staff Global, to unpack the reality behind the South African offshore recruitment model — what’s hype, what’s real, and how to actually win with it. Ross and Nitin dive deep into what’s driving the boom in South African recruitment talent supporting UK, US and Australian agencies, and why cost should never be your primary driver when building an offshore team. If you’re thinking about hiring remote recruiters, researchers, or BD specialists — or you’re already doing it and want to optimise — this one’s for you. What we covered in this episode: Why hiring offshore purely for “cheap labour” is the wrong mindsetThe real advantages of South African recruitment talent (work ethic, cultural alignment, motivation, education standards)The growing demand for UK/US/AUS-experienced recruiters based in South AfricaHow to structure your team properly: 360 vs 180 vs BD vs researcher modelsThe cricket team analogy: put your batsmen and bowlers in the right positionsWhy onboarding and integration matter more than geographyTrust vs control in remote team managementCultural, economic and social nuances UK business owners should understandThe realities of job security, motivation and loyalty in the South African marketRetention rates, scaling case studies, and ROI expectationsLegal and compliance considerations when choosing an outsourcing partnerWhy you must vet who you partner with — and avoid freelance/EOR grey areas We also discuss: Whether offshore recruiters are likely to “go rogue” and start their own agenciesThe risks of remote employees juggling multiple jobsHybrid vs fully remote models in South AfricaSecurity, infrastructure and commuting considerationsHow agencies are using offshore teams to attack the US market Key Takeaway: Offshoring isn’t about replacing your UK team. It’s about building a smarter structure — putting the right people in the right seats — and scaling with intention. If you treat offshore hires as second-class or purely as a cost-saving exercise, it will fail. If you treat them as valuable, integrated members of your team — it can transform your business. Who this episode is for: Recruitment agency owners considering offshore hiringSolo recruiters looking to scale without heavy UK salary risk5–20 headcount agencies restructuring their delivery modelDirectors battling margin pressure and cashflow constraintsAgencies exploring US market expansionRecruiters curious about South African talent specifically There’s a lot of noise in the offshore market right now. This episode cuts through it. 🔗 Connect with the guest Ross Thompson: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rossnthompson/ Check out Infinity Staff Global: https://www.rectools.io/product/infinity-staff-global/ 🔗 Connect with the host Nitin Sharma: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nitin-rectools/ Discover recruitment tools and services: https://www.rectools.io/ New episodes of RecTalk (including Founder Diaries and Talking Talent) currently drop on Wednesday and Friday. Look out also for new episodes of The Mixed Grill — the official podcast of the Recruitment Curry Club — dropping on Thursday. https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-recruitment-curry-club/ Listen on another platform: https://rectalk.co.uk/ 🔗 Get in touch with these recommended suppliers Ascen: https://www.ascen.com/ ThinkinCircles: https://thinkincircles.com/ Infinity Staff Global: https://www.infinitystaffglobal.com/ The Marketing Junction: https://themarketingjunction.com/ Konquest: https://konquest.io/ #RecTalk #RecruitmentPodcast #OffshoreRecruitment #SouthAfricaRecruitment #RecruitmentBusiness #ScalingAgencies #RecruitmentLeaders #RecruitmentGrowth #InfinityStaffGlobal #Rectools

    53 min

  2. 3D AGO

    THE MIXED GRILL - The Recruitment Curry Club Explained | Mental Health & Real Conversations

    Welcome to a slightly different episode of The Mixed Grill – the official podcast of the Recruitment Curry Club. This time, it’s a solo special hosted by Bobby Banerjee. An honest, behind-the-scenes look at how the Recruitment Curry Club was born, why it exists, and how it’s grown from six mates in Birmingham to a global recruitment community spanning five countries. Bobby shares the deeply personal journey that sparked the idea – including his battle with cancer, stepping away from his business for eight months, and the emotional and professional uncertainty that followed . What started as a small group of friends meeting in Indian pubs to talk openly – without the bravado and sales pitches – quickly evolved into something much bigger. In this episode, Bobby covers: The real origin story of the Recruitment Curry ClubWhy traditional networking often misses the markThe “no pitching” rule (and what happens if you break it)Why real-life conversations beat LinkedIn bravadoThe power of community during tough timesHow Curry Club events have quietly led to real business, collaborations and referralsThe growth from Birmingham to London, Manchester, Dublin, Australia, New York and beyondSupporting Ripple (a crisis prevention charity) and the importance of mental health in recruitment Bobby also talks about the emotional rollercoaster of recruitment, how AI, LinkedIn visibility and market conditions are shaping conversations inside the club, and why being “in the room” still matters more than ever. From intimate dinners to larger expo after-parties, it’s become the unofficial safe space for honest recruitment conversations. Who This Episode Is For: Recruitment business owners feeling isolatedSolo recruiters or small teams who want real connectionSuppliers tired of “spray and pray” networkingAnyone navigating mental health challenges in recruitmentPeople curious about building community in the industryThose who want to understand how grassroots movements scale organically 🔗 Connect with the host Bobby Banerjee: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bobbybanerjee/ Get your fill of curry, banter, and brilliant recruitment minds at The Recruitment Curry Club: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-recruitment-curry-club/ Look out for more episodes of The Mixed Grill dropping on Thursdays. Listen on another platform: https://rectalk.co.uk/ #RecruitmentCurryClub #TheMixedGrill #RecruitmentPodcast #MentalHealthInRecruitment #RecruitmentCommunity #NetworkingDoneRight #RecruitmentIndustry #AIInRecruitment

    26 min

  3. 4D AGO

    If You Started Again Tomorrow, What Would You Do Differently? | Live TEAM Network Panel

    This week on RecTalk, Nitin Sharma hosts a live panel discussion from the TEAM Network South Central Regional Meet Up, centred around one powerful question: If tomorrow was Day One of your recruitment business… what would you do differently? Joining Nitin on stage were four respected voices from across the recruitment ecosystem: John Docherty – ATP Technical (diversity-led STEM recruitment specialist)Ben Browning – Resonant (sales strategy advisor to recruitment firms)Ross Thompson – Infinity Staff Global (offshore recruitment support provider)Andy Chamberlain – FCSA (umbrella sector compliance leader) Together, they explored what a modern recruitment business should actually look like heading into 2026 and beyond. What Was Discussed: Why recruitment isn’t just a sales industry — it’s a data-driven professional serviceThe shift from “cold calling” to research-led business development conversationsThe ongoing 360 recruiter vs split model debate (batters and bowlers analogy included)How elite billers build value propositions using:Clear market dataStrong narrativeDefined methodologyTangible proofWhy transparency (including candidate weaknesses) builds more trust than perfectionUsing compliance knowledge as a strategic BD advantageAI as a co-pilot — not just a content generator“Vibe Coding” and building internal tools in under an hourWhy most agencies blame the market instead of changing behaviourThe mindset shift required to stay agile in a rapidly changing tech and regulatory landscape Key Takeaways: If your year has been a 5 or 6 out of 10, something needs to changeStrategy should come before structureClarity in positioning beats “more activity”AI should elevate your consultants — not replace thinkingClients must understand your process if you want exclusivityGrowth requires unlearning outdated recruitment models This episode challenges founders and recruiters to stop defaulting to the traditional model and instead rebuild with intention, data and tech enablement at the core. 🔗 Connect with the panel guests John Docherty: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johndocherty1/ Ben Browning: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benbrowningrec/ Ross Thompson: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rossnthompson/ Andy Chamberlain: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andy-chamberlain-29135528/ 🔗 Connect with the host Nitin Sharma: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nitin-rectools/ Discover recruitment tools and services: https://www.rectools.io/ New episodes of RecTalk (including Founder Diaries and Talking Talent) currently drop on Wednesday and Friday. Look out also for new episodes of The Mixed Grill — the official podcast of the Recruitment Curry Club — dropping on Thursday. https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-recruitment-curry-club/ Listen on another platform: https://rectalk.co.uk/ 🔗 Get in touch with these recommended suppliers Ascen: https://www.ascen.com/ ThinkinCircles: https://thinkincircles.com/ Infinity Staff Global: https://www.infinitystaffglobal.com/ The Marketing Junction: https://themarketingjunction.com/ Konquest: https://konquest.io/ #RecTalk #RecruitmentPodcast #RecruitmentGrowth #RecruitmentStrategy #TEAMNetwork #AgencyLeadership #AIinRecruitment #Compliance #360Recruiter #STEMRecruitment

    1h 2m

  4. FEB 13

    Making Recruitment More Human with AI | Ryan Frampton of CoRecruit

    In this episode of RecTalk, Nitin is joined by Ryan Frampton, Co-founder & CEO of CoRecruit (formerly Quil) — one of the fastest-evolving AI tools built specifically for recruitment agencies. What started as a sales note-taking tool pivoted — by accident — into one of the most powerful recruitment-specific AI platforms on the market. And this isn’t just another “AI will replace recruiters” conversation. This is about: Why Ryan rebranded twice — and what most founders get wrong about inertiaThe real difference between free note-takers and premium recruitment AIWhy CoRecruit refuses to build AI interviewersHow recruiters can move from transactional to strategic partnerTurning candidate conversations into market intelligenceUsing CRM automation properly (and why most recruiters don’t)How AI can make recruitment MORE human — not less Ryan breaks down how CoRecruit integrates with 40+ ATS & CRM systems, auto-updates records (yes — dropdowns too 👀), reformats CVs, generates high-quality candidate write-ups, and even helps managers coach their teams using real conversational data. They also talk about: Moving from contingency to retained positioningHow to justify higher feesThe psychology of “showing your workings” to clientsWhy most recruiters are underusing their own dataAnd the brand evolution from Quil to CoRecruit If you think all note-takers are the same… this episode will change your mind. 🎯 Who This Episode Is For Recruitment agency owners wanting to improve marginsRecruiters looking to justify higher feesTeams struggling with CRM complianceLeaders managing remote recruitersAgencies wanting to move into retained or strategic partnershipsAnyone comparing free AI tools vs premium recruitment tech If you have recs on, and you’re trying to do more with the same headcount — this is essential listening. 🔗 Connect with the guest Ryan Frampton: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-frampton-02623a100/ Check out CoRecruit: https://www.rectools.io/product/corecruit/ Try a free demo: https://corecruit.com/try-for-free 🔗 Connect with the host Nitin Sharma: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nitin-rectools/ Discover recruitment tools and services: https://www.rectools.io/ New episodes of RecTalk, including Founder Diaries and Talking Talent, currently drop on Wednesday and Friday. Look out for new episodes of The Mixed Grill — the official podcast of the Recruitment Curry Club — dropping on Thursday. https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-recruitment-curry-club/ Listen on another platform: https://rectalk.co.uk/ 🔗 Get in touch with these recommended suppliers Robert Woodford — The Marketing Junction: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marketing4recs/ Barry Cullen — recLAW: https://www.linkedin.com/in/barrycullen/ Andrew Philipson — JOBBA: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewphilipson/  Ross Thompson — Infinity Staff Global: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rossnthompson/ Dougie Loan — SourceWhale: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dougieloan/ Andrew Constantinou — Nodex: https://www.linkedin.com/in/apconstantinou/ #RecTech #RecruitmentTechnology #RecruitmentAI #AgencyRecruitment #RecruitmentLeadership #ATS #CRM #RecruitmentOwner #RecruitmentFounder #FutureOfRecruitment #RetainedSearch #RecruitmentAutomation #RecTalk

    59 min

  5. FEB 12

    THE MIXED GRILL - Regrets, Recruitment in 2030 & Why 360° Consultants Are Overrated

    Welcome back to The Mixed Grill, the official podcast of the Recruitment Curry Club. In this episode, Nitin Sharma and Bobby Banerjee pick up exactly where the last conversation left off and go deep (and sideways) on everything from personal regrets to the future of recruitment businesses – with plenty of laughs, analogies, and tangents along the way. The conversation kicks off with reflections on advice they ignored when they were younger – from looking after your body, to understanding money earlier, to appreciating the sacrifices parents made (especially first-generation immigrant parents). It’s honest, reflective, and very real. From there, things shift into recruitment mode: What the recruitment business of 2030 actually looks likeWhy the traditional 360° recruiter model doesn’t make sense anymoreHow specialist roles (research, resourcing, BD, marketing) outperform “do-everything” consultantsWhy KPIs aren’t the enemy – they’re just often used badlyThe dangers of scaling for vanity metrics and headcount multiplesOutsourcing back-office functions and focusing on retained, subscription, or RPO-style models There’s also plenty of classic Mixed Grill chaos: Celebrity lookalike stories no one asked forSauna chatsCurry Club roadshows, Dublin plans, and milestone birthdaysThe realities of running a business when you don’t fully understand the numbers (yet) As always, the episode wraps with a reminder of what the Recruitment Curry Club is really about: community, no selling, helping each other out, and assembling the biggest group of genuinely decent people in recruitment. Who this episode is for: Recruitment founders questioning traditional agency modelsSolo recruiters and small agencies thinking about scaling differentlyAnyone burned out by 360° roles and unrealistic KPIsRecruiters who value community over cold sellingCurry Club members (and future members) who enjoy honest conversations 🔗 Connect with the hosts Bobby Banerjee: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bobbybanerjee/ Nitin Sharma: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nitin-rectools/ Get your fill of curry, banter, and brilliant recruitment minds at The Recruitment Curry Club: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-recruitment-curry-club/ Look out for more episodes of The Mixed Grill dropping on Thursday. Listen on another platform: https://rectalk.co.uk/ #TheMixedGrill #RecTalk #RecruitmentCurryClub #RecruitmentPodcast #RecruitmentLife #AgencyOwners #FutureOfRecruitment #RecruitmentCommunity #NoMore360

    30 min

  6. FEB 11

    Backdoor Barry Unfiltered: Scaling, Letting Go as a Founder & Building a Law Firm Beyond One Person

    In this episode of RecTalk, Nitin Sharma sits down with the one and only Barry Cullen, Founder of recLAW — aka Backdoor Barry — for a refreshingly honest conversation about what it really takes to scale a specialist professional services business without burning yourself (or your team) into the ground. Five years into recLAW as a regulated law firm (and eight years into the business overall), Barry opens up about the uncomfortable but necessary transition from “I do everything” founder to building teams, leaders, and systems that work without him being involved in every decision. This episode goes deep into: How recLAW evolved from a side hustle into a fully regulated law firmWhy Barry realised he was becoming the bottleneck in his own businessRestructuring from a flat team into leadership-driven podsThe importance of triage, customer success, and speed in legal services for recruitersWhy clients don’t need Barry — they need recLAWHiring senior legal talent and building real employer brand credibilityTurning burnout into a catalyst for growth and long-term sustainabilityWhy most people misunderstand what recLAW actually does (it’s not just backdoor fees)Barry’s most memorable professional moment — and why it mattered so muchA practical, free legal tip every recruiter should implement immediately Barry also shares a free value-packed tip for recruiters: how to protect your fees before a dispute ever happens — including a disclaimer you can add to your CVs that makes enforcement dramatically easier (see below). This is an episode about letting go, growing up as a founder, and building something that lasts beyond you — with plenty of laughs, brutal honesty, and real-world lessons along the way. 🔗 Connect with the guest Barry Cullen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/barrycullen/ Link to recruitment CV disclaimer: https://tinyurl.com/reclaw-cv-disclaimer More from recLAW: https://tinyurl.com/reclaw-rectalk 🔗 Connect with the host Nitin Sharma: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nitin-rectools/ Discover recruitment tools and services: https://www.rectools.io/ New episodes of RecTalk, including Founder Diaries and Talking Talent, currently drop on Wednesday and Friday. Look out for new episodes of The Mixed Grill — the official podcast of the Recruitment Curry Club — dropping on Thursday. https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-recruitment-curry-club/ Listen on another platform: https://rectalk.co.uk/ 🔗 Get in touch with these recommended suppliers Robert Woodford — The Marketing Junction: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marketing4recs/ Barry Cullen — recLAW: https://www.linkedin.com/in/barrycullen/ Andrew Philipson — JOBBA: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewphilipson/  Ross Thompson — Infinity Staff Global: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rossnthompson/ Dougie Loan — SourceWhale: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dougieloan/ Andrew Constantinou — Nodex: https://www.linkedin.com/in/apconstantinou/ #RecTalk #RecruitmentLaw #recLAW #RecruitmentBusiness #FounderJourney #ScalingUp #AgencyLife #BackdoorFees #LegalForRecruiters #Leadership #CustomerSuccess #RecruitmentIndustry

    1h 5m

  7. FEB 6

    Guaranteed Hours, Umbrellas & Risk: What Recruiters Must Prepare For | Theresa Mimnagh of Lawspeed

    In this episode of RecTalk, host Nitin Sharma sits down with Theresa Mimnagh, partner at specialist recruitment law firm Lawspeed, to unpack some of the biggest legal and regulatory changes the recruitment industry has faced in years. Fresh off the back of Lawspeed’s recent industry seminar, Theresa breaks down what recruiters really need to understand about the proposed Employment Rights Bill, including guaranteed hours for agency workers, joint and several liability with umbrella companies, right-to-work changes, flexible working, unfair dismissal reforms, and why temp-heavy recruitment models may soon face serious pressure. This is not headline-level commentary — it’s a practical, recruitment-specific conversation about risk, margins, contracts, business models, and how agencies can still influence legislation before it’s finalised. What you’ll learn in this episode: What guaranteed hours for agency workers could mean for temp revenue, transfer fees, and marginsWhy these changes could be bigger than AWR for recruitment businessesHow government consultations actually work — and why recruiters still have a real chance to shape the outcomeThe reality of joint & several liability when working with umbrella companiesWhy accreditations alone don’t fully protect agencies from HMRC riskUpcoming right-to-work rule changes and the growing liability for agencies, RPOs, and supply chainsHow flexible working laws are evolving — and what “reasonable refusal” really meansWhy more agencies are moving toward consultancy, RPO, retained search, and hybrid modelsThe importance of having fit-for-purpose contracts that reflect modern recruitment models Theresa also shares real-world insight from Lawspeed’s decades of involvement in shaping recruitment legislation — explaining why early engagement beats reactive panic every time. 🔗 Connect with the guest Theresa Mimnagh: https://www.linkedin.com/in/theresamimnagh/ Find out more about Lawspeed: https://www.rectools.io/product/lawspeed/ Contact the Lawspeed team for expert advice and support: https://www.lawspeed.com/contact-us/ 🔗 Connect with the host Nitin Sharma: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nitin-rectools/ Discover recruitment tools and services: https://www.rectools.io/ New episodes of RecTalk, including Founder Diaries and Talking Talent, currently drop on Wednesday and Friday. Look out for new episodes of The Mixed Grill — the official podcast of the Recruitment Curry Club — dropping on Thursday. https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-recruitment-curry-club/ Listen on another platform: https://rectalk.co.uk/ 🔗 Get in touch with these recommended suppliers Robert Woodford — The Marketing Junction: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marketing4recs/ Barry Cullen — recLAW: https://www.linkedin.com/in/barrycullen/ Andrew Philipson — JOBBA: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewphilipson/  Ross Thompson — Infinity Staff Global: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rossnthompson/ Dougie Loan — SourceWhale: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dougieloan/ Andrew Constantinou — Nodex: https://www.linkedin.com/in/apconstantinou/ #RecTalk #RecruitmentLaw #GuaranteedHours #EmploymentRightsBill #TempRecruitment #UmbrellaCompanies #JointLiability #RecruitmentCompliance #Lawspeed #RecruitmentBusiness #UKRecruitment

    1h 1m

  8. FEB 5

    THE MIXED GRILL - Busy Idiots, AI Myths & Why Human Connection Still Wins in Recruitment

    Welcome back to The Mixed Grill, where Nitin Sharma and Bobby Banerjee pull up a chair, grab a metaphorical curry, and talk candidly about the good, the bad, and the ugly in recruitment. In this relaxed, no-filter episode, the conversation flows from the chaos of being “busy” in early 2024 to some big, honest takes on AI, recruiter reputation, candidate experience, and why human connection still matters more than ever. Topics covered include: Is the recruitment industry full of “busy idiots” and burnout risksWhy recruiters still get a bad reputation (and whether it’s even worth fixing)Unpopular opinions about recruitment and who really damages the industryThe reality of AI in recruitment – what it will replace and what it absolutely shouldn’tWhy mass AI outreach is destroying trust and credibilityHow AI should be used to improve candidate experience (status updates, feedback, empathy)The hypocrisy of knowing where your pizza is, but not your job applicationAuthenticity vs automation – and why 80% of people still pay for human connectionGenerational differences, community-building, and what recruiters can learn from Gen ZWhy in-person events, Curry Clubs, and real conversations still winThe long-term impact of the pandemic on how we connect, work, and build relationships As always, the tone is informal, thoughtful, occasionally opinionated, and full of real talk you won’t find in polished LinkedIn posts. Who this episode is for: Recruiters feeling overwhelmed by “busyness” and noise in the marketRecruitment leaders trying to figure out where AI actually fitsAnyone frustrated by poor candidate experience and broken processesRecTech founders building tools (this one’s especially for you 👀)Community builders, event organisers, and relationship-led recruitersPeople who believe recruitment should still be human-first 🔗 Connect with the hosts Bobby Banerjee: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bobbybanerjee/ Nitin Sharma: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nitin-rectools/ Get your fill of curry, banter, and brilliant recruitment minds at The Recruitment Curry Club: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-recruitment-curry-club/ Look out for more episodes of The Mixed Grill dropping on Thursday. Listen on another platform: https://rectalk.co.uk/ #TheMixedGrill #RecTalk #RecruitmentCurryClub #RecruitmentPodcast #RecruitmentLife #RecTech #AIinRecruitment #CandidateExperience #HumanFirst #RecruitmentCommunity

    35 min
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Welcome to RecTalk, the UK's biggest recruitment industry podcast on YouTube and a Top 15% Video Podcast on Spotify! Hear from trailblazers in the recruitment industry who want to have their say on all things recruitment - unbiased, unfiltered, unscripted.

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