Stand up a new contract desk with someone who could operate independently from day one — sourcing, selling, and billing without needing to be carried. Someone who would buy into the business enough to become part of it long-term.

We headhunted. The candidate had no reason to move — he wasn't on the market, wasn't looking, and hadn't engaged with the search. We identified him, understood what would make a move worth his time, and presented an opportunity that was genuinely aligned with where he wanted to go. Two weeks from brief to placement. Within his first two months, he had billed. He has since stepped into a team lead role, is training other consultants, and is now one of Change Recruitment's top performers — from a standing start on a desk that didn't exist when we took the brief.