Heather Croft and Vanessa Slater have struck a deal to become the new directors of KES Solutions UK
Heather Croft and Vanessa Slater at KES Solutions UK(Image: KES Solutions UK)
Two recruitment consultants have announced plans to grow their North East business after completing a management buy out. Heather Croft and Vanessa Slater are the new directors of KES Solutions UK after the firm’s founder revealed plans to pursue new opportunities, giving the two consultants the chance to step up.
The firm provides recruitment services to industries including automotive, manufacturing chemicals and petrochemicals, warehousing and logistics, and technical and engineering, with a turnover of £3.7m. Based at Houghton-le-Spring, the company was launched in 2007 and now employs seven people. Founder Kelly Swann offered the opportunity to purchase the business to her two most experienced consultants.
Ms Croft, from Peterlee, said: “When we were given the chance to buy the business from Kelly, we were both so excited, but we also knew it was going to be a big challenge for us as working for a business and running it are very different.
“However, Vanessa and I knew the business inside out and I think Kelly was happy that she was handing it over to people who cared as much about it as she had done. When we told our team there were tears. Everyone was so happy for us and that gave us a real confidence boost that we had done the right thing.”
Ms Slater, from South Shields, said: “Although it was a big decision, ultimately the management buy out was a no brainer for us. We just knew it was the right time, personally and professionally, and the right thing for the team too.
“The biggest challenge we faced was getting our heads round the things that come with running a business, for example the finances, the management, and the business development.
“Heather and I work so well together and over the past few months, we’ve really started to understand everything. We are feeling so positive about what the future holds for KES Solutions UK.
“We’re both ambitious and want to help the business to grow, but in the right way. Not too fast, too soon. It has to be right so that we can deliver what we promise and every client always feels as valued and important as the next.”
Ms Croft, added: “We’ve now formed a firm plan of what we’d like to achieve. Our approach is to make subtle changes and targeting organic growth. The business is well established and we’re very good at what we do so we don’t need to try and fix something that isn’t broken. It’s simply about doing what we do but better if we can.”
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