KSB Recruitment: 30 Years in Business and Still Growing Strong!
30 years ago, with a mortgage, a mere £37.00 in my pocket and 3-month-old baby in tow, I took a chance on a dream and started KSB Recruitment.
The company has weathered a lot over the last 30 years – 2 recessions, 3 children, a divorce and my stint as a midwife – but from our humble beginnings in a cramped office in the centre of Birmingham, KSB Recruitment have grown and evolved to become one of the leading hospitality and catering recruitment specialists in the Midlands.
My company has always been, and is very much still, a labour of love for me, and I am proud that, as independent hospitality recruitment specialists, KSB Recruitment have always had the flexibility to tailor our services to the needs of each client. Everything we do, we do with integrity. We have always maintained a customer-comes-first attitude, ensuring that we get the right fit for both the client and the candidate.
Having worked with a varied and distinguished list of clients over the years, including the West Midlands Police, Barclaycard, Tesco, Sainsburys, Farncombe Estate, Mercedes AMG, NAAFI, Compass Group, Star City and Marriot Hotel (to name just a handful), we have succeeded in carving out a niche for ourselves within the hospitality and catering industry.
For the last 18 years, we’ve had the honour of being the main supplier of temporary labour to the support arm of the official trading organisation to the HM forces, an organisation with whom we have established a great rapport.
“The excellent service level that KSB achieves each year means that they will remain our preferred supplier for the future.” – Head of Operations at the official trading organisation of HM forces.
“They are our recruitment agency of choice for all of our catering requirements both temporary and permanent and have been exemplary in providing temp support for extraordinary events both in the UK and abroad.” – HR manager at the official trading organisation of HM forces.
In addition to celebrating our 30th year in business, this year is also marked by some very notable achievements. First, we have already achieved more than 600% growth over this time last year. Secondly, in addition to having first supplier status with two major, government-sanctioned catering companies – one in the UK, one in the States – we now also have first supplier status with one of the leading Formula 1 teams.
Although I’m incredibly proud of our achievements, I’m humbled in the knowledge that the secret to any great company are the people behind the scenes. I’ve been so lucky to have such an amazing and supportive team around me. My PA, Carole O’Boyle, has been my right-hand woman for the last 25 years, and Jon Bannister, our Head of Operations, has been the linchpin in keeping the business running by always going the extra mile for both our candidates and clients for the last 19 years. They, along with the rest of my wonderful staff, deserve credit for the amazing milestones we have reached.
Although the sky is currently the only limit to KSB’s growth, we have not forgotten our roots; after 30 years, I feel a social responsibility to give back to the community that has supported us through all of our highs and lows. That’s why we are working with the Geoff Horsfield Foundation to support the homeless in Birmingham. At a recent Sleepout fundraiser, held at St. Andrew’s Trophy Stadium in Birmingham on February 15th, we raised £1300 for the homeless.
30 years is a long time, but with so many great opportunities on our horizon, it feels like we’ve only just begun. So stay tuned for more amazing milestones in the weeks and months ahead!
If you are looking to build your hospitality team or are looking for a career in the catering and hospitality industry, contact us today to see how we can help you.
