The construction industry within the UK is generally a healthy one, offering a range of different opportunities to recruiters. Though if you’re considering starting a construction recruitment agency, you probably already knew that!
Whether an experienced recruiter, or a construction professional making a career change, we’ve put together some advice to help:
Find Your Place in the Market
There are many construction recruitment agencies, so you need to be prepared to compete. It can be tempting when you first start out to simply go after any role, in the hope you’ll land one as a starting point. However it can be much more effective to find a niche.
For example, will you solely focus on blue collar workers? Will you build your business specialising in temporary placements? Or will you specialise in recruiting construction professionals in to a certain sector? Having a specialism helps you find your place in the market and enables you to build a profile of your target client.
Demonstrate Your Expertise
You’ve chosen to start a construction recruitment agency, because you have experience in that field. You might have worked within a senior construction role for many years, or have been successful at a major recruitment agency and decided to go it alone. Whatever your background, your expertise is your selling point.
Experience is real currency within the construction industry. Showing you understand the challenges of recruitment within this sector, and tailoring your business to meet those challenges, will really help you succeed.
Keep Your Overheads Low
Starting a construction recruitment business can be expensive, but it doesn’t need to be. It’s so important to keep your overheads low in the beginning as your business is getting on its feet. Look at different ways you can reduce costs, for example by working from home or outsourcing back office functions.
Stay Up to Date
Clients will expect you to be aware of the health and safety implications of employing individuals both on and off site. Understanding the value of qualifications, such as the Site Management Safety Training Scheme (SMSTS), is also useful to help advise candidates on the value of their skills.
It’s essential to get the relevant insurances in place for a construction recruitment agency, protecting yourself, your candidates and your clients.
Take Your Message to Market
In such a competitive industry, it’s essential to market yourself. Defining a niche will help you decide on the message you want to take to market, and the type of clients and candidates you’re looking to attract.
Working with a marketing agency can be beneficial. They can help you develop a brand that resonates within the construction industry. However this can be costly.
Get Your Funding in Place
The nature of the construction recruitment industry means that often you’ll have to pay out for staff and services long before you’re paid by your client. Therefore you’ll need savings in place, to help you get started.
Alternatively you can get funding to help. New Millennia offer 100% recruitment financing so you can keep your business moving until you’re paid by your client. To find out more call our team on 0161 337 9882 or email enq@nmgroup.co.uk.
