On the sofa with: OxCare Recruitment

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On the sofa with: OxCare Recruitment

May 24, 2021

On the sofa with: OxCare Recruitment

OxCare Recruitment, headed up by the passionate, enthusiastic & knowledgeable Donna Cook in a healthcare recruitment agency covering the whole of UK. It was clear from the moment we spoke with Donna – which was initially a number of years ago now! – that she was fixated on starting her won recruitment agency & it was safe to say we were fixated on supporting her. We are so pleased to be part of her contained journey & we wanted to proudly share a conversation we were able to have with Donna during the inception of her agency. The aim of this blog to give you an honest insight into what really pulled this ambitious & experienced recruiter to start their own healthcare recruitment agency, what Donnas plans for OxCare are & the reasons why she decided to make the leap & build her own recruitment agency.

So, tell us a little bit about your recruitment background.

I have worked in recruitment for 7 years now. I started as an internal recruiter, having worked in healthcare for many years. After 2 years as an internal recruiter, I decided to have a go at being a 360 consultant, turns out I absolutely loved it, and was quite good at it too.

I’ve tried a couple of other industries including Construction, Commercial and Industrial, but my true passion always has been and always will be Healthcare recruitment.

& when would you say you initially started thinking about the idea of one day starting your own recruitment agency?

Well, Max and I spoke about 4 years ago, but the time just wasn’t right for me. At that point I don’t think I had enough experience, and also didn’t feel personally ready.

I knew then I would do it one day, it was just a question of when really.

What made you “make the leap” & decide to start your own healthcare recruitment agency when you did? Was there a particular professional catalyst? Personal landmark? Tell us.

As cliché as it sounds, the time just felt right.

I’d started working for another company, and started a cold desk again, and I kind of thought “Why am I doing this for someone else AGAIN?”

I spoke to family and friends who all thought it was a great idea and didn’t know why I’d not done it sooner.

So I contacted Max again, and after many many conversations with him and Laura, we all agreed the time was right.

What were the motivations for you to start your own recruitment agency?

For me there were many reasons, of course money and flexibility were a factor, but more than that, it’s pride, having something I can be proud of, and feel passionate about.

Tell us a little about OxCare Recuitment.

OxCare Recruitment specialises in placing permanent staff into health & social care settings across the UK.

Permanent staff has always been my speciality, as I love finding people the perfect role for them, as well as finding my clients the perfect staff. But more than that I love that it offers vulnerable people continuity, as the staff will be there long term.

OxCare Recruitment always do the “Mum/Family test” meaning we’ll never send staff we wouldn’t end to our own family.

If you could paint a picture of what the business looks like in 3 years time, what would the business look like?

I would like to think in 3 years time we will have grown to 2 or 3 consultants.

As for clients, we are already on the PSL’s of some of the counties biggest companies, so I hope we continue to join more, as well as being able to help some of the small independent health & social care providers.

& what pulled you to work with Isotope to help you in your recruitment business?

Honestly, the fact I got on well with Max was a massive factor. But when we really sat down and went through everything that they could offer it was a no brainer. Isotope offer everything you could possibly need to set-up on your own.

What has surprised you most about working with Isotope so far?

How supportive the whole team are. Max & Laura are there for any questions you have, or even if you just need to vent or celebrate. George & Jordan are on hand anytime to help with any accounting questions, even the really stupid ones. And the creative genius Alan is helpful even to the most uncreative of people like me.

I mean just check out our website, it’s amazing… Yes that was a shameless plug.

What would you say to a recruitment consultant reading this today & toying with the idea of starting their own agency?

You know if you’re ready or not, so if you have any doubts, you probably aren’t.

& in an alternate universe, a universe where recruitment did not exist – what profession would you be in?

As a Princess isn’t technically a job, I guess possibly a nurse.

It was clear from the moment we spoke with Donna that she was going to start a healthcare recruitment agency she could be proud of & we’re so happy to be part of her journey. If you’d like to find out more about Donna & her netrepnurial journey, why not jump on her website or read more about her, here.

Or perhaps you’re sitting reading this today & in drawing similarities between yourself & Donna, you’re starting to think more about the idea of starting your own recruitment agency. If that’s the case, then we’d love to encourage you to talk to us about how Isotope would be able to help. Is now a good time?

Start your own healthcare recruitment agency