When I launched Studio Careers in 2009, the world was in the midst of a recession.
My biggest motivation for starting my own business was my passion for recruiting freelancers. I had left a secure job at a reputable recruitment agency because the company’s ownership — and its culture — had changed. I didn’t want to dedicate my energy to a business whose values no longer aligned with mine.
At the time, I underestimated just how much work needed to be done before launching: setting up CRMs, drafting terms and conditions, preparing contracts, hiring accountants, building a website, purchasing job board credits — the list went on and on. But when I finally launched, the feeling of representing my own brand and working in a way that felt authentic to me was unmatched.
Transitioning to a solo work environment felt strange at first. I missed the camaraderie of a team, the sales floor buzz, and bouncing ideas off colleagues. However, I soon discovered that I was far more productive without the constant interruptions of meetings and office chatter.
One of my most vivid memories is placing my first candidate in a fixed-term contract during my first week of trading. That moment remains one of my proudest personal achievements.
Of course, the early years were not without their challenges. I had to switch CRMs because the one I initially chose couldn’t handle the file sizes of my candidates’ portfolios, which meant re-entering all my data. I missed self-assessment deadlines because I didn’t fully understand the process. My website and emails crashed, leaving me clueless about whom to contact. And I relocated offices three times in the first few years — at one point, I was working out of a literal store cupboard! These hurdles certainly kept me on my toes.
That feeling of juggling everything is what inspired me to co-found TRS with Charlotte. We wanted to create a single-service solution to handle the time-consuming back-office tasks that recruiters face when setting up their businesses. This way, recruiters can focus on what they truly love doing.
Launching a business is always a massive financial leap. I had savings, but they disappeared quickly. That’s why, at TRS, we’re committed to investing in experienced recruiters by offering a basic salary.
We believe that a foundation of stability, ambition, and tenacity is the key to entrepreneurial success.