Kelly Sewell

How long have you worked in the recruitment industry, and what brought you into your current role?
I have been in recruitment for 23 years. After spending 7 years selling houses, I thought it was time for a change, so I moved into recruitment.

I spent 5 years as a consultant doing both temp and perm across industrial and commercial roles, until I was offered the opportunity to learn new skills within payroll. After 2 years of doing payroll and admin, I was encouraged to go back to college and do my AATs so that I could move into the finance side of the business.

Obviously, Next Recruitment was only a small entity, so when Recruitment Investments came along and bought us out and TRG was born, finance became a lot more interesting with all the different acquisitions. 

What do you enjoy most about your role at The Recruitment Group in today’s recruitment landscape?
I love seeing the figures each week and watching the numbers grow. Using those numbers to put into our future forecasts and seeing where we could be week on week, or even in the next few months, means we are moving in the right direction and that is always a good feeling.

Which of our core values resonates most with you, and why?
Accountable. I think taking accountability and being responsible for your own actions speaks volumes. If you mess up, own it. No one is going to judge you for making mistakes, if we don’t make mistakes, how do we learn?

Alternatively, if you do something good, own it. Shout it from the rooftops. Everyone deserves to be recognised and seen for their efforts.

How do you support and motivate your finance team to deliver excellent financial management?
I think having the correct processes in place is key. We all have our own individual jobs to do and doing these at the right time means the end result is delivered, temps get paid, we get paid, bills get paid. If anyone is struggling, we all chip in and help where needed.

In your role, how do you help TRG continue to exceed client expectations in such a competitive industry?
In my role I don’t tend to deal much with clients, but helping with financial information for tenders as quickly as possible is crucial.

Is there an initiative or project you’ve completed at TRG that you’re particularly proud of?

Playing a key role in supporting the business as it has grown has been something I am particularly proud of. As TRG has evolved, ensuring our financial processes have remained strong and scalable has been essential. Contributing to that growth and helping to build solid foundations for the future is something I take real pride in.

What advice would you give to someone aspiring to a role in the recruitment industry?
It’s not easy. Working in the recruitment industry is not just about selling, there are many other roles that are just as fulfilling and rewarding and altogether make up a team. Whichever path you take, there will be highs and lows, but I can guarantee the highs will definitely outweigh the lows.

What do you most enjoy doing in your spare time?
When I am not watching my son play football and being his taxi, I am definitely spending time with my husband, sad I know but it’s true. Walk the dog, watch a boxset and eat snacks. The kids are older now and have their own lives, so now it’s time for us to get our time back.