Flying start for recruitment venture

MORGAN KING, a Leeds-based recruitment business which launched in January with backing from well-known Yorkshire entrepreneur Martin Penny, is off to a flying start with the opening of an office in the North East.

The business is currently working on dozens of vacancies ranging from positions at managing director level to engineers and skilled labourers.

Jo Bailey joins as senior consultant and will head up the company’s new office in Teesside.

She has over 13 years’ experience working within the construction, engineering and technical recruitment industry having worked at MC2 Technical Recruitment , McGinley Human Resources and Leda Recruitment at senior consultant or branch principle level.

Bailey’s specialisms include recruiting for the petrochemical, chemical and building sectors as well as for professional and technical white collar positions.

Emma Kennett joins Morgan King as office manager. Her experience includes working as a personal assistant at Ethos Corporate Finance in Leeds; she was also a PA at LDC in Leeds and spent almost four years as a sales/office administrator for JP Distribution.

Morgan King is the brainchild of Howard Slinger, a recruitment specialist with over 25 years’ experience in the recruitment industry, particularly within the construction, rail and technical recruitment markets at senior and executive levels.

Mr Slinger’s vision to get back to basics and build a recruitment business around people rather than relying on technology struck a chord with former ghd founder Penny who made a significant six figure investment into the business.

Mr Slinger said: “We’ve met with a really positive response and, as a result, we’re opening our second office in Teesside earlier than planned and also recruiting two new members of staff. With her solid track record in the technical recruitment sector, we are confident that Jo will play a key role in helping us to drive forward the business in the North East while Emma will ensure that the Leeds office runs smoothly.

“The idea of a recruitment business that focusses on the traditional values of really getting to know the people and businesses involved to make sure they are the right match, seems to be resonating with many employers. This, combined with the fact that businesses are finding it increasingly difficult to find able people for technical positions and for what we term ‘grey collar’ roles, those between blue collar and white collar positions, means that Morgan King has got off to a great start.”