In this episode, James Lawton speaks with Ben Hansen, The Profit Doctor, about the common traps scaling firms fall into, which he terms "Profititus"—solid revenue growth but flat net profitability. Drawing on his experience building a multi-million dollar staffing business, Ben advocates applying the Pareto principle (80/20 rule) to profitability, starting by eliminating the worst 20% of low-performing customers and employees. He emphasizes that for staffing and recruiting firms, the biggest profit leaks often come from straying outside their niche or "sweet spot" to fill challenging roles, and from a growth-obsessed psychology adopted from the VC-backed tech world. Ben encourages operations leaders to focus 20% of their energy on profitability and offers free resources to help identify and triage major profit leaks.

The SROP is hosted by James Lawton: ex-recruiter, now helping enterprise-level companies with high volume hiring with automation and AI.

More about Ben Hansen

Ben Hansen, known as The Profit Doctor, is an expert in helping businesses uncover profit leaks, fix inefficient operations, and scale sustainably. Through his flagship program, The Profit Accelerator, he helps business owners achieve an additional five points of net profitability in 90 days. Ben’s expertise centers on leveraging best practices—and learning from his own past mistakes—to optimize profitability in staffing, recruiting, and other service-based firms.

To learn more about the Profit Accelerator go to www.profitdoctor.com/accelerator

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In this episode, Sean McNicholas, Senior Commercial Manager at The OPRA Group, discusses the company’s shift from traditional transactional recruitment to a project-based model. This approach aims to align with a client's broader business goals, whether they are scaling up, launching new initiatives, or undergoing a transformation. Sean explains how this involves a comprehensive project implementation plan that includes market intelligence, talent mapping, and candidate attraction. The model emphasizes building a long-standing relationship with clients by providing continuous education and adapting to their evolving needs, rather than just filling a job.

The SROP is hosted by James Lawton: ex-recruiter, now helping enterprise-level companies with high volume hiring with automation and AI.

More about Sean McNicholas

Sean McNicholas is the Senior Commercial Manager at The OPRA Group, a recruitment specialist firm with over 35 years of experience. The OPRA Group offers a full range of people solutions, from recruitment and HR services to pre-employment screening and employee wellbeing.

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Host James Lawton speaks with Stephanie Bateman, Owner and Managing Director of Educate Staffing, about the complex process of buying out her initial investor. Stephanie discusses the initial investment that launched the business, the support the investor provided in the early years , and her eventual decision to seek full ownership around year six or seven of the business. She shares a candid and practical look at navigating the process, including the emotional strain of a family-related business dispute , the high cost of legal battles , and the critical importance of settling out of court. Ultimately, Stephanie shares key project steps for a successful buyout, emphasizing the need to be fully prepared with financial data (EBITDA, costs, multiples) and a clear understanding of the shareholders agreement before entering negotiations.

The SROP is hosted by James Lawton: ex-recruiter, now helping enterprise-level companies with high volume hiring with automation and AI.

More about Stephanie Bateman

Stephanie Bateman is the Owner and Managing Director of Educate Staffing, a trusted executive search consultancy predominantly serving schools across London. She successfully built the firm by prioritizing compliance, efficiency, and recruiter enablement. Her business journey began with a £50,000 investment from a family member, with an initial 50/50 split that later moved to a 60/40 split. After nine years in business, Stephanie successfully navigated the complex operational and personal project of buying out her investor to take full ownership of the company. She now uses her experience to share practical advice on business setup, growth, and the strategic planning required for investor buyouts.

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In this episode, James Lawton speaks with Richard Caldicott about a critical topic often overlooked by businesses—device management. Richard, a seasoned IT professional, explains how a lack of proper device management is a "real big miss," especially for recruitment firms that handle a lot of personal data. He discusses the importance of securing devices to protect against data loss from stolen laptops or phones and highlights how robust security practices can not only mitigate risk but also attract new clients by helping a business become more appealing. Richard also covers essential security measures like multi-factor authentication, data encryption, and geographical restrictions, emphasizing that a strong security ethos is a vital foundation for any growing business.

The SROP is hosted by James Lawton: ex-recruiter, now helping enterprise-level companies with high volume hiring with automation and AI.

More about Richard Caldicott

Richard Caldicott is a seasoned IT professional with more than 20 years of experience, including over eight years specializing in the recruitment sector. He is currently the Director of IT at La Fosse Associates and runs his own consulting firm, Caldicott Consulting. His firm provides a wide range of IT and technology services, from cloud migrations and infrastructure enhancements to CRM implementations and disaster recovery plans. Richard is notable for successfully migrating Henderson Scott's infrastructure to a cloud-first setup, completely eliminating their on-premise servers in 2021. Richard's expertise lies in helping businesses build a strong foundation for their IT and security, ensuring they are protected against modern data risks.

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In this episode, Matthew Evans, Director at MRG, talks about the company's aggressive international expansion. Matthew discusses the strategic decision to open offices in Mumbai and Gurugram, India, a market he describes as "one of the, if not the fastest growing, real estate economies in the world." He shares insights on the unique challenges and opportunities of entering a new country, from navigating local regulations and building the right team to adapting recruitment processes for a massive volume of applicants. Matthew also offers advice for other businesses looking to go global, emphasizing the importance of strong local leadership and consistent branding.

The SROP is hosted by James Lawton: ex-recruiter, now helping enterprise-level companies with high volume hiring with automation and AI.

More about Matthew Evans

Matthew Evans is a Director at MRG, a London-based executive search consultancy. He specializes in executive recruitment within the real estate, property, asset management, development, and construction sectors. Beyond his day-to-day responsibilities, Matthew has been a key driver behind MRG's successful international expansion. Under his guidance, the firm has established operations in several global markets, including Malaysia, the Middle East, Europe, and South Africa.

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In this episode, we sit down with Claire Proudlove, Group Director of Client Program Services at The Serocor Group. With nearly three decades of experience in recruitment and workforce solutions, Claire has built and scaled client program services that unify multiple brands under one strategic vision. She shares how her team drives operational improvements, integrates recruitment technology, and partners with clients to create flexible, scalable talent solutions. Claire also discusses the future of talent services, the impact of AI, and what it takes to deliver best-in-class workforce programs.

The SROP is hosted by James Lawton: ex-recruiter, now helping enterprise-level companies with high volume hiring with automation and AI.

More about Claire Proudlove

Claire Proudlove is the Group Director of Client Program Services at The Serocor Group, where she leads the design, delivery, and continuous improvement of client solutions across its family of brands. Over her 30-year career, Claire has progressed from front-line recruitment at Oracle to becoming a respected leader known for aligning complex workforce programs with evolving market needs. Her expertise spans contingent recruitment, RPO, MSP, bid management, and the integration of recruitment technology. Claire is passionate about building scalable, client-centric solutions that empower businesses to thrive in changing talent landscapes.

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When Toby Briant, founder and managing director of Rutherford Briant Recruitment, decided to change the firm’s long-standing CRM and ATS provider, he knew the stakes were high. In this episode, Toby shares how his team evaluated the market, why vendor alignment with company values was as important as the technology itself, and what made their final choice the right fit. He dives into lessons on planning, delegation, post-implementation success, and the crucial role of customer service in long-term tech partnerships. Whether you’re a recruitment leader or a tech buyer, Toby’s story offers a roadmap for making big tech changes with minimal disruption.

The SROP is hosted by James Lawton: ex-recruiter, now helping enterprise-level companies with high volume hiring with automation and AI.

More about Toby Briant

Toby Briant is the founder and managing director of Rutherford Briant Recruitment, a multi-award-winning firm specializing in accountancy, finance, HR, and executive search across East Anglia and the Home Counties. Since launching the business in 2009 during the financial crisis, Toby has grown it into a respected, values-driven agency known for cultural fit, relationship building, and delivering top-tier talent. A championship-winning racing driver, Toby brings a performance-focused mindset to both the track and the boardroom. Under his leadership, Rutherford Briant has placed over 2,500 candidates and built enduring partnerships with clients and suppliers alike.

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In this episode, we’re joined by Tom Beastall, Executive Director at Rullion, a UK-based recruitment agency with deep roots and ambitious plans. Tom shares the story behind Rullion’s sweeping technology transformation—from proprietary legacy systems to a flexible, cloud-first architecture. We unpack the leadership lessons learned along the way, including the political dynamics of driving internal change, why overcommunication is key, and how to balance customization with off-the-shelf solutions.

Tom’s thoughtful, strategic approach to change management offers valuable takeaways for any leader navigating digital transformation at scale.

The SROP is hosted by James Lawton: ex-recruiter, now helping enterprise-level companies with high volume hiring with automation and AI.

More about Tom Beastall

Tom Beastall is Executive Director at Rullion, a privately owned UK recruitment agency founded in 1978. With over two decades of experience at Rullion, Tom has risen through the ranks from client information manager to IT leader, spearheading company-wide technology and process transformations. Known for his strategic vision and people-centric approach, Tom completed a technical leadership program at UC Berkeley Haas during the pandemic, deepening his understanding of influence, stakeholder engagement, and organizational psychology. He’s passionate about building scalable, resilient systems—and cultures—that enable growth and creativity across the business.

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