Leeds Beckett University - City Campus,
Woodhouse Lane,
LS1 3HE
University-based headhunting firm goes from strength to strength
Less than two years on he has a turnover of £300,000 and operates in 12 countries with clients ranging from Nestlé to Procter & Gamble.
After more than 15 years of working in headhunting as an executive director, Kieron has a wealth of experience which has helped his business grow quickly from strength to strength. Based in the serviced offices of Churchwood at Leeds Met's Headingley Campus, Kieron has recently appointed Associate Consultant Jemma Wilde to assist with supporting the delivery of the business. He also employs two researchers in France and just this month opened a Merlin Wright office in Stockholm, where the firm's non-executive director is based.
What's more Kieron wants to expand his team further by offering an internship to a graduating student.
"My business is intellectual property recruitment, also known as headhunting," he explained. "We recruit key people with unique and specialist skills across multiple industry sectors.
"All of our work is based outside of the UK and the business has been well received by the market. We have clients across Europe, in America and also in China, and we are on target to expand our output further.
"For the first nine months of my business I was working from my home in Bramhope and while it's still early days it's very rewarding to see the firm grow as it is. Part of my strategy for moving forward is to look at potential paid internships for graduating students with drive and passion. Students with language skills are of particular interest as we constantly deal with clients overseas. I'd encourage any Leeds-based graduating students, with a fluency in French or German to email their CV and details to kieron.wright@merlinwright.com if they are interested in being considered for an internship opportunity."
Kieron said his next focus was to secure the opening of Merlin Wright offices in Paris and Munich. In relation to choosing Leeds Met's serviced offices as his base, he commented: "Our choice of location is determined more by the services and support available than being close to the clients - all our work is based outside of the UK necessitating frequent travel, and having viewed numerous serviced offices, none came close to the friendly support and business network provided by QU2. Also, the positive energy of working on a university campus provides a good foundation on which to grow."
QU2, which has offices available for up to eight people, has offered business centre and business support services for more than 10 years in Queen Square. There are serviced offices available at Headingley Campus in Church Wood, North Lodge and Macauley Hall and at City Campus in Cloth Hall Court and Queen Square. Leeds Metropolitan University has supported the start-up and growth of more than 600 businesses, creating over 1300 jobs in the region with a collective turnover of more than £42 million.