Case studies: Thorpe-Molloy Recruitment

Thorpe-Molloy Recruitment
Judith Thorpe, Karen Molloy and Vicky Culley
13 Charlotte Square
Edinburgh
EH2 4DJ

and:

15b Rubislaw Terrace
Aberdeen
AB10 1XE

Tel: 0131 225 9292
Fax: 0131 225 9090

Email: jthorpe@thorpe-molloy.co.uk

Background

Judith Thorpe and her partner, Karen Molloy, set up a local office for a national recruitment agency before they decided to go for it themselves.

"We got a lot of help from Aberdeen Enterprise Trust before and after start up," Judith told us, "we also qualified for help from the Prince's Scottish Youth Business Trust which really helped us."

The business has come a long way in a short space of time and has a list of prestigious clients, including: Accenture, Chevrontexaco, Conoco, The Food Standards Agency, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Shell and BP.

Awards

The agency holds Investors In People accreditation and has received several awards: Most Enterprising New Start of 2000, the Shell Livewire Best Progress Award and the Grampian Start-up Award. Judith Thorpe won the Ian Davidson Award for Entrepreneurship in 2004.

Judith says, “The high profile that we have enjoyed as a result of winning a number of awards has meant that we can attract the highest calibre individuals to work for us, which perpetuates our success as a service company.”

Growth

Thorpe Molloy is at an exciting stage in terms of growth. The core accountancy recruitment business is going from strength to strength, and their professional office support division has demonstrated enormous potential. Furthermore, Thorpe Molloy has teamed up with a business sports organisation, activiymix, taking on responsibility for the entire sales function.

In addition to these developments, Thorpe Molloy has launched an overseas division and there is potential for exponential growth in this area.

“We are actively recruiting professionals to work for our Aberdeen operation as it continues to expand,” says Judith, “and we have plans in place for a major international initiative in response to client demand. We are excited about the opportunities we are working on right now, and are entering a period of dynamic growth and expansion.”

“Our annual turnover is on target to be approximately £3.5million. Next year we are predicting and increase in turnover by 15 percent.”

Top tip

Develop a comprehensive business plan with clear objectives before you start and ensure you have computer systems and administrative controls and procedures in place.