SFA Fire & Security and Workshop Recruitment: A Trusted Recruitment Partnership

Taking the Time to Understand the Business

Workshop Recruitment first partnered with SFA in 2022, initially supporting the business with a maternity cover role. Since then, the partnership has gone from strength to strength, with Workshop Recruitment successfully recruiting for a variety of positions, including a PA to the Directors, Team Administrator, Project Coordinator and other key business roles.

For Naomi, what sets Workshop Recruitment apart is the time invested in understanding the business before recruiting for it.
Recruitment Consultant, Sophie Carson visited SFA’s offices to gain a first-hand understanding of the working environment and to meet the team. This allowed her to build a clear picture of the type of person who would thrive within the organisation, ensuring candidates were selected not only for their skills and experience but also for their personality and cultural fit.

Alongside Sophie, Director Peter Hunt has remained closely involved in SFA’s recruitment over the last few years, providing honest advice and ongoing support throughout the hiring process.

As Naomi explains:

“Sophie took the time to really get to know our business. She’s visited our offices, met the team and understands the type of people who fit our culture. That gives her a much better understanding of what we’re looking for. Pete has also been heavily involved in supporting our recruitment over the last couple of years.”

Quality Candidates, Not Quantity

For SFA, one of the biggest advantages of working with Workshop Recruitment has been the quality of candidates introduced.

Naomi acknowledged that rather than sending large volumes of CVs, Workshop Recruitment takes the time to carefully screen applicants before presenting them to the business, saving valuable time for the leadership team.

“The most valuable thing is not being sent candidates that aren’t remotely suitable.”

Understanding SFA’s culture has also been instrumental in identifying candidates who are the right fit for the team.

“They’re filtering out the people that I would instantly say no to anyway.”

Naomi believes that personality is just as important as technical ability when recruiting.

“They both understand the type of person we would want in our team”

By combining a detailed understanding of the business with a consultative recruitment approach, Workshop Recruitment consistently introduces candidates who are well matched to both the role and the organisation.

Finding the Right Solution

One example of this collaborative approach came when SFA needed to replace a Project Manager.

Recognising that recruiting an experienced Project Manager could be challenging, Sophie worked closely with Naomi to discuss the realities of the market and explore alternative solutions. Together, they agreed to advertise both a Project Manager and a Project Coordinator position, broadening the talent pool while ensuring the business secured the support it needed.

The strategy proved successful.

“We discussed it and decided to also look at a Project Coordinator, and she found me someone, and she’s absolutely brilliant.”

Rather than simply filling vacancies, Workshop Recruitment worked in partnership with SFA to develop a recruitment strategy that met the needs of the business.

Responsive Recruitment Support

As with any recruitment campaign, not every appointment works out exactly as planned. When one new starter decided the role wasn’t the right fit, Workshop Recruitment responded quickly, sourcing a replacement within a week and minimising disruption to the business.

“They got somebody else in place, and that happened within a week.”

Naomi also highlighted the consistent communication throughout every recruitment campaign.

“We’re always kept up to date, which is invaluable because it’s one of the things that you don’t really want to be having to chase.”

This proactive approach has enabled SFA to focus on running the business while Workshop Recruitment manages the recruitment process efficiently and professionally.

A Trusted Recruitment Partner

When asked what makes Workshop Recruitment different from other agencies, Naomi’s answer was refreshingly straightforward.

“There’s no bull. Just straight talking and I really appreciate that.”

She believes it’s the combination of honesty and a genuine understanding of the business that makes the partnership so successful.

“We don’t get sent candidates that aren’t suitable for the job, which saves us a huge amount of time. I can have very honest conversations with both Sophie and Pete, and they’re always responsive. They understand what we’re looking for and are realistic about the market, so we know we’re getting candidates who have been carefully considered.”

Asked whether she would recommend Workshop Recruitment to other businesses, Naomi didn’t hesitate.

“Absolutely. It’s just easy. It’s straight to the point, no fluff… They’re the best recruitment agency I’ve worked with.”

For SFA, Workshop Recruitment has become far more than a recruitment supplier. By taking the time to understand the business and its people the team has become a trusted recruitment partner, helping SFA continue to build a strong team that supports its ongoing growth.