The Special Source

With Tech & AI moving so quickly, Recruitment Agencies risk falling behind their competitors. 
This week on The Special Source, we’re joined by Sander and Arnoud from Spott, the AI-native recruitment CRM and ATS making waves across the industry.
We explore the untapped value hiding in agency databases and how an AI Native CRM like Spott is giving recruiters extra horsepower they haven't had before. Lee and Chris also share their firsthand experiences as Spott users, including how it fits into their day-to-day recruitment work.
Plus, we discuss Spott’s rapid rise and what it tells us about the pace of change in recruitment tech. A conversation about turning the data you already have into your next competitive advantage.

As 2026 starts to wrap up, Chris and Lee take a look back at the year that was in recruitment, what changed, where the market moved and what they’ve been seeing firsthand across the industry.
They unpack which sectors have been booming, where hiring demand has picked up (or slowed down), and how the recruitment market has evolved over the past 12 months.
They also get into what recruiters are looking for when considering their next role, what agencies are looking for when hiring recruiters, and how expectations on both sides have shifted this year.
Finally, they look ahead to 2027 and share their predictions for where the recruitment market could be heading next.
A year-in-review of the recruitment market from two people who spend every day talking to recruiters, agencies and leaders across the industry.

In this episode of The Special Source, Chris and Lee sit down with experienced recruiter Cheri Randell to talk recruitment, relationships and what it takes to consistently succeed in an ever-changing market.
Cheri's career has taken her from high-volume IT contracting in London, to building an IT desk in Melbourne, through to executive search in the public sector. She shares the lessons and habits that have shaped her career, why strong relationships remain at the heart of great recruitment, and what separates successful recruiters in today’s tougher market.
A great listen for recruiters looking to sharpen their approach, build stronger relationships and stay relevant as the industry continues to change.

We’re switching things up on The Special Source this week, with a look behind the scenes at what it really takes to run a financially healthy recruitment agency.
Lee and Chris are joined by Maurice Sucevic from The Gild Group. As a Virtual CFO for a number of Recruitment Agencies, he understands the unique financial challenges that come with the industry.
We cover what is the average cost of a recruiters seat in an agency, the biggest factors impacting profitability and cash flow, and what agency owners can do to build and maintain a financially healthy business.
Maurice also shares some practical insights into where agencies commonly get caught out and what owners should be paying closer attention to as they grow.
A slightly different Special Source this week, with plenty of useful takeaways for anyone running, growing or thinking about starting a recruitment agency.
Tune in to hear Maurice, Lee and Chris unpack the financial side of recruitment.

In this episode, we sit down with Nicole Clarke, Co Founder and CEO of Shazamme, to explore what modern marketing really looks like in the age of AI.
This isn’t a conversation filled with marketing buzzwords and theory. Nicole shares practical, actionable advice for recruitment businesses looking to improve their digital presence, get found in search results, and turn their website into a genuine growth engine.
We discuss how AI is changing the way people discover businesses online, why your website has become more important than ever, and the steps you can take to improve visibility across both traditional and AI-powered search. Nicole also shares insights on choosing the right technology, using data effectively, differentiating yourself from competitors, and creating a digital strategy that delivers measurable results.
Whether you’re looking to attract more candidates, generate more leads, or simply ensure your business remains visible in an AI-first world, this episode is packed with practical tips you can start applying today.

How different is recruitment in Australia compared to the UK?
In this episode, Hannah Stock from Six Degrees Executive shares how a move to Australia completely changed her perception of the recruitment industry. We explore the differences between large agencies and boutique firms, key insights into the Australian recruitment market, and the lessons that come from stepping outside your comfort zone and embracing unexpected opportunities.
Whether you’re considering a move abroad, a career in recruitment, or simply looking for a fresh perspective on career growth, this episode offers practical insights and real-world experience.

In this episode, we’re joined by Lucinda Ridd from AILR. Lucinda works with Recruitment Agencies helping them implement the right Tech, AI and Automation for their business.
Taking a slightly different approach from our usual conversations, Lucinda shares practical insights into how Recruitment Agencies can use process design, automation and AI to improve efficiency, create consistency and free up valuable time.
Rather than focusing on theory, this discussion is packed with real-world examples and actionable takeaways that will help you think differently about the way work flows through your practice. Whether you're looking to streamline recruitment operations, reduce manual tasks or explore how AI can support your team, you'll come away with ideas you can start applying straight away on your desk and in your agency. 

This week on The Special Source, we sit down with Anton Roe from Halcyon Knights to tackle some of the biggest questions facing the recruitment industry in 2026.
Is recruitment still fundamentally a sales job, or has the role evolved beyond traditional business development and candidate placement? Are agencies hiring the right people for the realities of modern recruitment? And with AI dominating industry conversations, is it genuinely transforming recruiter performance or simply creating noise and distractions that pull recruiters away from what matters most?
We also explore the skills that will define the next generation of successful recruiters, from relationship-building and commercial acumen to adaptability in an increasingly technology-driven landscape.
Whether you're a recruiter, recruitment leader, or agency owner, this episode offers a candid discussion on where the industry is heading and what recruiters need to do to stay relevant and thrive.

This week’s episode is a little different from our usual conversations, and that’s exactly why it’s worth the listen.
We’re joined by Verge Das Neves, executive search recruiter from Boyd & Moore, who works at the highest levels of recruitment, placing senior leaders and executives where the stakes (and salaries) are high.
We unpack what really happens behind the scenes in executive search, the qualities that separate top candidates from the rest, and bust a few myths about executive recruiters along the way.
It’s a fascinating look into a side of recruitment most people never see, from relationship-building and reputation to why the best opportunities often never get advertised.
Whether you’re in recruitment, leadership, or just curious about how executive hiring actually works, this episode brings a completely different perspective from the recruiter conversations we usually have.

What does it really take to build a high-performing recruitment business in 2026?In this episode of The Special Source, we sit down with Simon Yeung, Managing Director at Talent International, to break down what separates average recruiters from elite performers.With over 25 years in the industry, Simon shares how Talent consistently produces $1M+ billers, maintains low staff turnover, and builds a culture that actually lasts.We cover everything from market conditions across Australia to the real shift happening in recruitment, and why the old “360 recruiter” model might not be the future.If you're serious about building a long-term career in recruitment (or scaling a team), this one is packed with practical insight.