the hot seat

Ian Temple, Managing Director, Hydrogen

Hydrogen is a group of specialist recruitment consultancies which add value to clients by delivering 'scarce' candidates for roles that are difficult, time consuming and expensive for employers to fill themselves. With a balanced portfolio of contract and permanent business split between financial services and commerce and industry, Hydrogen delivers recruitment solutions covering Audit, HR, Law, Sales, Finance and IT.

What attracted you to the recruitment sector?

I saw the recruitment sector as a maturing professional service market going through a lot of change which many in it saw as a threat. I saw it as a significant opportunity. I loved the transparency, where it was obvious who was good and who added value and the rewards followed the results

What advice would you give to Consultants starting their recruitment career?

Listen to the facts about what companies and people have actually done not what they are going to do for example what people actually bill and earn at the business

What’s the greatest challenge facing your business now?

Continuing to find the talent to continue our organic growth. We grew 40% organically last year and with 300 staff the more talented people we have the faster we can grow

What’s your worst habit and how have you overcome it?

Getting excited about the next opportunity and not focusing on current priorities. We have structured the business to keep people focused to build expertise and strength and so we retain this focus while also building for the future

What’s been your best business decision?

All my best business decisions are about the people I work with – we have a great team that has evolved as the business has grown

What do you drive?

Aston Martin DB9 but the Gwizz is on order

How do you relax?

I have 4 boys – so I don’t.

What time do you start work?

7.30am – I hate traveling at rush hour