Want to grow profitable recruitment business with a highly motivated team that doesn't need you to babysit 24/7? Click here to download your free copy of The Insider's Guide To Growing A Recruitment Business You Love
Centred Excellence
Performance development, recruitment training and coaching for recruitment business owners, managers and independent recruiters.
Success Stories
Jan-Lütje scaled his recruitment business from €20K solo months to €1.1M
- Smarter hiring and improved BD processes
- All with just 2.5 recruiters
Jan-Lütje Thoden
Founder, Start to Finish
The Situation
Jan-Lütje Thoden, founder of Start to Finish, a recruitment business specialising in digital marketing and leadership roles, began as a solo operator, doing €20K-€30K months. “I was doing everything myself, but I knew the business could do so much more,” Jan recalls. His days were long and exhausting. He’d cycle to a coworking space with a 400 Euro laptop, blocking out meeting rooms for calls and client outreach, hustling to push his business forward.
Despite all his hard work, Jan-Lütje soon hit a wall. He was using outdated cold-calling, BD methods and found himself stretched thin, juggling client outreach, admin, and operations on his own. He knew Start to Finish had untapped potential in the recruitment market, but without the right systems and a team to support him, scaling the business seemed impossible.
Though Initially sceptical about seeking outside help, Jan-Lütje realised he couldn’t break through on his own. He reached out to Centred Excellence. “I was hesitant, but Katy and Nicky really understood what I was going through,” he admits.
After his first discovery call Jan-Lütje understood unlocking his business’s potential wasn’t about doing more of what he was already doing — it was about doing things totally different – in new ways he hadn’t thought of before. He joined ROCKIT, set a clear vision and began implementing like a demon:
The Outcome Jan-Lütje Wanted:
- To scale his business from €20K-€30K months to beyond €1 million in annual revenue.
- Build a team to take over key roles, reducing his need to manage everything alone.
- Move away from outdated cold-calling methods that were no longer effective.
- Implement streamlined, automated business development (BD) processes. This included using LinkedIn to consistently attract high-quality clients.
- Shift the business model to focus on retained recruitment services, providing stable and predictable revenue.
- Gain more personal freedom by stepping back from daily operations and reducing stress.
- Establish Start to Finish as a leader in the recruitment industry, specifically in digital marketing and leadership roles.
Final Words From Jan-Lütje About ROCKIT and His Learnings
“We managed to hit €1.1 million with just two and a half people. Now we’re on our way to €2 million! So keep things simple. It’s not about having more or doing more. Less is more—it’s about working smarter, not harder. That’s how you reduce stress, simplify your life, and still achieve more.
I used to think I could figure everything out on my own, but when you work with people who’ve achieved five times what you have, you realise how much you can learn.
So, get coaching—it’ll show you your blind spots, and help you get your processes dialled in to scale faster than you could ever do on your own.”
Listen to what Jan-Lütje has to say:
Implementation and Results
After joining ROCKIT, Jan-Lütje took focused action to transform Start to Finish. He implemented strategic changes, automated processes, and built a stronger team. As a result, he unlocked the full potential of the business and achieved rapid revenue growth, surpassing the €1 million mark. Here’s how he made it happen:
- Moved away from outdated cold-calling methods and implemented a new business development (BD) process using LinkedIn to consistently attract high-quality clients.
- Enhanced his team model and hired 2 recruiters and one marketing person. By placing the right people in the right roles, Jan increased profits while gaining the flexibility to take time off when needed.
- Shifted the business model from contingency placements to retained recruitment services. This change stabilised cash flow and provided predictable, consistent revenue.
- Systematised key processes, including client follow-ups, allowing Jan to focus on high-ROI areas of the business and significantly reduce his workload.
- Achieved rapid revenue growth from €360K to over €1.1M within 12 months, tripling revenue without a significant increase in headcount.
- Implemented quick 90-day revenue plans while maintaining long-term strategic focus. This drove both short-term gains and sustainable growth.
- Streamlined systems gave Jan the freedom to focus on leadership and strategic growth rather than day-to-day operations.
- Stepped back from daily operations, reducing stress and improving work-life balance. Jan now continues to lead Start to Finish toward even greater success.
Final Words From Dawn About Working With Centred Excellence
“Nicky and Katy have helped me in so many ways. Handling my mindset has been hard for me alongside some of the issues that we’d had at the beginning of the year.
Then, becoming unwell myself, it was challenging to drag myself in and have that positive mindset. I had to have it. I had to keep going. I had a purpose and a belief that was in the pit of my stomach that no matter what, I’ve got to keep going and I did and look at the results.
My final words of advice is; follow the process and just do it. And that’s what it comes down to, do it. The programme Nicky and Katy run gives you the blueprint; it’s the map.
When we first spoke Nicky used the example of the pilot taking 500 excited people to Disney World and that most of the time on route they are off course.
However, they still have a map for where they’re going, because they’ve got 500 passengers on there that want to get to Disney World.
You give us that map. You give us that blueprint to do it. And it’s down to us, yes we might deviate off course, that’s fine, but if you follow that map and you follow the blueprint, you will get to Disney World; and I have to say it is magical when you get there.”
Dawn Turbitt MD of KSB Recruitment
Listen to what Dawn has to say:
Implementation and Results
Dawn set a new vision for the company with Katy and Nicky’s help.
With a new lease of energy and belief in hereself and the team, Dawn started to direct, coach and lead the consultants to success.
Dawn set a stretch goal of £750,000 in turnover in 12 months; bearing in mind in Feb 2018 her turnover was £16,805.
Dawn started by rigorously implementing a 90-day plan following Nicky’s structure. This included setting revenue goals, analysing how many placements they would need and how many interviews would have to take place.
KPI’s were set, and the consultants followed an accountability process; including Dawn, who shared her results on the whiteboard too; the team were buzzing.
Dawn actioned Nicky and Katy’s Gold and Silver job process with her team and removed 50% of the current unprofitable jobs they were working off the board.
The consultants started ‘specking out’ candidates using the Centredexcellence MPC strategy.
Dawn instigated a performance management process across the team resulting in the non performers leaving. This left Dawn and a small focussed team. There are two perm consultants, two temp, Dawn and a part-time secretary.
Interested in getting the same results?
More Success Stories
1st Retained Project at 25% Fee!
Best Week Ever In 3 Years!!!!
Team Made 5 Placements All In Her Absence…
Achieved £1m Turnover Business
2nd Best January For 5 Years!!!
Bigger Client Higher Rates
