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
Tamlyn Transformed Her Business Model—Her Team Stepped Up & Doubled Average Billings While She Worked Less!
- 46% growth in turnover with half the headcount
- Took her first fully unplugged holiday in 14 years
Tamlyn Redmond
Managing Director, Recruitment Matters Africa
The Situation
Tamlyn Redmond built a thriving recruitment business spanning Cape Town, Zambia, Zimbabwe, the UK, and Ireland, with a team of 50 employees. But as the business grew, so did the demands on her time.
“I was really hands-on in the business, but it left me no time to work strategically. I was burning out and even questioning if I’d made the right decision staying in recruitment.”
Tamlyn was juggling it all—running a desk, hitting billing targets, and constantly onboarding new hires. But too many consultants left before making an impact, keeping her stuck in an endless cycle of hiring and training. Trapped in the outdated 360 model, she felt overwhelmed and unable to step away.
Then, the unthinkable happened. Tamlyn was diagnosed with cancer, forcing her out of the business for six months. This crisis became her turning point.
“I knew something had to change. I needed help, structure, and a different way of working.”
Tamlyn took the leap and joined Centred Excellence, not realising just how transformative the next year would be.
The Outcome Tamlyn Wanted:
- Step away from daily operations without revenue or performance suffering.
- Move beyond 360 recruitment to a structured, scalable model.
- Reduce staff turnover by aligning consultants to roles that fit their strengths.
- Increase average fees by focusing on high-value clients and turning away low-yield work.
- Systemise recruitment processes to improve efficiency, conversion rates, and client satisfaction.
- Track performance with clear metrics to make data-backed business decisions.
- Build a business that runs without her, giving her financial success and personal freedom.
With these goals in mind, Tamlyn joined ROCKIT, ready to transform her business and reclaim her time.
Final Words From Tamlyn About ROCKIT and Her Learnings
“I was burning out, questioning if I’d even made the right decision staying in recruitment. Now, I love my business again. I’m working on it, not in it, and my team is thriving.
If you’re feeling stuck, I get it—I’ve been there. I couldn’t see a way out, but with the right support, structure, and mindset shifts, everything changed. My business has grown, my stress has dropped, and I finally have the freedom I wanted.
The first step is the most daunting, but it’s also the most important. I’ve learned that if you just start, the momentum follows. JFDI—just go and do it.”
Listen to what Tamlyn has to say:
Implementation and Results
Tamlyn restructured her business, refining her model, systemising processes, and empowering her team—delivering outstanding growth while stepping back from day-to-day operations.
- Shifted from 360 to a structured model, ensuring consultants worked in roles that suited their strengths.
- Refined client focus, dropping low-value work and doubling down on high-profit niche desks.
- Doubled average billings—going from 38K to 78K while boosting profitability.
- 46% growth in turnover with half the headcount, proving higher efficiency and scalability.
- Created a clear recruitment blueprint, ensuring consistent success across the team.
- Implemented performance metrics, improving visibility on conversion rates, job quality, and revenue impact.
- Optimised job conversion, reducing candidate calls from 30 to 8 per day while increasing success rates.
- Strengthened staff retention, eliminating the constant hiring and training cycle.
- Created accountability structures, allowing the business to run without her daily involvement.
- Took her first fully unplugged holiday in 14 years, with the business running successfully in her absence.
- Gained full control over her time, prioritising health, family, and leadership.
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
