Learn How Lisa and Liz Halved Their Workload While Doubling Their Job Fill Rate

Company Evolution and Challenges

Company Background and Growth

Jarvis and Johnson marked their 25th anniversary in 2023, having established themselves as specialists in food manufacturing recruitment. Lisa Johnson founded the company after identifying a gap in the market – recruitment agencies lacking deep understanding of the food manufacturing sector. Over two decades, they built a focused team of seven, specialising in technical, quality, and product development roles. Liz Harrison joined a decade ago, bringing valuable industry experience from her previous role as an account manager at Carlsberg.

Market Shifts and Challenges

2022 delivered exceptional performance for Jarvis and Johnson, with abundant job orders and successful placements. However, 2023 brought significant challenges. Despite maintaining a steady flow of incoming roles, fill rates dropped considerably. Candidate mobility decreased, making it harder to secure placements. The team found themselves accepting a broader range of jobs rather than focusing on their core strengths, leading to inefficient use of resources and inconsistent cash flow. This pattern of one strong month followed by significant drops in revenue created anxiety around meeting regular payroll commitments.

Initial Response to Difficulties

Before implementing structured changes, Lisa and Liz attempted various solutions through one-off courses and different business development processes. These efforts, whilst well-intentioned, proved scattered and lacked coherence. They also experienced a higher than usual candidate withdrawal rate at final stages, further impacting their placement success. The need for a more systematic, long-term approach became increasingly apparent as these challenges persisted.

From In The Business To On The Business

Gaining Broader Perspective

Lisa and Liz found themselves deeply entrenched in day-to-day operations, handling everything from recruitment to business development and finances. This hands-on approach left little room for strategic thinking or business growth. Through their transformation journey, they learned to step back and view their business from above, enabling them to spot patterns, identify inefficiencies, and make data-driven decisions about their company’s direction.

Leveraging Personal Strengths

Understanding individual strengths revolutionised how Lisa and Liz approached their roles within Jarvis and Johnson. Lisa naturally excelled at creative tasks, whilst Liz demonstrated exceptional numerical analysis skills. By acknowledging and embracing these differences, they restructured their responsibilities to align with their natural talents. This self-awareness extended to their team members, allowing them to assign tasks based on individual strengths rather than trying to force everyone to be all-rounders.

Implementation and Commitment

Implementing change required significant dedication from both Lisa and Liz. They allocated specific time for reviewing materials, meeting with their coach Emily, and developing internal processes. Rather than waiting for perfection, they adopted the mantra “done is better than perfect” and focused on swift implementation followed by continuous improvement. This approach, whilst challenging at times, proved crucial in maintaining momentum and achieving tangible results within their nine-month transformation period.

Embracing Change and New Systems

Initial Implementation Challenges

At the start of their business transformation journey, Lisa Johnson and Liz Harrison encountered some discomfort with new processes. Moving from a reactive, email-based client communication style to a structured approach with mandatory Teams meetings required significant adjustment. The process felt awkward initially, particularly when introducing new meeting schedules and communication protocols to long-standing clients.

Converting Challenges to Routine

Over time, what once felt uncomfortable became second nature for the Jarvis and Johnson team. The initial resistance to structured client meetings transformed into a seamless part of their workflow. This shift proved particularly valuable for remote working arrangements, where the daily 10-minute team catch-ups became an essential part of maintaining strong communication and productivity. As these new systems became embedded in their daily operations, the team began to experience the benefits of increased efficiency and improved client relationships.

Building Long-term Success

The persistence in maintaining new initiatives, despite initial awkwardness, led to measurable improvements in business performance. What started as conscious efforts to change became natural parts of their business operation. These changes contributed significantly to their improved fill rates and stronger client relationships, demonstrating how short-term discomfort can yield substantial long-term benefits when new processes are given time to become routine.

Implementing Effective Systems

Value of Simple Solutions

Lisa and Liz discovered that the most impactful changes often came from straightforward systems. Their daily 10-minute team calls, whilst basic in structure, dramatically improved team communication and accountability. They learned that complex solutions weren’t necessary for significant improvements – their two-meeting client process helped achieve a 97% fill rate on exclusive roles through simple, consistent application.

Systematic Approach to Growth

The systematic approach to business improvement yielded measurable results for Jarvis and Johnson. By implementing basic but effective processes, they transformed their recruitment operations. Their streamlined client engagement process reduced placement timelines from six weeks to four weeks, whilst their focused approach to job selection helped double their fill rate from 20% to 48%. These improvements demonstrated how straightforward systems, consistently applied, could drive substantial business growth.

Continuous Learning Journey

Within the programme, Lisa and Liz gained access to proven frameworks that could be adapted to their specific needs in food manufacturing recruitment. Rather than attempting to reinvent their processes entirely, they focused on implementing tested systems that could be refined over time. This approach allowed them to make incremental improvements whilst maintaining their core business operations, leading to sustainable growth without disrupting their existing client relationships.

Managing Business Operations and Team Culture

Remote Leadership Success

Lisa Johnson’s first two-week holiday in 15 years to Canada marked a significant milestone in their business transformation. With clear processes in place, Liz confidently managed business development whilst Lisa was away. The team operated effectively through established systems, demonstrating how their new structure enabled genuine time off without constant workplace monitoring.

Effective Team Communication

The implementation of daily 10-minute Teams calls revolutionised their remote working approach. These brief but focused meetings enabled clear visibility of ongoing projects, immediate problem-solving, and consistent team alignment. Moving beyond their previous quarterly meeting structure, the team now addresses challenges promptly, leading to faster decision-making and implementation of solutions.

Streamlined Review Process

Alongside daily catch-ups, Jarvis and Johnson established a more comprehensive Wednesday meeting format. This mid-week review allows deeper discussion of strategic matters whilst maintaining day-to-day operational efficiency. The combination of daily quick checks and weekly detailed reviews ensures nothing falls through the cracks, particularly with team members working remotely. This structured approach maintains high standards of client service whilst reducing management stress.

Empowered Decision Making

Each team member now has direct responsibility for specific clients and roles, reporting daily on their progress. This ownership encourages proactive problem-solving and reduces the need for constant management oversight. Previously, Liz needed to provide substantial input on every vacancy to maintain momentum. The new structure enables consultants to drive their own assignments forward, fostering both independence and accountability.

Culture of Support

Daily communication helps identify challenges early, allowing the team to collaborate on solutions quickly. Whether working remotely or in the office, team members can easily reach out for support or offer assistance to colleagues. This environment of mutual support, combined with clear individual responsibilities, has created a more dynamic and effective team culture at Jarvis and Johnson.