Interview with Cath Harrison, Founder and Managing Director of JVP Group

1)        Who are you and what do you do?

I’m Cath Harrison, the Founder and Managing Director of JVP Group, an award winning recruitment advertising company based in Bodelwyddan, North Wales.

JVP support employers across the UK to attract and assess talent efficiently and effectively in this ever evolving digital focused world. We do this through our comprehensive and unique approach to online recruitment advertising and applicant testing, and provision of our innovative online applicant management software. The JVP team follow a tried and tested approach that combines fresh creative thinking with complete transparency and a second-to-none service.

2)        What inspired you to launch JVP?

Having built many years’ experience in the recruitment industry working in agencies and hiring within my own teams, I launched JVP in direct response to the changing recruitment landscape, particularly in terms of the use of technology and how employers can best attract and directly engage with potential employees. The decision to launch JVP was made whilst taking part in the LEAD Wales programme where I was working alongside like-minded business leaders, and where I gained an insight into a spectrum of business issues, including staffing challenges faced by a variety of organisations.

I found that business owners and HR professionals’ frustrations ranged from high recruitment consultant fees, to wanting to be involved in the recruitment process but lacking the time and resources to do it properly. With over 90% of job seekers searching for employment online, I recognised that the market lacked comprehensive online recruitment advertising services that combined expert support from an experienced recruiter, user-friendly technology, wide yet targeted vacancy exposure and a completely transparent approach, and thus, JVP was created.

3)      What is your proudest moment in business so far?

There have been many highlights since the business was launched nearly three years ago. Receiving this feedback from the HR Director at Boots Hearingcare was certainly a testament to the hard work that the team puts in to exceed the expectations of all our clients across the UK.

"JVP has enabled Boots Hearingcare to attract the best people, not only for our support office but for all our retail stores across the UK. The online portal provides a recruitment tool which allows us to display and promote our recruitment branding consistently for all vacancies across the UK and has driven real efficiencies in the time it takes to engage with applicants, key strengths for attracting the right candidates. The JVP team provide a first class expert recruitment service and have provided us with quality recruitment consultancy advice, despite us giving them extremely tight deadlines – none of which they failed to deliver against. They have the unique ability to be external recruitment specialists who feel like they work in my team." 

Over the past year, our success and the lovely feedback we have received from our clients has led us to being awarded ‘Best for Online Recruitment Advertising - UK’ in the Corporate Vision Recruitment Awards 2015, we were also announced as winners of ‘Excellence in Online Recruitment Advertising – UK’ in Corporate Livewire’s ‘Innovation & Excellence Awards 2016’.  In addition, we were announced finalists for not one but two ‘Entrepreneur Wales Awards’, a ‘Global Recruiter Industry Award’, and for ‘Business Start Up Award’ in Daily Post’s Business Awards 2015. The recognition we have received for our services both directly from clients and awarding bodies, have been my proudest moments in business.

4)      What’s the best piece of advice you can give to anyone looking to start their own business?

There’s one quote which always sticks in my mind:

“If your business depends on you, you don’t own a business – you have a job. And it’s the worst job in the world because you’re working for a lunatic.” 

As you develop your business, one of the most crucial aspects is ensuring you have the right team in place. As a business owner, you need to make sure that you are taking the time to plan and work on the business, instead of just in it. Having a trustworthy, passionate team who believe in the business will help drive your business forward.

5)      How can we find out more about JVP?

You’re more than welcome to pop over to our offices in Bodelwyddan to chat over refreshments, or to learn more about the services offered by JVP Group visit www.JVPGroup.co.uk, call us on 0844 967 4467 or email services@JVPGroup.co.uk.

Following the tremendous success of the JVP Roadshow over the last year, we’ll be rolling out more informative and engaging seminars for HR professionals and business owners across North Wales and Cheshire. For more information and to reserve your complimentary place visit: JVPGroup.Eventbrite.co.uk 

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