Redundancies lead to new business

Two redundancies, a baby and a new company all mean the lives of Warwickshire couple Craig and Clare Quick have altered dramatically over the last few months. When Clare was made redundant by Reed Employment and Craig suffered the same fate at XpertHR in Surrey, the couple decided to launch their own specialist human resources recruitment and training business. In between losing their jobs and launching Morgan Reid at the University of Warwick Science Park’s Business Innovation Centre in Binley, their first child, Harrison, was born just before Christmas. And Craig admitted it has certainly been a busy few months! ‘We have both been in the recruitment industry for several years and I met Clare while working at Reed Employment,’ said Craig. ‘Running our own business was something we had always wanted to do, We had been looking to put our idea into action when the recession had ‘bottomed out’ and there were some green shoots of recovery but when we were both made redundant, we took the opportunity to start it now. Our first child, Harrison, was born on December 20, and we started the business in the New Year so it has been a bit manic! Having worked near the Science Park at Orchard Court this is an area I know well. It is easy to reach from where we live and the science park has excellent facilities. It has been a really good choice.’ Morgan Reid meets the specialist HR recruitment needs for permanent and temporary workers for a variety of clients in the financial services, public sector, industry and commerce, professional services and not-for-profit organisations. As well as recruiting through traditional methods, the company can undertake executive searches or dual branded advertising. Craig said the name of the company had been inspired by entrepreneur and former Dragons’ Den investor James Caan. ‘We studied James and his career due to his success in the recruitment industry. His autobiography talks about how he started out, creating brand awareness and client and candidate attraction. Obviously there were a lot of things in there that made commercial sense and even though the recruitment industry has moved on since his early days, the fundamental processes are the same.’ he said. ‘It’s all about service and delivery; we’re trying to promote a professional organisation and the name fits with that.’ Karen Aston, the centre manager of the University of Warwick’s Binley site, said Morgan Reid was benefiting from its Ignite programme which had been set up to help start-up companies and businesses in the early stages of growth. ‘Ignite is a free business development programme which gives practical advice and support to companies who are just starting out,’ she said. ‘We also have a range of smaller offices here through the Ignite programme that are designed for companies of one or two people. Morgan Reid is one of many businesses at our innovation centre in Binley who have been able to tap into this resource and also to gain use of our meeting rooms and conference facilities and wireless broadband – all areas which give a professional image when starting out. Craig and Clare have certainly had their professional and personal lives transformed over the last six months and I’m sure their careers are going to become even busier as the company goes from strength to strength.’ Anyone looking to recruit for HR and training staff or considering changing their career can gain further information by logging on to www.morganreid.co.uk. Pictured (L-R): Clare Quick, Karen Aston and Craig Quick at the University of Warwick Science Park’s Business Innovation Centre in Binley. Monday, 1st March 2010