Is the recruitment model changing for good?
From Talking Recruitment by Recruitment & Employment Confederation
April 22, 2026 · 30 min
About this episode
This episode discusses the shifting recruitment model in response to legislative changes and economic uncertainty.
As the pace of legislative change accelerates, this episode of Talking Recruitment asks a bigger question: is the recruitment model itself starting to shift? Neil Carberry is joined by Ross Thompson (Infinity Staff Global) and Simon Whitehead (Brabners) to explore how rising compliance demands, increased enforcement and ongoing economic uncertainty are reshaping how agencies operate. The conversation looks at the growing weight of risk on recruitment businesses, the impact on traditional high-volume, contingent models, and the need for agencies to better articulate their value to clients. With compliance taking up more time and resource, there is a clear shift towards more advisory, specialist approaches; supported by better use of technology and, in some cases, offshore delivery. At the same time, the fundamentals remain: understanding clients, building trust and delivering quality. The agencies best placed to succeed will be those that adapt quickly, invest in their operating model and take a more transparent, consultative approach in a changing market. Guests • Ross Thompson, Executive Manager, Infinity Staff Global • Simon Whitehead, Partner, Brabners
People in this episode
Host: Neil Carberry
Guests: Ross Thompson, Simon Whitehead
Topics covered
- recruitment model
- legislative change
- compliance
- economic uncertainty
- agency operations
- advisory approaches
- technology in recruitment
Keywords
- recruitment
- compliance
- economic uncertainty
- agency operations
- advisory approaches
- technology
- risk management
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Infinity Staff Global, Brabners
More episodes of Talking Recruitment
- Untapped talent: creating pathways into work · June 3, 2026 · 29 min
- Has EDI been deprioritised – or is it evolving? · May 20, 2026 · 33 min
- Global recruitment trends: what’s next for UK agencies? · May 6, 2026 · 30 min
- Employment Rights Act: What next for recruiters? · April 9, 2026 · 33 min
- Hiring for growth: how to avoid costly mis-hires in recruitment with Dominic Waters · March 31, 2026 · 35 min
- Get April Ready: What you need to know about the Employment Rights Act · March 18, 2026 · 42 min
Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Talking Recruitment podcast page.