Life as a CNA International executive search franchise newbie!

Nicola Morris had enjoyed over 15 years’ experience in recruitment and human resources across both public and private sectors including retail, regulation and marketing sectors. Her career was feeling pretty good… And then…

After a couple of redundancies in the space of 6 months she needed to review where her career was going. She’d spent all of her working life supporting managers and businesses, with at times very little recognition, and decided that now was the time she wanted to be her own boss for a change.

“I was also becoming frustrated with the concepts that most businesses adopt i.e that time working + physical presence = results.”

Having a young family – 2 boys aged 10 and 8, and the constant stream of after school activities and morning assemblies, meant that not many new employers would welcome Nicola into their business with open arms!

Nicola is extremely ambitious and wanting to make a success of herself. “I felt the only way I was able to work hard and achieve success in a flexible way was to work for myself. “

At the end of 2014 Nicola registered a limited company called Embed People Solutions with the aim to work in partnership with SMEs to support their recruitment, on-boarding and HR activities. After much time networking and marketing the new business she realised a sole proprietor her offerings were not niche enough and in truth she was an extremely small fish in a HUGE pond.

With her HR and Organisational Development background it was obvious where her specialism should sit but the thought of re- branding was a scary prospect. More by luck than judgement Nicola was introduced to Gavin Chase, a 20 year veteran of the recruitment industry and the

Franchise Development Partner at CNA International executive search.

“I quickly saw the benefit of joining an established brand, being part of a bigger organisation whilst still maintaining control of my own business and success…”

Nicola invested in her franchise with CNA International, Part of the Pertemps Network Group of companies in March 2015.

Within a week Nicola was feeling the benefits of being part of a larger group of like-minded entrepreneurs. Contrary to even the franchisor’s expectations she had some immediate successes with new clients and revenues that allowed her the time to build a flourishing recruitment business.

In September this year she was invited by the CNA Central & Eastern European offices to fly out to Slovakia as a guest speaker and panel member along with expert speakers from Deloitte, BPP, MetLife and T-Systems. This was a three day HR event co-hosted by American Chamber of Commerce with the key theme around Talent Acquisition and Talent Management.

“I had the opportunity to visit three major cities in Slovakia – Bratislava, Kosice and Zilina – whilst being on the same platform as a keynote speakers and experts from a global Top 4 Consultancy. It would never happen as a sole trader!”

“I am excited about growing my business over the next few years under the CNA International brand. It has given me the profile, credibility and confidence to excel at what I love. Finding a franchise was definitely the right thing for me.”