A year after buying out Peace Recruitment through an MBO, Alison Blake, Craig Wishart, and Lewis Potter join Will to share what the first 12 months have really been like, the highs, the setbacks, and what it takes to lead through change.

Alison Blake, Craig Wishart, and Lewis Potter are the co-owners of Peace Recruitment, a Scotland-based construction and property recruitment firm. Following their MBO from founder Chris Peace, the trio have spent the past year reshaping the business, evolving its culture, building a new team, and balancing billing with business ownership.

Key Insights:

– From Employees to Owners: The trio share the reality of running a business after an MBO, from legal complexities to cash flow shocks and unexpected staff turnover.

– Building Their Own Team: Early challenges forced them to rebuild ultimately creating what they describe as their “strongest team yet.”

– Embracing Change: “Change is inevitable, think solutions, not problems.” Their leadership mindset focuses on adaptability and learning through challenges.

– Communication & Culture: Open conversations, visibility, and trust have been key to keeping the team motivated during transition.

– The Power of People: As tech and AI reshape recruitment, their mission is to keep the human element, investing in relationships, personality, and authentic client connection.

– What’s Next: Continued growth, new service lines, and building a business that creates ownership opportunities for the next generation of recruiters.

If you’re leading through change or considering an MBO, this episode is packed with lessons on leadership, resilience, and keeping recruitment human.