LHR Recruitment & Retention is a leading independent agency, working with clients across the northwest and beyond. Founded by Laura Hartley in 2009, the company specialises in finding and retaining the best employees for the public, private and third-party sectors.
Over the last two years, LHR has moved away from being a traditional recruitment agency and taken a more consultative approach. This is because different clients have different problems when recruiting, and Laura felt she and her team could be part of the solution by offering new services.
This includes Talent for Good, which is a unique approach to recruitment that’s designed for busy entrepreneurs who are not sure what they are looking for or need. The LHR team can step in and provide support with both the recruiting and the onboarding of new staff.
A second service, Recruitment Microschool, is available to clients globally and provides online training and mentoring for business owners and their managers. With the support of a mentor, clients are taken step-by-step through the recruitment process so they can achieve more successful recruitment outcomes.
The success of LHR has meant the team has grown, and Laura now has a manager who runs the day-to-day recruitment side of the business. This has allowed Laura more time to coach clients as well as start a new business – Merchandise 4 Impact.
Laura and her partner Neil had seen an opportunity to add value to her recruitment and coaching clients by offering employee welcome packs and branded clothing. But Laura wanted to go one step further and start a business that gives back and makes a difference.
Every time her clients make a purchase with Merchandise 4 Impact, they are also helping to support inspirational projects and transform lives around the world. Any clients that are a Community Interest Company (CIC) or have their own charitable foundation, can instead opt to receive a donation.
Since launching earlier this year, the business has already worked with some leading household names, national charities, and construction companies. It has supplied a wide range of branded promotional gifts, employee gift boxes, and workwear across the UK.
And it’s due to this success and enjoyment of working alongside Neil, that Laura is so pleased to be able to sponsor the Family Business Award. Laura said: “LHR has been sponsoring business awards since we started. That’s because I love celebrating success and being able to get behind and promote Lancashire businesses.
“But I’m particularly pleased to be able to sponsor the EVAS Family Business Award. Since starting Merchandise 4 Impact I have discovered just how rewarding working in a family business can be. Being able to share your ideas and successes with people you love is a wonderful experience.”