Member Article

One man show recruitment firm achieves £300k turnover multinational operation in 2 years

Bramhope businessman Kieron Wright set up office for his specialist recruitment firm Merlin Wright Associates in 2012 via Leeds Metropolitan University’s business centre, QU2 as a one man show.

Less than two years on he has a turnover of £300k and operates in 12 countries with clients ranging from Nestlé to Procter & Gamble.

Based in the serviced offices of Churchwood at Leeds Met’s Headingley Campus, Kieron has recently appointed associate consultant Jemma Wilde to assist with supporting the delivery of the business.

He also employs two researchers in France and just this month opened a Merlin Wright office in Stockholm, where the firm’s non-executive director is based.

What’s more Kieron wants to expand his team further by offering an internship to a graduating student.

Kieron said: “My business is intellectual property recruitment, also known as headhunting. We recruit key people with unique and specialist skills across multiple industry sectors.

“All of our work is based outside of the UK and the business has been well received by the market. We have clients across Europe, in America and also in China, and we are on target to expand our output further.

“For the first nine months of my business I was working from my home in Bramhope and while it’s still early days it’s very rewarding to see the firm grow as it is. Part of my strategy for moving forward is to look at potential paid internships for graduating students with drive and passion.

Kieron said his next focus was to secure the opening of Merlin Wright offices in Paris and Munich. In relation to choosing Leeds Met’s serviced offices as his base, he commented:

QU2, which has offices available for up to eight people, has offered business centre and business support services for more than 10 years in Queen Square.

Leeds Metropolitan University has supported the start-up and growth of more than 600 businesses, creating over 1300 jobs in the region with a collective turnover of more than £42 million.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Clare Burnett .