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Get to Know Sara: A Recruitment Expert’s Approach to Senior Leadership Hiring

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Get to Know Sara: A Recruitment Expert’s Approach to Senior Leadership Hiring

​We are delighted to welcome Sara Frith to our team as our newest expert in senior appointments. With decades of experience in recruitment, Sara brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to our firm, making her an invaluable addition. Having partnered with some of the world’s leading organisations, her insights into talent acquisition and leadership development are exceptional.

In this exclusive sit-down interview, we delve into Sara’s career journey, her passion for recruitment, and what excites her most about this new chapter. Whether you're interested in the evolving landscape of senior leadership recruitment or keen to hear from one of the industry’s leading experts, this conversation promises to be both inspiring and thought-provoking.

1. Can you tell us about your background and career journey leading up to joining DRN? 
I started in FMCG Food Manufacturing recruitment in 2006 and have also over the years been fortunate to work across end-to-end Manufacturing including in Packaging, Pharmaceutical, Medical Device and Scientific recruitment plus a couple of retained assignments in automotive. I have built Manufacturing divisions and my teams for the businesses I have joined from scratch; I have managed teams from 8 to 12 reports. Seeing the business and individual transformations within an industry I love has been rewarding.

2. What attracted you to the recruitment industry, and what keeps you motivated in this field? 
I initially fell into recruitment after completing my degree majoring in biology with sports science. I’ve always loved science and sports, including swimming and running. I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do, but a recruiter reached out to me after university and placed me in a sales role- selling chemistry-based laboratory analysis to geo-environmental engineers. This was my starting point, and you could say that recruiter shaped my career path.  

The drive to succeed and the challenge of matching people to the right roles and watching them progress is extremely motivational. I moved into FMCG Manufacturing recruitment after researching the industry, and Redline, a company specialising in electronics and manufacturing, stood out to me, especially due to the manufacturing passion of the director, Iain Campbell who was infectious and to whom I owe my career.  

3. What made you decide to join DR Newitt specifically? 
Before joining DR Newitt, I had always viewed them as a key competitor. I had always been aware of their reputation but hadn’t considered them personally due to their location. However, post-Covid, the introduction of hybrid & remote working made it possible for me to consider joining. I was drawn to DRN due to its market-leading reputation, something I hadn’t experienced before having built divisions for non-food manufacturing businesses. I’m excited to join the team and to be focusing on senior appointments. 

4. Can you share some highlights from your previous roles and the experience you bring to our team? 
A key highlight was taking individuals with no recruitment experience and developing them into senior consultants and top billers with market-leading credibility in the industry as well as building and maintaining long-term client partnerships. I also recruited a few consultants from other recruitment companies and developed them to achieve career-best under my leadership. I grew my last division from scratch, expanding to a senior team of 7 consultants, each with 6-10 years’ service with me plus 3 researchers at its peak. My client and candidate testimonials received on LinkedIn are also something I’m proud of. 

5. How would you describe your leadership style? 
As a leader, I believe in leading from the front. I would never ask my team to do something I wouldn’t do myself. It’s important to build a culture of collaboration, where we work together toward success. Over the years, I've built senior teams and guided consultants to become top billers and credible industry specialists. I’m excited to continue leading by example at DR Newitt!

6. What’s the most exciting aspect of your new role here at DRN? 
I’m excited to be working with a larger and more senior team of industry specialists. It’s a great environment where I can continue learning, you never stop learning, even after 20 years of experience. Also, David speaking fluent French all day has been lovely to listen to! 

7. How do you approach building strong relationships with clients and candidates? 
Credibility is key with clients. I’ve travelled the UK for 20 years to spend time with my clients, get to know each line manager culturally, and the site systems to ensure I am an extension of their business to honour the brand and secure the right person fit. I still have an early memory from a Group HR Director meeting where, as a relatively new recruiter, when asked why I wanted to be on their PSL, I responded that I didn’t wish to join their PSL and that I wanted to work in partnership with them. If a PSL is required, then they aren’t working with the right recruiter. I went on to work closely with this client for 18 years after this meeting. 

8. What do you think makes a recruitment agency truly stand out in a competitive market? 
The longevity of client relationships and staff service length is a key indicator for me. A company that holds values and does things right. My psychometric outlines that I am a perfectionist, and delivery is key for me. I pride myself on being available around the clock, I’ve even taken a client brief on the treadmill on Boxing Day!  

9. What trends or changes have you noticed in the recruitment industry over the years, and how have they shaped your approach? 
The biggest changes have been post-Covid, especially with flexible working. This has allowed us to attract better talent, increasing talent pools. I have benefited tremendously from this flexible working, in my last business it proved to be a game-changer, increasing productivity whilst increasing the work-life balance. I’ve also seen major changes in infrastructure with the introduction of cloud-based systems and AI. The calibre of consultants has increased significantly, and the landscape has shifted – agencies that aren’t specialists are finding it harder to survive. 

10. Can you share a particular achievement or success story from your career that you're especially proud of? 
I’m incredibly proud of developing my consultants, especially those who started with little or no experience. One was an admin worker who transitioned to a resourcer and, within two years, became a 150K recruiter. A further example, an experienced recruitment office manager and business development professional within a temp and industrial environment joined and struggled to start with but flourished with support to bill £300,000 in 2022. Helping others reach their potential is what I love most about my career in recruitment. I’m also proud of my swimming achievements. I competed from the age of 6 up until I was 17 reaching the British National level.  

11. What do you think is the key to creating a successful and cohesive team in recruitment? 
It’s essential to work for a company that provides the necessary resources, from marketing to technology. A company that genuinely looks after you is enabling you to do what you love and be successful.  

12. What challenges do you anticipate in your new role, and how do you plan to tackle them? 
I think changing business is always a challenge, new people, processes and systems, especially after 15 years, but one I am loving so far. I signed a new client in my first week and I have been quite overwhelmed with client and candidate support, some 12,500 messages on LinkedIn.  

13. How do you balance the needs of clients with the expectations of candidates in a recruitment process? 
It’s all about communication. Keeping everyone updated with the most current information is key and ensuring that cultural fit and team dynamics are considered. I always make sure to spend time with clients and candidates to understand everything in detail.  

14. Outside of work, what are you passionate about or what do you enjoy doing in your free time? 
I’m passionate about sports – swimming, running, hiking, and going to the gym. I also enjoy spending time with my crazy Weimaraner dog. I’m originally from Wales so being remote and in the mountains is standard for me. It’s definitely my way of R&R. 

15. Finally, what are you most excited about in the coming months at DRN and how do you see yourself contributing to our growth? 
I’m excited to be working with a senior team of specialists and to help build on the success they already have.  

It’s clear that Sara's experience and passion for developing talent will be a valuable asset to DR Newitt. Her focus on building strong teams and client relationships will drive our growth, particularly in senior appointments. We’re excited to have her on board and look forward to the impact she’ll make. Welcome, Sara!