#feelthelove: Recruitment isn’t just about finding people – it’s about finding the right people

I’ve written before about the value of listening, building genuine partnerships and putting people first in healthcare recruitment.

While those articles have been rooted in the care sector, I’ve increasingly found myself thinking that these messages don’t belong to healthcare alone.

Because whether you’re running a care home, a construction company, a manufacturing business or an engineering firm, the challenge is fundamentally the same.

You aren’t simply recruiting people, you’re inviting them into your culture.

Too often, recruitment is reduced to numbers. A vacancy needs filling, a deadline is looming or a project has expanded. The obvious question becomes: “Who can start on Monday?”

I think a better question is: “Who is the right fit for our business?”

Those are very different things.

Across Yorkshire, almost every industry now relies on recruitment agencies at some point.

Construction firms use them to source skilled tradespeople. Manufacturers depend on them to maintain production. Logistics companies, hospitality businesses and retailers all turn to agencies when demand increases or skills are in short supply.

There’s nothing wrong with that at all. In fact, I believe agencies have never had a more important role to play.

But businesses should expect more from them.

Instead of asking simply, “Can you fill this role?”, organisations should also be asking, “How do you recruit?” “How do you assess attitude as well as ability” “How do you check compliance?” “How do you make sure someone will fit our culture and values?”

Those conversations matter.

Technical competence will always be important, whether someone is operating heavy machinery on a construction site, working on a production line or caring for vulnerable people.

But values matter just as much.

The best people don’t simply complete tasks. They communicate well. They support colleagues. They take pride in their work. They represent the business they’re joining.

You can’t identify those qualities by treating recruitment as a transaction.

You discover them through relationships, honest conversations and taking the time to understand both the employer and the individual.

That inevitably takes longer than simply filling a vacancy. It may even cost a little more.

But I’ve learned throughout my career that the cheapest solution is rarely the best value.

A poor recruitment decision costs organisations far more than the difference between agency rates. It affects productivity, morale, retention and, ultimately, reputation.

The best agencies understand that their responsibility doesn’t end when someone starts work. It begins there.

Whether we’re talking about care, construction, manufacturing or any other sector, recruitment should never be about supplying “arms and legs”. It should be about finding people who genuinely belong.

At Care Connection Partners, we call that #feelthelove.

For us, it’s about making people feel valued, supported and understood.

Every organisation will have its own language and its own culture, but I believe the principle is universal.

When businesses choose partners who care as much about values as vacancies, everybody benefits.

The employer builds a stronger team. The employee finds a workplace where they can thrive. And the people they ultimately serve receive a better experience.

Surely that’s what good recruitment should look like, whatever sector you’re in.

• Deborah Stock, Founder and Managing Director of Care Connection Partners