EP318: Profitable & Balanced: Setting Up Solo - Natalie Wells, Financial Recruitment Expert

What if success in recruitment wasn’t about scaling, exiting, or building a huge team?

In this episode of The Recruiter’s Recruitment Podcast, Lysha Holmes is joined by Natalie Wells, founder of Natalie Wells Recruitment, to explore a different path—one focused on profitability, balance, and long-term fulfilment.

Natalie shares her journey from corporate recruitment into building a highly successful solo business, and why she chose not to follow the traditional “scale and sell” model. From working in finance recruitment for nearly three decades to creating a lifestyle-led business, this conversation challenges the industry’s definition of success.

They discuss:

• Why solo recruitment businesses can be more profitable than scaled models
• The importance of defining your own version of success
• How to build a business that fits your life—not the other way around
• The power of true consultancy vs transactional recruiting
• Why curiosity and asking better questions sets top recruiters apart
• The risks of relying on PSLs and corporate structures
• What it really takes to go out on your own (and who shouldn’t)

Natalie also shares practical advice for anyone considering starting their own agency, including the importance of business development skills, building a personal brand, and working with SMEs on a retained basis.

This is a refreshing, honest conversation for recruiters who want more freedom, more control, and a more meaningful definition of success.

🔗 Connect with the guest

Natalie Wells: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nataliewellsrecruitment/

🔗 Connect with the host

Lysha Holmes: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lyshaholmesr2r/

Qui Recruitment: https://www.quirecruitment.co.uk/

Follow the podcast on another platform:

https://www.youtube.com/@therecruitersrecruitmentpod

https://the-recruiters-recruitment-podcast.captivate.fm/

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The Recruiter's Recruitment Podcast is proudly sponsored by Paiger, and partnered with Needi, Keybridge IT Solutions, Bristow & Hardy and Diversity in Recruitment.

Our sponsor:

Paiger - Making Recruiters Smarter and Faster. Paiger helps recruiters build personal brands, identify new business opportunities, attract candidates, and have better conversations.

Find out more about Paiger: https://paiger.co/

Our partners:

Needi is a concierge gift-matching service using psychology and AI, to pinpoint the perfect gifts and experiences for your recipient, from the best local independent businesses. Their team of expert gift finders save companies time and money with their complimentary corporate gifting service.

https://needi.co.uk/

Bristow & Hardy partners with SME recruitment agencies to accelerate growth through sales enablement and recruitment marketing. With over 7 years’ experience, we specialise exclusively in the recruitment sector, delivering strategy, branding, websites, marketing campaigns, and sales support. Our proven growth suite of products helps agencies attract more clients, win more business, and scale efficiently.

https://www.bristowandhardy.co.uk/

Diversity in Recruitment helps recruitment businesses understand diversity, equity, and inclusion in a way that makes sense. Our training and advisory work is designed to attract diverse talent, recruit inclusively, improve your candidate journey and confidently partner with their clients. DE&I doesn’t have to be complicated and scary - it’s simply about fair, ethical and high-quality recruitment.

https://diversityinrecruitment.com/

Keybridge IT Solutions is a London-based Fully Managed IT Support and solutions Provider - Providing 24×7 Support to all Customers. Specialities include Microsoft Cloud, including Office 365, Microsoft 365, Microsoft Azure, Security, Internet Connectivity, VoIP, and much more.

https://www.keybridgeit.com/

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