Peace Recruitment appoints new non-exec director as construction sector job market booms

Peace Recruitment has appointed recruitment industry specialist Kai McCabe Murray as a non-executive director in a move the firm says comes as it targets £20m turnover by 2020.

Kai is a highly experienced entrepreneur and veteran of the recruitment industry having been involved in the sector since 1987, initially specialising in recruitment for the pharmaceutical industry.

As managing director of the Search recruitment consultancy she built the business to £120m turnover, employing 600 people across 14 offices in the UK.

Since leaving the business she has focused on helping other businesses to grow as a consultant with leading management consultancy Shirlaws.

Kai said: “Chris Peace has done a phenomenal job in growing the business from a one-man band to a significant consultancy which employs 18 consultants and will create revenues of £8m in this financial year. He is now ready to scale up the company significantly and this is why I have been brought in.

“The focus will remain on specialising in the building and construction sectors but we are looking at the possibility of opening new offices across the UK. The company has an excellent focus on customer service and its consultants really know the sector inside out so they can offer informed, expert advice. These are the company’s key strengths and the aim will be to replicate this successful formula in other locations.”

Chris Peace said: “Kai’s reputation in the recruitment sector is unparalleled. She has vast experience of how to scale up recruitment consultancies and her knowledge is proving invaluable. Our vision is to build the business to £20m revenues by 2020 and employ up to 30 consultants. I believe this is achievable with Kai’s support. Kai is bringing a fresh perspective to the business and a different skill set which will help transition us from a small agency to a much larger business. “

Peace has just launched its new bespoke website, which includes the first ever ‘Trip Advisor-like service for the recruitment industry’, and the first ever JobCast service. This new technolgy has been specifically designed to ensure that all clients receive gold standard customer service. Peace enlisted the help of Bold Identities, a recruitment specific digital agency, to design and build this new technology.

This latest appointment comes hot on the heels of Peace launching its new temp division headed up by Alison Blake, who joined from Hays where she has specialised in temp recruitment for the construction sector for the past 13 years. The formal launch of Peace’s new temp division is seen as a key driver to reach its goal of 30 consultants by 2020 as it looks to realise its vision of being the recruitment agency of choice for the construction, engineering and property sectors across the UK.

Peace’s huge success in Scotland, combined with a growing demand from clients, led the firm to successfully expand into the London market last year. Peace recruited built environment specialist Kenan Beverton to head up its London team.

Kenan, who was previously a director with Balmoral Group Resourcing, has over 18 years’ experience in specialist global markets including oil & gas, renewable energy, consulting engineering, construction, telecommunications and IT. The success of the London office has played a major role in the firm more than tripling its turnover in the last year.