Spencer Trigg celebrates 15 years at QCS Staffing
2020 is a significant year for anniversaries at QCS Staffing, and this is one of the biggest yet. Friday 21 February marks 15 years of service for Director Spencer Trigg, who has been instrumental in our growth over the past decade and a half. He spoke to us about his journey with the company:
“I’ve always known recruitment, but it wasn’t always my career pathway”
QCS Staffing is the family business for Spencer, whose father Stephen founded QCS Staffing in 1992. He’s grown up around recruitment and has always been interested in entering the industry, but not before trying his hand at the promotions and events scene, which he worked in during and after his studies at the University of York. In 2005 the opportunity arose to join the family business, although this wasn’t Spencer’s first brush with QCS Staffing. When he was in his younger teenage years when there were no internet or emails, CVs were sent via post and fax, he was put to work inputting candidate data, earning pocket money and getting early exposure to the recruitment market. Later he did summer work experience within the marketing and IT departments. In fact, says Spencer, you could say he’s been working at QCS Staffing since 1993.
“I started as a Delivery Executive and promised my dad that if I was rubbish, I’d quit”
Determined to prove himself, Spencer agreed with Stephen that if he wasn’t performing as expected within six months as a Delivery Executive, he’d look for a new job. Luckily, he proved to be a skilled resourcer and soon progressed into a sales role within life sciences, learning his trade from his co-Director David Broome. Next up came the establishment of the renewable energy division, which Spencer set up and ran alongside life sciences before being offered directorship in 2011. Towards the end of 2013, the board agreed that one of the directors needed to move into more of an operations role to focus on business systems, infrastructure and functions within the business, which Spencer put his hand up for – as well as taking on the leadership of the finance function in 2016. It’s safe to say Spencer’s foray into recruitment has been a success!
“There’s been so much change at QCS Staffing since I’ve been here, but some things have stayed the same”
In 2005, QCS Staffing's turnover was £8.4 million with an employee count of 17. The following year that turnover had grown to £12.2 million and headcount had expanded to 26, while last year those figures looked remarkably different – a turnover of £63 million and headcount of 80. Spencer has seen the business flourish, with award winning training programmes developed to help team members reach their goals and QCS Staffing being awarded the Queen’s Award for International Trade in 2016. However, while there have been a raft of changes to the business in the past decade and a half, many things have remained the same, such as QCS Staffing's commitment to living and breathing its values. The entrepreneurial essence of QCS Staffing is unchanged after 15 years, says Spencer, with an emphasis on creating new opportunities, no limitations to where we will deliver services and remaining agile at all times.
“Social media has evolved the way people look for – and fill – jobs”
When reflecting on industry changes during his tenure, Spencer points to social media as having an impact on recruitment. It’s shifted some of the reliance away from job boards, he says, with LinkedIn now playing a larger part in the way people search for jobs – and how recruiters search for candidates.
“To attract both internal recruits and external candidates via social media it is important to convey your employer valued proposition across all channels,” says Spencer. “Our marketing has evolved a long way from 2015. 5 years ago, our only strategy was to send out desk calendars!! ; now we have a digital marketing strategy, large investment in our website / branding and a marketing team to create our employer branding that we’re very proud of.”
Another change Spencer has seen is the improvement of travel links, with economy airlines making it easier than ever for candidates and clients to reach new markets. The world is getting smaller, he says, which makes it easier for recruiters to sell opportunities to people all over the world.
“At a fundamental level, recruitment is much the same as it was when I started”
Candidates and clients have always needed trusted recruiters to act as partners and work with and find the right opportunities for them. The personal element of recruiting has remained unchanged in the time Spencer has been in the business, and he says the human touch is stronger than ever.
“Trustworthiness is very important as candidates and clients rely on us to deliver a service, and we believe by meeting people it helps build this trust which is the reason we guide our colleagues to get on their travels,” he says.
“QCS Staffing is all about the people, values and opportunities”
Now firmly embedded in the DNA of QCS Staffing, Spencer says he’s remained with the company due to the close-knit team of individuals who genuinely enjoy what they do and like spending time with each other. He also highlights the opportunities that QCS Staffing provides to develop and grow within the business, saying he loves empowering people to create their own destinies and overachieve their ambitions.
“If you want to push yourself to go as far as you can, keep doing that at QCS Staffing and we will create the opportunities for you surpass the goals you set for yourself,” says Spencer.
Looking ahead, the development of QCS Staffing in the USA and Ireland is something Spencer is eagerly anticipating, particularly having an office in the USA and expanding the business into new markets there.
“Recruitment can be hard work but it’s one of the most rewarding professions where you develop long-term friendships with clients, candidates and colleagues”
Recruitment brings with a it a sense of fulfilment, says Spencer, and can be an incredibly rewarding career choice for anyone with tenacity, diligence and the ability to work hard. Plus, there’s the opportunity to make a difference. “At QCS Staffing, we really do unite people with life changing industries,” he says.
A few words about Spencer from his colleagues:
“Without Spencer’s desire to help us grow, we would not be able to be as effective in our roles” – Andrew Hale, IT Manager, 7 years at QCS Staffing
“Spencer was a very good salesperson. He understood the roles and certainly understood the CVs! He built a great rapport with candidates, many of whom still ask after him” – Wendy Pearson, Delivery Executive, 18 years at QCS Staffing
“Spencer has to be one of the most organised individuals I have ever worked with. He is diligent, approachable and has always provided great advice, no matter how challenging the situation. That being said, and after knowing Spencer for 10 years, I can say without any doubt that he is also the best dancer within the company and I can’t wait until the next QCS Staffing Christmas Party”- Ben Alger, Associate Director of Sales, 10 years at QCS Staffing
A big congratulations to Spencer from the whole QCS Staffing team. We look forward to the next 15 years!
Read about Celebrating Caroline's 15th Anniversary at QCS Staffing
