🎉 Celebrating 6 Years in Business:

The top 6 Lessons Sam has learned since starting Pettigrew Recruitment from humble beginnings.

1. Don’t Underestimate Your Value

This was something I really struggled with at the start. But over time, as more clients chose to work with us—and even better, referred us to others—I realised we were clearly doing something right.

We’ve always tried to be fair, knowing that clients have different budgets and priorities. But we’ve also learned to stand firm on the value of our service. When clients come to you specifically for your industry knowledge or invite you into exclusive campaigns, you realise your expertise truly matters. Just don’t ever take it for granted.

2. Leave Imposter Syndrome at the Door

This was a big one for me. Before starting the business, I’d spent 12 years working at the same company. So when I went solo, I kept asking myself, “What do I really know about running a business?”

The truth is, we’re all learning, every single day. Some things you’ll get right, and other things you’ll get wrong—but you always find a way to fix them.

I remember walking into industry events as just “me,” surrounded by peers from massive organisations. But I’ve learned that our contribution is just as valuable. Different business models can all have a place in the industry—and there’s strength in diversity.

3. Install Processes As You Grow

Early on, I had everything in my head—which works when it’s just you, but it’s not sustainable as your team grows. Learning to put processes in place has been a game-changer.

I love structure because it brings consistency, but I’ve also learned that not everything needs to be over-engineered. The key is to build smart processes that serve a purpose, not just create red tape for the sake of it.

4. Hire the Right People

Transitioning from a one-woman show working from my home to having a full team in an office was a huge leap. I’ll admit—I had extremely high standards at the beginning because everything felt so personal. I cared deeply (and still do), but I’ve learned that if you hire the right people, the rest follows.

When someone truly buys into your ethos, you don’t need to micromanage—they adopt your principles naturally. I’m proud to say we now have a fantastic team in roles that truly fit both them and the business.

5. Be Flexible

Flexibility has become one of our biggest strengths—both as an employer and a service provider. While we have core hours, we no longer expect staff to be in the office five days a week. The world of work has evolved, and so have we.

We apply the same flexibility to our clients. If that means taking a call after hours to get a job done, we do it. It’s all part of building strong relationships and getting the results that matter.

6. Celebrate Success

This is something I’m still working on. It’s easy to get caught up in day-to-day operations and forget to pause and reflect. But it’s so important to acknowledge how far you’ve come.

As we’ve seen record growth in 2024/25 and continue to scale year on year, I’ve learned the value of taking time to celebrate wins with the team. After all, the success of the business is as much theirs as it is mine.

💬 Final Thought

Six years in, the journey has been full of challenges, lessons, and proud moments. Here’s to continued growth, gratitude—and never forgetting where we started.

Thank you to our clients, partners, and team for being part of the Pettigrew Recruitment story so far. Here’s to the next chapter!