Birmingham serial entrepreneur Tony Gleeson has set up his third recruitment business in the city.
Gleeson Recruitment is based at No.3 Brindleyplace and follows Greenwell Gleeson and Toner Graham, both sold to multi-national companies.
Mr Gleeson, a chartered accountant, says the sector is in his blood – he is backed by a team of six including management colleagues Jason Granger and Jason Blakey.
Gleeson Recruitment, which specialises in accountancy, was launched at a glittering party at Nuvo attended by more than 100 people.
It is hoped it will quickly expand into other areas of the recruitment market.
“I’ve been in Birmingham for more than 20 years and, after taking a break in the wake of selling Toner Graham, I couldn’t resist a new start,” said Mr Gleeson. “I am a bit of a serial operator in the industry … and the wife wanted me out from under her feet!
“We’ve gone live and it is all good news. It has been a tremendous start.”
The firm provides accountancy candidates for both industry and the profession.
“We plan to launch a search business in the New Year,” said Mr Gleeson. “With the aim of expanding into other professional disciplines.”
The Gleeson ‘mantra’ is trust, transparency and integrity – he has a reputation in the industry for being insightful, supportive and motivational. “We deliver – we don’t make promises we can’t keep,” he pledged.
The trio have 40 years in both the business and Birmingham, and have a series of established client relationships including Midlands engineering company Hill & Smith and international consultancy Capita.
Mr Granger was a Financial Controller at industrial group Wagon before joining Toner Graham in 2005. Telford-based Mr Blakey, formerly an accountant with the then British Steel, arrived there the same year.
“It is a challenging economic time, but we are confident,” said Mr Gleeson. “A lot of work has been coming in already.
“The SME market is healthy and Birmingham is well placed relative to other parts of the UK because of its manufacturing strength.
Although I am originally from Scotland I have a passion for Birmingham and the Black Country. They are my sort of people.”
And, speaking at the party, Midlands businessman Mark Dorey, noted: “It is Tony’s attention to detail and drive which I believe makes him and the teams he puts together stand out from the crowd.
“I am delighted to see him back in Birmingham and building his business again. Recruitment is more than punching candidates’ qualifications into a data base and matching it with a job. It is Tony’s understanding of people that means he delivers a perfect match time and again.”