NSRP are dedicated to the regeneration of North Staffordshire, and have progressed from the planning stage to getting the work done on the ground. Over the years other organisations have attempted regeneration in the area with varying degrees of success, which has lead to local cynicism about our mandate.

With a large number of roles to fill, we needed a partner that could advise us on the configuration of the new roles, who could successfully recruit to those roles, and as importantly, who could help allay concerns about the feasibility of NSRP and the regeneration programme by showing that we mean business.

From the first meeting we could see that Proventure was the natural fit for us. By taking the time to ensure thorough briefings, they quickly understood our position at that time.  They brought new ideas to the table, and through careful planning and flexibility, they were able to ensure the project succeeded even when our internal timetables created challenges.

Proventure’s search meant that the quality of the candidates were very high indeed. Also, Proventure’s interviewing methods meant that we only had to choose from the cream of the crop. This resulted not only in an efficient process for us, but all posts being successfully appointed, with a choice of high calibre candidates for all roles.  This meant we had to make very difficult decisions, but were able to create a high performing and very talented team.

Overall, I can't rate Proventure Consulting highly enough.  They offer professional, flexible services, clear advice and excellent results.  They offer class leading service in a tailored package.  I would certainly work with them again in the future

Hardial Bhogal
Director
North Staffordshire Regeneration Partnership

This testimonial to the services provided by Proventure is given both from a professional viewpoint, as an international specialist in Human Resource Management, and as the ‘Independent’ Board Member of Cumbria Vision involved in the restructuring and recruitment exercise.

Having dealt with several of the ‘larger’ recruitment organisations operating globally for many years I would like to strongly commend and testify to the highly professional, and efficient manner by which Proventure went about this particularly difficult restructuring and recruitment exercise.  Proventure did far more than just body shopping and in my professional opinion stand out from the pack of their competitors.

If there is any way I can give prospective clients, or indeed other headhunting organisations the benefits of professional learning from Proventure that would be a pleasure.

Finally the leadership, management and administrative support provided by Proventure themselves is first class and sets a standard that others might wish to follow in the wider business world of 2009 and beyond.

Professor John Fyfe
International Management Specialist
20 July 2009

Professor Fyfe has experience in the private sector as both a director and strategic advisor to a number of companies on management and development issues, and also holds or has held, senior appointments at Universities and Business Schools, including Manchester, Amsterdam, Henly and Harvard. Previously a Non Executive Director of British Coal Enterprises, a specialist employment advisor for the British Government and international economic development experience through setting up of Local Partnerships.

Following on from our conversation yesterday re; my withdrawal from the recruitment process for the job in West Cumbria, I wanted to put my thanks in writing for the support you have given me over the last year.

As you know I have recently been successful in securing the role of Chief Executive at Aire Valley Homes, one of the ALMO's in Leeds. The advice and support you gave me following the interview process I went through with you at North Stafford Regeneration Partnership towards the end of 2008 assisted me greatly in securing this role.

The fact that you took the time to talk me through how to present my skills, knowledge and experience in a way that highlighted to the interview panel what I've done, how it relates to what they are looking for and what I will deliver for them was greatly appreciated and enabled me to perform more effectively in subsequent interviews. However what really made the difference was that you stayed in touch, checked on how and what I was doing and kept my confidence and self belief high, reminding me that I had a lot to offer.

I was also really impressed with the level of professionalism demonstrated by everyone at Proventure in the 2 recruitment processes I was involved in along with the level of understanding within the team of the skills and experience required to work in regeneration which meant that the process was challenging for all the right reasons

Thanks again, I'll definitely be in touch again when I'm looking for my next career move and will recommend Proventure to my colleagues and peers.

Cheers
John Clark
Chief Executive
Aire Valley Homes
(with permission)

As Acting Chief Executive of Cumbria Vision, I engaged Proventure to help me appoint a permanent Chief Executive for the company. The selection of Proventure followed a competitive tendering exercise and they were selected due to the quality of their proposal, the financial structure of the deal and the innovative nature of the overall proposal.

From the start Proventure provided a refreshing approach to the assignment with expert advice on the nature of the recruitment process, the design of the media and micro site and the search criteria. This is not an organisation which provides clients with a standard menu of options and I was impressed by the constructive challenge provided from start to finish.

A partnering approach is a term which many organisations aspire to, but with Proventure it permeates the whole process. I was very impressed with the service provided and the depth of support available throughout. ESP - Excellent Service Provision.

Ian Haythornthwaite
Chief Executive
Cumbria Vision

When we first spoke to Proventure we were facing meltdown.  Their support was invaluable.  They brought clarity, focus, and challenge at all steps of our journey.  Their advice has always been top class.  As a small consultancy they focused on our needs and were flexible and thorough.  I’ve worked with many consultancies, and put simply, Proventure provided the best quality advice and service, based on an amazing depth and breadth of knowledge.  I would not hesitate to recommend them.

Matt Hyde
Chief Executive
National Union of Students

The experience of contracting out our senior management recruitment to Proventure was simply excellent both as a customer and as a future employer

After a robust interview (to ascertain, in fine detail, the absolute requirements) I was delighted  to leave the rest to the team until recruitment day itself (with frequent updates)

In the event , we ended up with three appointable candidates , none of whom we would have sourced through normal / more conventional routes. As a seasoned recruiter, I also learned a great deal.

Ian King
Chief Executive
NUS Services Limited

The job-hunting coaching that I received from Proventure was the best quality support that I have experienced, and  gave me new angles to consider, even though, as a recruiter and senior manager of many years standing, I had thought before that I manage by myself.  Proventure encouraged me, in a really supportive, to really look again and analyse my skills and experiences and the way that I presented myself, and to think in detail about how to handle likely questions, and then gave me space to practise how to apply them to interview scenarios. As a result, my confidence was rebuilt and I was able to go into senior interviews and perform very well.

Amanda Shilton Godwin
Ex-Deputy Chief Exeucutive
NUS Services Ltd

I was interviewed for a role in local government, where Proventure were employed to manage the recruitment process. I found their overall management of the programme to be excellent, coupled with a strong knowledge of the employing organisation and its aims. An outstanding feature of their involvement was in feeding back to candidates, which I found to be clear, balanced and very useful.

Sian Griffiths
Strategic Project Manager for City Waterside
North Staffs Regeneration Partnership