The Future of Recruitment Excellence: Insights from Nicola Grainger, Operations Director at The Oval Partnership
In the fast-paced world of food and drinks industry recruitment, few professionals stand out quite like Nicola Grainger, Operations Director at The Oval Partnership. With a keen eye for talent and a passion for matching the right candidates with the perfect roles, Nicola embodies the essence of recruitment excellence in this dynamic sector.
Specialisation and Expertise
The Oval Partnership has carved out a niche in senior management and director-level appointments across all functions within the food and drinks industry. This focus allows Nicola and her team to deliver unparalleled expertise to both clients and candidates alike.
The Art of Recruitment Excellence
For Nicola, recruitment excellence is not just about filling positions; it's about creating perfect matches. "Recruitment Excellence is being able to identify and understand what both parties are looking for, having the ability to match the two together and make the process seamless and enjoyable for all parties, even those that are not successful," she explains. This approach ensures that every placement has the potential for long-term success and mutual satisfaction.
Keys to Candidate Success
Nicola offers invaluable advice for candidates looking to stand out:
The Human Touch in a Digital Age
In an era of increasing digitalization, Nicola emphasizes the irreplaceable value of human interaction in recruitment. "The biggest challenge to recruitment is for the industry to identify the consultants of the future," she notes. "The old-fashioned approach of talking to people is falling by the wayside, and as a society, we are relying more and more on messages and not actually talking."
This insight underscores the importance of nurturing interpersonal skills in the next generation of recruiters, ensuring that the human element remains at the heart of the recruitment process.
Beyond the Office
Nicola's passion for excellence extends beyond her professional life & as a self confessed foodie, enjoying foods from all over the world Nicola is certainly in the right industry. An avid equestrian and fitness enthusiast, she balances her demanding role with supporting her children's sporting endeavors; watching her super talented son play football for SWFC and Wales and her daughter compete with her ponies.
Her participation in five Samworth Brother Challenges demonstrates her commitment to personal growth and pushing boundaries.
Nicola’s top pick holiday destination is Cyprus although she comments “lately with Will’s international football commitments I have been to many new places that I would not have picked as holiday locations but have been very pleasantly surprised”.
Spring is definitely Nicola’s favourite time of year: “I hate dark nights and spring brings the lighter nights and the ability to be out doing more”
Over the years Nicola has a experienced working with candidates from all walks of life ad has amassed a wealth of interesting & funny stories from her time in recruitment, mainly from her early days in recruitment when she was working with temporary workers. She remembers one particular incident “I do recall one candidate saying that he could not attend an interview in October as he was going in the loft to check his Christmas Decorations and start to bring them out to trim up his house!”
Looking Ahead
As the food and drinks industry continues to evolve, The Oval Partnership, under Nicola's guidance, is well-positioned to lead the charge in recruitment excellence. By maintaining a focus on personal connections, thorough understanding of client needs, and a commitment to candidate success, Nicola Grainger exemplifies the future of recruitment in this vital sector.
In a world where the right placement can transform businesses and careers alike, professionals like Nicola Grainger are not just filling positions – they're shaping the future of the food and drinks industry, one perfect match at a time.
