James Caan CBE and Recruitment Entrepreneur recently partnered with Erika Foster to launch Billers Rec 2 Rec, which matches high calibre recruitment professionals with exciting job opportunities around the globe. Erika joins Recruitment Entrepreneur’s REflex group, a unique offering which provides founders with the infrastructure and support required to set up and build a successful recruitment business.
With the support of REflex, Erika aims to build a boutique, internationally recognised Rec2Rec brand. Throughout her career, Erika has sought to incorporate a global element to her work. Originally a certified financial advisor, she worked with expatriates to help them to invest in offshore environments, before moving to Dubai where she set up a Rec2Rec agency with a business partner in 2013. Now, as she launches Billers Rec2Rec, her sights are set on building a truly international Rec2Rec brand.
Billers Rec2Rec will focus on all levels of placement, from researchers to senior executive candidates. They partner with recruitment businesses specialising in industries such as IT, Banking, Sales & Marketing, Legal, Engineering, and Oil & Gas. Their global client list ranges from well-established recruitment companies to small, boutique agencies.
On the importance of the international aspect of her business, Erika commented, “I’ve always taken an international approach, living and working around the world. I’m very confident talking to people from different countries; as an expat myself, I can always relate to them and their experiences. Over the years I’ve built an impressive network of contacts around the global and I’m excited to be able to utilise and continue to grow this network. The concept of Rec2Rec is still quite new globally and there are very few successful, impactful Rec2Rec agencies outside of the UK. I really enjoy going out and capturing new markets, especially geographical markets, building new networks as I grow. In this way, I hope to pioneer the global Rec2Rec industry with my business, Billers Rec2Rec.”
Having previously run her own business before, Erika decided to partner with Recruitment Entrepreneur under its REflex offering to launch Billers Rec2Rec. Regarding this partnership, she said, “I’ve always done this on my own, but this time I wanted to be part of a team. It’s helpful to bounce ideas off people and have a team around you to ride the highs and lows with. People I knew in the industry had spoken very highly of Recruitment Entrepreneur, particularly the entrepreneurial environment it fosters, which I was very drawn to. The opportunity to have James Caan’s influence and strategic input on how to build a global, industry-leading recruitment brand is incredibly valuable.”
Abid Hamid, CEO of Recruitment Entrepreneur commented on the partnership, “With companies around the globe undergoing a hiring surge this year following the Covid pandemic, the Rec2Rec industry is experiencing unprecedented demand. Erika’s ten years of Rec2Rec experience, her impressive global network, and her entrepreneurial spirit make her stand out in this relatively untapped market and set her up to build an exceptional, high-growth business. Billers is also our first Rec2Rec within the portfolio, which opens up exciting opportunities for collaboration with our other portfolio partners, especially as we continue to expand internationally.”