Reflecting on our 2025 Strategy Day

A Day of Vision, Strategy and Team Spirit

Recently at Understanding Recruitment, we gathered our UK team for our annual 2025 strategy day, this year held at The Grove, Watford. It was a day dedicated to reflecting on 2024, setting out our vision for the year ahead, and aligning on key strategic goals – all while strengthening our team spirit. 

Meanwhile, across the Atlantic, our Boston team also came together for their own strategy day, ensuring that both sides of the business are aligned in our ambitions and growth plans for 2025. 

Our directors shared invaluable insights into the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead. We were also joined by Gordon Stoddart, our Non-Executive Director and Co-Founder of The Recruitment Network, whose perspectives provided us with fresh ways to approach our goals.  

Beyond our discussions and planning, we also made time for some friendly competition. Thanks to the team at GOTO Events, the UK team took part in The Cube challenge, which tested problem solving, teamwork and resilience. It was a fun way to round off the day, with plenty of nail-biting moments as teams battled for the top spot. Over in Boston, the team wrapped up their strategy day with some well deserved drinks and some food, a perfect way to celebrate their 2024 achievements, strengthen connections, and set the tone for a successful year ahead. 

Why an Annual Strategy Day Matters

To understand the true value of an annual strategy day, we turned to our employees and asked them why they believe setting aside dedicated time each year to align on goals, reflect on progress, and plan for the future is so important. Here’s what they had to say…  

“It brings everyone together to align purpose and encourage collaboration” - Evelyn 

“Gets everyone together, creates clear vision in terms of what the business is doing and also brings everyone together” – Alex 

“Ensures collaboration and true direction for the whole of The Understanding Group, making sure everyone is aligned ensuring success for everyone” - Dan 

“It’s great to focus on collaboration. The team environment is really nice, especially for a new starter like me” – Amelia 

“It’s important to have a clearer vision of the company goals and what we are working towards” Frankie 

What are we most looking forward to in 2025? 

We also took the opportunity to ask what our teams are most excited about as they look ahead to 2025. From new projects to upcoming challenges, here’s a glimpse into what’s on their radar for the year ahead… 

Evelyn said she is most looking forward to “hitting her promotion as it’s a long time coming. This year is going to be a big year for me and my team”. 

Alex is looking forward to “collaborating more with the AI sales team in the US”, our Acceler8 business arm in Boston. 

Dan is excited to “take our market leading charity recruitment arm in the US and dominating state side!.” 

Charlotte looks forward to “continuing to enhance the quality of the services I can provide to clients, helping them come together and create tailored solutions.” 

Archie’s 2025 goal is to “bill 500k”, a great achievement to work towards this year. 

These insights highlight just how valuable our annual strategy day is, not only for aligning on goals but for fostering collaboration, motivation, and a shared vision across the business. With big ambitions and exciting challenges ahead, 2025 is set to be a year of growth, achievement, and continued success for our teams on both sides of the Atlantic. 

Important Takeaways from The Day 

Our EOT journey 

In 2023, the Understanding Recruitment Group became employee-owned, giving every team member a direct investment in our shared success. During the strategy day, we explored how our Total Talent vision, alongside key refinements to our team structure, will propel us towards reaching Financial Freedom Day, a milestone that reflects the true power of our employee ownership model. 

Empowering Growth Through Training 

We’re rolling out a comprehensive, modular-based training programme designed to support the professional growth and development of our team. This programme will combine both on-site and off-site learning opportunities, led by internal leaders and subject matter experts, ensuring that everyone has a well-rounded and impactful experience that drives success at every level. 

The Importance of Collaboration 

When we asked our employees about the value of strategy days, one theme consistently stood out – collaboration. It was a central focus throughout the day as we explored how stronger teamwork drives productivity, enhances performance, and delivers better outcomes for our clients. 

To foster even greater collaboration across the business, we introduced structural changes, placed renewed emphasis on our central company projects, and refined our company values, evolving one to ‘Customer First, Driving Excellence’. These updates are designed to build trust across the business, create more opportunities to celebrate success together, and ultimately strengthen our position as a trusted talent partner.  

Sales Culture & Customer Experience  

A strong sales culture and deep commitment to customer experience were central to our 2025 Strategy Day discussions. With our Co-Founder, Dale Swords, stepping into his new role as Chief Customer Officer, we’re sharpening our focus on delivering an outstanding customer experience. His leadership will drive our customer experience vision, ensuring that every interaction, experience, and solution we deliver leaves a lasting positive impact.  

Listening to our customers is transformative for businesses, and when we truly understand their needs, we don’t just solve problems, we create value, build trust, and develop relationships. Championing our customers’ voices, innovating, adapting, and striving for excellence will be key to our success, reinforcing our commitment to being a trusted talent partner. 

We also explored ways to nurture our sales culture within the office, focusing on maintaining high standards, celebrating results, strengthening customer relationships, fostering collaboration, supporting career development, and creating clear measures to drive sustained success. 

Celebrating Success 

As the strategy day meetings wrapped up, our Directors shared some exciting opportunities to strive for in the year ahead. One of the biggest highlights was the announcement of the 2024 winners' trip, recognising eight outstanding individuals for their remarkable contributions—whether as Manager of the Year, Biggest Biller, or other exceptional achievements. To celebrate their dedication and success, these high achievers will be heading to the stunning shores of Cancun, Mexico, for a well-earned getaway. Continuing with the theme of exciting getaways, the half-year and full-year trip destinations were also revealed. This year, top performers will have the chance to jet off to Barcelona or Hvar for the half-year celebration, while those reaching full-year milestones can look forward to an unforgettable experience in St Anton or the Bahamas. We can’t wait to see where our hardworking colleagues will be heading next! 

They also unveiled an exciting lineup of socials for both offices throughout the year, kicking off with a bowling event. Alongside these, there are even more goals to aim for, including a highly anticipated end-of-year salesperson live draw, CX quarterly draws, and additional opportunities for Prime Lunch and Directors’ Lunch. 

The Year Ahead 

As we reflect on our 2025 strategy day, it’s clear that it was more than just a time for planning; it was an opportunity to strengthen our culture, align on goals, and ignite excitement for the year ahead. With renewed focus on collaboration, customer experience, and growth, we are poised for an incredible 2025.