Client Overview
Our client is a start-up ferry operator entering the Irish market with ambitious growth plans and significant investor backing. As the business prepared to launch operations, it needed to rapidly build a skilled workforce across multiple departments while working to strict deadlines and operational milestones.
As their dedicated recruitment partner, we worked closely with the leadership team to help turn their vision into a fully operational business.
The Challenge
Launching a new ferry operation required the recruitment of talent across numerous business-critical functions. The client needed experienced professionals who could contribute immediately while helping establish the foundations of a growing organisation.
The recruitment project included roles across:
- Finance
- Port Operations
- Freight and Logistics
- Customer Service
- Marketing
- Information Technology (IT)
In addition to permanent recruitment, we also provided interim solutions to address critical staffing gaps and ensure business continuity.
Many positions proved particularly challenging due to:
- Tight investor-driven deadlines
- A highly competitive talent market
- Niche industry experience requirements
- Location challenges
- Urgent hiring needs across multiple departments simultaneously
Failure to fill these positions would have had a direct impact on the organisation’s ability to launch and operate successfully.
Our Approach
We began by meeting with key stakeholders to gain a thorough understanding of the business, its growth plans, and the specific challenges associated with each role. This consultative approach allowed us to identify not only the technical requirements but also the type of individuals who would thrive within a start-up environment.
Our recruitment strategy included:
- Accessing our established candidate network
- Executive search and headhunting for hard-to-fill positions
- Targeted sourcing of specialist talent
- Thorough candidate screening and assessment
- Reference checking
- Close collaboration with HR and leadership teams throughout the process
By maintaining regular communication with decision-makers, we ensured a streamlined hiring process and the flexibility to adapt quickly as business requirements evolved.
Results
To date, we have successfully delivered:
- 27 successful placements and ongoing
- Recruitment across multiple business functions
- Interim staffing solutions for critical operational gaps
- Successful hires for several niche and difficult-to-fill positions
Consistent delivery against challenging timelines
Business Impact
The appointments made through this partnership have played a key role in supporting the client’s growth and operational success.
Our recruitment efforts have helped:
- Establish new departments within the organisation
- Build specialist expertise across key business functions
- Improve operational readiness and efficiency
- Reduce pressure on internal leadership teams
- Support long-term growth objectives
- Enable the business to progress towards its operational goals
Client Feedback
The client has consistently recognised our professionalism, flexibility, quality of candidates, and ability to deliver difficult hires within demanding timeframes.
A True Recruitment Partnership
For us, this project has represented far more than making placements. From supporting the organisation during its earliest stages to helping build the teams that bring its vision to life, we have become a trusted recruitment partner invested in its success.
Seeing a start-up move from concept to reality is incredibly rewarding, and being able to contribute through strategic talent acquisition has made this one of our most impactful client partnerships to date.
