H&C News meets with suppliers regularly to keep up to date with the latest product and service innovations, aiming to get the inside track on what companies offer to the market and how it is delivered.
Martyn Smith, Director of Collins King & AssociatesThis week, we met with Martyn Smith, Director of Collins King & Associates at their offices in Fleet St, London to gain a better understanding of the business.
Collins King & Associates are an established and independently owned hospitality recruitment consultancy whose primary focus is the sourcing of high calibre and experienced management, culinary and support personnel to the hospitality and catering industry.
Where did it all start?
Collins King & Associates was formed in 1999 by Gary King, the team has now grown to nine with Martyn Smith being made a Director in 2013.
What is the main business function?
We recruit permanent staff for the hospitality and catering industry at all levels from supervisory through to director level. This covers both kitchen personnel and front of house. The majority of our team has worked in the industry so we have industry knowledge and experience. We understand from a client perspective, be they employer or employee, what is required and how to create the best match.
How does the process work?
We take both the client and candidate needs very seriously. Any candidate we register we will interviewed, we make sure we get to know about them and what they are looking for. We ensure they are eligible to work in the UK by taking ID in the form of their passports and undertaking work references from previous employers when possible.
When we work on an assignment we meet the contact and visit the site/restaurant/hotel before sourcing and shortlisting candidates. We then liaise with both parties to arrange the interviews and meetings until the process is complete.
How do you attract clients and candidates?
Our aim is to always try and raise our profile. We advertise on various media platforms and have been involved in many charity events, sponsorship opportunities, and network/dinner functions in our industry. We have been in operation for eighteen years now and have a good client and candidate base. We receive a lot of referrals from candidates and also clients.
Apart from your daily business of recruiting, what else do Collins King & Associates get involved in?
We are members of numerous companies such as charity organisations, guilds and associations. Recently two members of our team played characters in Springboard show of ‘Springderalla’! We have an exhibition stand at the restaurant show every year, have hosted cooking demonstrations, judged for awards ceremonies and even played & refereed for client football matches!
H&C News comment: It was great speaking with Martyn as his passion for recruitment, his client’s and our industry is contagious.
Contact details:
Martyn Smith or Gary King
Three Kings Court, 150 Fleet St, London, EC4A 2DQ
Martyn – 0203 167 07477, martyn@collinsking.co.uk
Gary – 0203 167 0743, gary@collinsking.co.uk
Visit our Website here