APSCo Disrupt
Thursday 13th February
Registration and refreshments from 2:30pm-3:00pm
Meeting 3:00pm-5:00pm
Venue: Natwest, 1 Spinningfields Square | Manchester | M3 3AP
Networking drinks from 5:00pm
The recruitment landscape is evolving once more. Success now relies on the agility to meet your changing customers’ needs, meeting them on their own terms and not sticking to a rigid process. To thrive, you must be dynamic, that means shifting from just closing a deal, to delivering genuine, long-term value and a consultative approach. It’s all about connections, building trust and understanding your customers, both clients and candidates. So how do you help them navigate change?
This is a chance to discuss and challenge, in an open forum, how to manage that change and share success stories.
3:00pm Welcome & introduction
Steve Carter, Co-Founder & Director, Carter Squared,
3:10pm APSCo update
Samantha Hurley, Operations Director, APSCo
3:20pm Leaning into personal brand
Rebekah Valero-Lee, Group Marketing Director, Morson
An endemic disconnect between sales and marketing, alongside shortsighted tactical technology adoption has led to the recruitment becoming largely unsophisticated and transactional. In a sector defined by data, it’s destined for ongoing technology revolution; LinkedIn first, now Ai, who knows where next? Embracing these technologies is critical, but that itself won’t separate us from the crowd. With industries like banking and travel raising the bar and innovating in the B2B space, Rebekah will discuss why organisations should lean into personal brand and ‘out of lifecycle’ strategies to support customer acquisition, loyalty and retention. Believing that recruitment has never asked a question in its life, Rebekah will explain how “understanding” is a first order problem and how Morson keeps candidates and clients ahead of the game by placing engineers, recruiters, and technology side by side.
3:30pm Understanding the problems we’re solving
Stuart Juggins, CEO & Founder, Aardent
Why should recruiters focus on consulting with clients rather than simply fulfilling talent demand? Because without understanding the problems we’re solving, we can’t truly serve our clients. Recruitment today often prioritizes metrics—calls made, candidates sourced, jobs picked up, and interviews done—focusing on transactions rather than relationships. This approach diminishes the perceived value to clients. Instead, recruiters should take a consultative approach, like many service industries, by deeply understanding client needs: what drives the hire, the timeline’s impact, and the candidate’s contribution. What happens if the hire is delayed? Is there a fallback plan? Is a permanent hire the best solution now? By uncovering real needs, recruiters can build stronger relationships, deliver better outcomes, and create lasting partnerships. This approach not only adds value but also helps defend against competition and the rise of AI/tech innovations.
3:40pm Panel discussion around evolving buyer needs
Every recruiter knows that there are two sets of “customers” to keep happy – clients and candidates. Join us for an engaging discussion on transforming the recruitment process to empower your customers to make the right decisions. In today’s competitive market, where your customers have countless options, exceptional service is non-negotiable. It’s time to move beyond transactions—because outstanding recruitment starts with meaningful conversations.
4:50pm Feedback & close
Who should attend?
Business owners and senior leaders seeking to adopt a more consultative mindset .
Carter Squared, Co-Founder & Director
Steve has had a 35-year career building and managing global recruitment firms at CEO level and serving on their global board.
Starting his career in Australia, Steve has forged a global career on constantly seeking change and improvement in the recruitment industry, challenging the norms , learning from other sectors and getting the best out of people by empowering and enabling them.
Having been at the Exec/Board level of global recruitment businesses, Steve launched his consulting practice in 2015, working alongside recruitment industry Directors and owners who are committed to building businesses that are not restricted by the conventional thinking in the sector.
After meeting Paralympian Liz Johnson through his consulting work, they co-founded The Ability People, an organization committed to creating ‘parity of opportunity’ in the world of work for disabled people and in 2019 was awarded a fellowship of the Royal Society of Arts for his work in social change.
Aardent, CEO & Founder
A seasoned expert with over 25 years of experience, Stuart specialises in Solution Consultancy, Project Solutions, SOW, and Professional Service transformation. A sought-after speaker, he regularly addresses topics such as consultancy workforce development, the future of work, solution selling, and contractor success.
Since becoming an independent advisor in 2019, Stuart has helped businesses achieve over £250m in high-margin revenue growth through consulting, solutions, and SOW services. His leadership background includes steering large-scale consulting functions for HP, Getronics, Pomeroy, and CACI across Europe, as well as establishing and leading similar operations for Experis and Adecco, managing teams of 250+ consultants.
Having advised over 100 organisations globally, he excels in driving transformation through strategies like readiness assessments, GTM roadmaps, organizational mentoring, and operational excellence. His passion lies in helping businesses across sectors thrive and secure sustainable revenue.
Morson Group, Group Marketing Director
Rebekah has over 10 years experience in the recruitment industry. As Group Marketing Director Rebekah leads global marketing strategy for the £1bn turnover Morson Group, spanning 9 companies, 6 continents, and 12 industry verticals.
As a marketer equally driven by aesthetics and economics she blends creativity, innovation with market insight, delivering impactful brand solutions that fuel sustained success across the B2B+C space.
