APSCo Disrupt: Diversification – a route to growth or a high-risk strategy in an uncertain market?

Nick is a Founder, Advisor and Investor with nearly 30 years of recruitment industry experience. Since 2007, he has built The Barton Partnership into a world-class specialist executive talent solutions firm, expanding across multiple locations and service lines whilst maintaining a niche and specialist focus. At the core of his philosophy is a commitment to cultivating a unique company culture that fosters community engagement and social responsibility.

In 2024 Nick won the prestigious Business Leader of the Year award at the APSCo Awards for Excellence, the Recruitment Industry Entrepreneur of the Year award at the Recruiter Awards and Entrepreneur of the Year (Service Industries) at The Great British Entrepreneur Awards! He was also honoured to be shortlisted for the Recruitment Leader of the Year at the TIARA Awards.

In 2025 Nick stepped back from his duties as CEO and now operates as a Founder, Advisor, and Brand Ambassador which will give him the opportunity to work ON the business rather than IN the business and will continue to support the company by promoting the values and vision that define the brand globally.

Outside of The Barton Partnership Nick will look to continue to advise, invest and support ventures like Search Chain Partners, a niche recruitment business focused on the fintech sector along with sitting on the board of BritishAmericanBusiness, the leading transatlantic business organisation dedicated to helping companies build their business on both sides of the Atlantic.

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.

Jeremy heads Jameson Legal and works with leading law firms and in-house clients on senior strategic global placements. His clients include top US and UK law firms, sovereign wealth funds and major corporates. During the past decade he has made significant partner and team hires within London, the Middle East and Asia as well as assisting law firms to establish new international offices with a particular focus on the UAE and Singapore.

Jeremy qualified as a solicitor with leading shipping law firm Ince & Co in London before working as a private equity lawyer with Pinsent Masons. He moved into recruitment in 2004 and became a senior director of a boutique legal recruitment company in Singapore before returning to London to establish JLegal (now Jameson Legal) in 2010.

Ollie joined La Fosse in 2015 at the start of an exciting growth stage, and is proud to be part of a business that continues to put care, ambition, and humility into everything they strive for. Having worked in five different functions across the business, Ollie has experienced first-hand the career opportunities that La Fosse has to offer and how business success is intrinsically linked to each employee’s success. He has been CEO at La Fosse since August 2023.

Jacky has many years’ experience in the talent and recruitment sector, with a unique skillset that spans operations, technology and marketing combined with a natural growth mindset, curiosity and drive to champion change.

Jacky’s passion is for innovation and growth driven by customer centricity and understanding.