Celebrating National Apprenticeship Week
At GCS Associates, we are proud to support National Apprenticeship Week by showcasing the incredible journeys of our team members who have benefited from apprenticeships. This week, we highlight Kimberley Hollis, a Recruitment Consultant at GCS Associates, whose apprenticeship played a pivotal role in shaping her career in recruitment and the building materials sector.
Kimberley’s Role at GCS Associates
Kimberley is a specialist Recruitment Consultant at GCS Associates, focusing on the Building Materials sector. Her day-to-day role involves identifying top talent, understanding client needs, and matching candidates with the right opportunities. Beyond recruitment, she offers career advice, interview coaching, and ongoing support to candidates looking to progress in the industry.
Starting Out in the Industry
Kimberley began her career in the builders’ merchant sector, working as a Customer Service Adviser at Buildbase. In this role, she gained valuable experience in customer relations, order management, and understanding the needs of trade professionals. Her passion for the industry and strong client relationships led her to GCS Associates, where she found the perfect opportunity to use her knowledge to help others find career success.
How an Apprenticeship Shaped Her Career
When Kimberley joined GCS, she was eager to build a long-term career with clear development opportunities. She undertook a recruitment apprenticeship, which provided her with a solid foundation in key areas such as finance, marketing, business development, and the recruitment process itself.
Balancing full-time work with her studies, Kimberley completed assignments, assessments, and interviews as part of the course. Her dedication paid off when she achieved a distinction with an impressive 99% score – the highest ever recorded for that qualification.
A Day in the Life of a Recruitment Consultant
Kimberley’s role is dynamic and varied. A typical day includes sourcing candidates, engaging with clients, and developing new business opportunities. Whether she’s helping a job seeker find their next opportunity or assisting a company in securing top talent, she thrives on the fast-paced nature of recruitment. No two days are the same, and that’s exactly what she loves about it!
Overcoming Challenges in the Industry
Recruitment comes with its challenges. Sometimes, even after finding the perfect candidate for a role, unforeseen circumstances arise – candidates might receive counteroffers or decide to stay in their current positions.
Another challenge is shifting perceptions within the building materials industry, especially encouraging more women and young people to consider careers in the sector. Kimberley tackles these obstacles with resilience, strong communication, and a problem-solving mindset.
Proud Achievements and Future Goals
One of Kimberley’s proudest achievements is completing her apprenticeship with a top distinction. Additionally, she takes great pride in placing candidates who go on to thrive and progress in their careers.
For those considering a career in recruitment or the building materials sector, Kimberley offers some valuable advice:
- Be resilient – Setbacks happen, but learning from them is key to success.
- Stay open-minded – There’s always something new to learn.
- Seek guidance – Asking questions and learning from others will help you progress.
Encouraging More Young People and Women into the Industry
The building materials sector has traditionally been seen as male-dominated, which can discourage women and younger individuals from pursuing careers in the field. However, this is changing. Businesses are prioritising diversity, offering more opportunities, and showcasing success stories like Kimberley’s to inspire the next generation.
Final Thoughts
Kimberley’s story is a testament to the value of apprenticeships in providing real career opportunities. The building materials sector offers stability, growth, and the chance to make a tangible impact on the world around us.
If you’re considering an apprenticeship or a career in recruitment, now is the perfect time to take the leap. At GCS Associates, we are proud to support apprenticeships and help individuals build rewarding careers.
Interested in a career in recruitment or the building materials sector? Get in touch with GCS Associates today!
For more information on GCS Associates retained recruitment and RPO solutions, please get in touch.
e: enquiries@gcsassociates.com
t: 0161 660 2548
Meet The Team: David Hopkinson, Client Services Director
We’re excited to introduce David Hopkinson, who has recently joined GCS Associates as our Client Services Director. With a wealth of experience in talent acquisition and workforce solutions, David brings a unique blend of expertise, passion, and strategic insight to our team.
David, welcome to GCS Associates! Can you tell us a bit about your professional background?
Thank you! I’ve been fortunate to spend most of my career in the HR and resourcing industry, working with some of the market leaders such as Manpower, Adecco, Randstad, and the Impellam Group. Over the years, I’ve specialised in talent acquisition and workforce solutions, helping organizations identify and secure the talent they need to meet their strategic objectives.
What excites you most about joining GCS Associates?
GCS Associates is recognized as the market leader in talent within the building materials industry—a sector that’s both dynamic and evolving. I’m excited to bring my expertise to such a well-established organization and contribute to its continued growth.
The building materials sector is undergoing a significant transformation, with an increasing focus on diversity, digitization, and sustainability. These shifts are driving the creation of new roles and opportunities, and it’s more important than ever to attract talent from outside the sector. I’m thrilled to be part of a team that’s committed to helping businesses navigate this changing landscape by delivering innovative staffing solutions tailored to their needs.
What’s your approach to building strong client relationships?
For me, it’s all about collaboration and understanding. Every organization is unique, and I pride myself on taking the time to listen, learn, and understand their specific needs. By aligning tailored recruitment strategies with market trends and the client’s goals, I aim to create sustainable workforce connections that deliver real impact.
What would you say has been the key to your success in talent acquisition?
It comes down to staying ahead of market trends and maintaining a strong focus on relationships.
Whether it’s with clients or candidates, trust and mutual understanding are essential.I also believe in the power of innovation and adaptability—especially in a field like recruitment, where the landscape is constantly evolving.
What do you enjoy doing outside of work?
Outside of work, I’m all about family time. I’m married with two children, and we love going on holidays together. I’m also passionate about sports and enjoy walking my two dogs, Benji and Bella – they definitely keep me active!
How do you see the talent acquisition needs of the construction supplies industry evolving?
The world of construction supplies is changing rapidly. There’s a growing emphasis on sustainability, diversity, and the adoption of digital technologies. These trends are driving the need for new roles and skill sets, and organizations must think creatively to attract the right talent. It’s no longer just about finding people with direct industry experience—it’s about identifying transferable skills from other sectors and building a diverse, forward-thinking workforce.
Lastly, what’s your vision for your role at GCS Associates?
My vision is to help GCS continue its impressive track record by strengthening client relationships and expanding our reach. I’m committed to delivering tailored solutions that support our clients in achieving their goals while creating meaningful opportunities for candidates. By embracing the changes in the industry, I’m confident we’ll continue to deliver exceptional value and drive even greater success in the building materials sector.
Welcome aboard, David!
We’re thrilled to have David on the team and can’t wait to see the positive impact he’ll make. If you’d like to learn more about how David and GCS Associates can support your talent acquisition needs, get in touch today!
e: david.hopkinson@gcsassociates.com
t: 07775568043
For more information on GCS Associates retained recruitment and RPO solutions, please get in touch.
e: enquiries@gcsassociates.com
t: 0161 660 2548
Delivering Recruitment Excellence – GCS Associates and Lords Group
Lords Group is a prominent supplier of building materials and DIY goods in the UK, operating across both the ‘light side’ (building materials and timber) and the ‘heavy side’ (civils and landscaping) of the market. With 32 locations nationwide and a thriving online platform, Lords Group is one of the fastest-growing merchant businesses in the UK.
Recruiting for a diverse organisation like Lords Group is no small task, particularly for niche and senior roles. Heather McMeckan, Recruitment Manager at Lords Group, has been pivotal in bringing recruitment in-house. However, for specialist and hard-to-fill roles, she recognises the value of agency support – and GCS Associates proved to be the ideal partner.
The Challenge
Heather shared the unique recruitment challenges faced by Lords Group:
- Transitioning to In-House Recruitment: Lords Group historically relied heavily on agencies – Heather’s role was to change that, focusing on organic recruitment for most roles while using agencies selectively for specialist positions.
- Filling a Senior Health & Safety Role: One particular vacancy proved challenging. Despite efforts to advertise the role organically, suitable candidates were scarce. Time was running out, and the role required a candidate with highly specific skills within a strict salary band.
Heather explained, “Like many organisations, our policy is to try recruiting organically first, but for specialist roles like this, sometimes you need that extra network and GCS proved themselves as true specialist recruiters in our industry.”
The Solution
Having previously worked with Lords Group, Michael Parry, Managing Director at GCS Associates, was approached by Heather for support. Leveraging GCS Associates’ extensive network, Michael promised to deliver high-quality candidates that matched the specific requirements of the role.
Heather remarked, “Mike really impressed us with his knowledge of the sector and the effort he put into finding the right candidates. His background in recruiting for merchants gave him a clear advantage. We chose GCS over a dedicated HSE recruitment consultancy due to their specialist sector expertise.”
Despite tight constraints on the salary and a demanding brief, GCS Associates left no stone unturned. Michael and his team conducted a thorough search, contacting hundreds of potential candidates and presenting a strong shortlist.
“GCS really went above and beyond,” Heather added. “The candidates they presented were not only highly qualified but also a perfect cultural fit for our organisation.” Thanks to GCS Associates, Lords Group successfully hired a highly qualified candidate who fit the brief perfectly. Heather was particularly impressed by the professionalism, efficiency, and dedication shown by Michael and his team.
“We had very specific requirements for this role, and Mike delivered,” Heather said. “It’s clear that he knows this sector inside out, and his network is exceptional. I would 100% recommend GCS Associates.”
Additionally, Heather acknowledged that the process highlighted the importance of partnership and collaboration in recruitment. “This experience reaffirmed how effective the right recruitment agency can be when they truly understand the needs of the business,” she noted.
Michael Parry, Managing Director of GCS Associates, reflected on the partnership:
“Working with Heather and Lords Group has been (and always is) a fantastic experience – they have a great employer brand within the sector. Their openness to collaboration and their clear understanding of what they needed made it much easier for us to deliver results. Lords Group is such a dynamic organisation, and we’re thrilled to have played a part in their ongoing success.”
Michael also noted that the success of this recruitment demonstrated the effectiveness of industry-focused agencies. “It’s about being proactive and knowing where to look. We’re proud to have supported Lords Group in securing the best talent for their business.”
What we do
GCS Associates are specialist consultancy providing talent acquisition and staffing solutions to the building materials, construction, technical & engineering sectors.
With over 15 years’ experience partnering with a wide range of businesses from FTSE 100s to SME’s & smaller independent businesses – we simply provide the right talent to the best organisations.
At GCS Associates, we work with our clients to find the best recruitment solution for them. If you’d like any advice on recruitment or retention strategy, please get in touch.
e: enquiries@gcsassociates.com
t: 0161 660 2548