Aspire - Work With Us

|achievingmoretogether www.weareaspire.com
WorkWithUs
Welcome to Aspire
Our vision is to be a global network of
leading specialist recruiters
•

Introduction from the Chairman
“Only when all parties are truly committed do you get the best result”
This sums up what we call ‘More Together’ the words that
define our values as an organisation and if you join us you will
have demonstrated these during the selection process and
expand them further as you develop your career with us.
We are part of a sector that generates over £130b per year
globally and without the recruitment industry many economies
across the world would falter.
Aspire’s vision is to be a ‘global network of leading specialist
recruiters’. Initially established as Phee Farrer Jones in 1992
we rebranded to Aspire in May 2014, joining together our
five brands PFJ, The Graduate Recruitment Company, Periscope, RPCushing and Aspire Global
Network Asia.
We now employ over 100 people in three offices across two continents, Europe and Asia.
We have work environments that reflects the markets we serve, strong brands, a state of the art
CRM and some of the best training and development programmes you can find.
As always, we are only as good as our people which is why we focus on recruiting and selecting
the best possible talent and to provide a genuine career path. What sets us apart from the crowd
is our bespoke career development programme - Aspire. So good we named the company after it!
Whatever your role, you can develop your career according to your ambition, skills and
competencies. As a result in the UK we hold the Investors in People Gold Award.
We are a Sunday Times Best 100 Company to Work For, are accredited with the international
quality standard ISO 9001 and are winners of multiple recruitment awards and are Agency of the
Year.
We have a lot of flexibility towards work and also try and make sure that it is not all about
recruitment which is why we make sure there are regular events that enable our people to
socialise out of the office.
But it’s not all about us, we donate £12,000 a year to Charity and many of our people are
supported running, swimming, climbing and even baking for charity.
In a crowded market I believe we have something genuinely special and different to offer.
Paul Farrer, Chairman, Aspire

About Aspire
Aspire specialises in recruiting for the media & marketing communications industry.
We draw on heritage and experience spanning more than two decades and recruit a wide range of
roles and disciplines from graduate entry to Director level. Our clients include marketing services
agencies, media owners, not for profit, client side and corporate organisations seeking media and
marketing communications talent. The scope of disciplines we specialise in ranges from sales to
content, technology to design, marketing to research and many others.
Established since 1992 and previously trading as a number of specialist recruitment brands – pfj
(Phee Farrer Jones), The Graduate Recruitment Company, RP Cushing, Periscope and Aspire
Global Network Asia – we unified in 2014 under one brand: Aspire.
• We have been involved in media recruitment since 1992
• We have been involved in graduate recruitment since 1993
• We have been involved in creative and design recruitment since 1998
• We have been involved in digital recruitment since 1999
• We have been involved in market research recruitment since 2000
• We have been operating in Manchester and North West since 2001
• We have been operating in Asia since 2011
We employ around 100 people based in four locations; London, Manchester, Singapore & Hong
Kong and are therefore able to satisfy the needs of our clients and aspirations of our candidates
and our people both locally and on an international level.
We are a ‘high touch’ recruitment business meeting and interviewing over 11,100 candidates a year
of which 64% come to us via our own sources and channels enabling a unique supply of talent.
Over the last 22 years we have established a clean and coded database of over 175,000 specialist
media and marketing communications related candidates. Our clients brief us on over 5,000
permanent job opportunities a year and we boast a 96% success rate of placing the right people in
the right job.
We have over 180 specialist interim candidates working for our clients every day.
We are a Sunday Times Top 100 Company to Work For, an Investors in People Gold Award
Company and ISO 9001 Accredited Company – we are Aspire.

Achieving More Together
More Together is a set of values that drive
how we work at Aspire.
Commitment at all these levels engenders better relationships with our clients, our staff and our
candidates.
The 4 behaviours:
Flexibility
Consider the options, look for solutions, be adaptable and embrace change
Accountability
Do what you say you will do. Be honest about what you can and can’t do. Take responsibility for
your actions. Take a consultative approach
Performance
Satisfy the needs of your customers, work to a fast pace, be commercially aware of your decisions
Communication
Listen to and inform your stakeholders (clients, candidates and colleagues)

Achieving More Together
Bonus Scheme - you won’t earn less than
30%. Guaranteed.
As a recruitment consultant we know that money is important to you. With the help of our Non
Executive Director John O’Sullivan and much benchmarking with fellow recruiters, we feel we have
come up with a generous and regularly rewarding scheme.
In addition to this, the top biller each quarter receives an extra £500 bonus.
In the last year, Aspire has paid their employees £1.25 million in bonuses.
Aspire spends on average £7,500 in addition per head on benefits.
Our financial year runs from May 1st to April 30th.
Salaries range from £22,000 to £50,000 basic based on competency, proven previous
billings and strong track records.
Monthly Bonus
Once you hit £7,200 you can calculate your bonus as follows:
Revenue Bonus Amount:
First £7,200 5% = £360
£7,201 - 15,500 10% = £830
£15,501 - 20,500 15% = £750
£20,501 - 25,500 20% = £1000
£25,001 + 25% = uncapped
Basically you earn the percentage in each band and then add it up. For example, if you
invoiced £18,000 in a month the scheme would work as follows:
First £7,200 5% of 8,000 = £360
£7,201 - 15,500 10% of 7,500 + £830
£15,501 - 18,000 15% of 2,500 + £375
Total Bonus = £1,565
On top of this a 6 month reconciliation (in October) will offer a guaranteed remuneration of 30%
OTE of your billings. A 12 month reconciliation will be applied in April which is also guaranteed.
My Reconciliation
We will guarantee you will not earn less than the following amounts:
NDR levels OTE
Up to £140,000 30% £42,000
£140,001 - £150,000 31% £43,400 - £46,500
£150,001 - £160,000 32% £48,000 - £51,200
£160,001 - £220,000 33% £52,800 - £72,600
£220,001 - £249,999 34% £74,800 - £85,000
£250,000 - £279,999 35% £87,500 - £98,000
>£280,000 36% £100,800

Benefits
Mobile phone
You will benefit from a smart phone for work purposes.
Holiday leave (runs January to December)
When you first join you have a minimum of 23.5 days (of which 3.5 days must be taken at Christ-
mas as agreed in the business). After one year’s service this rises to 25 days and after 2 years it is
increased to 28.5 days.
Holiday Extravaganza
Achieve 130% or more of your revenue target for the month, you will gain an extra day’s holiday -
potential for an extra 12 days holiday a year!
Flexible Working
Aspire offers all staff the chance to manage their own hours through flexible working. If you start
at 8am you can finish at 5pm – or have a lie in, start at 9.30am and finish at 6.30pm. At Executive
Consultant and Manager level there is the option to work some days from home.
Duvet days
You can enjoy one duvet day per quarter, which will be taken from your holiday allowance.
Sabbaticals
After 4 years’ service you will have the opportunity to take a career break for up to 3 months, at
50% pay.
Relaxed Dress Code
Our sector is not a suited and booted environment so we have a dress code to match!
Travelcard loan
On passing your probation you’re entitled to an interest free loan to pay for an annual travel card,
deducted from your pay in equal instalments.
Life Assurance
4x base salary – entitled from the first day of employment.
Pension plan
Employees will be automatically enrolled in the Aspire pension scheme after completing three
months of employment. Aspire will contribute 2% of your basic salary and you will contribute 1%.
After 12 month’s service, your pension can increase to the following:
Job Grade Employee Contribution Aspire Contribution
Grade A 3% 3%
Grade B and C 5% 5%
Grade D and E 8% 8%
Private health cover
Grade A After 2 years Individual
Grade B After 12 months Individual
Grade C After passing probation Individual
Grade D and above After passing probation Individual and Family option

Benefits
Ministry of Fun
Our Ministry of Fun team ensures we are constantly entertained!
We’ve enjoyed Brazilian themed parties, summer rounders, quiz
nights and much more... there’s always something going on at
Aspire!
Give as You Earn scheme
This is brilliant for those that have a standing order or a direct debit to a charity. The scheme enables
you to pay from your gross salary pre tax.
Boardroom Bucks
This is the opportunity for anyone in the business to get an
Aspire bursary towards something to do with your own personal
growth. It is held twice a year – March and September and in a
year there is £2,500 up for grabs.
Club Wembley
Whatever the entertainment from sport to music, there are opportunities to attend in our own Club
Wembley seats.
Prizes and Awards
We have Quarterly Prizes for top biller, Monthly Cups, Millionaires Club and various incentives running
throughout the year.
Long Service Awards
We reward staff members with long service awards. At 5 years of service you will receive £500 and
at 10 years you will receive £1,000.
Millionaires Club
All those that accumulate £1million in billings receive a special trophy!
Managers Club
An annual all expenses paid night out for the best performing
managers over target.
Club Aspire
Is open to all fee earners in all offices who achieve £200k or more in the 12 months to end of April
2016. In London, Club Aspire will depart on the evening of Thursday 9th June 2016 and fly to Barce-
lona for the weekend. The main event will be on the Friday with the weekend at your leisure.
Achievers’ Club
This is a bi-Annual event taking place on 14th August 2015 and 19th February 2016. To be in the
Achievers’ Club you need to be annualising at £140k or more on 31st July 2015 and/or 31st January
2016. Annualising is your total revenue for the 12 months up to those two trigger dates.

Benefits
Long Service Awards
We reward staff members with long service awards. At 5 years of service you will receive a £500
cash reward and at 10 years you will receive a £1,000 cash reward.
Boardroom Bucks
It is the opportunity for anyone in the business to get an
Aspire bursary towards something to do with your own
personal growth. It is held twice a year – March and
September and in a year there is £2,500 or equivalent up for
grabs.
Healthshield Annual Cash back benefit scheme
Benefit Amount Annually
Dental £50
Optical £50
Physio, chiropractic, osteopathy, acupuncture,
homeopathy
£150
Specialist consultation £200
Chiropody £50
Health and wellbeing £70
Health screening £100
Showers
For those that cycle or run in or for any other reason we have showers available for all staff.
Ministry of Fun
Our employee group responsible for putting on events throughout the year that are free to attend
and enjoy.
Millionaires Club
All those that accumulate £1million in billings receive a
special trophy.
Managers Club
An annual all expenses paid night out for the best
performing managers over target.
Give as You Earn scheme
This is brilliant for those that have a standing order or a direct debit to a charity. The scheme
enables you to pay from your gross salary pre tax.
Discounted Gym Membership
Join our rolling monthly gym membership scheme, provided by LA Fitness a competitive rate.
Hand pick one of the membership types to suit your needs and try before you buy with one of our
free gym passes.

Wellbeing Months
Aspire takes an active interest in the Wellbeing of our employees – happy and healthy staff with a
good work life balance are more productive.
As well as the monthly massage, Healthshield membership and free daily fruit for all of our
employees, we also run quarterly Wellbeing months. This involves fresh fruit juice or smoothies for
breakfast and healthy afternoon snacks provided.
We have an on site reflexologist for appointments, as well as a doctor for full health MOTs.
Weather permitting, we also hold outdoor activities such as running club, rounders in the park and
boot camp sessions.
80% of employees rated our last Wellbeing week as being either ‘excellent’ or ‘very good’.

Ministry of Fun
The Ministry of Fun is Aspire’s social committee who
organise regular company events for the whole company
to enjoy.
Recent events that the Ministry of Fun have put on
include our Summer in the City themed company conference
party, high school prom themed annual company party and
awards night Christmas party.
The committee is changed on an annual basis so anyone that wishes to be can get involved!
High school prom themed
company party
Summer in the City
conference party
Awards Christmas party

“A clear learning and development
strategy based around the ‘aspire’
performance management and
development process; this process
provides a clear and structured
development plan for individuals.”
“People across the organisation
talk very positively about their
experiences of the ‘Aspire’ process
and how it has helped to improve
both their performance and
develop their skills and
knowledge.”
IIP Gold Report
Your Aspire
Aspire is a bespoke career progression programme, based on both performance and competency,
in the form of six monthly appraisals.
Aspire shows you where you fit into the business and gives you clear objectives to progress your
career here with us. Aspire will assist you with your personal development plan and it really gives
you the choice of where your career goes.
At Aspire there are three paths to choose from, each enabling you to move up the career ladder.
We invest heavily in our most committed staff to make this happen.
Aspire to consult
At Aspire we recognise that not all successful fee earners want to become managers but they do
want to enhance their career. With the ‘Aspire to consult’ route you can move through the ranks
as a successful biller to director level, developing your key account management skills.
Aspire to manage
You have been a successful biller and now you want to develop and nurture a team. Again at
Aspire you can work towards becoming a director on this route.
Aspire to support
You are in a support or functional role but are just as interested in progressing your
career with us. With this route you can explore your options and again work towards
becoming a director.
You will be given a full introduction to Aspire once you have passed your probation with us.

Training
Aspire has held the Investors in People Award since 2000 and were awarded a Gold award in
2012. We are also a Sunday Times Top 100 Best Small Company to work for, in recognition of our
people centered culture and the importance we place on training and development.
The more skilled our people, the better our performance. The better our development plans, the
easier it is to retain talent. All our management staff have been trained to train which enables us
to deliver training across the business on a continuous basis as the demand arises. We also use
external trainers for developing our skills in areas that are new to us. Recently, our external train-
er Jackie Handy has provided our staff with NLP training and the Directors have led one-to-one
coaching sessions with those who have requested it. We also offer our staff the option to take the
APSCo RPS recruitment qualification which provides recognition for their recruitment knowledge.
Upon joining Aspire, you will be enrolled on a three month induction course where we will demon-
strate to you the key skills to do the job. There is a lot to learn and it lays down the foundations for
the future. After induction training you will receive ongoing training and development, delivered
as and when requested. Needless to say, those that put the training into practice seem to do the
best. All our training is evaluated by each delegate and the delegates are evaluated by the trainer.
This way we can constantly improve the quality of the training we deliver.
Early on in your career with us you will be given a clear set of objectives to achieve in your initial
three months. This enables you to keep track of your own progress and is used as a reference for
discussion in your weekly one to one sessions with your line manager. Out of those meetings,
training and development issues will be raised that we can then address. We also have regular
morning meetings for each team, and company wide meetings on a Friday afternoon.
Consultants are also given the opportunity to develop themselves and can access further training
modules on the intranet. We also hold optional Masterclass sessions, run by our own top consul-
tants.
“My training was thorough and
extremely detailed – at no point
did I feel overwhelmed; the
structure of the training enables
you to really take everything in
and it is so interactive that I felt
completely comfortable along
the way.”
Katie O’Brien

Testimonials
“Our bespoke offices at New Cavendish Street are truly
inspiring and provide a fantastic high-specification working
environment for all employees in the business. We’ve created
a bright and airy office space that has been warmly
appreciated by each and every team, as the integration
between management, fee-earners and support staff has also
enabled an open and flexible team culture to flourish. We are
able to provide extremely well equipped interviewing and
training facilities for candidates and clients alike, which can be
tailored to specific requirements at short notice. In addition to
our spacious designer kitchen, integrated shower rooms and
superb break-out areas we’ve also invested in specially
commissioned IT systems that have been tailored with our
current and future growth in mind. Did I mention the free
breakfasts and flexible working hours too?!” James Dawes
“I started at Aspire as a very green graduate in 2005 and I am
now an Divisional Director, managing a team of 10 and still
placing top talent into the media and digital industry. No day
is the same at Aspire and my role and skill-set is constantly
evolving. I’m genuinely passionate about getting great people
fantastic opportunities, and providing my clients with a top
class service. I have had the pleasure of building a talented
team of people with the same passion!
And top it off - we all get spoilt rotten here: from great re-
muneration to the ‘Ministry of Fun’ (whose sole purpose is to
ensuring we are having fun on a regular basis!) we couldn’t ask
for much more.” Lucy Parkes

Corporate Social Responsibility
We are proud to give back.
Here at Aspire, we know we can achieve more when we work together. Not just for our clients and
candidates – but for the communities in which we operate too. That’s why every single one of us is
committed to reducing our impact on the environment and making sure we do our bit to support
our communities around the globe. Here’s how:
Environment
We’re passionate about reducing our impact on the environment. Day-to-day, we take active steps
to improve our carbon footprint. For instance, all of our offices have recycling facilities to reduce
waste, not to mention video conferencing equipment to minimise unnecessary travel. Wherever
possible, our people are actively encouraged to take public transport. And our technology is set
up to turn off at night.
Community
It gives us great pride to support a number of brilliant charities. Shooting Star Chase Hospice and
Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research are causes that are close to our hearts, and an employee ran
the London marathon to raise money for this fantastic establishment. We also hold bi-monthly
bake offs, have staffed their shops on a Saturday for their Apprentice Challenge event and donat-
ed items to sell. At Christmas time, we collect gifts for Barnardo’s children as well as delivering
food packs to the homeless in conjunction with Feed the Homeless.
But it’s not just special occasions that see us playing our part to raise money for good causes – we
also take part in just about every charity day going, from Wear it Pink to Red Nose Day. And we
have plenty of fun doing it!
Outside of the UK, we organise the payroll for the Village education project in Tanzania.

Our Recruitment Process
The recruitment process to join Aspire is as streamlined as we can make it when allowing for the
element of thoroughness that career decisions deserve. After an initial conversation where you
declare an interest in Aspire, you will be able to assess us and we can assess you in a 2-3 stage
process. The first interview will be with HR. Your second interview will be with an Aspire manager
and director and will include role plays and a Q&A.
We may then ask you to do some work shadowing or have drinks with the team.
Best of luck!

Aspire - Work With Us

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