A specialist education recruitment agency has celebrated a remarkable first year of growth by moving into a larger office at Mansfield Innovation Centre.
Staff for Education is a community-based recruitment company that connects exceptional teachers and educational staff with schools and educational settings across the East Midlands region. Founded in 2023 by Managing Director Louise Hamby, a former teacher who transitioned into the recruitment sector, the company has seen significant success in its first year.
When Louise decided to start her business, she approached David Smith, Innovation Director at Mansfield Innovation Centre, seeking guidance and a supportive base to develop her business ideas.
Following several meetings, David assisted Louise in creating a realistic and achievable business plan. In September 2023, Louise took up space in one of the centre’s newly established start-up offices. Located on Hamilton Way, the centre is home to over 30 growing businesses, providing fully serviced offices, virtual office facilities, hot desks and meeting spaces. Managed by Oxford Innovation Space, clients benefit from tailored support and business coaching designed to fuel their growth.
The move allowed Louise to employ her first team member – apprentice Summer-anais Fox. The business has since expanded further, now boasting a full-time team of four. While growth was always part of the plan, the company’s rapid expansion has exceeded expectations.
David and Louise continue to meet regularly to ensure her growth plans remain on track, discussing business strategy, financial planning and marketing. To mark the business’s first anniversary at the centre, Louise and her team have relocated to a larger office within Mansfield Innovation Centre. This new space will enable further staff recruitment and allow the business to deliver more on-site services to jobseekers and clients.
Louise commented: “The support I’ve received from David and the team at Mansfield Innovation Centre has been invaluable. We’re a young business focused on closing recruitment gaps in all educational settings, and we have ambitious plans for growth across the local area.
“David’s advice and guidance have been instrumental in helping me develop a business plan, implement the right strategies and position ourselves to scale up. Moving into bigger office space ahead of schedule marks the next exciting chapter in our journey. We’re aiming to expand our reach and provide more specialist recruitment services to schools and educational settings in the East Midlands, helping them achieve the best outcomes for the young people they serve.”
David added: “Staff for Education is a true success story for Mansfield Innovation Centre and a prime example of the type of business we aim to nurture and support. Our newly created start-up space has facilitated the growth of a local business that has created four new jobs within a year.
“As they move to their new offices, the space they leave behind will be available to other emerging businesses looking to achieve similar growth. We’ve already received significant interest from local entrepreneurs eager to get their enterprises off to the best possible start.”