The entrepreneurs behind two of the UK鈥檚 most successful hospitality tech businesses have joined forces to launch a new venture that aims to reshape hospitality recruitment.
Sam Brown, a former director of Airship Services, and Omnifi co-founder Nick Holroyd-Doveton have raised 拢785,000 to further develop their matchmaking platform, Candid Hospitality.聽
The funding came from NPIF II 鈥� Mercia Equity Finance, which is managed by Mercia Ventures and part of the Northern Powerhouse Fund II (NPIF II), Haatch and an angel investor, and marks the first NPIF II equity investment in Hull.
Hull-based Candid was developed with input from leading hospitality operators and suppliers.聽
It enables candidates to build an anonymous profile and view opportunities, and employers to find the right people without sifting through multiple CVs.聽
In place of CVs, candidates are matched on skills and values to ensure they not only meet job requirements but also fit into the company鈥檚 culture.
Launched in February this year, the platform has already attracted over 3,000 candidates and 100 brands including Big Table Group, Loungers, Honest Burgers, Turtle Bay, Punch Pubs, Flight Club and The Alchemist, and resulted in over 700 matches.聽
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The company plans to double the size of its team from seven to 14 in the next two years.
鈥淗aving spent years in hospitality, both Sam and I know the challenges of recruitment,鈥� said聽 Holroyd-Doveton.
鈥淐andidates are often afraid to look for a better job in case their current boss finds out, while employers spend huge sums on new hires only to find they are the wrong fit. We felt the process must be ripe for change.
鈥淯sing our industry contacts, we spoke to 60 operators and over 100 candidates and developed Candid based on their feedback.聽 It uses the 3Cs – culture, competencies and compensation 鈥� which are key to successful hires.聽
鈥淭he anonymity protects candidates and removes subconscious bias, and enables employers to access 鈥榩assive hires鈥� who may not be active job seekers but may be interested if the right role came along.鈥�
Will Schaffer, investment director with Mercia Ventures, added: 鈥淗aving worked with Sam previously during his time at Airship, we are pleased to back him and Nick in their latest venture.聽
鈥淐andid offers an innovative solution to the challenges of hospitality recruitment and has gained rapid traction.聽
鈥淭he funding will enable the team to build on its initial success and to drive further growth.鈥�
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