The magic Mac's once had has gone - Recruiter Macildowie Employee Review

1.0
8 Feb 2018
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

- Work with some good brands - New office a big improvement on the old place

Cons

There is so much PR noise out there which in truth is just bluster and spin. I could give a review based on my opinion however I think the best way to summarise where the business is now is to stick to the facts: - Sunday Times Best Small Companies to work for 2015 -5th place, 2017 65th. - Turnover & Profit have dropped significantly over the last 3 years as can be seen from the accounts available at Companies House. Take a look for yourself. - Number of staff employed have stagnated at around 70 for the last 3 years. Hardly screams growth, 35 new heads are to replace everyone who has left rather than significant growth. - Staff turnover, high. - Lost so many great staff. This was a great, very profitable business with great staff retention. Management and the owners have clearly decided to take a different approach and as a result Macs is a very different place. I'm sure the MD will respond and say that the drop in profit is due to investment rather the significant drop in turnover. I could go on and rant however I will leave it with the facts and as they say the facts don't lie. Such a shame as it was a great place.

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Macildowie Response
8y
Thanks for taking the time to leave your personal thoughts on glassdoor. It seems from the information you have gathered that you might have left quite some time ago. That being the case, as the MD, I would welcome you to come and have a coffee with me so that you can see how far the business has moved on since you left. In terms of facts, we have two new starters in the next couple of weeks which will take the number of full time employees at Macs to 89, the level of growth that we have driven over the past two years, along with the exceptional new Head Office we have invested in (the final piece of our investment programme) means that the local (and occasionally The National) press are keen to hear (and write about) our journey. We remain proud of our high levels of staff attraction, retention and development and believe that everyone who “buys in” will have an opportunity to progress their career and be the best version of themselves.

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5.0
4 Aug 2025
Recommend
CEO approval
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Pros

Flexible working environment with the option to work hybrid and manage your own time and desk — there’s a high level of trust. Social culture is great: regular events like scavenger hunts, afternoon tea in the office, summer BBQs, charity fundraisers, Christmas parties, and quarterly kick-offs. There are also smaller team socials which help build close-knit teams. Clear performance processes in place to support progression, and the L&D programme genuinely stands out from what I’ve seen at other agencies. Regular skills reviews help you identify and close any gaps. Strong and supportive senior leadership team — approachable and focused on individual development. Management is actively working to improve cross-office collaboration. There’s a slight culture difference between the Nottingham and Leicester offices, but the introduction of a Shadow Board is a great step forward. It’s giving consultants more visibility and a say in decisions, even if they’re not in management.

Cons

Not a con but promotion structure and billing targets should be consistently monitored and reviewed to ensure we retain good people and stay in line with the market.

5.0
1 Aug 2025
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

- Supportive leadership team who genuinely care about your growth and success. - JT (CEO) is hands-on, approachable, and knows everyone personally. - A values-led business that truly cares about clients and candidates – not just a strapline. - Candidate support is a real standout: we’ve always done it well, but recently we’ve introduced new initiatives that nobody else in the market is doing, giving our candidates the best possible chance of landing the right role. - If you’re prepared to graft, you can still get great results – effort = reward. - Collaborative culture with people who want you to do well.

Cons

- Recruitment has become more challenging over recent years – the market’s tougher. - Long hours are sometimes needed to hit targets, especially in quieter periods. - As with many recruitment businesses, success depends largely on your own drive and resilience.

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