🎉🎂 Oakleaf turns 19 🎈🥳
Monday 4th July 2005 was a momentous day for me – it was the day I got the train into London for the very first day of Oakleaf Partnership: my own personal Independence Day. I remember it vividly – it was both super exciting and absolutely terrifying in the same breath! 19 years have passed since that day and when I reflect on what we have collectively achieved I’m both humbled and proud.
I took a huge leap of faith (in my own ability!) to invent and launch Oakleaf, but the Oakleaf is a symbol of courage after all! With a big mortgage and school fees to pay, it simply had to work. Thankfully, despite the challenges we have faced over the years, from the GFC to Covid and beyond, we enter our 20th year as committed to our customers as ever. Our corporate values and purpose (created and owned by Team OP) totally underpin our culture which, in turn, helps drive the way we treat our colleagues and our customers. At Oakleaf, we don’t differentiate between clients and candidates – we only have customers – and I believe this is a unique differentiator in an increasingly crowded market.
Over the last couple of years, we have expanded into both the Middle East and Europe, as well as broadening the product offering with our Technology, Change & Transformation (TCT) business. Today also marks the second anniversary of Oakleaf Partnership US – with 10 colleagues already on the ground in the US and with 250 cities bigger than Manchester, the growth opportunity in the USA is enormous.
The last 15 months, however, have been particularly challenging for us all, but change is most certainly on the horizon and market sentiment seems to be improving. Long may that continue – it’s well overdue.
Finally, I want to say a huge thank you to all who have helped us on this journey. There can be no greater privilege for us than delivering solutions and helping change lives for the better.
Richard Colgan – Founder & Group CEO
To see our journey timeline, click here