Nicola's Story

For most of my career, recruitment has been my home. I built my own business from the ground up, grew it into something I was proud of, and eventually sold it to a larger company. On paper, it looked like success.

But the truth is, the recruitment industry can take its toll. The pace, the pressure, the constant drive for numbers — it’s relentless. Earlier this year, after years of giving everything to the sector, my health gave me no choice but to stop. Burnout is real, and I hit that wall hard.

Walking away wasn’t easy. Recruitment wasn’t just my job; it was part of who I am. But I knew I needed space — not only to recover, but to rethink what I wanted my next chapter to be.

That’s when I retrained as a coach and mentor. I started working with recruiters, leaders, and professionals who were navigating their own challenges. And I found a new kind of fulfilment in helping people untangle problems, build confidence, and see their potential more clearly.

But here’s the thing: even while coaching, my heart never fully left recruitment. Because I still believe in what recruitment could be. Done properly, it has the power to change careers, shape businesses, and create lasting impact. Done badly, it leaves people disillusioned and businesses stuck.

That’s why I came back. Not to do recruitment the old way, but to build something better. 2.0 is the result of all those experiences — the highs of building and selling a business, the lows of burnout, the perspective that only comes from stepping away, and the passion that pulled me back in.

This time, I’m doing it differently. With coaching at its core, honesty as the standard, and people at the heart. Because if recruitment is going to thrive, it needs a reset. And that’s what 2.0 is here to do.