20 years of Nine Twenty- By Gordon Brown

20 years of Nine Twenty- By Gordon Brown

Holly Clark

Celebrating 20 Years of Nine Twenty Recruitment: A Heartfelt Thank You, From Gordon Brown

August 2024 marks a significant milestone for Nine Twenty Recruitment—our 20th anniversary. As I reflect on the incredible journey, I am filled with gratitude for the people who have been part of this adventure. From our humble beginnings to becoming a trusted name in the recruitment industry, this story is one of passion, perseverance, and the power of teamwork.

 

The Beginning: From a Spare Bedroom to a Thriving Business

It all started in August 2004 when Wendy McDougall and I co-founded Nine Twenty Recruitment. Wendy, who I affectionately refer to as my big sister, taught me everything I know about being a great technology recruiter. Her competitive spirit and unwavering determination set the tone for Nine Twenty, a culture that thrives to this day. We began in her spare bedroom on Cleveden Drive in Glasgow, working tirelessly to get the business off the ground.

One of the highlights of those early days was our weekly Friday lunch, generously provided by Wendy's dad, Kenny. We were both investing everything into the business and had little to spare, so that M&S meal deal never tasted so good! Kenny also played a crucial role as our chairman, guiding us through the challenges of running a business as young entrepreneurs. His wisdom and support were invaluable, and those kitchen diner board meetings were instrumental in shaping Nine Twenty's future.

A group of people posing for a photo

Description automatically generated

Building a Reputation: Key Relationships and Early Successes

Nine Twenty was built on a passion for our sector, honesty, and genuine care for our clients and candidates. Wendy's tenacity was infectious, and I gave it my all. Together, we created something special. The journey was a roller coaster, full of ups and downs, but we were fortunate to have key people who believed in us and helped us succeed. Our first major breakthrough came with our RPO partnership with Gael Software, thanks to Donald Maciver's belief in us. Then there was Dave Carrick at Memex Software, who gave us the opportunity to help build his team, and Stephen Robertson from Metis Partners, who constantly challenged us in a highly competitive sector. Their trust and support were pivotal in Nine Twenty's growth.

 

Growing the Team: The Importance of People

As Nine Twenty evolved, so did our team. Laura Armstrong joined us nearly 14 years ago, and I still remember her presentation to Wendy and me in our small meeting room at Lyndoch Place. Laura was immaculate, prepared, and a little nervous. She joined Nine Twenty to build and drive our delivery function and has been my rock ever since. Her work ethic and success with clients speak volumes, and I trust her implicitly. Laura has been with me through every major decision, including the MBO with Wendy—a moment that felt as dramatic and exciting as a scene from a movie.

A person and person sitting in a room

Description automatically generatedA group of people in formal attire

Description automatically generatedA person and person taking a selfie

Description automatically generated

As we grew, we ventured into new sectors, made mistakes, and learned valuable lessons. But what remained constant was our commitment to improvement and evolution. This commitment is down to our people, past and present, who have all contributed to Nine Twenty's success.

 

The Future: A Legacy of Leadership

One of the most rewarding aspects of this journey has been watching my colleagues grow and evolve. Chris Lowden is a perfect example. I remember meeting Chris for the first time in a local coffee shop, where his big smile and infectious laugh immediately stood out. We clicked, and I knew Chris needed to be part of Nine Twenty. Over the last 10 years, I've seen him become a husband, father, and business partner. His late father, Jimmy, would be immensely proud of the man Chris has become.

A person standing next to a camera

Description automatically generated

Then there's Karen Stewart, who joined Nine Twenty over eight years ago with a clear vision of running her own business and building something special. Karen's hard work and passion for her sector are evident to everyone at Nine Twenty. I've been with her every step of the way, supporting her as she has grown into a strong, caring, and passionate leader. She's been instrumental in building our brand and launching our InSp-hire events, and her energy lights up every room she enters. In the past three years, we've launched new verticals that are becoming real successes. A special shout-out to Danielle Scott, our latest Director.

Stay tuned for an exciting announcement about our new Director for Digital and Marketing. Nine Twenty is not standing still—we are constantly evolving, and I'm proud to be part of a business that allows people to grow with it.

A person and person taking a selfie

Description automatically generatedA group of people in formal attire

Description automatically generatedA person holding a balloon

Description automatically generated

A Special Thank You

None of this would have been possible without the support of our incredible team and Business Partners. To my "work dad," Alan Crockert, thank you for always being there for me, for listening, supporting, and offering a comforting arm when needed. After 25 years in recruitment and 20 years with Nine Twenty, I consider myself the luckiest man in the world to have business partners I love dearly and a team that works so hard.

A person in a suit sitting at a table

Description automatically generatedA person sitting at a table with a bottle of liquor

Description automatically generated

As we celebrate this 20-year milestone, I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to everyone who has been part of Nine Twenty's journey. To all our partners, clients and candidates, thank you very much and lastly to my gorgeous wife Melanie Brown and inspiring Daughter Ruby - Here's to the next 20 years and beyond!

A group of women in a car

Description automatically generatedA group of people posing for a photo

Description automatically generatedA group of people sitting at tables

Description automatically generated

A group of people posing for a photo

Description automatically generatedA group of people posing for a photo

Description automatically generatedA group of people holding presents

Description automatically generated

A group of people posing for a photo

Description automatically generatedA group of people wearing headbands

Description automatically generatedA person with makeup on her face talking on a cell phone

Description automatically generated

A person holding a bowl

Description automatically generatedA white car parked on the side of a road

Description automatically generated

Comments

Hello, after reading this awesome piece of writing i am also cheerful to share my familiarity here with friends. casino en ligne fiable Thanks for another wonderful article. Where else could anybody get that kind of info in such a perfect means of writing? I have a presentation subsequent week, and I am at the look for such info. casino en ligne Hi there! This article could not be written much better! Looking through this post reminds me of my previous roommate! He always kept preaching about this. I am going to forward this information to him. Pretty sure he's going to have a great read. Thanks for sharing! casino en ligne I am genuinely glad to glance at this website posts which includes plenty of valuable information, thanks for providing such statistics. casino en ligne I am not sure where you are getting your info, but great topic. I needs to spend some time learning much more or understanding more. Thanks for magnificent information I was looking for this info for my mission. casino en ligne Asking questions are really good thing if you are not understanding anything entirely, but this post offers pleasant understanding yet. casino en ligne Great blog here! Also your site loads up very fast! What web host are you using? Can I get your affiliate link to your host? I wish my site loaded up as fast as yours lol casino en ligne Hi there superb blog! Does running a blog similar to this require a lot of work? I've no knowledge of computer programming but I was hoping to start my own blog in the near future. Anyhow, if you have any ideas or techniques for new blog owners please share. I understand this is off topic however I simply had to ask. Many thanks! casino en ligne Heya i am for the primary time here. I found this board and I to find It truly helpful & it helped me out much. I am hoping to provide one thing back and help others like you aided me. casino en ligne francais It's going to be ending of
Posted on Tuesday, May 20, 2025 08:50 by Rosaura

Post Comment

*
*
*