Meet mum founder & director, Craig Prentice.

If you work in hospitality, you probably know of Craig – he’s the kind of person who seems to know everyone (well, almost).

What you might not know is what made him want to create mum in 2019, after being in the business for 20 years – first working in hospitality operations, then in recruitment for high-profile clients across the industry. Or what he loves most about what he does. Or even his best advice for companies looking for their next hire and candidates looking for their next role…

We thought it was about time you had a chance to get to know mum’s creator, so we caught up with the man himself for a quick-fire interview.

1. how would you explain what you do to someone who's never heard of recruitment?

In essence, recruitment is all about connecting people and companies: people who can contribute and positively add to a company, helping them achieve their goals and success; and – for mum, at least – companies who really care about their employees, and strive to create a culture where they thrive.

2. what do you wish people knew about recruitment?

Working in recruitment is complex and far more than matching a person (or CV) with a job description. Getting recruitment right should always be a key objective for any company.

“Getting recruitment right should always be a key objective for any company.”

Recruiters wear many hats at any one time: Talent Sourcer, Job Marketer, Interviewer, Assessor, Negotiator, Brand Ambassador, Advisor, Relationship Builder, Market Researcher, Counsellor – you name it!

3. what’s the best part of your job?

Being part of someone’s next career step, for sure. Opening someone’s eyes to opportunities and companies they may not have previously considered (or known about) and helping them secure their next dream role.

“The opportunity we have to make a positive impact is definitely what drives me”

It’s equally rewarding on the client side. The opportunity we have to make a positive impact is definitely what drives me and gets me out of bed in the morning.

4. what made you want to found mum?

I’ve worked in hospitality and recruitment my entire career – both industries can be fast-paced and full on. I’ve had many great experiences, some bad, and I’ve learnt a lot along the way. Those learnings and life experiences led me to a place where I realised there was room for a different approach – and that’s when I decided to create mum.

5. what advice would you give to someone looking for their next role?

Approach looking for a role as a project: set regular time aside, research, track every application, follow up appropriately, and be persistent. It can be extremely competitive out there, meaning networking and connecting with people in real life is key – knowing the right people who can support and open doors for you is essential.

“It can be extremely competitive out there, meaning networking and connecting with people in real life is key”

6. what advice would you give to a company looking for their next hire?

Oh, there are so many answers to this question! My top two would be:

Keep the candidate experience front and centre, always. Consider each step of the candidate journey, communicate, and engage positively throughout.
Hire for culture add, not fit. It should be about finding individuals who align with your core values, but who also bring something unique to the table.

7. tell us something about you we don't know?

I won Chef of the Year at Secondary School and initially thought I’d be joining Catering College. I still love to cook!

Got more questions for Craig? He loves a chat. Drop him an email at craig@workwithmum.com, give him a call on 07803 481 183, or connect with him on LinkedIn.

meet mum founder & director, craig.