Elisha Kirkham

Recruitment and Leadership Strategy:

• Award-winning leader in people and talent management, known for building high-performing teams.
• Managed the growth and strategy of a FTSE 250 organisation, resulting in a 110% increase in overall headcount across the last six years.
• Championed the recruitment function across the UK, Ireland, and international offices, steering the company towards unprecedented growth.
• Demonstrates strong leadership ability and strategic foresight, capable of scaling an organisation while maintaining operational excellence and high employee satisfaction.
• Led the recruitment of over 700 new hires annually, maintaining a 91% employee satisfaction score within a 22-person department.
• Engineered and executed ground-breaking recruitment strategies that propelled Softcat’s revenue from £500m to £2.56b
• Recipient of the Recruitment Leader Award at The Firm Awards 2024, celebrated for innovative and impactful leadership, exceptional internal mobility initiatives, and delivering an unparalleled candidate experience

Diversity and inclusion:

• Instrumental in establishing Softcat’s reputation as an industry leader in diversity and inclusion within the IT channel.
• Sought-after keynote speaker, panellist and podcast guest, talking about topics such as diversity and inclusion, effective leadership, and building high-performing teams.
• Devised and implemented unique recruitment strategies that facilitated record-breaking growth and significantly enhanced employee engagement.

Talent Development:

• Experienced in and committed to fostering inclusive, equitable, high-performance work environments.
• Co-founded the influential Softcat Lessons in Leadership podcast, driving thought leadership and professional development within the organisation.
• Expertly managed the transition of employees returning from extended leave, including maternity leave, by creating comprehensive and empathetic return-to-work programmes.

Achievements:

• Awarded the CRN Outstanding Returner award for extraordinary performance post-maternity leave, alongside championing the advancement and empowerment of women in the workplace.
• Key contributor to Softcat securing the Best Internal Mobility Strategy Award with The Talent Labs.
• Honoured as the Recruitment Leader of the Year 2024 at The Firm Awards.