EP 64 - How To Break Into The US Market + Outsourcing In South Africa w/Elliott Manning
In this episode of The 1% Better Recruitment Podcast, I’m joined by Elliott Manning — Founder & Managing Director of Kayman Recruitment, who built one of the UK’s most recognised Rec2Rec firms, expanded into the US before it was cool, and is now helping recruitment businesses scale globally through outsourcing and consultancy. We dig into what it really takes to break into the US market — from Elliott’s early days flying to New York ten times in one year, to learning the hard way about cultural differences, hiring challenges, and what makes American recruitment so unique. Elliott also lifts the lid on his expansion into South Africa — why he built an outsourcing model that now supports over 60 agencies worldwide, how it works, and what founders need to know before making the move. This is a practical, unfiltered conversation about business development, expansion, and the future of recruitment — packed with lessons for founders, managers, and recruiters who want to think bigger, scale smarter, and build a business that lasts. We cover: ✅ How to break into the US recruitment market (the right way) ✅ The cultural & commercial differences between the US & UK ✅ The importance of building relationships, not just transactions ✅ How to interview & hire US recruiters properly ✅ Why full-desk doesn’t always mean 360 in America ✅ Building a long-term BD process that actually works ✅ How to stand out with solutions, not sales pitches ✅ The rise of outsourcing in South Africa ✅ Remote management, KPIs & structure for success ✅ How to future-proof your recruitment business in 2025 Timestamps: 00:00 – Welcome & Elliott’s backstory 03:00 – Building Kayman Recruitment 06:00 – The decision to expand into the US 10:00 – What makes US recruitment different 16:00 – Building relationships that last 21:00 – The long game in BD 25:00 – How to sell with value, not volume 33:00 – Why the old recruitment model is dying 39:00 – Managing remote teams effectively 52:00 – The outsourcing boom in South Africa 58:00 – Pros, cons & setup advice 01:04:00 – Remote management done right 01:10:00 – Building a business that runs itself 01:13:00 – Elliott’s 1% Better tip Connect with Elliott Manning 🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elliott-manning-4b3b6b7/ Connect with Charles Kyriakou 🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charleskyriakou1/ 🎥 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@charles.kyriakou 🍏 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/1-better-recruitment-podcast/id1775201502 🎧 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/46LjJfwiwqD8xY0FjQW5Wy 📰 LinkedIn Newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/7244346543967731712 🎟️ Join the first live podcast event in London! 👉 https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1-better-recruitment-live-podcast-how-to-thrive-in-challenging-markets-tickets-1777948464719?aff=oddtdtcreator 👇 Enjoyed this? Like, comment & subscribe — and share it with someone who needs to hear it.
