Navigating Change & Winning in 2026: Live Panel Insights from TEAM Regional South Midlands
In this live special of RecTalk, filmed at the TEAM Network South Midlands Regional Meet Up, Nitin Sharma brings together a powerhouse panel of recruitment leaders to unpack the biggest lessons from 2025 and the strategies recruiters need to thrive in 2026. Joining Nitin on the panel: * Michelle Theuma – MD at Concept Onyx Recruitment & TEAM Regional Director * Luke Pitkin – Co-Founder of Giig, a next-gen ATS/CRM * Stewart Roberts – Managing Director at Mayachi * Bethany Foley – Associate Director at Liquid Friday This unfiltered panel digs deep into what the market really looked like in 2025 and what high-performing agencies did differently — with big insights you can roll straight into your 2026 strategy. 🔥 Key Talking Points * Why “January optimism” is a trap and what actually drives performance * Offshore resourcing (South Africa, Philippines) as a growth engine for agencies * The truth about AI in recruitment: useful, but not the magic fix recruiters hoped for * Old-school BD techniques making a comeback: door knocking, voice notes, video outreach * Networking as the differentiator — the power of genuine human connection * How to rebuild trust with clients through transparency, testimonials, and data * Umbrella market issues: compliance risks, dodgy models, and what agencies must look out for * The rise of retainers, subscriptions, and engagement fees as scalable revenue models * How clients are buying differently — and why recruiters must adapt how they sell * Avoiding “rotten fruit” clients and valuing your time, expertise, and process * Selling on process, not price — using visibility, structure, and transparency to win * Why recruitment will never be replaced by tech * How to use reviews, social proof, and authenticity to drive inbound business in 2026 Packed with practical advice, lived experience, and straight-talking honesty — this is one of the most insight-heavy RecTalk panels yet. 👥 Who This Episode Is For * Solo recruiters wanting stability and predictable revenue * Agency owners planning for growth in 2026 * Recruiters exploring retainers or subscription models * Anyone thinking about offshore support or restructuring their BD * Leaders wanting to improve processes, compliance, and client trust * RecTech and umbrella providers seeking to understand market sentiment Check out TEAM Network: https://www.theteamnetwork.co.uk/ 🔗 Connect with the panel Michelle Theuma: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelletheuma/ Luke Pitkin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/luke-pitkin-79060094/ Nitin Sharma: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nitin-rectools/ Stewart Roberts: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stewartroberts78/ Bethany Foley: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bethanyfoley/ Discover recruitment tools and services: https://www.rectools.io/ New episodes of RecTalk, Founder Diaries and Talking Talent drop every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Look out for The Mixed Grill — the official podcast of the Recruitment Curry Club — dropping every Thursday. https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-recruitment-curry-club/ Listen on another platform: https://rectalk.co.uk/ 🔗 Get in touch with these recommended suppliers Carl Jones — Konquest: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carl-jones-66093722/ Ben Fielding — Quinset: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benfielding/ Ross Thompson — Infinity Staff Global: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rossnthompson/ Matt Fox — Exitus Advisory: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-fox-50b10311/
