Our Story
Explore our journey to today.
1995
A vision becomes reality
ResourceBank was established in 1995 by Richard Pearson, a former top practitioner in search and selection at Whitehead Mann plc. After being asked by a client for a more creative approach to managing recruitment, Richard’s innovative database solution was rejected by his employer. Undeterred, he decided to develop the concept himself, launching ResourceBank with just his assistant Trish and borrowing office space from a friend in Telford.
1996
ResourceBank has arrived
In 1996, an HR Director who had previously worked with Richard joined a multinational company known for Budweiser beer. ResourceBank successfully bid for this contract, significantly elevating its profile. A full-page advertisement in the Sunday Times, featuring ResourceBank branding, helped solidify the partnership, demonstrating the power of effective collaboration. This investment paid off, drawing attention from industry leaders like Trebor Bassett, Gillette, and Enterprise Ireland, marking ResourceBank’s arrival in the recruitment sector.
1999
Milestone achievements
By 1999, ResourceBank achieved its first million-pound turnover milestone, securing contracts with household names such as L’Oréal, Virgin, Kimberly Clark, Heineken, and Halfords. The company moved to a dedicated office in Telford, and over the years expanded its operations to purchase the entire building, now known as RBR House. In 2001, ResourceBank opened a small office in Marlow, which later relocated to Henley-on-Thames in 2004.
2002
Navigating challenges
The journey wasn’t without its hurdles; 2002 proved particularly challenging as the recession hit. However, when Magnet Kitchens approached ResourceBank for RPO, the hard work and experience the company had gained came to fruition. This opportunity led to similar contracts, solidifying ResourceBank’s reputation as a provider of long-term, strategic recruitment partnerships rather than one-off projects. The following year, ResourceBank took on an exciting opportunity with Flagship Training, addressing staffing challenges for the Royal Navy’s training bases.
2007
Building partnerships
In 2007, ResourceBank began a significant partnership with World Duty Free, tasked with recruiting a 150-strong team for Heathrow’s T5 with just 12 weeks’ notice. While the launch day faced some baggage handling issues, the new recruits were sent to other terminals to assist with increased demand. This successful partnership continues to this day, with ResourceBank delivering a full RPO solution. The same year, ResourceBank also began working with Aliaxis, further expanding its client portfolio.
2010
Engagement solutions
In 2010, ResourceBank launched its highly successful exit interview services, becoming the largest provider of independent exit interviews in the UK. This service has since expanded to include recent joiner interviews and annual engagement surveys.
2015
Celebrating success
ResourceBank began entering industry awards in 2015, celebrating the success of its World Duty Free RPO, which won the Best Embedded Recruitment Team award at the Recruiter Awards. During the previous year, the team worked diligently to assess and review 35,033 individual candidate applications, conduct 2,887 telephone interviews, and make 804 new hires – all while achieving 100% Hiring Manager Satisfaction.
2018
Evolution
In 2018, ResourceBank continued to diversify its offerings with the launch of the ApprenticeLink service to support businesses and their training needs. Additionally, a dedicated healthcare service was introduced, blending management consultancy and recruitment for the NHS and private services. ResourceBank has now evolved into a comprehensive HR partnering solution,
2020
Showcasing resilience
The beginning of 2020 was marked by unprecedented growth, with ResourceBank hitting record turnover and serving the largest number of clients in its history. This success was recognised when the company won the Best Outsourced Recruitment Business award at the Recruiter Awards. However, the onset of COVID-19 in March brought significant challenges, as 80% of clients halted recruitment overnight. ResourceBank swiftly adapted by offering “pay what you can” recruitment services to care homes and establishing a “Kickstart” gateway service, emerging from 2020 as a stronger and more resilient organisation.
2021
Giving back
As the UK economy recovered post-COVID-19, we launched new projects, including the Kickstart Gateway, helping 24 companies hire over 500 young people. We began projects with DHL and Charles Russell Speechlys, evolving into lasting partnerships.
In 2021, to celebrate our 25th anniversary, we opened the ResourceBank UWS school in Nepal, providing education for 80 children in Meringden who previously faced a two-hour walk to the nearest school.
2022
Continued evolution
ResourceBank secured major UK RPO contracts with Daikin and Imerys and achieved a record number of new starters for World Duty Free, ensuring timely re-opening of their outlets.
Our RPO success earned us the Best Recruitment Process Outsourcing Business award at the 2022 Global Recruiter Awards. The Executive Search team also expanded, adding new consultants to enhance our expertise and services.
2024
Recognition and celebration
In 2024, ResourceBank and World Duty Free celebrated 18 years of partnership by winning the Long-Term Talent Solutions Partnership award at the TIARA Awards. This accolade recognised the strength of a relationship built on trust, collaboration, and shared success. Together, we’ve navigated challenges, embraced innovation, and continued to evolve, delivering exceptional results year after year. This award is a testament to what’s possible when true partnership drives progress.