We are looking to grow the Hamilton Forth team. Below, Alistair Shaw shares his experience of moving jobs after 11 years and onboarding virtually, as well as a link to the job opportunity. If you’re in recruitment and looking to kick your career on, please get in touch.

“Given that I have supported hundreds of candidates in finding new roles over the past twenty years, I have not gone through the process too often myself. I have only worked for 3 companies in that time, but each move has made me more empathetic to the stress and strains that go with making that big change in your life.
My decision to move to the Livingston James group during the pandemic was made for several reasons, but underpinning it was the fact I was joining an organisation that is truly driven by purpose and values. My virtual onboarding experience has been excellent. I was surprised with a Christmas hamper before I started, my laptop and kit arrived weeks in advance of my start date and I received a £500 home set up grant to buy a desk, chair and anything else required for a comfortable and productive home working environment (A PS5 wasn’t deemed work kit). Every single colleague gets this when they join.
On my first day I joined up with the superb Hamilton Forth Team, before inductions with the market leading Rutherford Cross and Livingston James exec teams who were very welcoming. I was also asked to join one of the “Champions” groups. Within the Livingston James Group we have four of these groups that help the business deliver on the core values and create a brilliant working culture. These are:
- Wellness Champions
- Fundraising Champions
- Volunteering Champions
- Social Champions
The Champions teams meet up on a weekly basis and work hard to help our charity commitments and keep our wellbeing at the forefront too. Additionally, I could nominate my preferred charity (not from a list, my personal preference) for annual giving back where the company donates a certain percentage of group profits. Mind blown.
We have all signed into our new Virgin Pulse app that helps remind us that keeping the steps up and the mind chilled brings out the best in us.
I chose to join the social champions which is basically all about sending out gifts to the team which have included cases of wine and restaurant vouchers and organising regular virtual catch-ups over a coffee or an occasional beer (It’s an easy gig).
Over the past few weeks, the wider teams have made some introductions to some great new clients for me and we’ve been organising a ton of events; from Transformation Talks series, to the upcoming “Leading out of the crisis”, to April’s roundtable with the GB Olympic & Davis cup tennis coach Leon Smith.
So why I am talking about this?
Well firstly, maybe it’s to give comfort to someone that is not enjoying their current role but is nervous to make a career move in this new world. Virtual onboarding can work; that has certainly been my experience so far. Do your research, align your purpose with the organisation and you will be fine.
Secondly, I am sharing my experience as my team is now growing. We have too much demand and we are looking to add two new heads into our tech business. Our Hamilton Forth business plan puts the Logan report at the centre of what we are doing. We want to help our clients and candidates achieve their potential, but we also want to support the Scottish Tech ecosystem from grass route up. So, if you are working in recruitment, want to work with a brilliant company and are interested in a confidential chat, please drop me a note. We look after you in the present and are really excited for the future at Hamilton Forth.
Come join us.”
For more info, please click here!
Hamilton Forth is Hiring!
We are looking to grow the Hamilton Forth team. Below, Alistair Shaw shares his experience of moving jobs after 11 years and onboarding virtually, as well as a link to the job opportunity. If you’re in recruitment and looking to kick your career on, please get in touch.
“Given that I have supported hundreds of candidates in finding new roles over the past twenty years, I have not gone through the process too often myself. I have only worked for 3 companies in that time, but each move has made me more empathetic to the stress and strains that go with making that big change in your life.
My decision to move to the Livingston James group during the pandemic was made for several reasons, but underpinning it was the fact I was joining an organisation that is truly driven by purpose and values. My virtual onboarding experience has been excellent. I was surprised with a Christmas hamper before I started, my laptop and kit arrived weeks in advance of my start date and I received a £500 home set up grant to buy a desk, chair and anything else required for a comfortable and productive home working environment (A PS5 wasn’t deemed work kit). Every single colleague gets this when they join.
On my first day I joined up with the superb Hamilton Forth Team, before inductions with the market leading Rutherford Cross and Livingston James exec teams who were very welcoming. I was also asked to join one of the “Champions” groups. Within the Livingston James Group we have four of these groups that help the business deliver on the core values and create a brilliant working culture. These are:
The Champions teams meet up on a weekly basis and work hard to help our charity commitments and keep our wellbeing at the forefront too. Additionally, I could nominate my preferred charity (not from a list, my personal preference) for annual giving back where the company donates a certain percentage of group profits. Mind blown.
We have all signed into our new Virgin Pulse app that helps remind us that keeping the steps up and the mind chilled brings out the best in us.
I chose to join the social champions which is basically all about sending out gifts to the team which have included cases of wine and restaurant vouchers and organising regular virtual catch-ups over a coffee or an occasional beer (It’s an easy gig).
Over the past few weeks, the wider teams have made some introductions to some great new clients for me and we’ve been organising a ton of events; from Transformation Talks series, to the upcoming “Leading out of the crisis”, to April’s roundtable with the GB Olympic & Davis cup tennis coach Leon Smith.
So why I am talking about this?
Well firstly, maybe it’s to give comfort to someone that is not enjoying their current role but is nervous to make a career move in this new world. Virtual onboarding can work; that has certainly been my experience so far. Do your research, align your purpose with the organisation and you will be fine.
Secondly, I am sharing my experience as my team is now growing. We have too much demand and we are looking to add two new heads into our tech business. Our Hamilton Forth business plan puts the Logan report at the centre of what we are doing. We want to help our clients and candidates achieve their potential, but we also want to support the Scottish Tech ecosystem from grass route up. So, if you are working in recruitment, want to work with a brilliant company and are interested in a confidential chat, please drop me a note. We look after you in the present and are really excited for the future at Hamilton Forth.
Come join us.”
For more info, please click here!
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