Successful telecoms and IT entrepreneur Giles Phelps has invested a six figure amount into a new Cardiff based start-up set to launch next month. Headed by Daniel Lewis, co-founder of TheGenieLab and Blurrt, Digital Profile is set to transform the recruitment industry by providing a recruitment matchmaking site for businesses and candidates.
The new company will provide recruiters with an online, subscription based service enabling them to directly select potential candidates for full time and temporary positions who themselves will have created their own digital profile and uploaded examples of their work and projects they have been involved in.
Initially employing a team of 10 comprising of software engineers, sales and marketing and admin, Digital Profile will target the Welsh recruitment market with Messrs Lewis and Phelps planning to expand Digital Profile nationally and eventually internationally.
Daniel Lewis, founder of Digital Profile explained that Mr Phelps’ investment in the company, his significant experience in running businesses and his expert knowledge of the IT industry will have enormous benefits for the new start-up. “I met Giles at a networking event and we spoke about my plans for Digital Profile. Giles immediately recognised the potential and offered his assistance both financially and with the resources he has available to him. It’s a fantastic opportunity for the business and for me personally to work with Giles. He has a proven track record in setting up successful companies and adds an extra dimension to Digital Profile.”
“The potential for the start-up is enormous. It’s a unique service that will disrupt the traditional recruitment industry.” explained Mr Phelps who owns four companies involved in the telecoms and IT industry including Spectrum Internet and Net Support UK. “Like many traditional industries, including estate agents, the internet has changed the rules regarding how businesses and individuals operate. Digital Profile will provide an effective digital recruitment e-commerce platform using bespoke software and digital marketing to promote and enhance user experience.
As an employer, my HR managers have spent a lot of time sifting through the CV’s of candidates sent through to us by recruitment companies who didn’t meet our criteria. Two sides of A4 will provide the bare essentials but we want to know more about the individuals before we invite them to an interview. More importantly we want to know if they have the skills we need and can prove it. There are countless examples of companies making appointments only to find that the individual isn’t up to the job, Digital Profile will minimise this risk.”
Recruiters using the peer to peer service will pay to use the service whilst candidates will be able to set up their digital profiles free of charge. The subscription charges will be significantly less than the 15% finders fee the majority of recruitment companies charge for their services and enable recruiters to make as many appointments as required.
“We want to solve a problem in the recruitment industry,” said Mr Lewis. “In layman’s terms, Digital Profile will provide a LinkedIn type service for all parties and has been developed specifically for the recruitment industry. The software will enable recruiters and candidates to make specific searches, put them directly in contact with each other and view other information they might want to include such as social media profiles. Skills and experience are obviously very important but making sure the individual will fit with other employees and the culture of the business is another consideration that should be taken into account.
This is another opportunity for the digital community in Wales to demonstrate the innovative, creative talent we have available. When we launch in September, we aim to quickly grow our market share and expand the business. The economy is growing again, companies are recruiting, employees are once again having a look around to see what other opportunities are now available to them and Digital Profile will provide the ideal platform for all.”