ABOUT

Why be a Pirate?

By bringing Recruitment Leaders together as friends, rather than as rivals, we have created an unparalleled climate of co-operation that promotes cross-fertilisation of ideas and insights.


This collective has energised, inspired and sparked innovation across the global staffing sector.


We know it’s impacted entrepreneurs to collaborate to achieve remarkable things and this is when change starts to happen.


We are proud of all the things we have done across the sector:


  • The return to a sales culture
  • Technology innovation steering the leading RecTech partners
  • Globalising before it was a word 
  • Powering UK PLC and the economy
  • Becoming an advocate of change
  • Delivering over 50 CEO / Top Co exits
  • Improving systems and embracing Automation before i was a thing
  • Spearheading the “more from fewer” movement
  • Making heading up a business more fun than ever


At the RDLC:

New ideas are discussed openly, analysed, and incubated. Thus producing disruptive strategies that enable Pirates to outgun the competition.


The RDLC is the essential network for ambitious recruitment business leaders.


Going places? We’ll help you get there faster.


In just a few short years, (more than 10 now!) RDLC Pirates has grown into a wonderfully diverse community of likeminded recruitment leaders who pull together for the benefit of themselves and the entire Pirate crew.


Just imagine - competitors and comparators that become friends who delight in celebrating each other’s success.

But what does success look like? Bottom line is that average ROI on RDLC membership is (and has ALWAYS BEEN) >1400%. That’s what Pirate’s success looks like!

That’s what Pirate’s success looks like.

Premium Suppliers

Affiliate Suppliers















































RDLC's Timeline

Aug 2013

8 recruitment CEOs do lunch and share issues.

Nov - Feb 2013

10-20 Recruitment CEO friends do monthly lunches and the RDLC is born

Mar 2014

We agree our first program of Recruitment Directors "only" lunches and incorporate. We are off!

Dec 2014

Lunch dates booked for 12 months, training courses and >10 suppliers

Jan 2015

RDLC Launches their first awards with 150 attendees at the Hippodrome London

Jul 2015

RDLC launches their first summer party and takes over Home House

2016

Café de Paris awards, summer party on the Thames, the inaugural Ibiza conference to test the concept was a roaring success

2017

Membership booms, RDLC awards become iconic, Kensington Rooftop summer party becomes an incentive to members' top performers, Conference with a host of TED Talk speakers the best yet

2018

Membership explodes, we open channels for rising stars , Exclusive Training is triggered

2019

The "crazy year", an event or program every week, we expanded the supplier market place to >60 with max. 2 in each discipline all looking to capture market share

2020

1 Global Pandemic, months in lockdown, membership grows, 14 members reporting best ever months during lockdown, 40+ webinar sessions for members to educate, motivate, & entertain
And we thought 2019 was crazy!

2021

The Big Sector Bounce Back
H2 - 2 member meetings a month, majority of members report record performances, major focus on brands operating in the US

2022

The year of MEGA evolution
RDLC focused on :
- Uber Niche
- Globalising
- More from fewer people (accelerated efficiency)
- AI & Automation

2023

The 'Mixed Bag' Year
RDLC went back to basics focusing on sales, culture & doing more with fewer heads (costs), more face2face events than any previous year, launch of the quarterly “super lunches”

2024

A tough year for many, in person and online events continue apace, 50 RDLC members successfully launched in the US

2025

The year when the pivoting of last year will literally pay dividends.
The year you join the RDLC?

  • Aug 2013

    8 recruitment CEOs do lunch and share issues

  • Nov 2013

    14 CEOs book a fine dining room, do lunch and talk issues

  • Feb 2014

    RDLC is incorporated and the first Recruitment Directors ‘only’ network is formed

  • Mar 2014

    25 CEOs Fine dine with an agenda and Bullhorn as first prospective supplier

  • Dec 2014

    65 CEO members lunch dates booked for 12 months, training courses and 10 suppliers

  • Jan 2015

    RDLC Launches their first awards with 150 attendees at the Hippodrome London

  • July 2015

    RDLC launches their first summer party and takes over Home House

  • Dec 2015

    Finish the year on 80 members and hire our first team member

  • 2016

    Café de Paris awards, summer party on the Thames, the inaugural Ibiza conference and 90 managers on training

  • 2017

    125 CEOs members, 250 at awards, 150 at Kensignton roof top, 74 in Ibiza with Merryn Somerset-Webb opening the show!!

  • 2018

    175 CEO members, 300 at awards, 150 Club Tropicana, 100 in Ibiza and 600 at Battersea Evolution

  • 2019

    200+ CEO members, 350 awards, 56 suppliers, 1000 consultants, managers & leaders trained to date, average 900% ROI and 125 in Ibiza… Plus Merryn goes for the Hat-trick opening for the 3rd time!

  • 2020

    55 suppliers, 320 members, 1 Global Pandemic, 3 months in lockdown (and counting), 14 members reporting best ever months during lockdown, 40+ Webinar sessions for members to educate, motivate, & entertain

  • 2021

    350 members, 60 suppliers, pandemic and lockdowns continue for much of H1 but as normality resumes in person events recommence. Majority of members report record performances with many focussing on setting up operations in the US.