In this episode of Recruiting Alchemy, host Andy Simpson sits down with Malvin Kamara, former professional footballer turned founder and CEO of Vallum Associates. From playing in the Premier League and Championship to building one of the fastest-growing recruitment firms in energy and infrastructure, Malvin shares his remarkable journey and the lessons learned along the way.

They discuss what professional sport taught him about resilience, how he transitioned into recruitment, and the realities of scaling a business with no prior experience. From managing VAT shocks and cashflow challenges to building a high-performance culture, Malvin offers a refreshingly honest look at what it takes to succeed in recruitment and leadership.

Whether you’re a recruiter, business owner, or simply someone interested in stories of resilience and entrepreneurship, this episode is packed with inspiration and practical takeaways.

🎙 Key Topics:
🔹 From football pitches to boardrooms – Malvin’s journey into recruitment
🔹 Why resilience and mindset matter more than experience
🔹 Scaling Vallum Associates through setbacks and turning points
🔹 Lessons in leadership, culture, and high-performance environments
🔹 The realities of tax, cashflow, and learning business the hard way

Show Notes & Timestamps

[00:00] Introduction & Early Life

Andy introduces Malvin Kamara and his journey from football to recruitment.

Growing up in Plumstead and discovering a love for football.

[07:00] Professional Football Career

Playing for Port Vale, Huddersfield, and beyond.

How injury and circumstance shaped his next chapter.

[20:00] First Steps After Football

Door-to-door sales in Yorkshire and tough early lessons.

Transition into recruitment and discovering Venquis.

[35:00] Founding Vallum Associates

Why Malvin decided to start his own company.

Struggles with scaling, learning tax and cashflow the hard way.

Building resilience through trial and error.

[45:00] Building Culture & Scaling to Exit

The importance of high-performance environments.

Creating a company culture that attracts and retains talent.

Lessons from private equity and scaling partnerships.

[01:00:00] Final Thoughts

Advice for recruiters and entrepreneurs.

Why setbacks can shape long-term success.

In this episode of Recruiting Alchemy, Andy Simpson sits down with Steve Beckitt founder of SourceBreaker for a candid and often hilarious deep dive into how he went from contract recruiter to tech founder, built a SaaS business from spreadsheets, and exited with a life-changing deal.

Steve shares his unfiltered journey: selling early products that barely worked, surviving COVID as a bootstrapped founder, and the emotional highs and lows of growing (and selling) a business under intense pressure. From S3 training rooms to building Excel tools that ended up in the hands of Google and Facebook. This episode is equal parts gritty startup story and practical masterclass for any recruiter or entrepreneur thinking of taking the leap.

🎙 Key Topics:

🔹 How Steve validated SourceBreaker by selling Excel spreadsheets to recruiters
🔹 The early hustle: balancing product development with cash flow
🔹 Going from contractor at S3 to founder in Croydon
🔹 Why recruitment was never the end goal—and how he pivoted into SaaS
🔹 Managing investor expectations and funding rounds
🔹 Surviving a direct competitor giving away a near-identical product for free
🔹 When and why he decided to sell the business—and how close it came to falling apart
🔹 The emotional cost of being a founder (and why he sold the cars)

📄 Show Notes & Timestamps

[00:00] – Intro & Background
Steve’s recruitment roots and early days at S3

[06:00] – Leaving S3 & Starting From Scratch
From flat in Croydon to the first sale

[10:00] – The Spreadsheet Hustle
How Steve built basic Excel tools to fund his startup—and got 500 global brands downloading

[14:00] – Validating the Market
From Boolean builders to product-market fit with no code

[18:00] – Finding the Right Co-Founders & Freelancers
Meet Zenon: the MVP-builder behind the curtain

[22:00] – Turning Spreadsheets into a SaaS Company
Why being underestimated helped—and what broke first

[28:00] – Raising Capital & The Pressure to Perform
Private equity, SEIS, and the true weight of investor money

[33:00] – Navigating COVID, Near Misses & Competitive Threats
How they survived a major competitor undercutting them before launch

[36:00] – Scaling, Stress & Real Talk About Burnout
The pressure to exit, and the price of relentless growth

[42:00] – Life After the Exit
What changed (and what didn’t)

[44:00] – Advice for Founders
From advisors to mindset to spreadsheets

In this episode of Recruiting Alchemy, Andy sits down with David Rees, former Chief Sales Officer at S3 and now a fractional chair and investor across multiple recruitment and tech businesses. David shares his journey from his roots in South Wales to leading global teams and shaping the recruitment industry at the highest level.

They discuss the evolution of recruitment, the challenges of scaling internationally, and the critical role of company culture. David also offers candid insights on leadership, the impact of technology and AI, and what it takes to build resilient, high-performing organizations in a rapidly changing market.

Whether you're a recruiter, business leader, or interested in the future of work, this episode is packed with practical wisdom and industry perspective.

🎙 Key Topics:
🔹 Building a career from humble beginnings to industry leadership
🔹 The evolution of recruitment and why culture matters
🔹 Lessons from scaling and international expansion at S3
🔹 The impact of AI, automation, and technology on recruitment
🔹 How to build resilient, high-performing teams in uncertain times

Tune in for an in-depth discussion on recruitment strategy, leadership, and navigating the future of the industry.

Show Notes & Timestamps

[00:00] – Opening & Introduction
David’s journey from South Wales to the top of the recruitment industry.
How early experiences shaped his approach to business and leadership.

[10:00] – The S3 Story & Lessons in Growth
Joining S3, building teams, and navigating industry booms and downturns.
Why company culture and internal development drive long-term success.

[25:00] – International Expansion & Leadership
The challenges and rewards of leading teams across the UK, Germany, and beyond.
How to adapt leadership styles for different markets.

[40:00] – Technology, AI & the Future of Recruitment
How technology and AI are reshaping recruitment.
Why human connection and deep market knowledge still matter.

[55:00] – Building Resilient Teams & Businesses
Lessons from the pandemic, investing, and chairing multiple companies.
What it takes to build sustainable, high-performing organizations.

[65:00] – Final Thoughts & Key Takeaways
The importance of adaptability, culture, and leadership in recruitment.
David’s outlook on the future of the industry and advice for the next generation.