Member Article

North East festive focus: James Blackwell, Ronald James

James Blackwell, Chief Executive Officer at North East Digital & Tech Recruitment Agency - Ronald James, is the latest North East business leader to join our quickfire December interview series.

Your business

If you had to choose one thing - what are you most proud of your company achieving this year, why?

I am most proud of the business over achieving our target by 120%. We have managed to help over 40 Clients in the Digital & Tech space find the right talent to help them grow their businesses in 2017.

What was the single biggest challenge faced by your firm in 2016?

We spent a number of months going out and speaking with business owners and Developers to find out their true pain points and how we can bring them value. The recruitment industry seemed to have a bad name so we managed to overcome that barrier by giving clients and candidates a trusted recruitment partner for the long term that actually delivered on their promise.

This wasn’t just about putting bums on seats; we needed to think strategically, understanding the needs and the cultures of the companies and people we work with.

Can you tell us one thing your business is doing in 2017 that really excites you?

Next year our plans are very exciting. Having now secured our 25th exclusive partner we will be looking to grow our team and add a select number of Platinum Partners to our club. We are launching a new Salary Survey website where all Developers in the North East can compare genuine live salaries to give both candidates and clients a clear insight into current market trends for the Digital & Tech sector across the North East.

I also have another exciting business that will be revealed in March 2017 that will help upskill local Developers in the region.

Your region

Which North East firm has impressed you the most this year, why?

Datatrial have really embraced forward thinking and innovative technologies. They have built a fantastic in-house Development team here in Newcastle and have some really exciting products being released. We look forward to helping them build another Development team in 2017.

Are there any emerging businesses in the region that’ve caught your eye this year that you’ve been previously unaware of?

The Consultancy based in Hartlepool have really been unsung heroes in the region as an award winning Digital Agency. Paul and the team are the Digital leaders in the Double Glazing industry and after working with them I really do see a lot of growth in the next 3 years from these guys. They have managed to build a fantastic Development team in Hartlepool which is not easy!

Is there an industry or sector of the North East business community which you expect to really take off next year?

Digital and Tech sector is still the main driver for the North East I think for 2017. Speaking to most of the business owners in this sector they all seem excited about the future and I do not see the growth slowing down anytime soon.

Yourself

What was your first job?

Running a newsagents on a weekend aged 14.

If you weren’t doing what you do, is there a job you’d love to have?

Formula One driver for sure! What a life they have.

What do you do on Christmas day?

Spending time with my fiance and family. Eating too much food and drinking lots of champagne… It is a time to relax and enjoy the special moments. We only get one life so always make the most of it with the people you love.

Thanks James.