CPL Plc

Entrepreneur: Anne Heraty
Business Activity: Recruitment
Website: www.cpl.ie

CPL, founded in Dublin in 1989, is a leading Irish provider of Recruitment and Human Resource Services across a broad industry skill base. Their services include specialist recruitment; work force management; payroll and outsourcing services.

The company operates through a number of quality brands such as Careers Register - finance and accounting specialists, Medical Recruitment Specialists - healthcare, Techskills - engineering specialists, Thornshaw & CPL Science - pharmaceutical and scientific specialists, Ann O Brien - office specialists, Multiflex – light industrial, BroadReach – executive search and CPL Managed Services – human resource and workforce management specialists.

Since June 1999, CPL has been listed on the DCM and AIM markets. Analysts forecast its turnover to June 2006 at €125m, and profit before tax of €9.5m. In the year to June 2005 total payroll costs were approx €72.5m.

CPL clients include world leading companies, public and private institutions and small and medium size enterprises.

The company employs an internal workforce of 250 employees and offers long and short term work to over 15,000 people each year. Operating through a network of 12 offices including Ireland, UK and Poland, CPL offers career opportunities through all stages of an individual’s career in permanent, contract and temporary positions.

For more information see www.cpl.ie

Entrepreneurial Questions

What vision prompted you to start up in business?
My vision was to create a new breed of specialist Recruitment Company for highly skilled IT professionals based on our values of –‘Placing people first’. Our difference was the technical knowledge, passion and attitude of our recruiters.

Describe your progression from start up to your current status?
Established in 1989 as specialist IT recruiter, we developed steadily throughout the 90’s. An IPO in 1999 facilitated a fresh injection of capital which fast tracked our expansion into a broad range of industry sectors both through organic growth and acquisition.

What was the biggest risk you have taken?
Asking my husband Paul to leave his job as Compensation and Benefits Manager with a US multinational in 1995 and join CPL. Thankfully it was a good career move!

Who or what has most contributed to your success?
CPL is the story of a team, my husband Paul and our talented management team, have all contributed to my success. I believe my ability to recruit talented, creative people with a great attitude is the key to success.

What is your biggest business achievement?
I hope this hasn’t happened yet.

What is the best piece of business advice you have ever received?
‘The customer is always right’. We are a service business and our customers are the focus of what we do. We listen very carefully to them and we do whatever it takes to keep good customers.

Express the biggest challenge you see your industry facing?
Legislation. There have been 45 new pieces of legislation passed affecting the labour market over the last five years, while in the previous fifteen years there was only five new pieces of legislation.

Name a famous international entrepreneur you most admire and why?
Richard Branson because of his enthusiasm, sense of adventure and fun.

How do you recharge your batteries?
Family and friends having fun with my children.