Meet Ryan Hayes

Ryan Hayes rejoined Linear in April 2023 and had an immediate and significant impact, even winning Star of the Quarter for Quarter 3 that year. His role is focused on supporting our Construction clients across Yorkshire with quality permanent staff.

Tell us a bit about yourself 
I kind of fell into the world of recruitment. Having returned from a month travelling through Asia, I needed to find a new role. I applied for several, and after speaking to various Recruitment Consultants, I thought that’s a job I could do, so I set my sights on securing a role in recruitment and within a sector that I genuinely had a passion for. My recruitment journey started back in 2007 when I joined my first company as a Trainee Recruitment Consultant supplying Trades & Labour (I still remember my first placement from all those years ago) and the recruitment buzz got me, and 16 years later I’m still enjoying it, albeit looking a little greyer on top!

Can you tell us about your history with Linear?
During my first stint at Linear Recruitment (2012 – 2015), I joined the rail department supplying blue and white collar workers throughout the UK – it was a very demanding role working 7 days a week (sometimes days and nights) but also a very rewarding one which enabled me to save enough money to put down a deposit on my home. The lure of the Construction industry was too much so I decided to accept a new opportunity elsewhere supplying freelance white collar personnel which then lead onto to me focusing on building a new permanent desk from scratch for the Yorkshire region. After a buyout of the company I was working for by a London-based agency, I wanted to follow heart and roots as a Yorkshireman and return to work for Linear who has an excellent reputation within the region, so having returned in April 2023, I’m currently a Senior Consultant suppling permanent staff to various Contractors throughout the Yorkshire region and enjoying my time here once again.

How do you think Linear has changed in that time?
It was nice to be welcomed back by some familiar faces – who like a fine wine, have aged well, but like any good company to work for Linear has the right principles and values in place which has enabled them to be successful. The biggest difference however, Linear Recruitment is now an Employee Ownership Trust, which means the employees have become owners of the company we work for. The other big plus is the 16:30 finish on a Friday!

How do you think the construction sector is performing, and how do you think it will perform as we move into 2024 and 2025?
UK interest rates are at their highest level for fifteen years and according to recent press articles, the number of companies going bust this year is on track to be the highest since the depths of the financial crisis in 2009. Construction is usually one of the first sectors to feel an economic downturn and one of the last to recover. In the past 3 months, the construction sector saw the sharpest
increase in companies facing critical distress with an increase of 46%. Inflation levels are still expected to be above 5% at the end of the year, and 3-4% by mid-2024, above the Government's 2% target. We are however seeing government investment increasing in areas such as education facilities, health and prison facilities, transport infrastructure and the number of planning approvals has
also been rising particularly in large new housing developments, where the value stood at almost £4billion, 79% higher than the same period last year. We are also seeing a surge in planning approvals for health-related construction projects and industrial buildings so I’m more optimistic about the near-future for the industry, despite a recent industry decline due to material and labour supply shortages.

What do you find the most challenging aspect of your role at Linear?
The most challenging aspect of my role is sourcing the top talent that every company strives for. Gone are the days where you can put ads out for roles and expect 5-6 good candidates to apply. Now you have to actively ‘headhunt’, ‘approach’ and present opportunities to them.

What three words would you use to describe Linear Recruitment?
Approachable, hardworking and honest.

What do you like to do outside of work?
Most of my time is spent tidying up after my one year who is very messy (she gets it from her mother’s side), but I love my sports, watching football, playing golf and most recently heading back into the gym to get rid of the dad bod I’ve developed.

If you were stuck on an island what three things would you bring?
My pillow – I need my beauty sleep.
An unlimited supply of Cadbury’s Turkish Delight.
And dependant on location, either Factor 50 suncream (otherwise I’d look like a lobster) or my woolly golf hat to keep my big ears warm!

Ryan works from our Sheffield office which you can contact here, or you can email him: ryan.hayes@linearrecruitment.co.uk