At Riverside Recruitment, we believe the strongest recruitment partnerships are built on more than simply filling vacancies. They come from taking the time to understand a business, its people and the culture that makes it a great place to work. Our long-standing partnership with Optima is a great example of this.
Optima is a growing business that offers a wide range of opportunities, from its shop floor through to professional and management roles. Despite its size, the company has retained a strong family feel, with an approachable and down-to-earth culture where people at every level are accessible.
For employees, there are opportunities to develop and progress, including apprenticeship schemes and internal promotions. Optima have also been known to create roles within the business to accommodate talented people and support their development. They can see potential and invest in developing staff to build within.
A recruitment partnership built on understanding
Working exclusively with Riverside means Optima has a streamlined recruitment process and one dedicated recruitment partner who understands what they are looking for.
Over the years, we have developed a strong understanding of Optima’s culture, the different roles within the business and the type of people who thrive there.
That knowledge makes a real difference when we’re matching candidates to opportunities. It’s not simply about whether someone has the right experience on paper. We look at the person, their aspirations and whether they are likely to be a good fit for the business and their culture.
As Tabitha Cutland, HR Co-ordinator at Optima, explains:
“Working exclusively with Riverside has been really beneficial for us. Having a recruitment partner who has taken the time to understand Optima, our roles and what we look for in our people makes the whole recruitment process much easier and allows us to work really well together.”
From career change to HR Co-ordinator
One of the best examples of the partnership in action is Tabitha’s own career journey.
Tabitha had previously worked as a protection broker in mortgages but was ready for a complete career change. She decided to leave her role without another job lined up and began speaking to recruitment agencies.
After conversations with several agencies, Tabitha wasn’t convinced that they understood what she was looking for. That changed when she spoke to Sally at Riverside.
Sally recognised Tabitha’s friendly nature and strong people skills and believed she could be a great fit for Optima. She initially discussed an HR opportunity with her and, recognising her potential, recommended her for the HR Advisor role.
Tabitha successfully secured the position and has continued to develop her career with Optima. Almost four years later, she has completed her CIPD Level 3 qualification and progressed to HR Co-ordinator, now running the HR department at Optima’s Radstock site.
It’s exactly the kind of progression we love to see – finding someone who has the potential to thrive, even when their previous experience doesn’t follow the traditional route into a role.
Why the partnership works
For Optima, having an exclusive recruitment partner provides a single, streamlined point of contact. For Riverside, it means we can build genuine knowledge of the business and develop strong relationships with the people involved. That combination allows us to work quickly and effectively, while still keeping the focus where it belongs: finding the right people for the right roles.
We’re proud of the relationship we’ve built with Optima and look forward to continuing to support their growth and the careers of the people who join them.
Are you looking for a recruitment partner who really understands your business? Get in touch with the Riverside Recruitment team to find out how we could support your recruitment needs.
