Who are Candy Resource Careers?
It all started over a coffee..
Penny founded Candy Resource with Gabs after a long, deep discussion about putting the world to rights. They were frustrated by the outrageous fees agencies charged for recruiting staff—fees that were crippling businesses. This meant they often spent their own time recruiting new staff into companies they had previously worked for, rather than focusing on their actual key responsibilities, which impacted their day-to-day availability to achieve great results.
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The process was exhausting: sifting through CVs, verifying credentials and references, deliberating whether candidates genuinely wanted to leave their current jobs or were just testing the market, or perhaps using the opportunity as a bargaining tool with their current employer. These questions weighed heavily on both of them.
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They concluded that local businesses needing skilled staff would benefit from cutting typical agency fees (10-25%) to a more manageable and realistic cost. They envisioned a streamlined process to screen and shortlist candidates for a fixed rate with flexible payment options. This approach would give businesses the financial freedom to recruit the right people at the right time without worrying about affordability.
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After spending time testing the model and calculating the actual process required, they realized it wasn't just about employers—candidates also needed good employers with whom they could grow their careers. They recognized the barriers preventing people from exploring their next career steps, which led to the development of Candy Resource Careers.
Penny Guard
Education and Training Specialist
Penny has spent over 20 years in learning and development (she decided there's no need to count beyond that number, or we'd give her real age away). Her experience began in administration, progressed through sales roles, and advanced as she qualified as a coach, trainer, assessor, and Quality lead, eventually reaching board-level management of a training provider. This diverse background gives her comprehensive knowledge of business infrastructure—from administration and sales to quality, operations, and program design.
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Having experienced both the pain of poor recruitment decisions and the success of great hires, Penny works with candidates and employers to ensure the right fit. She focuses on preselection and screening processes for each candidate to determine their motivations and capabilities.
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She also supports candidates and employers with essential skills development and manages the Candy Resource Careers site, where individuals can upskill themselves before applying. This gives them insight into what employers are looking for. Penny has designed, delivered, and quality-assured courses for the last 12 years of her career and enjoys working with clients to determine their precise needs and customizing courses for both existing employees and future recruits.
Gabrielle Blackwell
Recruitment Specialist
Gabrielle, Gabs for short, has an impressive recruitment record and works closely with all our clients from the initial stages to understand their recruitment challenges, ideal candidates, job specifications, and shortlisting criteria.
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Gabs has spent the last 8 years in customer service, sales, and senior operations roles with particular focus on recruitment as a certified and qualified recruitment consultant and manager. She covers a vast range of industries, specializing in Care, Engineering, Electrical, Construction, and Education, recruiting for roles across these businesses.
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Gabs' secret to successful and speedy recruitment for her clients has been ensuring crystal-clear research on the businesses' current and future needs. This allows us to recruit like-minded people who not only meet the business operations outputs but are also the right fit for the culture and team they're directly placed with.
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Gabs has a passion for travel, keeping fit at the gym, and enjoying a glass of bubbles with a dose of weekly giggles to ensure life is always full of lightness and fun as we celebrate our clients' success.
