5 Years of Gembridge
Gembridge has celebrated 5 years! Actually, 5.5 if you count all the pre-planning and set up. It’s quite a milestone and moment to reflect on key points that have led us to where we are today, and where we are going.
Michelle’s desk : A good motto to follow.
Starting with an idea, a vision and coffee in my office of one - with my inspirational Kikki K quote card “Don’t overthink it. Just start.” - until now, has been quite a journey. Plenty of learnings, challenges and setbacks… but so many wins.
Strategic plans have been in place like any business. But with change being our only constant to move with, we always tried to remain on course to achieve our mission - To enable ‘for purpose’ organisations to recruit and retain the right people to maximise their capacity, funding, resources and impact.
There are many amazing happenings I could reflect upon, but here are 5 key highlights:
1. Relationships & Networks - We have so many clients and candidates, plus partners, collaborators, friends and family who have played a part in our Gembridge journey. Your advice, encouragement, support, introductions and referrals have been greatly appreciated. Our data shows that the majority of our business comes from referrals and repeat business. THANK YOU!
Jenni D’Orival and Michelle Varcoe at Ethical Jobs Conference in 2020 (Jenni’s 1st week)
2. Gembridge Team – Starting solo, and now 8 awesome humans, 9 if you include Leroy (our Groodle Dog Director of Wellbeing). They are remarkable individuals and colleagues and team, and together we have built a collaborative team culture. THANK YOU!
Jenni was the first to join Team Gembridge in February 2020. We spent a few weeks in the office together, then online WFH in between home-schooling and navigating the COVID pandemic and pivots. Jenni is now recruiting executive roles and managing a thriving team, plus strategic leadership to propel Gembridge forward. THANK YOU!
3. Certified B Corp. We achieved accreditation in February 2021. For anyone who has been through the accreditation process, it is not easy, but definitely worth it. For us, it has provided frameworks, and kept goals front and centre to elevate our core social and environmental values and commitment. B Corp certification is about business as a force for good and ensuring a balance of people, planet and profit.
4. Continuous improvement. A key saying internally is “Always moving more forward than backwards”. This includes systems, databases, processes and business strategies to streamline, scale and support growth. Some are incremental steps forward, others bigger leaps, and more recently about consolidation.
5. Results! Gembridge has managed hundreds of recruitment assignments with 60% of these in Fundraising & Advancement, and the remainder in Executive Leadership (CEO & SLT), Philanthropy, Marketing & Communications.
We have big plans for the next 5 years. Watch this space!