Can talented recruiters learn any lessons from the most talked-about sports story of the last week?
Well, let’s start with Wenger’s record as a recruiter. Particularly at the start of his career with Arsenal, he was second to none. For example, Emmanuel Petit, Marc Overmars, Nicholas Anelka, Robert Pires, Thierry Henry and Robin Van Persie were all signed for a relative pittance and went on to be stars.
He knew the talent the team needed and the skills it required. Moreover, he identified where to find those skills for a bargain price. Wenger’s ability to source the best talent marked him as a hugely talented recruitment master down the years.
When Wenger joined Arsenal 22 years ago in 1996, he inherited a team which was underperforming, where a drinking culture was ingrained, and where players didn’t look after their bodies in the way they should. Wenger changed all that by bringing in continental, analytical, science-based methods, and not only transformed Arsenal, but also influenced the Premier League generally, where every team then had to up its game.
Wenger’s key legacy is not just the transformation of Arsenal, but also the fresh thinking he brought that helped push English football into the 21st Century.
What can talented recruitment agents learn from the successes of Wenger’s dynasty?
Much of the key to Wenger’s success was the freedom he had to shape Arsenal into a club in his own mould and vision. But it is important to recognise the exceptional and talented back room support he had.
First was his relationship with then vice-chairman David Dein. When Wenger wanted a player, Dein secured it, when Wenger wanted to improve the training facilities, Dein backed him and when Wenger wanted to test new ideas and approaches to coaching, Dein supported them.
The point is, Wenger was allowed to flourish because he had the support from the back room to let his approach take root. He was not one of these football managers being told who to sign, how to do training and which team to pick. He could get on with what he did best and was the master of his own footballing destiny, knowing long-term support was in place. This meant he wasn’t just another ‘one season wonder’ manager, but one who built his own legacy and wrote his own chapter of football history.
The Recruit Venture Group offers very much that same backroom support to the 43 businesses they have helped launch. In each case, talented recruiters have been given the necessary financial, legal, marketing, IT, HR, accountancy and other back office service to allow them to get on with the work they do best – matching people with jobs.
Because the Recruit Venture Group offers 100% of the necessary finance to help talented recruitment staff take their first steps in setting up their own business, there is no need for things like re-mortgaging the family home or living nervously off credit cards for months or years.
Managing Director, Paul Mizen, said: “Arsène Wenger would never have had the opportunity to create his legacy without being given time and support.
“We understand that when recruitment agents have talent, all they need is a few key pillars of support to unlock their ability to create their own successful businesses.
“So many salaried recruiters out there, with a few years’ experience under their belts, are constrained by their employers. They are not given the freedom inject new ideas, new approaches and working styles like Mr Wenger was able to in the 1990s. And they don’t always get the just rewards for the work they do.
“Many of the businesses we support are already many years into their ventures and being run in their own styles. And unlike many small ventures, or indeed football managers, these are no ‘one season wonders’ which are here today and gone tomorrow. These are businesses moulded by their owners’ vision and backed by long-term support to create a lasting business legacy.”