Spicerhaart has introduced a talent acquisition team with the aim to increase broker numbers and meet growing client demand.

Spicerhaart’s financial services division, Just Mortgages, received 1,129 CVs in February this year, compared to 40 CVs in the same month last year. It also increased its number of brokers to 160 at the end of 2016, exceeding its target by 20.

The team of recruitment consultants is responsible for the recruitment and talent performance and development across the entire Spicerhaart Group. This comprises Just Mortgages, haart, Darlows, Haybrook, Felicity J Lord and Chewton Rose.

As part of the process, the team based in Cardiff will contact each candidate to carry out a three month review to gain feedback on their manager and how they feel they are performing in their role. Exit interviews are now standard practice and the information collected will help improve wider company practices.

John Phillips (pictured), group operations director at Spicerhaart and Just Mortgages, said: “Due to the success of the Just Mortgages recruitment team, it was clear we needed to extend this service across the whole of the Spicerhaart Group. It has seen substantial growth in the last few years, and in order to continue in this vein, we must recruit the right people for the right roles. This will help drive performance and is also an effective way of ensuring customers continue to receive a high quality service.

“In previous years recruiting property professionals often proved difficult due to the recession and regulation. As a result, there was a shortage of professionals in the industry, as some chose to diversify their business while others left the industry altogether. Therefore, the Spicerhaart talent acquisition team is a great way of increasing the number of entrants to the market which is crucial, as it needs a constant supply of new blood to take the profession forwards.”