MEMBER ZONE MEMBERPROFILE NAME: Ashley Ball


COMPANY: Addington Ball Recruitment Ltd JOB TITLE: Director/owner/recruiter


WHAT IS YOUR BACKGROUND? Although I have a degree in Marine Biology (that’s another story) I’ve worked in recruitment for the last 20 years, predominately recruiting in the accountancy and finance sector both in the UK and USA.


WHAT DOES YOUR COMPANY DO? Addington Ball are a specialist recruitment consultancy in the accountancy and finance sector. We recruit at all levels both within the accountancy profession and for clients in industry ranging in size from SMEs through to blue-chip multi-nationals.


HOW DID IT ALL START? I first worked with my fellow founding business partner, Richard Davies, in 2001 in Kingston-upon-Thames. Our careers followed slightly different paths within the group but we both independently ended up working in Milton Keynes and re-locating to the area. Holding regional roles managing multiple offices and teams we were conscious that as our careers progressed we were moving further and further away from front line recruitment. Being passionate about the importance of the consultative aspect of the role of a recruiter and the difference we can and do make, we started trading in 2012 and have never looked back.


WHAT’S YOUR GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT SO FAR? In the UK there were 8,456 new recruitment agencies launched in 2019. This was a 230% increase in the number launched in 2010 when 2,556 were set up. Although not all succeed, competition is always increasing. I’m proud of what we’ve managed to build.


WHAT IS THE BIGGEST RISK YOU’VE EVER TAKEN – AND DID IT WORK OUT? It has to be stepping away from a successful career within the large plc environment ultimately to set up Addington Ball from scratch. And yes, so far so good.


WHICH BUSINESS PERSON OR COMPANY DO YOU MOST ADMIRE, AND WHY? James Dyson for his entrepreneurship, innovation and achievements all built on an initial concept which I can relate to - “I just think things should work properly”.


WHAT EXCITING PROJECTS IS YOUR BUSINESS WORKING ON AT THE MOMENT? The job market is definitely picking up and there are several sectors and many businesses that are thriving in the current market. We do not advertise all of our roles and are currently working with some very interesting organisations. We encourage anyone to call us to learn more and discuss further.


WHAT MADE YOU JOIN MILTON KEYNES CHAMBER AND/OR HOW ARE YOU MAKING USE OF YOUR MEMBERSHIP? Both myself and business partner have worked in Milton Keynes and recruited across the Milton Keynes market and surrounding area for many years. Joining the Chamber was a natural step.


T: 01926 290290 E: ashley@addingtonball.com W: www.addingtonball.com


24 inbusinessDECEMBER 2020/JANUARY 2021 MEMBER BENEFITS


For full details of all the benefits available to chamber members, visit: www.chambermk.co.uk


CHAMBER FX Exclusive foreign exchange member package offering free health check, low transfer fees and free account opening. Key benefits include bank-beating exchange rates.


CHAMBER HEALTH PLAN Provided by Westfield Health, Chamber Primary Health Plan can give members cover from just £5.57 per employee, per month.


CHAMBER PROTECTION This includes four services: Chamber HR, Chamber Health & Safety, Chamber Legal and Chamber Tax. They include an advice line covering HR, employment law, legal, health & safety, tax and VAT, legal and health & safety documents and legal expenses insurance cover.


PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT CHAMBER FINANCE FINDER


With many of our members facing difficult and challenging times, it is more important than ever for us to help you access the finance solutions you need to protect your business through the Covid-19 crisis and beyond. The Chamber is utilising financial technology to provide access to both government and non-government funding options via a new partnership with members Swoop Funding, supported by the British Chambers of Commerce. This new tool, powered by one of the UK’s most admired fintechs, Swoop Funding, matches businesses with funding from over 1,000 providers. Discover the right funding solutions across loans, equity and grants to protect your business during the Covid-19 crisis. Simply register for a free account, provide the relevant information, and within minutes, you’ll be matched to all available finance opportunities on the market, including the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) and Bounce Back Loan Scheme (BBLS). Check your eligibility for these and other Covid-19 funding solutions and track your progress via the online portal.


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28