Ricky Martin was first introduced to the wider world when he won the 2012 season of the Lord Alan Sugar-hosted The Apprentice UK. And in Hyper Recruitment Solutions (HRS), the specialist recruitment consultancy that he founded using Lord Sugar’s investment and partnership that was the main prize in his Apprentice triumph, Ricky Martin has found the perfect platform for his passion for science (he’s a qualified biochemist), his experience in talent recruitment, and his belief in supporting and helping other professionals .

The startup phase was very much a meeting of minds between two entrepreneurs, one a neophyte and the other a hugely successful Business veteran, and Lord Sugar’s investment and support has paved the way for Ricky Martin to drive forward what has become one of the most successful specialist recruitment agencies for the science and technology sectors.

Regularly speaking at schools, universities, and conferences, Ricky Martin openly shares the experiences on his entrepreneurial journey to date, so that others may benefit. Working to help others develop their own careers, Ricky Martin does not merely seek success for his own sake, but also to ensure that other succeed, particularly in areas that have the potential for significant life-changing impact.

12 Questions for Ricky Martin

Ricky Martin freed up some time in his busy schedule to talk us through the achievements and challenges of his early startup business career. He also outlines some of the most important lessons that he believes would benefit young entrepreneurs starting up in business today.

1. Briefly tell us about your business and your business goals.

Hyper Recruitment Solutions (HRS) is a specialist recruitment consultancy dedicated to the science and technology sectors. I run HRS alongside Lord Alan Sugar after a successful investment opportunity appearing on BBC One’s The Apprentice. HRS is a recruitment company that commits itself to excellence, and over the past five years has grown from a concept to a successful operation, with five UK locations supporting thousands of people’s careers internationally.

The short term business goals are to constantly up-skill and train our latest intake of trainees, to then provide more recruitment services in cutting edge areas of science such as stem cells, data and security. The science industry is an ever evolving market place, and in order to support this we need to have the right people to do so. In the medium to long term, the plans are to provide our current services in other locations such as Switzerland, Germany and Belgium. We currently work with those countries, but do not have a dedicated in-region entity. That is something we’ll move towards, because a company can never really help a market to its full potential until it’s on the ground.

2. What age were you when you realised you wanted to run your own business?

I wanted to run my own business since about the age of 16, as I always loved the idea of creating my own destiny and having something that makes a difference. However, at that age I didn’t quite know what my calling was, and I think that if you’re going to set up a business, you need to do it in something you really care about.

It was another 10 years before I knew what my calling was—after I’d graduated as a Biochemist from Cardiff University, and then worked for 6 years as a science recruiter for a leading UK consultancy. My calling was to act as a scientist to support other scientists with their careers, which is the pitch I sold to Lord Sugar to invest in to my idea. That’s when HRS was born.

3. Who are your business icons and inspirations?

I have two icons and they may surprise some people as neither of them are your typical ‘icon’. The first is Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson. I gravitate towards people from sports, but there is lots that anyone can admire about this guy, including his commitment to his profession, and to being the hardest working person in the locker room. Secondly, you might not expect a recruitment entrepreneur to be inspired by someone with a creative mind, but I’m a huge admirer of Walt Disney. His achievements in the art of imagination, but also his focus on ensuring every customer has the best experience, is staggering.

4. What has been your biggest challenge in business, and how did you surmount it?

It may sound a silly thing coming from a recruiter, but the biggest challenge for me is hiring the right staff. This is something I have invested a lot in, to help ensure that the business becomes more and more successful each time. When I set up HRS I was fortunate enough to have lots of interested people due to the publicity that TV provides. However, most of these people wanted to get involved for the wrong reasons—they were interested in fame and The Apprentice, rather than really wanting to create a life-changing company.

As time has gone on, I have realised my standards for recruitment excellence are much higher than most. So the reality of having to train people with the right attitude and motivation is apparent, as opposed to just hiring any experienced recruiter. For me, to hire and have the best people in recruitment will ensure that HRS will hire the best people for our customers. This has been a greater challenge than expected, but nothing in life that’s worth having comes easy!

5. What gives you the most satisfaction in business?

Seeing my staff progress and become excellent recruiters. I’m proud that my business has the best standards in the industry, and I spend a lot of time developing my workforce, on all levels. Due to this, HRS has been certified by the Investors in People accreditation and I genuinely believe we have a company with the highest possible standards. To see my staff win external awards in recruitment, take on new responsibilities’ internally and get exceptional recommendations by their customers, makes me so proud.

Outside of my team, it has to be the satisfaction of seeing somebody get a job. Our role is all about making this happen, and when you work with industries like the pharmaceutical sector, you really are putting people in to life-saving roles. So when I see people get such roles and then go on to make such a difference, it’s an amazing feeling. We say every day at HRS that what we do changes lives—and it really does.

6. Work-Life balance: is it possible? How do you achieve it?

I do believe it is possible. I am as bad as anyone when we say work is so busy and that “I don’t have the time”! The reality is, there is never enough time and this is just an excuse. For me, it comes down to being disciplined to find times in the evenings or weekend when I will actually switch my phone off; disconnect from the world and focus on home life and doing things that I enjoy—like hobbies, or watching a box set, or spending time with my wife. If you work so much that you can’t have a life, is it really worth it? My belief is that we can all find the right work-life balance, if we choose to.

7. What is the first thing you do every day?

I sink a black coffee and I go to the gym. Well I guess this is what I want to say, but the reality is I do that immediately after being greeted by my three attention-seeking rescue cats!

8. What screen saver picture is currently on your phone?

I actually have two. One is a photo of the bright lights of Las Vegas, and the other is of a fireworks display taken from Disney, Florida. I love to think big and remind myself to always have fun. That’s exactly what these two images show me every second of the day, and when things get tough, busy and boring, they do make me smile.

9. What is the most important app on your mobile phone, and why?

I’m not sure if it counts as an app, but it has to be my alarm clock. I can get so consumed in what I do sometimes, that I need to set regular alerts to keep me on my toes, and to attend certain events on time. I can’t imagine what it would have been like 30 years ago, before mobile phones and the Internet! I would have needed to walk around with a battery-operated alarm clock!

10. What is the last thing you Googled?

A discount voucher for a present that I was looking to buy for my mum. For me, it doesn’t matter what you earn and how hard you work; I come from a family where we always looked after the pennies. So if I can get a deal, I’m going to get one. And the salesman in me wants a deal.

11. What item do you never leave the house without, and why?

My mobile phone! It is sad to say it, but with the modern world being so connected, I can control parts of my home, business and reach out to all of my customers via this one little device. Don’t get me wrong, I do love it when there are at times no reception or wifi, so I can switch off. But I am as connected as the next business owner… it has become like a new limb.

12. What advice would you give to your younger self starting out in business?

I’d tell them if they’re not 100 percent committed to creating something sustainable, unique and something to be proud of, then they should rip up the business plan now and get a job. Too many people think they can run a business if they have a great idea. But only those that really do care about their great ideas will work at them, and make them work. I’d be pretty tough with my younger self. If the Ricky of 10 years ago could not be bothered to put together a comprehensive business plan, and was focused only on making a quick buck, I’d walk him straight out of my office and point him in the direction of a recruitment agency who can help with time-wasters.

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