Lucy Cashmore Cites Increasing Support for Women as Major Gamechanger

11 Mar 2024

Published in: Black Country Chamber of Commerce News

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The Black Country Chamber of Commerce speaks to the Managing Director of Daniel-Scott Recruitment.

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As part of Women's History Month 2024, we are highlighting career stories of women who have received support from the Chamber's Start-Up Business Club and are currently operating their own businesses in the Black Country. Through the 'Women in Start-Up’ campaign we celebrate the significant contribution of female entrepreneurs across both the business and wider social community.

As a member of the Black Country Chamber of Commerce, Daniel-Scott Recruitment prides themselves in offering a bespoke, consultative approach with expert advice to present the best candidates to great employers.

Introducing Lucy Cashmore

I’m Lucy Cashmore – born in Smethwick & worked in the Black Country for most of my working life. I am the Owner/MD of Daniel-Scott Recruitment Ltd, founded in June 2020, we are specialists in the contact centre, sales, marketing, admin and engineering sectors. We offer a bespoke, consultative approach with expert advice to present the best candidates to great employers.

We support recruiting businesses by:

• Really getting to know them face to face and providing tailored services.
• Offering advice on recruitment campaigns, job specifications and interviews
• Working in partnership with them to bridge skill gaps.
• Providing bespoke commercial terms
• Offering consultative support
• Keeping in touch for up to three months after candidate placements

1. How has the perception of female entrepreneurs changed since you became a small business owner?

When I started in industrial recruitment, back in 1998, it was very much a male dominated sector. I remember once calling a company to assist with their recruitment for an engineer and was told quite swiftly and bluntly “how would you be able to assist us, you’re a woman!”

When I became a business owner in June of 2020, I was lucky in the fact that I had built up some great working relationships with other women that were senior in their field. A total 180 from 20 years previous.

I find so much more positive and empowering posts, blogs and media about women leading the way in their field, something that I didn’t have when I was at school. BUT it has been a fight.

There are still areas for improvement; reducing the equal pay gaps, understanding a working mums need for flexibility and support from their employers and indeed the whole community.

2. What kind of community support have you helped foster/received as a woman in business?

My biggest supporting network has been the Black Country Chamber.

Beginning with the “start-up” networking clubs – where I was able to sit together with like-minded individuals and gain some great advice, build some fabulous working relationships with other women in business and utilise the workshops and online support.

There is also more positive media attention around women in business now, compared to 20 years ago, and you can find some great mentors that can help you juggle the “work life/family life” battle and help with ridding the guilt of not working the standard “9-5” hours, which in a lot of cases is just no longer fit for purpose.

3. What advice would you give young girls and women aspiring to start their own business?

I waited until I really had no choice, to start up my business (redundancy due to the pandemic) and yet I just wish I had taken the leap 15 years ago! My advice to young girls and women looking to start their own business would be DO IT! There is so much more support, advice and activity these days, and you are as good as (if not better) than your male counterpart!

Do you want to read more profiles on Women in Start-Up? View our latest news. Are you a local resident in the early stages of starting your own business? Visit: https://www.blackcountrychamber.co.uk/membership/membership-packages/the-startup-business-club/ to become a member or view our Wolverhampton and Walsall support services for free advice.

Email Start-Up Business Manager Alison Trinder at AlisonTrinder@blackcountrychamber.co.uk

To learn more about Daniel-Scott Recruitment visit: https://www.danielscottrecruitment.co.uk/

Address: 19 Hereward Rise, Halesowen, West Midlands, B62 8AN