Steven Bartlett, the renowned entrepreneur, investor, and host of the “Diary of a CEO” podcast, has announced a significant investment in Chapter 2, a tech-enabled recruitment and talent company. This collaboration aims to modernise and optimise the traditional recruitment model to better serve the evolving needs of businesses worldwide.
Disrupting the recruitment industry
Headquartered in the United Kingdom, United States, South Africa, India, and Germany, Chapter 2 emerged in 2020 under the visionary leadership of Leo Harrison. Driven by the conviction that the traditional recruitment industry lags behind, Chapter 2 pioneers scalable talent solutions. These solutions yield faster, cost-effective outcomes, meticulously tailored to each client’s unique requirements. By seamlessly blending the agility of an agency with the cultural insights of an in-house team, Chapter 2 stands on three robust pillars: People, Process, and Technology. Notably, the company has achieved remarkable growth, serving prestigious clients like John Lewis and Bumble, all while maintaining an impressive 248% compound annual growth rate (CAGR).
Leo Harrison, CEO and founder of Chapter 2, explained the impetus behind the company’s founding: “I genuinely believe that the recruitment and talent acquisition space is slow, expensive, and ripe for disruption. Attracting and retaining the top 0.1% is harder than ever in a saturated market. As the Global COO of OLIVER Agency, our biggest challenge was retaining the culture and quality we had built while scaling our team, at pace, globally. I quickly realised this was due to the recruitment industry simply not being fit for purpose, and why I founded Chapter 2.”
Strategic investment and shared vision
Steven Bartlett’s investment reflects his recognition of the broader issues plaguing the recruitment sector. He identified Chapter 2 as a pioneer within the space, poised to revolutionise talent acquisition. Bartlett, known for his entrepreneurial ventures and as the youngest-ever Dragon on BBC’s “Dragons’ Den,” aims to leverage his expertise to drive Chapter 2’s mission forward.
Bartlett commented on the investment: “The definition of the word ‘Company’ is ‘group of people.’ Hiring a great group of people is the single, most important, fundamental objective of any company that has the potential to be great. I’ve spent years trying to build a talent solution that would allow my companies and I, to find, attract, and recruit the world’s best talent. The issue I’ve found is that typical recruitment companies are expensive, have misaligned incentives, and don’t understand our company’s culture. Then I discovered Chapter 2, a company designed to fix all of this, led by Leo who is one of the best entrepreneurs I’ve ever met. I knew we had to join forces to power my company’s talent needs; Flight Group, but also to help high potential companies all over the world to meet their talent needs.”
Expanding global reach
Chapter 2, headquartered in the United Kingdom, also operates in the United States, South Africa, India, and Germany. This extensive global reach positions the company to address the dynamic demands of the digital media landscape. The collaboration with Steven Bartlett aims to accelerate growth and enhance the recruitment platform’s capabilities to support businesses worldwide.
Leo Harrison added: “With Steven’s collaboration, Chapter 2 will amplify our reach for our business and our clients. Together we can ensure Chapter 2 provides our current and prospective clients with a first-class talent solution that delivers results.”
Diary of two CEOs
Leo Harrison, the former Global Chief Operating Officer of OLIVER Agency, has a wealth of experience in scaling and managing large teams for renowned brands like Unilever, KPMG, and Starbucks. His vision for Chapter 2 stems from his firsthand experience with the inefficiencies of traditional recruitment models.
Steven Bartlett, a prominent entrepreneur, and investor, is known for his work as the host of the “Diary of a CEO” podcast and his role on BBC’s “Dragons’ Den.” He has invested in various successful ventures, including Huel, Thirdweb, and Flight Group, focusing on inspiring and supporting a new generation of entrepreneurs and creators.
Philanthropy and future goals
Beyond its business objectives, Chapter 2 demonstrates a strong commitment to philanthropy. The company actively supports over 150 children with cancer in some of the world’s most impoverished regions. Moreover, Chapter 2’s holistic approach to talent acquisition seamlessly integrates human and business aspects, underscoring its unwavering dedication to making a positive impact in the world.
