Devon chosen as UK headquarters for recruitment firm

A successful Australian recruitment entrepreneur has chosen Devon as the UK headquarters for his expanding business.

Tom Murphy launched Aptus Personnel in Melbourne in 2010 and quickly grew the company to a team of 12.

After a period based at Sowton Industrial Estate on the edge of Exeter, he has now opened the company’s UK office in Dix’s Field, Exeter, and says he wants to take a fresh approach to doing business.

Aptus UK provides a range of services across all sectors including accounting and finance, IT and digital and the life sciences sectors.

The team can also offer specialist advice about recruitment, retaining employees, company culture and job market insight.

Among the initiatives Tom and his team are planning are a collaborative, shared workspace, where guests will be invited to drop in and ‘hot desk’.

Their new paperless office has been designed to support well-being and provide inspirational spaces for employees, and runs on environmentally-friendly principles.

Tom has also launched a peer networking group called ThoughtLab in which fellow professionals debate pressing business issues, share knowledge and support each other.

The first group started in Exeter but others are now running in Taunton and Plymouth with ‘NextGen’ ThoughtLabs for younger professionals as potential business leaders now also being launched.

Tom said that although he was a relative newcomer, he intended Aptus UK to be part of the ‘heart and soul’ of Exeter.

He explained: “I came to the UK for family reasons and settled in Exeter. I had planned to spend some time travelling the country to assess where best to open my UK office but within days of being here I knew I didn’t need to look any further.

“Exeter is such a vibrant city and I found the business community here incredibly welcoming, even during the cricket! We already have a team of six and have ambitious plans to grow the business and expand the services we offer.”

“We work with companies to develop their recruitment strategies, help them find the very best talent with retention in mind and engage with their own staff as part of a company’s improving culture.”

Aptus UK also carries out surveys and research providing up-to-date insight into the regional jobs market.

The insight is published through online guides, with some focusing on employer insight in key sectors, and others looking at what employees are looking for from companies.

As part of his unique and creative approach, Tom recruited a local graffiti artist to paint a wall of the boardroom in the new office with a striking image, incorporating the Melbourne skyline. He is planning to adorn the Melbourne office with a similar image but of Exeter.

The Aptus team also operate a paperless and eco-friendly environment and the welfare of staff is a high priority.

As well as free fruit every day, work from home flexibility and health and well-being packages, Tom says he aims to provide an environment where people are inspired to be their best.

Jamie Evans, Relocation Manager for Devon Delivers, Devon County Council’s inward investment and relocation team, said: “It is great news that Tom has recognised all of the attributes that we know make Devon a great place to do business.

“The Aptus team have joined a growing number of businesses that are moving their operations here and we are delighted to have received this vote of confidence from them.

“We will be doing all we can to help Tom and his colleagues make their business a success.”