5 Keys to Building an Ethical Yet Successful Business from Recruitment Maverick Gemma Downing

Gemma Downing is no stranger to adversity.

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As co-founder of recruitment firm Mixxos, Gemma has battled personal struggles while building an ethical business focused on diversity and inclusion. This article explores her keys to success.

Introducing Mixxos
Gemma launched Mixxos with her now fiancé Chris after stints working in corporate recruitment. She explains, "We recently rebranded from Somnium Recruitment to Mixxos. There are two sides of the business - warehouse/industrial recruitment and commercial white-collar recruitment." The rebrand was driven by a desire to segment their offerings and champion diversity. Gemma elaborates, "It shouldn't matter who you are or what your background is, you should have equal opportunities."

Overcoming Early Hardships
Gemma has persevered through tough personal circumstances, including a divorce shortly before leaving her corporate role. She reflects, "It was a really risky time to just walk away from everything." However, she stayed focused on her vision, taking inspiration from her resilient upbringing. "I come from a non-privileged background, very much working class, and everything I've achieved, I've worked really hard for."

Building a Values-Based Culture
In shaping Mixxos' culture, Gemma engaged her team to define shared values that now underpin hiring and retention. She explains, "We've made some poor hires. Now there's not one person with us that we wouldn't want." Regular team celebrations for hitting targets also help boost morale. As Gemma puts it, "Recruitment is tough. Yes, you can earn well, but we also celebrate the small wins."

Achieving Rapid Growth
Despite industry struggles, Gemma notes Mixxos has grown over 100% year-on-year. She attributes this to focusing on long-term client relationships over quick profits. Gemma explains, "We'd much rather go back to building trust - that's a partnership." The team also stays true to its purpose-led roots. As Gemma affirms, "We've grown organically and that's how I see us continuing. We don't want shareholders to dilute what we stand for."

Gemma's story offers inspiration that growth and ethics can thrive together in business. What examples have you seen of values-driven leaders achieving success? Share your thoughts below.