Thames Valley: Wade Macdonald celebrates 30 years in business

Wade Macdonald, specialist recruiter based in the Thames Valley region, today celebrates its 30^th anniversary.

The company was founded in February 1991 by work colleagues, Dominic Wade and Philip Macdonald. Both saw a gap in the market for a recruitment firm that challenged the stereotypes, they wanted to create a firm that was ethical, customer-centric and transparent.

When asked about this ethos, Macdonald said: “So many recruiters were, and still are, numbers focused. While, yes, we need to have a good grip on the bottom line, this isn’t what recruitment is about. Recruitment is about people. We wanted to be different and so, we worked hard to build a successful business on the foundations of open communication, friendliness and solid working relationships.”

The company has gone from strength to strength over the past three decades. Having weathered four recessions and currently navigating the pandemic, Wade Macdonald’s turnover has remained consistently strong.

In addition to rising to become the largest independent recruitment business in the Thames Valley region, Wade Macdonald currently ranks in the top 10% of the top independent recruiters across the whole of the UK.

Post-pandemic, growth plans are on the cards for Wade and Macdonald who look to expand into new sectors and scale internationally.

Development plans include:

• Advancing into the data science sector to fulfil the demand the pandemic has created for higher volumes of data analysts and data scientists.
• Engaging with more blue-chip clients overseas and moving the business from a national to an international name.
• Grow the current team substantially.

Wade, co-founder, commented: “I am phenomenally proud of how much the company has grown and evolved over the past 30 years. Most importantly, our ethos and values have remained ever grounded into the foundations of the business. We have built a strong reputation which has created long-lasting working relationships, friendships and created a fantastically strong team of specialists who also strive to fulfil the same values.”

Wade and Macdonald met in 1986 while working for the same niche recruitment firm, The Focus Group. The pair gelled immediately, both sharing the same business values and both with the dream to set up a unique and innovative recruitment business.

Macdonald added: “It’s been an amazing 30 years, but none of it would have been possible if I didn’t have a business partner by my side who complimented my every move and vice versa. Here’s to the next three decades of Wade Macdonald.”