Employee case study:
Adam Rouse

How did you get started at Sellick Partnership?

After travelling for a few years, and coming back to a role in dental recruitment, I was approached by Sellick Partnership’s internal recruiter. After a couple of conversations to make sure it would be the right fit for me, I decided to make the move. 

I joined the business as a Recruitment Consultant, specialising in finance roles across the West Midlands and based in the Derby office. 

Making the move to Sellick Partnership felt like a step up straight away. The business had a more professional feel and a stronger reputation, and I could see it was a place where people were genuinely supported to progress. 

Why recruitment - and why the public sector?

My route into recruitment wasn’t a traditional one. After studying Politics and Public Services at Manchester Metropolitan University, I initially planned to join the police. Instead, I spent some time travelling before coaching football in the US.  

When I came back, a lot of my friends were already in recruitment and spoke really positively about their experiences. I applied for pretty much every recruitment job going. And while I didn’t initially set out to work in the public sector, it quickly became an area I really connected with. I liked the complexity of it. The public sector is constantly changing - politically, economically - it keeps you on your toes and it keeps things interesting. 

What was your mindset when you first joined?

When I first joined the business I was genuinely nervous. I wasn’t sure if recruitment was right for me long-term, and I remember thinking I’d give it a year and see how it went. 

But I was determined to succeed and focused on building my understanding of the finance and public sector markets. I spent time each day reading and following sector news to stay informed and build confidence when speaking with clients and candidates. 

How has your role evolved over time? 

My role has changed significantly since joining Sellick Partnership. When I first started, my focus was almost entirely NHS recruitment. During the COVID pandemic, changes in public sector hiring patterns meant I needed to adapt and respond to a more challenging recruitment environment. 

Since then, I’ve expanded my remit into the wider public not-for-profit sectors, building credibility across multiple areas and increasing my involvement in permanent recruitment, tenders and strategic planning. As I became more senior, I moved away from just filling roles and started focus more on commerciality, market opportunities and long-term growth. 

Were there any key milestones that shaped your progression? 

One of the biggest moments for me was winning Rookie of the Year in my first year - and I’d only been here eight months. That gave me real confidence. 

Another standout moment was becoming Top Biller for the first time. Since then, I’ve been lucky enough to consistently perform at that level. I’ve been the highest biller in my market for five consecutive years (2021-2025) and was recently promoted to Business Director, becoming the first person to take on this role in the business. 

Alongside my day-to-day role, I’ve also been actively involved in charitable initiatives, including organising a long-running football tournament in support of the local charity me&dee. In 2025, I also took on a personal fundraising challenge, completing six marathons across the year to raise funds for the charity and support the vital work they do with families facing life-limiting and life-shortening illness. 

What challenges have you faced along the way? 

COVID was definitely my biggest challenge. Overnight, a large portion of our temporary workers had to stop working. 

But there have been other challenges specific to public sector recruitment. Organisations facing financial uncertainty, political changes, new ways of working - things can change very quickly. You have to be resilient and ready to adapt. 

Also, I’ve found that relationship-building has evolved significantly in recent years. Clients and candidates aren’t in offices like they used to be, so staying visible and relevant takes a different approach now. You have to constantly adapt to how people want to work. 

How has Sellick Partnership supported your development?

I’ve always felt supported here. From my first manager, Daniella Pye to my current line manager and Group Director Nikki Kinsey, right through to the wider senior leadership team, there’s a genuine focus on helping people progress. 

We have a very collaborative culture. In some agencies, everyone’s out for themselves. At Sellick Partnership, people share information, candidates and ideas. Everyone wants everyone, and the business, to succeed. 

Training and development has played a key role in my career progression; from improving my confidence with public speaking to leadership and management training that reflects the changing world of work. Some of the training I’ve had has helped me professionally and personally. That’s been really valuable. I remember initially struggling with public speaking, but the training provided has helped me with that both in work and when giving a speech at a wedding!  

How would you describe your leadership style?

When it comes to my leadership style, I like things to be open and honest. If something’s not working, I’d rather talk about it than let things get lost in translation. 

I believe strongly in leading by example and I’d never ask someone to do something I wouldn’t do myself. I set high standards, but I’ve learned that not everyone works the same way - and that’s okay. 

Authenticity is also central to my approach. I’ve learnt you can do really well in recruitment just by being yourself. You don’t need to pretend to be someone you’re not. 

What advice would you give to someone starting out in recruitment?

Work hard and be resilient. It’s important to realise that people will let you down – they’re human, have emotions, and that’s part of dealing with people. You can’t control the uncontrollables. Once you accept that, it gets easier to ride the many highs and lows of recruitment. 

Beyond that, focus on building strong relationships and really listening to people - clients, candidates, but also colleagues (I’ve learned a lot from my senior colleagues that has helped me on my own career journey). Understand people’s needs, be curious, and don’t be afraid to ask questions. Take every setback as a learning opportunity and celebrate the small wins along the way.  

Recruitment can be challenging, but if you stay committed, adaptable, and maintain a positive attitude, it’s incredibly rewarding. Over time, you’ll develop instincts and confidence that make even the toughest situations manageable.  

Ultimately, you can do really well in recruitment if you want to, but it takes a lot of hard work and dedication!  

What are you most proud of - and what's next?

I’m most proud of taking on this new Business Director role. It’s something I’ve worked towards for a long time. 

Looking ahead, my focus is on growth. My goal now is to build the strongest recruitment team I can – success for me is about collective results and long-term impact.