It’s hard to believe that Oliver Rae has turned five this month. Half a decade, and what a half it’s been.
Five years ago, we weren’t a team, we were just an idea. With a background in recruitment and a passion for doing things the right way, Lauren launched Oliver Rae, an independent recruitment agency in the West Midlands, with a mission to deliver recruitment with integrity, energy, and real human connection. And now the business is five years old! We’ve grown, we’ve learnt, and we’ve celebrated every milestone (big and small) along the way.
Our Journey at a Glance
2020:
- Our first ever client was a business in removals, followed closely by a sheet metal fabrication company.
- We became members of the REC (Recruitment & Employment Confederation) to ensure full compliance from the outset. Setting the tone for our ethical, professional approach from day one.
2021:
- We supplied our first Foundry, and discovered a real knock (and love) for all things manufacturing.
- Gained our GLAA licence, allowing us to supply into the food industry and open doors to an entirely new sector.
- We brought Georgia into the team, she brought on first client, placed her first perm candidate, and she’s done nothing but thrive ever since!
- We also welcomed our first Cold Roll Forming client.
2022:
- Our Food Industry division exploded, supplying over 300+ workers into this fast-paced sector.
- We proudly gave back, donating Easter eggs to Women’s & Children Refuge.
- Georgia passed her REC Level 3, cementing her knowledge and professionalism.
- We joined the Association of Labour Providers (ALP), further strengthening our compliant approach.
- Oh, and we got an office dog….which was arguably the best morale boost ever.
2023:
- We partnered with our first worldwide Removal business, and helped another client relocate and hire an entirely new workforce.
- We began supplying a brilliant powder coating company in June.
- At Christmas, we collected and delivered over 100 gift bags to children in care, as part of the “A Child’s Heart” campaign.
2024:
- We helped our clients expand into new regions, Brighton, Swindon, and Leeds.
- Supported a client through their first BRC audit, with a successful outcome.
- And worked closely with another to open an exciting new division.
2025 (so far):
- We blinked and it’s June (Anyone else freaking out about being nearly half way through the year already?!)
- Lauren became a council member for the ALP.
- We’ve launched our 5th Birthday celebrations, expanded our reach, and already supported more clients with specialist recruitment in manufacturing, engineering, logistics, food production, and more.
What We Stand For
We’ve never aimed to be the biggest, but we’ve always aimed to be the best for people we work with. We’re a small, recruitment agency in the West Midlands with huge ambition and drive. Every bit of our growth has been fuelled by trust, relationships ,and consistency.
From permanent placements that transformed careers, to temporary cover that kept production lines moving, we’ve never taken a single booking for granted.
Our clients and candidates are the reason we’ve made it to five. Your loyalty, your referrals, your belief in our work, that’s everything to us. Whether you’ve been with us from the early days, or you’re just discovering what Oliver Rae is all about, thank you.
Here’s to five years of doing things the right way, and to the many years still to come.
If you’ve not long found out about us, check out our team, our sectors, and get in touch with us if you think we could be the ultimate partner for you
