10 In 10: Jo Guy

Jo Guy is the Founder and CEO of AJ Recruitment, a specialist family-run recruitment business providing a proactive and consultative approach to social care recruitment. Jo is a leading figure in helping to solve the social care recruitment crisis through digital transformation. She is the latest regional professional in the hot seat as the p.ublished group of newspapers gives her just 10 minutes to answer our 10 burning questions.

What does your typical working day involve?

I have three focus areas in my day-to-day job: meeting clients, coaching and empowering the team, and networking. As a management team we spend a lot of time investing in and working on the business, too, which also have to fit in somehow around my day-to-day responsibilities!

What makes AJ Recruitment special?

The fact that it’s a family-run business and a close-knit team where everyone genuinely cares about each other, celebrates colleagues’ successes, and helps others when they need it. I also think that the importance we place on investing in everyone the team to make sure they can each play to their individual strengths in the business and perform to their full potential also makes us special.

Do you have any business rules that you swear by?

I have several! Be kind to people. Be inquisitive. Never stop learning. Everyone has something to offer, and you can do anything if you consistently put the effort in. And, last but not least, push out of your comfort zone - it's in the genius zone where magic happens!

Do you dress up or down for work?

It’s important to me from a mindset perspective to ‘get ready’ for work, particularly when I’m working from home, and for me that includes dressing for work. I also think it’s important to recognise individuality, and part of this is about giving our team the freedom and flexibility to express who they are through the way they dress at work.

What piece of advice would you give your 18-year-old self?

Again, there isn’t just one! I would tell myself to do what you love, and the rest will follow. Trust yourself and your own abilities. School does not define you. See failure as a positive and be consistent: hard work and determination pay off.

What’s your favourite Yorkshire venue for an event or team away day?

Farm Adventures near Masham – this is an amazing away day venue where your team can really start working on leadership skills at a whole new level. Through activities such as herding sheep and pigs you can start to appreciate the importance of different leadership styles and approaches - animals will not do anything unless you are clear about what you are trying to achieve. We also did a blindfolded tractor driving exercise that helped our team understand the importance and art of communication and what can often go wrong in teams. Also, great venue, welcoming staff and a mouthwatering BBQ lunch: what’s not to like!

How do you prefer to travel for business?

I always travel to London by train so I can work as I go. If I’m driving, I listen to a podcast so that I’m using the travel time productively for self-development.

What’s your favourite place in Yorkshire to relax?

Bolton Abbey – a bonus is that I can call in and see my son, Jake, who works at the Devonshire Arms. I’ve always found the Strid to be enchanting but dangerous, it takes me back to family walks when I was growing up and my dad telling me local legends about it. He used to tell me that it’s the deadliest stretch of water in the world, with a powerful undercurrent that will pull anybody who falls in to certain death. And that underneath it lies a network of caves and tunnels that hold all the rest of the river’s water – apparently nobody really knows how deep it is...

Where is your favourite place to eat in Yorkshire and what dish do you recommend?

There are two Italian restaurants in our village, which I love. At L'Aquila, my favourite meal is the beetroot and goats cheese starter followed by traditionally cooked carbonara. It’s run by two guys, ‘Addi’ and ‘Bill Bill’, and they are just the best example of what amazing customer service looks like. They always remember what you talked about when you last visited and your favourite dish and drink.

The other is Da Carlo, where you feel as though you’re stepping back in time and into a local restaurant in Sorrento. They serve traditional Italian food, and their motto is ‘if you eat well, you live longer'. My menu recommendation there is chargrilled tiger garlic prawns and rack of lamb.

What do you miss most about Yorkshire when you’re away?

My garden. It’s a beautiful haven, where I can switch off from day-to-day pressures.