CHILDHOOD friends who started a recruitment company are celebrating success since winning two business awards and enjoying five years of strong growth.

Ben Rutter and Ryan O’Hara have known each other since they were 10 but started their specialist recruitment company C4S search in 2012, beginning with a basic office from in Ben’s parents’ garage.

Ryan, who had previously been signed to play with Dundee United in Scotland, told the Adver having a competitive spirit helped push them on to achieve the success the company is now having.

“in the first year we didn’t make any profit,” said Ryan. “but two office moves later we have three divisions in IT, digital and Engineering and twenty-five employees.”

“Coming from a sporting background helps, we used to play football together and naturally that happens in the office as well, about who can get the most sales.

“Our goal when we first started the business was to bring the head-hunt approach to the mid-market. We had to physically go out and head hunt candidates.”

The company focuses on niches areas of recruitment for the IT, digital and engineering sectors.

The company was recognised at the Wiltshire Business awards and won Small Business of the Year for 2018 and Learning and Development Employer of the Year.

The firm has two programmes, called Legacy and Legacy Plus, a traineeship scheme and a further leadership scheme.

“It was great to be recognised in Wiltshire,” said Ryan. “We had no idea we’d even be close to the winners. We took twenty staff along and came away with two awards and partied on until the early hours.”

The company doubled its turn last year, currently employing around twenty five people. They hope to double staff numbers again by next year and open more offices in Wiltshire and tap into new markets.