Melissa Coutts - CEO Sleepout UK

Melissa Coutts

Founder and CEO, Recruitrite.

Ambassador: CEO Sleepout Darlington

How long have you been in business for?

I’ve worked in the recruitment sector in the local area for 20 years and I’ve been running a business of my own for 8 years

What are some of your driving values?

My own values are relected in what we do as a business, I truly believe there are no limits to what humans can achieve and its vital to me that we create an environment where like minded people can come together and change peoples lives by creating stable and secure employment opportunities so that they can create better lives for themselves and their families.

You’ve always been great at giving back, why is it important to you?

Sometimes people just need a chance, a helping hand and some support and belief. I’ve been fortunate enough to have had support along the way and its important to me that I help create those opportunities for others too.

Which causes are closest to your heart / one thing about society in the UK that you wish you could change?

I wish that I could change the aspirations and goals of young people. I grew up with a mum and dad who worked hard but we never had any spare money growing up and I saw them struggle to pay their bills and I decided that I didn’t want that life for my own children and I’ve worked so hard to create a financial stability for my own boys. I wish that I could just show young people that they are capable of achieving so much if they are prepared to believe and put in the hard work to get there.

How did you get involved in the CEO Sleepout?

I was recruited into one of the very first CEO Sleepouts in Middlesbrough by a really good friend who was supporting the event and having seen first hand some of the amazing things that CEO Sleepout has contributed I’ve been priviledged to be involved ever since. CEO Sleepout supports small local charities that quite often get forgotten about and its great to speak to those that have been able to put the money that is raised into good use.

What other ways do you "give back" or work to strengthen communities you work within?

I feel so lucky that we work with some excellent local employers and my day job gives me the opportunity to work with young people who are often just starting out on their careers. I love seeing their confidence grow as they finding rewarding employment and I love seeing peoples careers flourish. I also work with other local charities to support their efforts as well as our team has a quarterly “good cause” day so they too can work to support local causes that they have an affinity with. Its important to me that our businesses helps to keep the local community alive and we also support the local football team as well as other grass roots sports teams.

Name one thing you'd like people to know about your life and work:

Recruiters typically have an awful reputation but we are human, try our best and actually that engaging with a good recruiter enables you to access some of the best candidates and build your business with great people.

How might you see business playing a part in creating a fairer society here in the UK?

What we do here at Recruitrite supports social mobility and that’s really important particularly in the Tees Valley region.

Why is it important that those in business lead with purpose?

I am so lucky that I get to work with lots of different businesses as part of my day job and get to spend time with some incredibly inspiring people. To me, we hold a level of responsibility to be good humans and support others in the achievement of their hopes and dreams and act as examples of what can be achieved through hard work and determination.