Building a Future-Ready Workforce with ALF Recruitment

Posted on 14 Oct 2025

We’re delighted to welcome Rochdale-based ALF Recruit as the latest contributor to the RDA People Lens series.
                                                                     
Founded in 2024 by local business leader Gavin Reynolds, ALF Recruit specialises in high-quality placements across finance, accountancy, business support, and financial services.

As part of our focus on people and skills, we spoke with Gavin about the story behind ALF Recruit, the changing world of work, and Rochdale’s growing confidence as a place to do business.

Tell us more about ALF Recruit and how it came about.

ALF Recruit was founded in October 2024 to bring a fresh, expert-led approach to high-level recruitment around key hires. We specialise in finance, accountancy, business support, and financial services, helping companies build strong, resilient teams that are ready for the future.

After more than two decades working within the local business community, I wanted to create something that reflected both Rochdale’s transformation and its growing ambitions. The town has changed dramatically since the mid-2000s, from boarded-up shops and limited opportunity to a thriving, confident business environment driven by regeneration, investment, and innovation.

How do you see Rochdale’s business landscape today compared to when you started your career?

It’s almost unrecognisable. The work of the RDA has been at the heart of that transformation. Developments like Kingsway Business Park, the Riverside retail and leisure complex, and the refurbishment of Rochdale Town Hall have all helped build confidence, connectivity, and pride in the town.

For businesses, it’s created the conditions for growth. There’s a stronger network, more collaboration, and a shared ambition that simply wasn’t there 15 or 20 years ago.  A want for each other to “do well”

What role has the RDA played in helping ALF Recruit establish itself?

The RDA’s support has been invaluable. From local networking events and introductions to helping create recruitment prospectuses for incoming investors, they’ve helped us connect with the right people and align with the town’s wider economic vision.

That proactive, partnership-led approach strengthens the entire business ecosystem. It’s helping to break down the old barriers between organisations and build a more joined-up, forward-looking community.

What are some of the main recruitment challenges local businesses are facing right now?

Recruitment and retention remain big challenges for many employers. At ALF, we regularly help businesses benchmark salaries, design competitive benefits packages, score employee happiness and refine their hiring strategies.

A poor hire can cost a business more than £10,000, but the real cost is often the missed opportunity. Getting recruitment right the first time is crucial, and that’s why knowledge-sharing, collaboration, and data-led insight are so valuable.

You’re now contributing to the RDA’s People Lens series, what kind of insights will you be sharing?

Through the People Lens, I’ll be focusing on practical recruitment tips, onboarding tips, workforce trends, and the realities of building a future-ready team. Things like how to attract the right talent, manage hybrid working, and create an environment where people want to stay and grow.

The world of work is changing fast, and Rochdale businesses are adapting. It’s great to see more companies expanding rather than relocating, a real sign of renewed confidence and pride.

Finally, what excites you most about the future?

For ALF Recruit, after our first full year of trading, we are thrilled to be shortlisted for Rochdale Business of the Year (turnover under £1m) at this year’s Rochdale Business Awards, it feels like real recognition of how far we’ve come in such a short time.

And for Rochdale, there’s a clear sense of identity again, local in character, global in outlook. You can feel the momentum building, SMMC and Atom Valley are clear testimony of this.

Through ALF Recruit, I want to play a small part in helping that continue, one successful placement at a time.

We look forward to hearing insights from Gavin in our People Lens.