Anthesis CEO: My hiring tips if you want to scale

The issue of hiring preoccupies many small and medium-sized businesses in the UK as they try to scale. It can drain a leader’s most precious commodity, time. But if you get it wrong, it can set a company back many years, or even derail it entirely.

Stuart McLachlan is the co-founder and CEO of Anthesis, a consultancy firm, which specialises in ESG issues, Environmental, Social and Governance.

He left his role as director of a FTSE250 company to set it up in 2013. It has found success in guiding large companies as they act on sustainability and social responsibility. This is for the good of the planet, but also to meet the expectations of modern shareholders and other stakeholders.

It now has more than 20 global offices and 1250 employees. McLachlan credits his ability to scale the business to his hiring strategy. It’s all about understanding the power of the networks in your early cohorts.

His practical advice includes being generous with equity in the early days of the enterprise, when everyone is “all in”. He also suggests offering financial incentives to staff members who introduce new recruits.