Do you dread going to work on a Monday morning, wishing that you were doing something more in line with your interests? I think this is 99% of people, yet there are a very small minority who work in a field that they are passionate about, and this is especially the case in the outdoor arena.
Finding these opportunities is difficult and if you do find them, if you are not already part of the industry, it’s difficult to get over the hurdles related to “experience,” especially if you are coming from a different sector.
This is where Sean Igoe, an outdoor industry veteran, has identified an opportunity to help businesses to find talent who not only have the right skills but also share their passion for the outdoors and, equally, Sean hopes to connect the right people to the right companies. To do this, he has launched the first specialist recruitment agency dedicated exclusively to the outdoor and active lifestyle industry. This company is SMI Media, who are working in partnership with Reed Talent Solutions, one of Europe’s biggest recruitment agencies.
Recruitment challenges
It is very challenging, hiring from outside the industry’s current skill pool, but it is crucial for bolstering, expanding, and revitalising organisations. As Sean noted, “I’ve recruited or tried to recruit myself hundreds of times, and I know how difficult it is to get the right person for the job, because the outdoor market is very specialised.” However, there isn’t a clear path for anyone looking for work in this field, which means the industry is having trouble finding qualified candidates and matching them with appropriate positions. Which is the role that SMI Media, working with Reed Talent Solutions, are looking to solve.
How it works
SMI Media are working with Reed Talent Solutions and building tailored recruitment solutions to meet business needs.
There are fundamentally two parts to this: the job role and the candidate.
SMI Media will work with businesses to understand their recruitment requirements. This is done through understanding the company’s goals, company culture, and talent challenges.
Once this is done, SMI Media will use their own huge pool of contacts within the outdoor sector alongside Reed Talent Solutions expert search to find the ideal candidate.
As Sean summarises, “We know the outdoor market, we understand how it works. We will know if a candidate fits your business. We are not your normal recruitment company, we want to ensure right people are connected to the right brands and the right brands get the right people.”
Currently, SMI Media is building partnerships with brands and Sean is the right person to be doing this, given his 25 years’ experience in the industry, working at the highest levels.
About Sean
Sean worked for Future Publishing as Sales Director and was responsible for a diverse cycling portfolio which included Bike Radar and Cycling News. Following a 10-year career at Future Publishing, Sean moved to work as Sales Director for Factor Media. Factor Media specialised in publications that specialised in extreme sports like BMX.
However, Sean wasn’t there long before he was approached by Dennis Publishing in 2011, about a new title called “Cyclist.” The pitch was that it was “a premium road cycling magazine.” And so, Sean took his next project and over the next 4 years he launched and grew the publication. These were exciting times because it was when cycling within the UK became mainstream as a consequence of Bradley Wiggins’ success at the Tour de France in 2012 and the London Olympic Games, where continuing his good form from the Tour de France, Wiggins won a gold medal in the time trial and there was phenomenal success in the velodrome where people like Geraint Thomas became household names.
When Cycling Weekly approached Sean about a role, he didn’t have to think twice about working at this historic publication. Sean launched the Cycling Weekly awards in 2018, which he described as his “proudest achievement” where all the top riders were in attendance.
Sean decided to change direction and went as an independent consultant in 2020, and has subsequently worked with leading brands such as Sportive Breaks, Road CC, The Running Channel, providing advice on business strategy and his expertise in sales. These are just a few names that he has helped and it was during this period that Sean identified the need for organisations to improve their recruitment.
Next Steps
So, what’s next? If you are a business owner and need help finding your next hire, then it’s probably worth connecting with SMI Media to discuss your requirements. If you have a unique set of skills and are wanting to change careers and move into this arena, but are not quite sure how to go about it, drop an e-mail to Sean, who will be only too glad to connect and provide some advice and guidance. Who knows, there might even be a role with your name on it. You just don’t know it yet.
For more information, contact sean@smimedia.co.uk.
Summing up
In a landscape where many dread their Monday morning routines, Sean Igoe’s SMI Media emerges as a beacon of hope, bridging the gap between passionate individuals and outdoor industry employers. By offering tailored recruitment solutions, SMI Media not only addresses the challenges of finding qualified candidates but also provides a route for passionate outdoor enthusiasts to use their professional skills in an industry that they feel connected to.
