Some years test a business. Others define it. For us at Citrus Connect, the past year has been one of exceptional growth, deeper clarity and renewed focus. What has made this year particularly significant is not only the commercial results we achieved, but the way we continued to evolve through a period of both opportunity and challenge.
As a specialist sales recruitment agency operating across the UK, we have always believed that sustainable success comes from people, process and purpose working together. Over the past year, that belief has been challenged, strengthened and ultimately proven.
Record performance built on consistency and care
From a performance perspective, this year marked our strongest results to date. We achieved record turnover, expanded long standing client relationships and increased placement volumes across both employed and self employed sales roles. Demand from clients continued to grow as organisations looked for a sales recruitment partner capable of delivering speed without sacrificing quality.
These outcomes were driven by a deliberate focus on clarity and systemisation. We invested heavily in recruitment processes, data visibility and client communication, enabling us to reduce time to hire while maintaining a high standard of candidate matching. For businesses navigating growth, this balance has become increasingly important.
Rather than focusing solely on volume, we have continued to prioritise retention, performance and alignment. Our clients are not simply hiring salespeople. They are building sales teams that need to perform consistently and grow with the business.
Leadership shaped by real experience
Alongside commercial growth, the year also brought significant personal challenges across our leadership team and wider business. Members of our team navigated major life events, from motherhood and health diagnoses to relationship breakdowns and periods of personal loss. These moments tested resilience and reinforced the importance of building a business that supports its people as much as its clients.
Rather than slowing progress, this period accelerated a shift towards more intentional leadership. We placed even greater emphasis on trust, transparency and shared ownership, reducing reliance on constant firefighting and creating a structure where people could perform sustainably.
This approach has directly influenced how we operate as a sales recruitment consultancy. Leadership decisions are now even more firmly rooted in long term thinking, ethical practice and clarity of expectation.
The Employeepreneur mindset delivering results
A central driver of our success this year has been the continued refinement of the Employeepreneur mindset. We have sharpened how we identify and place sales professionals who demonstrate ownership, accountability and purpose.
This mindset has delivered tangible results for our clients. Teams built around Employeepreneur principles show higher retention, stronger engagement and more consistent performance. In a sales recruitment market where churn remains a costly issue, this approach has become a clear differentiator.
We also saw deeper advisory work with clients this year. Our support extended beyond recruitment into role design, commission structures and onboarding strategy. This reflects our position as a strategic partner rather than a transactional supplier of sales talent.
Case study: supporting BHID through consultative growth
One of the clearest examples of this consultative approach in action was our work with BHID. Rather than focusing solely on filling vacancies, we partnered closely with the business to understand its growth objectives, team structure and operational challenges.
Our involvement went beyond recruitment delivery. We supported BHID with strategic planning around headcount growth, role clarity and performance expectations, ensuring that new hires were aligned not only to immediate needs but to the longer term direction of the business.
This approach enabled BHID to scale its sales capability with confidence, while maintaining standards and minimising disruption. The success of this partnership reinforced the value of treating recruitment as a growth lever rather than a reactive function. It also validated our belief that precision hiring and clarity of process create better commercial outcomes for clients.
Technology supporting scale and transparency
Technology continued to play a supporting role throughout the year. Enhancements to CRM systems, automation and reporting improved efficiency internally and increased transparency for our clients. Importantly, technology was used to enable better decision making rather than replace human judgement.
This balance has allowed us to scale while preserving the consultative approach that underpins effective sales recruitment.
A culture built for long term success
Internally, the challenges of the year strengthened our culture. Open communication, mutual support and accountability became even more central to how we worked together. Ethical recruitment and transparency remained non negotiable, shaping every interaction with candidates and clients.
This culture is reflected externally in long term client relationships and repeat business. Organisations value clarity, honesty and consistency, especially when building or restructuring sales teams under pressure.
Looking ahead with confidence
As we move into the year ahead, our focus remains on sustainable growth. We plan to grow revenue by 30 to 50 percent versus 2025, hire four new consultants and continue expanding our presence in emerging markets.
We are also exploring additional opportunities in financial services and the security market as part of a broader diversification strategy. Growth in 2026 will be fuelled by precision hiring, improved consultant performance metrics, a new website and a continued commitment to delivering measurable commercial impact for our clients.
This has been a defining year for Citrus Connect, not just because of the results achieved, but because of how those results were delivered. With stronger foundations, clearer systems and a culture shaped by lived experience, we are well positioned for the future.
For organisations seeking a sales recruitment agency that understands both performance and people, we believe Citrus Connect continues to set the standard.
CV DROP OFF ⮁