Nineteen years ago, siblings Caroline Naylor and Rob Addy took a leap of faith and launched a business together – one rooted in Sheffield, shaped by ambition, and sustained through longstanding client relationships. Today, CRA Consulting stands as a respected name in financial and legal recruitment across South Yorkshire and beyond.
Founded in 2006, the firm has weathered everything from economic dips to industry shifts, all while preserving its reputation for honesty and high standards. But its story begins long before then – in London, where Caroline cut her teeth in the fast-paced world of recruitment.
“I did economics and politics at uni and thought I was going to be an accountant,” Caroline recalls with a laugh. “But I failed the aptitude tests – and ended up recruiting them instead.”
She began her career in the capital, embracing its relentless energy and competitive edge. “In London, it’s survival of the fittest. When I came back to Sheffield, everyone said, ‘Oh, you’re a bit keen!’ But I’d just come from a place where leaving on time was unheard of.”
Returning home proved to be the catalyst for what would become CRA Consulting. After making a name for herself at a Sheffield-based recruitment agency, Caroline began to see the potential for doing things on her own terms, having always seen herself running her own business.
“I had a strong client base, a strong candidate base, and I thought: I can do this myself. I was always ambitious. There was no room to progress where I was, so I decided to make that jump.”
Her brother Rob, coming from a background in sales, joined the venture – a leap into the unknown that paid off. “It was a big decision, but it worked seamlessly,” she says. “And from day one, we made sure to focus on relationships and values – something we’ve stuck to ever since.”
Now approaching nearly two decades in business, the business has grown significantly, while remaining lean and focused, currently operating with a team of eight. Their reach is impressive.
Initially centred on South Yorkshire and North Derbyshire, where they still have a strong client base, the firm has expanded to work with national clients, especially in the post-COVID remote working era.
“A lot of firms know us well in the region, but we’ve taken on some significant national contracts in recent years,” says Caroline. “That’s down to trust. Clients come back to us because we’re consistent and consultative, not transactional.”
Indeed, CRA’s enduring success seems built on going against the grain. In an industry often criticised for its cutthroat culture, high turnover and fleeting relationships, Caroline has taken a longer view. “A client said to me last week, ‘I would much rather deal with you than your competition as you are honest and I know you will get us the right people which counts for so much”
With Rob still driving the legal recruitment arm – “He’s the most sales-driven person you’ll ever meet,” she says – and Caroline steering the business, CRA is a family operation that has defied the norms of an industry known for high turnover, both of staff and clients.
But staying relevant hasn’t been without its hurdles. The pandemic brought recruitment to a near standstill, as job offers were swiftly withdrawn and hiring froze across sectors. “COVID initially was tricky” Caroline admits. “We’d had good years, which helped us shoulder it, everything just stopped when lockdown was announced. Soon things worked through as people got used to working from home.”
More recently, the market has shifted again, with a surplus of vacancies but a shortfall in suitable candidates, even when recruiting to their own business. “Post-COVID, it’s never been harder to fill roles,” she says. “There just aren’t as many available people, and many grads are less confident using the phone – which is still our most important tool.”
To tackle these challenges, CRA has leaned into tech without losing its human touch. The firm has heavily invested in AI tools and systems to improve candidate sourcing and keep their database fresh – but always with the understanding that tech supports rather than replaces the recruiter.
“In recruitment you’re always trying to reinvent the wheel. AI helps us cover more ground, but it can’t replace what we do. You still need that personal element,” she explains. “We’ve always had a really good tech suite – a lot of firms won’t spend on that, but we do. And it makes a huge difference to our team.”
That team, by the way, seems genuinely happy to be there – no small feat in an industry with a reputation for burnout. CRA offers a supportive, open culture where incentives go beyond the financial. Weekly sales competitions, fast food Friday, quarterly targets rewarded with team outings (like Crystal Maze in Manchester!), and regular one-on-ones help keep the atmosphere collaborative and enjoyable.
“We’ve got warm desks, the latest tools, and a team who genuinely get on. There’s a lot of knowledge here, and people are encouraged to ask for help. Plus, we’re constantly asking for feedback to improve.”
Caroline is also passionate about championing recruitment as a fulfilling career – even if, as she notes, it’s not always held in the same regard as more traditionally ‘professional’ roles.
“People still say, ‘Oh, recruitment’, but then they work with us and see the value. One client said to me recently, ‘I was sceptical, but this completely changed my mind.’ Getting the right person can transform a business.”
Asked what she’s most proud of, Caroline pauses. “I guess the drive never leaves you,” she says. “We’re a results-based business, so you’re always working toward something. But I’ve also done this while raising two children. Rob and I support each other – that’s the benefit of family. We’ve created a culture that lets people be human as well as high-performing.
“There’s still so much opportunity. If anything, now’s the best time to shine – if you’re in the right place.”
