Career Ready Duo Put Our CEO In The Hot Seat
7th July 2025
As a recruitment leader, Amanda McCulloch is usually the one asking the questions — not the one in the interview hot seat. But today, the tables have turned. Our fearless Career Ready interns, Leona and Hagen, asked the tough (and unexpected) questions Amanda’s never faced before.
Read on to uncover Amanda’s candid thoughts on her job, what she'd do with £1,000,000, and why TMM Recruitment chose the bold move to become employee owned.
1. What is your favourite part about your job?
Without a doubt, the people — both inside and outside our business — are the best part of my job.
I wear two hats: recruiting senior leaders and leading the TMM team. In both roles, I love how the work I do impacts people’s futures in a positive way - whether it’s helping a senior executive take that exciting next step or supporting people in my own team develop and thrive.
I also love meeting so many interesting people and getting a glimpse into their worlds. It’s a privilege — and constantly broadens my perspective on life and work
2. If the company won £1 million, what would you do with it to make TMM better?
I’d invest that large sum of money in a number of ways. My priorities would be to invest in people, particularly the training of new employees. I’d focus on our culture, values and brand development and I’d also make significant efficiency investments in hardware, automation and AI to alleviate the administrative burden of the job, creating more time for recruiters to do what they do best: working with people!
3. What company would you say is your biggest competitor right now?
This is a hard question to answer because TMM operates across many specialisms which all face different challenges. We have a healthy respect for competitors, but our attention is on what we do best — delivering excellent service, supporting our clients and candidates, and continually developing our own team.
4. Is there anything that TMM could be doing better?
We can always do better. Recruitment is an evolving profession, and staying ahead means constantly adapting and improving. There’s real opportunity in further automation and exploring how we can use AI creatively to enhance our service. We also believe in looking beyond the north-east — and even beyond recruitment — to learn from other industries and adopt fresh ideas. I’m convinced that continuous improvement, curiosity and being brave enough to try new things are at the heart of how we move forward.
5. What motivated you to make TMM an employee-owned business, and what does this change for employees?
The TMM Board of directors decided that employee ownership was the most effective way to protect the identity and values that make us who we are. TMM Recruitment has always been a people business — our success is built on the dedication, talent, and hard work of our team. Becoming employee-owned was the best way to honour that legacy and ensure our culture, values, brand and service are not compromised and remain at the heart of what we do.
This move gives employees a genuine sense of ownership and accountability - they don’t just work for the business; they’re truly invested in its success. It means they can see the real impact of their contributions, feel empowered to make a difference, and share in the long-term success of TMM Recruitment.
6. What has been something you have learned during your time at TMM?
That’s a tough question — there have been so many lessons over the years! One of the most important has been the value of personal resilience, especially during hard times and market downturns. I've also learned the importance of staying curious, being open to learning from others, and keeping an eye out for new opportunities.
As CEO, I take my responsibility to the people at TMM incredibly seriously. But at the same time, I’ve learned not to take myself too seriously — a little humility and a sense of humour go a long way.
7. What did you want to be when you were our age?
Not many people know this but when I was your age, I aspired to be an actress and work in the theatre. Although I did audition for roles in London, when I went to university, I decided to study for a BA degree in English Literature. Although I did audition for roles in London, it was with a play touring around Germany that I fulfilled my acting dream! It was only when I settled in Aberdeen that I decided to pursue a career in recruitment.