Shoreditch-based recruitment business Pollen Careers wins £5k business grant from Sage

This award comes as a result of Pollen Careers owner Sophie O’Brien’s entry into the Sage Small Business XI competition, which was launched by cricket legend Stuart Broad earlier this summer.

In winning, Pollen Careers joins nine other businesses who have formed the Sage Small Business XI with Broad, and have won a share of £50,000 in grants and other experiences linked with The Hundred.

Sage, the leader in accounting, financial, HR, and payroll technology for small to mid-sized businesses (SMBs), launched the competition as part of its Official Insights partnership with The Hundred to champion inspiring business owners across the country.

Pollen Careers is an entry-level careers platform on a mission to empower job seekers and champion SMEs to enhance their hiring reach and equality. Current hiring practices rely heavily on CV screening, which filters candidates based on basic metrics and has resulted in mass applications with minimal feedback. Pollen Careers was founded to address this cycle of bias and to pave the way for a more accessible approach to hiring.

The £5,000 will support the business with their plans to expand their reach to their rapidly-growing community. The grant will help further develop their matchmaking technology and expand their team to meet demand from job seekers and employers, continuing to build Pollen Careers into a long-lasting business-for-good.

Sophie O’Brian, Founder of Pollen Careers said: “At Pollen, we’re trying to change traditional, long-term hiring attitudes and behaviours that often hold companies and candidates back. It is great to know that our hard work within recruitment has been recognised by people outside of our network of job seekers and employers.

“This recognition helps validates our mission, and encourages us to continue working to make a difference. We can’t wait to meet the other winners who run businesses at a similar stage to ours, hear about each other's challenges and learnings, and motivate each other to succeed”

In addition to supporting the growth of Pollen Careers, Sophie alongside nine other national winners, will gain access to Sage’s innovative technology, insights, and expertise, helping alleviate the pressures they face as small business owners.

Cath Keers, Chief Marketing Officer at Sage added: “We are extremely pleased to announce Pollen Careers as one of our ten winners of the Sage Small Business XI competition. Championing small businesses is a huge priority for Sage and we are excited to see the impact this will have for Sophie and the outstanding work Pollen Careers does in their local community.”

Stuart Broad, Sage ambassador added: “I’m so pleased that these small businesses have been rewarded for their hard work through the Small Business XI competition. As a small business owner myself, not only do I know how important small businesses are for building local communities but I appreciate the determination it takes to navigate the challenges they face, particularly in the current economic climate.

"I’m excited to hear more about the stories of each of the Sage Small Business XI winners at the conclusion of The Hundred in August.”

Notes to editors:

The Hundred final will be held at Lord’s Cricket Ground on Sunday 18th August 2024

For more information, contact:Jemima Hambro, Communication Manager, Wasserman[email protected]07792796054

About Sage Sage exists to knock down barriers so everyone can thrive, starting with the millions of small- and mid-sized businesses served by us, our partners and accountants. Customers trust our finance, HR and payroll software to make work and money flow. By digitising business processes and relationships with customers, suppliers, employees, banks and governments, our digital network connects SMBs, removing friction and delivering insights. Knocking down barriers also means we use our time, technology, and experience to tackle digital inequality, economic inequality and the climate crisis. Learn more at www.sage.com/en-gb/

About Sage Copilot

Sage Copilot is the new generative AI-powered assistant that helps SMBs and accountants run their business effortlessly. Sage Copilot will lead SMBs and Accountants into the generative AI era by automating routine tasks, offering key insights for growth, and enabling better decision making and enhanced productivity. Always on and tailored to your needs, Sage Copilot is a trusted member of your team running day-to-day business operations and takes care of the heavy lifting. Get work done faster and make smarter decisions with less work and complete confidence. Learn more at www.sage.com/en-gb/sage-copilot/

About Sage’s partnership with the Hundred

Sage is the Official Insights Partner of the Hundred. The competition sees men and women playing side-by-side on the same stage, with equal prize money on offer. Through the partnership, Sage will bring fans closer to The Hundred’s big decisions, powering the Decision Review System (DRS) in broadcast and the cricket grounds’ big screen, together with branding appearing on the umpires’ kit during the tournament.