10.03.25

This. Is. Sparta... I mean dcoded

300: This. Is. Sparta... 

If there’s one thing the film 300 taught us, it’s that you can take on seemingly impossible battles and come out stronger (and, ideally, without the excessive slow-motion fight scenes). And here we are… 300 days into the journey of dcoded, standing firm, battle-hardened, and more fired up than ever.
 

The Journey So Far

When dcoded was founded, the mission was simple: to build a business that ‘dcodes’
the gap between talent, technology & community, with businesses who are shaping our tomorrow.  We wanted to build something that delivers impact with tech recruitment as the vehicle…

300 days later, we’ve done exactly that.

Though… not without navigating a battlefield of challenges along the way. From setting up operational processes to establishing ourselves in a highly competitive market, every day has been a lesson in resilience, adaptability, and, occasionally, sheer stubbornness. 

Our journey has been defined by a couple of office moves, each one a reflection of our growth and evolving needs. We’ve invested heavily in industry-leading technology to differentiate our proposition, ensuring that we are always at the cutting edge of recruitment solutions. One of our biggest breakthroughs? Defining a sales cadence that not only works but is proving highly effective in helping our junior consultants build confidence and generate real impact in the market.

Sticking to Our Guns

From day one, we made a commitment to our core industries: SaaS, Retail/Ecommerce, and Consultancy. While many recruitment firms chase every opportunity that comes their way, we’ve remained laser-focused on these sectors, developing deep expertise and relationships that truly set us apart. And the proof is in the numbers: our CV submission-to-interview ratio remains above 80%, a testament to the precision and quality of our work. When businesses work with dcoded, they know they’re getting candidates that fit… not just on paper, but in mindset, culture, and capability.

The dcoded.BehaviourCharter: The Operating System for Excellence

One of our proudest internal achievements has been the development of the dcoded.BehaviourCharter. This isn’t just a set of guidelines, it’s an operating system for recruitment excellence, ensuring that every consultant works to the same high standards. It’s what keeps us aligned, focused, and delivering consistently, regardless of which consultant a client is working with. It’s also a powerful tool for growth, helping our team develop into best-in-class recruiters who truly make a difference in the market.
 

Victories Worth Shouting About

We’ve had some incredible wins. New clients coming on board, major project successes, and a contractor headcount that’s growing steadily. But one of the biggest highlights? Landing meetings with businesses that, on paper, we probably have no right even speaking to. Yet, here we are, in the room, proving that our approach, networks, and sheer persistence hold serious weight. 
Beyond that, we’ve successfully pivoted further into the Data and D365 world of technology, expanding our expertise while continuing to support our clients across a wide range of technology hires. One thing has never changed, and never will: our proposition to the market remains crystal clear - connecting business who are shaping our tomorrow, with amazing talent in a highly impactful way. That’s the dcoded difference.
 

The Challenges: Character Building at it’s Finest

Of course, it hasn’t all been smooth sailing. Internal hiring has had its challenges (turns out, we hold ourselves to some pretty high standards), tech hiccups have tested our patience, and navigating a fast-moving market keeps us permanently on our toes. But as much as we might not love those moments in real-time, they’re part of the process… each challenge adding another layer to the armour.
We also faced the complexities of embedding a B Corp philosophy into our DNA. Becoming a B Corp Pending business was one of our first major milestones, and we’re incredibly proud of it. From day one, we’ve been committed to doing things the right way - not just for our clients and candidates but for the wider community too. True to our promise, we gave to charity at Christmas, ensuring that those less privileged had the support they needed during the festive season. Giving back is part of who we are, and that will only continue as we grow.

The Vision: Dcoding the Gap

At the heart of everything we do is a clear vision: dcoded dcodes the gap between talent and businesses who are shaping our tomorrow. Tech recruitment is the vehicle, but being impactful is the journey. We’re a people-first recruitment business, driven by the belief that the right connections don’t just fill roles… they change futures & build careers.

Craig David, I’m Walking Away (Twice!)

A moment of reflection – before I started dcoded, I was thrusted into leading a business that was struggling. I had ideas for us to move forward, with real tangibility on how to deliver my plans… but I wasn’t backed & I was out the door.  Business is business.
But since starting dcoded, I have been offered my old job back twice… this was an opportunity that presented stability… a safe haven… something familiar. A place where I have had vast success. It was with a business that I had loved for nearly seven years… “come home, Jay”. Fooookin hell. I’m not going to lie, it rocked me a little. But I turned it down. Without hesitation. 
Why? Because I know what I want and I know what I believe in. And what I want is for dcoded to be a success. To build something that lasts, that makes an impact, and that redefines what excellence in recruitment looks like. 
But lowkey… there was no greater vindication or closure for me, hearing those words “please come back – we need you”.

300 Days Down, Many More to Go

Much like the Spartans, we’ve built something lean, strong, and undeniably effective. The journey has been intense, but every battle fought has made us sharper. We’re growing, we’re evolving, and most importantly, we’re delivering.
So, here’s to the next 300 days… more wins, more lessons, and a whole lot more impact.

This. Is. dcoded.