Rani Uppelle & Kavita Jnagal are co-founders of Simply Recruitment, a Birmingham based company that provides recruitment and training opportunities alongside HR Solutions.
Precious: Did you always want to be a business woman? Kavita: Yes since the age of 16. I remember sitting with my brother-in-law and asking him how to start a business. I did the Princes's Trust at a very young age, I think I have always had the drive to do this, but I did not know where to start
Rani: No
Precious: When did you come up with your business idea? Kavita: I have been in recruitment for just over 13 years now, I just kept falling in to this industry. I became very good and felt a buzz for recruitment, so starting a business in recruitment was the easiest next step for me.
Rani: When Kavita my business partner mentioned it to me.
Precious: Tell us about the business planning stage Rani: We didn't contact any business support agencies and we have never had any help from them whatsoever. We did our own business plan and then we both re-mortgaged our houses. I even took a further loan out from the bank. We did all the planning in Kavita's' kitchen with my two little kids in the background and my mother diagnosed with cancer.
Kavita: We wrote a business plan; we sat in my kitchen for 3 months planning,as I really needed to know if I could follow my dream, I had nothing, I was in debt, no one believed in my idea, we even got rejected from banks to set up a business account, at one point it felt like no one had faith, I even considered a franchise so I could get the support. I really knew I could do this and believed in it from the bottom of my heart, and followed it through. I took a huge financial risk, however it was so worth it!!
Precious: Did you have any formal business training? Rani: No never. Only what I learned by myself from my previous company where I started work as an Industrial Consultant building an industrial division from scratch. Then I was promoted to Senior Consultant and then to Operations Manager. I was with (the company) for nine years. I could have been at Director level by now, but they never offered me the opportunity as I was better placed for them to bring in new accounts and manage one of their most successful branches.
Precious: How do you work on making your business grow? Rani: By attending networking events to try and build our company further. We have already added training as another arm to the business.
Kavita: I get excited, I buzz, I love going out there, meeting new faces and offering solutions. Even if I cannot help, I get a buzz. When someone tells me about a new venture, I do all I can to help and connect them to people I may know, that might help them.
Precious: Has your business developed in the the way you thought it would? Rani: Our first year was very exciting; we had placed up to 200 people in work. This was with just two consultants (myself and Kavita) and one admin member of staff. We then thought it would be good to offer training to our candidates and then thought it would be good to train our staff and then put them put to work. Hence the training side of the business was born.
Kavita: It has exceeded my expectations.
Precious: What's been the most exciting event in your business life so far? Rani: In 2009, when we were invited to attend a reception at Buckingham Palace by the Queen. It was awesome to be invited to such a prestigious event. We won Outstanding woman in Business in 2008. We met James Caan and Prince Charles at the Asian Women of Achievement Awards in London and had very good conversations with them both. In 2010 we were invited to 10 Downing Street to meet Gordon Brown for a breakfast meeting to celebrate International Women's Day.
Kavita: There have been so many:
Starting the business ,
A candidate getting a job, whom we have worked with, especially when they come back and say 'Thank You' as it has helped not just them, but their family too,
An invitation from the Queen to go to Buckingham Palace,
An invitation from Gordon Brown to represent International Women's Day,
A delegation trip to Mumbai with Pinky Liani OBE and Cherie Blair, meeting the High Deputy Commissioner of India, Vicki Tredall, and all the other 18 successful business women on the trip,
Meeting Prince Charles and Camilla, James Caan, Merya Seyal, Deepak Verma and Dilip Tahil – all such great inspirations
All the people who I have met along the journey who have supported Simply Recruitment Business. Its been an amazing adventure and it's still going.
Precious: How do you see your business progressing over the next five years? Rani: We want to build and grow further by opening more branches and also recruiting for other sectors, such as medical and social care.
Kavita: We have plans to develop the recruitment and training side of our business. We also have some new projects in the pipeline, so watch this space.
Precious: How have your family and friends supported you? Rani: My family has been very, very supportive. When we were first looking for premises to start up the business, it was my mother who told us to contact my brothers' friend who owned a building in Birmingham. The premises and location were ideal. We were then trying to sort out our IT systems and we were being quoted extortionate amounts I contacted a cousin of mine who is In IT and he put me in touch with his best friend who owned a IT company, we contacted this IT company and have been with them ever since. So family have been there to offer their support and help ..
Kavita: My friends were great, I felt only a selected few had faith I could do this. My family at the time were not involved in any of the decisions and could not support me
Precious: Aside from Precious, do you belong to any networking groups? Rani: We are part of the Birmingham Chamber and MSDUK.
Kavita: Birmingham Chamber of Commerce and Asian Women of Business
Precious: How do you achieve the work life balance? Rani: It's very hard working full-time and being a mum of two as well, as work is very demanding at times. Work does not stop for a mum as soon as she finishes work as then she has to attend to her domestic duties as well. But it's great to have a business partner who understands the challenges of motherhood and is there to help and support me.
Kavita: I guess being a single lady, happily single lol! The only other thing that takes up my time is my hobby and passion for photography, which is another project I do over weekends and evenings. My work is good, but this section of my life - which started out as a hobby - is now also turning in to a small business venture. I took pictures of a business woman two weeks ago in London, and I'm excited as these pictures are going to be in the Times Newspaper. Having a passion and belief in what you feel is very important. Have faith in yourself, follow your dreams, feel your dreams and anything is possible.
Precious: What's your advice to potential female entrepreneurs? Rani: Believe in yourself and be positive at all times; anything can be achieved. We have had a very hard journey but are still here to tell the story. It's been hard but we have never given up.
Kavita: I'm proof, have a dream, think positive, don't let the negatives become a reality, keep positive in the mind and heart, enjoy the feeling of excitement of your ideas, and aim as high and as big as you can, anything is possible!
Simply Recruitment attended with Asian Business Awards hosted by Eastern Eye, Launching the 100 Asian Rich List
The world is an ever-changing place but core values survive. The attributes we respect in people transcends cultures – they are Ambition, Ability and Achievement. These three As aren’t the only key elements we admire, but they paint a picture of what the Asian Business Awards stand for today.
Asians have contributed billions of pounds to the British economy. As a community renowned for its entrepreneurial flair, Asians have come a long way from the stereotypical corner-shop owners. From retail and wholesale trading to the manufacturing and hospitality sectors, Asian businessmen and women control some of Britain’s biggest organisations and brands on a global stage.
Now in its 13th year, the Asian Business Awards event is a celebration of Asian business acumen and achievement. It is the one occasion where Asian business leaders mix with powerful policy makers, business trendsetters and celebrities. And it is a unique event which encapsulates the full diversity and range of Asian businesses in Britain.
When times are hard, our dreams keep us alive. In the face of adversity, it is the ability to deliver our best that brings success. When others stumble, those who have the strength and self-belief to carry them across the finish line show us how it’s done.
The Prime Minister has called for more women in Britain’s boardrooms as he met leading female executives at a breakfast meeting to mark International Women’s Day.
At the meeting, Gordon Brown said politicians and businesses need to work together to ensure the talent and skills of women are properly represented in the boardroom.
Gordon Brown congratulated the attending women on the “huge contribution” they have made to bringing about change.
But he said more needed to be done after a survey of more than 1,000 adults showed that almost two out of three believed there were not enough female directors in big business.
In a podcast released earlier in the day, the PM said:
“We all recognise the value of strong role models for women in all walks of life - and there are many in politics, the arts, public services, sport and the third sector, but there are too few in Britain’s boardrooms.
When more than half of graduates are women, it is completely unacceptable that some of our top 100 public companies have not a single woman on their boards, and that none at all have a majority of women on their boards.”
The meeting was also attended by Women and Equalities Minister Harriet Harman, Business, Innovation and Skills Secretary Peter Mandleson, and Trade Minister Lord Davies.
Women of The Future Awards & Launch of Global Awards Mumbai, December 2009
Kavita Jnagal visited Mumbai in December 2009 with Pinky Liani, The British High Deputy Commissioner Vicky Treadell and 18 other very successful business women on a Womens delegation trip to Mumbai
The awards iniative now in its fifth year in the UK, was launched on December 11, 2009, in Mumbai, India. Supported by Barclays, the evening was hosted by Vicki Treadell, British deputy high commissioner of Mumbai, Pinky Lilani OBE, chairman of the Women of the Future Awards and Cherie Blair, awards patron. The launch event was attended by 200 guests including S Ramadorai Vice Chairman TCS and Nandan Mehta, Global Head, Finance TCS, together with Zain Verjee anchor for CNBC and Indu Shahani PhD, Dean of HR Collge of Commerce & Economics among others
The Women of the Future Awards, are about celebrating a bright new generation of talent, right across the world. We have seen in the UK how powerful these awards are in identifying new role models; and in establishing a mutually supportive network of fantastic young women.
"A amazing exciting opportunity, Myself and 18 other successful business women, was given the opportunity to visit, colleges, businesses, and charities, this opportunity allowed us to Network with India's Business worlds and NGO Charities."
Kavita Jnagal & Rani Sahota have received Her Majesty’s command to attend a reception to be given at Buckingham Palace by the Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh on Tuesday 13th October 2009.
Are you looking for the right Job?? But you're too busy looking after the children???
Come to Simply Recruitment Open Day
Saturday August 1st 2009 11am to 4pm
Speak to experienced Recruitment Consultants
Looking for the right career advice and job opportunities
Excellent Opportunities available!! Full Time & Part Time
Come and Join in with the Fun!!
Tarot Card Readers
Bouncy Castle
Snacks for all
Face Painting for the little ones
Call Kavita or Ella for more information 01212700855
Simply Recruitment Directors Rani Uppelle and Kavita Jnagal have been shortlisted for the 10th Anniversary Asian Woman Awards
Simply Recruitment Directors Rani Uppelle and Kavita Jnagal have been shortlisted for the 10th Anniversary Asian Woman Awards and have been shortlisted from over 10,000 candidates around the UK for the Entrepreneur of the Year 2009.
"We are so delighted to have been shortlisted and excited at the opportunity, we are very passionate about recruitment and have worked very hard, during the tough times of the recession, we here at Simply look to follow our dreams, with a positive attitude and getting this far has been amazing for us both!"
A MESSAGE FROM THE PATRON
I am very proud to be the patron of the Asian Women of Achievement Awards and to have the chance to watch how this wonderful initiative has grown over its first ten years. The values celebrated by these awards are perhaps more important today than ever as is the underlying ambition of helping women, of all backgrounds, to break down the barriers which prevent them realising their full potential.
By highlighting individual successes, the awards both celebrate the incredible achievements of women and provide crucial role models to encourage more women to follow in their footsteps. I urge you to submit your nominations for the tenth anniversary.
Simply Recruitment have been shortlisted for the prestigious Lloyds TSB Jewel Award
Simply Recruitment have been shortlisted for the prestigious Lloyds TSB Jewel Award at a ceremony taking place in Birmingham on the 11th July 2009. The awards are undertaken by Carter Andersen in conjunction with Lloyds TSB and KPMG.
This is now the seventh year of the Jewel Awards and they are, without doubt, the biggest celebration of Asian success and achievement ever seen in Britain. They are the Oscar's of the Asian Business world, showcasing the best of Asian success and achievement and have received special praise from HRH Prince Charles, The Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, amongst Others. Past Winners have included Imran Khan, Kabir Bedi, Sir Gulam Noon, James Caan, Sanjeev Baskar, Kirit Patak and Baroness Flather etc.
Rani and Kavita land national award for Simply Recruitment
Birmingham Post, Nov 20 2008 and WM Women's Business Centre, Nov 21 2008
A Birmingham businesswoman has scooped the title of Outstanding Woman in Business at the national Institute of Asian Business awards.
Rani Uppelle, of Hagley Road-based Simply Recruitment, won the title, supported by her business partner Kavita Jnagal.
The two set up the recruitment business up last August after ten years working in the field and they are now looking to take the firm to the next level with the launch of a training division.
Ms Uppelle, who has two young children, welcomed the launch of the virtual Women’s Business Centre.
“We need to push to help women get a lot more support in their business,” she said.
Ms Uppelle and Ms Jnagal decided last year that with their combined experience in the fields of industrial and commercial recruitment, there was an opportunity to offer a more tailor-made service to their clients and candidates.
“It’s very hard to set up a business but it’s good to have a business partner like Kavita who understands the situation with children.”
Ms Jnagal said: "It’s a joint effort and it’s about team work, without that it would be impossible to do what we are doing now.”
Neither are fazed by the prospect of an economic downturn.
“You have got to be positive,” said Ms Jnagal. “That’s why we are setting up the training division.”
Outstanding Business Woman of the Year 2008 at the Institute of Asian Business
Kavita Jnagal and Rani Uppelle won Outstanding Business Woman of the Year 2008 at the Institute of Asian Business, at the ICC
Simply Recruitment Directors Kavita Jnagal and Rani Uppelle, nominated for Prowess Ethnic Minority Business Woman Awards, after trading 8 months in to the business. Selected out of 300 Nominees.
"It has been a fantastic experience, to get recognition so early on in the business. This has been a major achievement for us here at Simply Recruitment."
Kavita Jnagal
"Its great to know that our work within the community is being recognized, and we hope to achieve and deliver bigger and better results in the years to come."
Rani Uppelle
