Each week Bristol Business News gives a prominent member of the city’s business community the last word on its weekly e-bulletin.
This week Craig Davidge, managing director of Rosemont Recruitment, answers our nine questions
What was the LAST: 
Film you watched? The Pursuit of Happiness (2006) starring Will Smith. This is a true story of what someone can achieve if they are motivated enough, no matter how difficult their circumstance. If you ever experience fear in your role, watch this film and think how lucky you are that you are not homeless and working for free in the hope that you might get a job. Being a parent myself it is very humbling to see somebody living on the streets with their son trying to achieve greatness, whilst not always achieving what he desires he manages to maintain a positive stance for the sake of his son.
Book you read? The E-Myth by Michael E Gerber. Gerber walks you through the steps in the life of a business – from entrepreneurial infancy through adolescent growing pains to the mature entrepreneurial perspective: the guiding light of all businesses that succeed—and shows how to apply the lessons of franchising to any business, whether or not it is a franchise. Most importantly, Gerber draws the vital, often overlooked distinction between working on your business and working in your business. The book enabled me to take an holistic view on Rosemont and I have been able to draw on its contents when making decision with regards to the direction in which to steer the business. As well as recognising many the growing pains to which he alludes.
Music you bought/downloaded? To my dismay it was the Crazy Frog song, for my children to listen to in the car. All good children know what their parents dislike, I am really hoping that there are no long family journeys on the horizon.
Sporting event you attended? Windmill Golf Academy’s Charity Golf day at Lansdown Golf Club, raising money for St Peter’s Hospice. This was an extremely enjoyable day (weather aside), and as a main sponsor for the day it was great to see so many people of all levels taking part to raise money for such a good cause.
Holiday you went on? Golfing weekend in Cornwall, St Mellion International Resort. Following recent golfing charity events, it was clear I needed to spend time working on my handicap.
Restaurant you ate in? Aztec West Hotel, Almondsbury. As a business we went for a team lunch to celebrate the employment anniversary of one of our team members. This is a regular occurrence at Rosemont as I believe it is important to celebrate achieved milestones within the business.
Thing that annoyed you? In fact it was today: a customer has complained that increasing their standard holiday allowance by two days would cost their company money. However their current holiday allowance is below the regional average and the risk of employee burnout surely offsets the cost of the additional holiday given the increased cost of employment and lack of talent within the industry.
Thing that made you laugh out loud? Having completed a round of golf with a close friend recently, we were sat in the Nicklaus Bar at St Mellion, which overlooks the 18th hole, when a shout of ‘Fore’ was heard from a player on the fairway who had hooked his shot into the patio area missing the patrons by inches. The player in question bravely came to the bar area to take his shot from where the ball had come to rest with what seemed to be a crowd of 50 people behind him and calmly chipped over the pond to within 18 inches of the hole, turned around and bowed to his audience.
Piece of good advice you were given? Don’t spread your resources too thinly by focusing on quantity, not quality. Not just the customer but you, will suffer in the end.
Bristol born and bred, Craig started life as a semi professional footballer, moving into recruitment at the age of 19. He founded Rosemont Recruitment in 2012 and specialises in senior level recruitment in the built environment, residential development, building and civil engineering, consulting engineering and architectural and town planning. Craig is passionate about professional development both for himself and his employees and was recently appointed as the first regional ambassador (SW and Wales) for the Association of Executive Recruiters which sets the quality standard for professionalism within the industry. The business has also recently achieved the sought after Investors in People Silver Award. He’s a lifelong Bristol Rovers fan, supports Arsenal nationally and locally sponsors Chipping Sodbury Town FC.
