Throughout the 25 years that Human Resourcing has been in business, there have been many people who have supported us, influenced us and helped us grow. One of those people is Rachel Kennedy, who went from being a colleague in the early recruitment days to playing a vital role in the success of Mera’s own business.
Mera first met Rachel when they were both working at Hays Recruitment, long before Human Resourcing existed.
Rachel recalls: “I remember the first time I met Mera. She was waiting outside the office door for someone to unlock and let her in. That sums her up – prompt (sometimes!), dedicated and raring to go!
Recruitment at Hays was so different. It was cut-throat and crazy. You had to be ahead of the game to make a success of it… and keep going into 2026. We also had so much fun. It set our friendship up for life.”
Rachel (far left) and Mera (Centre) working together in 1996.
After 5 years working together at Hays, Mera made the decision to set up her own firm.
Rachel said: “I have always thought Mera very brave for branching out on her own. I still do. But it’s worked out so well for her. She’s always had far too much potential to be somebody else’s foot soldier.”
In 2020, the world changed dramatically when the Covid-19 pandemic sent everyone into lockdown and transformed the way we work. Hybrid working, once the exception, became the norm and employees’ priorities shifted significantly, something we’re still seeing today. Around this time, Rachel and Mera began working together again.
Rachel said: “Stepping back into recruitment was a big eye opener for me. Mera’s relationships with her contacts in the South Wales HR profession are so genuine and mutually respectful. So different to where we started in the ‘90s and so, so much better. Human Resourcing is her third child; she puts everything into nurturing it and making it a success.”
Over the last six years, Rachel has supported the business by bringing her expertise and shared values, helping Human Resourcing connect talented professionals with HR roles across South Wales. She’s not just a friend or colleague; she’s become an important part of the business’s success.
Rachel added: “Trust, honesty and lots of laughter is the key to our relationship. Inside and outside work. I like to think that I don’t work for Mera, I work with her. And I think she’d agree. It’s a more respectful perspective. Also, when you have a long history together, there are things that don’t need to be said, you just know what the other person is thinking.”
As the business has grown and continued to support wider HR initiatives, Rachel has also been a trusted partner in representing the brand, hosting clients and showcasing the Human Resourcing ethos to the wider industry.
She said: “Observing Mera work the room at the HR in Wales Awards, and formerly the CIPD awards, is always pretty memorable. I thought ‘wow, you really know what you’re doing here!’
Human Resourcing is so different to other agencies. It really has the personal touch. It’s testimony to the relationships that can be built over 25 years. When you have that ‘third child’ that’s 25 years old, you really care and know the business inside out.”
Looking back to when Mera and Rachel first met in their early careers, the recruitment landscape has changed dramatically.
Rachel reflected: “The biggest difference I’ve noticed compared to the ‘90s is technology, which I think has enabled in-house recruitment. When we started people still placed ads in papers and someone in HR would have to sift through CVs because the internet wasn’t really a thing.
Job boards like Reed and Indeed have made it easier for companies to try and recruit for themselves. What they don’t do, however, is give any filter, personal touch, background and market knowledge. Human Resourcing has that in bucket loads.”
We’d like to thank Rachel for her commitment, friendship and continued support over the years, and for taking the time to reflect on such an important professional relationship.
Here’s to many more years of working together.
