A recruitment agency, which has a name you are unlikely to forget and a very different approach, is celebrating its first successful year in business.

Hooray, based at Eagle Tower, Cheltenham, was launched by ethical recruitment pioneer Richard Arthur. With his small team he was determined to show that it is possible to do things differently in recruitment with an ethos that is honest, transparent and above all, ethical.

Richard has 17 years' experience in the industry, having previously worked in some of the biggest recruitment firms in the country including Brook Street and Prospectus in London, specialising in recruiting for the charity sector.

A former pupil at Wycliffe College, Stonehouse, he decided to return to his Gloucestershire roots and set up Hooray, the county's first ethical recruitment agency.

"We find office-based staff for a variety of roles on a temporary and permanent basis for our clients," explained Richard. "But one of the things that is really different about us is that we are ethical in our approach which means we like to conduct good business.

"For instance, we get back to every single candidate who applies for a job. I also give my team a day off every quarter to volunteer for a local charity. I will be working in the Pied Piper shop in Gloucester with my colleague Verity Knight this quarter whilst my other colleagues Ian Moriarty and Anna Rankin will be volunteering at Cheltenham Animal Shelter in the lead up to Christmas."

And what about that name?

Richard said: "The name Hooray celebrates good ethical recruitment. I believe getting a new job or assignment should be celebrated. It is a very memorable name."

"I get real pleasure and a buzz from helping and supporting people, both from the client and candidate side. It is really rewarding when a client comes to me

wanting to grow their team or they need a temporary candidate with a certain skill-set and together as a team, we find the right match for them."

Hooray is very active on social media where they post all their job vacancies alongside news, tips and advice. They are also a member of the Recruitment

and Employment Confederation (REC) who are the professional body for the UK recruitment industry providing recruitment businesses with a wide range of training, legal, business and accreditation services.

New Year is traditionally the time when many people decide it is time for a fresh start and start looking around for a new job. In previous years the number of jobseekers at this time has soared by more than 60 per cent.

Richard has these top tips for candidates looking for a new post:

• When applying for a job, always make sure your CV is up to date and relevant.

• Always get back to the employer or recruitment agency who have approached you, even if it is to say you are not interested.

• Be polite and take on board the experience and guidance given to you by a recruiter.

• If a recruiter gets an interview for you, make sure you do some in-depth interview preparation. Even if you are a senior candidate, it may provide some insights you may not have thought about.

Richard and the team at Hooray are committed to matching great candidates with meaningful roles whilst delivering a professional, high quality and honest service.

 For more information about Hooray visit www.hoorayworks.co.uk, call 01242 300228 or email hello@hoorayworks.co.uk