Mum from Portsmouth hits first £1m annual turnover after setting up business to work around kids

Sarah Roads, from Milton, launched her company, SLR Recruitment Solutions Ltd in 2017, after having her first son, Harry and having previously been employed in recruitment for 12 years.

She set up the business so she could spend more time with her son and would work while he napped, while he was at nursery and in the evenings when he was in bed.

Now, three years on, the now-mum-of-two is celebrating hitting her first £1m annual turnover.

The business secures contract-based and permanent roles for different trades in the marine and industrial sectors, both in Portsmouth and throughout the rest of the country.

She supplies workers such as painters, welder fabricators and mechanical fitters for a number of firms and has provided work for reputable firms, including BAE Systems, Babcock, Wightlink and Red Funnel.

She provided painters for the D-Day landing craft in Southsea as part of its restoration.

Sarah said: ‘The marine industry has always been my passion. Having worked at sea for seven years, it’s a natural passion of mine. Being able to look at boats and ships and say that I supplied people to do work on them is something I’m extremely proud of.’

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The 39-year-old juggles the business with being a mum and has been home-schooling Harry, now six and Jack, four, for the last two months, alongside work.

She said: ‘There’s an expectation when you’re employed in recruitment that you have to sit at a desk all the hours under the sun, but really it’s all about being willing to put the work in and being reactive.

‘The three years building up to this turnover has been my biggest achievement so far. It feels amazing to have reached such a milestone.

‘I’m just a mum with a laptop and a phone, who has given it everything around her kids.

‘I was elated when I saw that I’d hit it, because all my hard work and faith in myself had paid off. I want £5m to be my next milestone.’

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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