Starting a revolution

It was picked as Start-up Business of the Year by the judges at The News’ Business Excellence Awards, which took place at Portsmouth Guildhall on Friday.

The business was founded by two passionate recruiters – Isobelle Fish and Rachel Barron – in April 2015.

Since then the mumprenuers have grown the business – which offers niche-market clinical recruitment services – and it now employs nine people including an apprentice at its Portsmouth office, with hopes to expand up to a team of 26.

Isobelle said: ‘We found that there are a lot of good mentors in Portsmouth – people from homegrown businesses, who have been in the same situation as us and have worked up through the ranks.’

Raisly received initial investment from successful businesswoman Joanne White, chief executive officer and founder of Global Plantations Limited, who is from Leigh Park.

Isobelle said: ‘Joanne was our inspiration. She had done it and had been in the same situation so it really helped having her support.

‘The good thing about Portsmouth is that it feels like one huge community, where everybody knows everybody.

‘Everyone wants to support you and pat you on the back – and that’s down to the great city that we live in.’