Introducing Vinnie, Eleventh Hour Group’s Temporary Staffing Business Manager
There is never a dull moment when Vinnie is in the room, and it’s fair to say it is a collective view that Vinnie is a highly respected member of the team. From his excellent work-ethic and deep care for candidates and clients alike, to his hilarious stories and anecdotes about his much-adored family, Vinnie brings a lot of drive, proactivity, humour and heart. It is a pleasure to work with him, and see his team thrive.
Eleventh Hour Group’s Temporary Staffing Team
Our Constellation Leadership Approach
At Eleventh Hour Group, we operate a constellation leadership approach. We harness the potential of our existing and emerging managers and leaders, and we do this by embracing shared leadership responsibilities, decentralised decision-making, and purpose-driven collaboration across its divisions and partnerships. For this approach to be successful, it relies heavily on a middle management team we can trust.
EHG operates with a clear, values-led mission: to provide exceptional, person-centred care for individuals with complex health and social needs. This shared purpose acts as a guiding ‘constellation’ that aligns internal teams, clinical professionals, and partner organisations. Everyone is moving toward the same end goal, but they are empowered to take different routes to get there.
This approach empowers a rapid response to client needs and enhances innovation on the ground. This combined with dynamic collaboration and an adaptive strategy all help EHG to flourish in a competitive, and challenging market.
It is thanks to leaders like Vinnie who are proactive, diligent and strategic in their day to day operations.
Vinnie’s Leadership & Vision
‘Leadership is about making others better as a result of your presence and making sure that impact lasts in your absence.’ (Sandberg, 2013). Leading by example in the Temporary Staffing Team, providing a quality service to candidates, clients and his team alike, Business Manager Vinnie keeps up spirits whilst achieving his goals. ‘For me leadership is about supporting the team and providing them with what training they need grow and be successful. Since joining EHG my vision has switched from looking at this as just a career, to a vocation that compels me to help clients and candidates in a very difficult market. I am hoping to build a team that is very successful and a team our clients trust to help them when needed’. As such, the team have done incredibly well keeping strong relationships with clients and candidates, as well as increasing the number of quality candidates into the organisation.
Vinnie’s humility is truly admirable. ‘My proudest moment so far was being able to go into my first meeting as a manager with positive news on how the team have improved.’ Vinnie’s direct reports hold him in high esteem, and so too do the Senior Leadership Team. Operations Director, Graham Lipman remarked ‘Vinnie is an impressive all-rounder. He keeps the morale and momentum of the team, and really inspires everyone to do the best they can, learn quickly from their mistakes and always aim for excellence. He is a credit to EHG, and we’re proud of the work he does.’
Eleventh Hour Group’s Temporary Staffing Team in a Unified Approach
Sector Insight & Influence
Great leadership involves knowing your market and being able to predict the trends and challenges that will likely arise. Vinnie explains, ‘a crucial element of this industry is securing and maintaining trusting relationships. Most clients can choose from any agency they want. So ensuring a quality-first service is paramount. It is a client-led market and cautious spending patterns has caused a decrease in agency usage. This in turn, has resulted in an influx of other organisations not being able to survive. That said, there are significant workforce shortages and staffing crises particularly with Mental Health and Critical Care Staffing. To stay ahead of the curve, we place greater value on being a responsive, safety-first provider committed to excellence and accountability.’ With the likelihood of further compliance measures ensuring quality, safeguarding and safety, EHG prides itself on its glowing Compliance Audits, and accountability-centred approach, proven safeguarding procedures, transparent outcomes and clinical governance. ‘For us, it is these qualities that ensure we foster and maintain excellent relationships with our clients.’
The quality-first approach is something that heavily resonates with Vinnie; ‘in my experience, we work differently to every other agency. We focus on building relationships and giving solutions to any issues that the clients have; we are not just here to book shifts.’ To advocate for better services through recruitment practices, Vinnie has a hands-on approach. ‘Pick up the phones and build relationships, rather than sitting passively behind a screen. This is the best way to ensure we foster those connections, build rapport and provide the best service we can. Our clients deserve that, our candidates deserve that, and most crucially the patients they serve deserve that.’
To improve the service to patients, Vinnie explains ‘we try and build future-proof plans, so patients always have exceptional quality of service and are never left short. There are misconceptions people have about healthcare recruitment that I try to challenge. There is a perception that there is a drive solely for financial gain, when in reality, we’re truly committed to quality-care. All of us have needed the NHS at one point or another, it means a lot to me that we can offer a high-quality solution to such crucial service.
Commercial Acumen & Growth
EHG is rapidly growing. Vinnie has been integral in the strategy for sustainable scale. ‘Everyone on the team understand the strategy and are willing to go above and beyond. Our vision, mission and values are the defining sentiments that we stand by and uphold in our commitment to our clients, candidates and their patients.’ The core fundamentals of the organisation are so heavily amplified by the newly formed Strategic Leadership Team, that they are ingrained in the culture of the organisation as though woven into the very fabric of the Group.
Vinnie is highly experienced in the Recruitment Sector and has seen a number of economic and societal shifts in the market. His advice to someone trying to grow a healthcare recruitment division? ‘Be patient to do things the correct way and always ensure high attention to detail. You are in servitude to your clients and candidates. Support them and always be available to support them. It is also important to remember that you know the market from lots of different vantages, from the experience you accrue from working across various settings. There is great variation between clients, but there are also common themes that impact the sector itself. We’re trained specifically here to see inflection points, to mitigate risks and to overcome challenge. We have great relationships with our clients because they work with us and share this mindset.’
Candidate Experience & Team Culture
Vinnie’s care for his candidates is exceptional and harnesses the Eleventh Hour Group’s core values in every interaction. To ensure the nursers and healthcare professionals he works with feel respected and supported, ‘by listening to them, hearing their concerns, answering questions, and finding the answers if I don’t have them in the moment. I try to be responsive and I pride myself on being proactive.’ We at EHG couldn’t agree more. Vinnie doesn’t just run his desk, he builds relationships and rapport through a genuine connection and respect for his candidates.
Vinnie has been integral at shaping the culture of his team at EHG. Clients, candidates and colleagues alike all benefit from his driven, yet deeply caring leadership. ‘Passionate, honest and hardworking are the qualities I want to see from my team. I can teach the rest, but I can’t teach those essential, integral characteristics.’ Vinnie champions everyone in the team at whatever level they’re at, whether new to the realm of recruitment, or significantly experienced and successful in the role, Vinnie successfully manages his team at whatever stage of their professional journey by meeting them where they are. He works tirelessly to help their growth and shows a deep commitment to their journeys.
Vinnie’s versatility in the role is exceptional. He is able to adapt, motivate, challenge, inspire and draw on the strength of all of the team at all times. His energy and drive for continuous improvement is infectious and everyone benefits from this. Strategic Leadership to early career recruiters alike.
Adaptability & Problem Solving
Vinnie is humble. His humility makes him an exceptional leader. He inherently understands that ‘[b]efore you are a leader, success is all about growing yourself. When you become a leader, success is all about growing others.’ (Welch, 2005). One of the greatest career transitions he identified was the transition from Consultant to Manager. The journey within leadership can be uncertain at times, especially navigating leadership in face-paced environments and the rapid scaling of EHG.
Staying calm and focused under pressure is crucial. ‘For me, it is about staying present and focused looking at the end goal of meeting the client’s requirements with great quality, value for money and, most importantly, patient safety. The patient-centred care is always paramount to the provision.’
Personal Perspective
‘I was drawn to healthcare recruitment because of the fast-paced, high-pressured environment. It reminded me of the energy I’d experienced in my earlier roles in construction. That background taught me the importance of structure, resilience, and getting the job done right the first time. One of the toughest lessons I’ve learned in leadership is that sometimes you have to give critical feedback, even when it’s uncomfortable, because it’s often what helps people grow. On challenging days, I keep my head down and focus on the goals I’ve set for myself. I’m also driven by the example of my grandad, who was always hard-working, consistent, and a true provider. His work ethic still pushes me forward.’
Needless to say, it is a pleasure working with Vinnie. He is adaptable, proactive, forward-thinking and leads by exceptional example. His family values and authentic demeanour humanise the role of a leader, and everyone in his team thrives because of him.
