It’s been said that many people around the world have used the upheavals of 2020 to make significant changes in their lives – from living arrangements to how they spend their free time and careers. James Johnson, former group CEO of The Hive recruitment company (previously known as Nicoll Curtin), is one who opted to change his career path and launch a new kind of start-up.

For three years, he’d been thinking about a different type of recruitment business model. And after taking “a week out just to think” earlier this year, Johnson took the plunge and created District4.  

District4 is based on creating a community of “expert recruiters”, each with their own specialism, who operate as their own boss and their own limited companies out of one membership stable, Johnson explained to Recruiter.

No offices will be required. Support, such as admin, compliance and resourcing will be provided by The Hive, of which Johnson is now a part-time non-executive director. Significantly, Johnson said, members are likely to make a better return for themselves than they do working for a recruitment company, through an improved commission split between the community and the recruiter who has done the deal.

Membership of the ‘member-driven’ collective will be awarded through application, a ‘chemistry’ call, and a meeting with other members, Johnson said.

Johnson will not be billing, he said. Instead, as the community’s founder, he will “help shape the community” and troubleshoot support needs.

There are five founder members: Rob Aitchison, Jamie Archer, Lengwe Kapotwe, Ian McDiarmid and one to be announced soon.

“We’re way ahead of where I thought we would be at this time,” Johnson said. “Our plan is to get 10 founder members by the end of the year.”

He added: “Now is the time.”

Neil Clark is the new CEO of The Hive, which includes Nicoll Curtin, BeecherMadden and District4.