Sam Spoors was head of talent acquisition for a large, multi-site business before she started Morpeth-based Talentheads, which acts as an in-house recruitment team for its clients. Since 2020, the company has grown to a 10-strong team.
What was your first job (and how much did it pay)? My first job was babysitting for neighbours and family friends. I remember one evening babysitting for a new neighbour during Eurovision Song Contest, I was pretty young and the couple had a cat, which absolutely terrified me. I hardly moved all night. If I remember correctly, I was paid £3 an hour, plus a taxi home when needed.
My next job was a paper round, delivering papers around the streets of the village I grew up in, proudly wearing my red tartan trousers. Early lessons in responsibility (and perseverance) if ever there were!
What is the best advice or support you’ve been given in business? The best advice I have been given is to ask myself the question ‘if I choose to do this, am I comfortable with what I’ll have to say no to?’ For example, if I choose to work late tonight – am I okay missing dinner with the kids? The honest answer to that question naturally reveals your priorities. I find this super useful.
What are the main changes you’ve seen in your business/sector, and what are the challenges you’re facing The reason I decided to create Talentheads in the first place was because I didn’t believe the recruitment sector had evolved enough. While almost every other industry has innovated, pivoted, and moved with the time, recruitment has largely stayed the same - transactional and focused on CV submission. I believe that growing businesses need more than that. They need the right people and the ability to retain them. They want to use their brand more effectively and build long-term recruitment and retention strategies, not just fill vacancies.
That’s why Talentheads exists. We partner with organisations as their outsourced internal recruitment team, helping them attract, engage, and retain the talent that fuels sustainable growth.
What would your dream job be? In my later years, my dream role would be one where I can continue to support others, either through volunteering in a charity where I can genuinely add value, or mentoring and advising other business owners, entrepreneurs and leaders. Helping people to grow and succeed is what motivates me most.
What advice would you give to someone starting out a career in your sector? It’s tough out there. Our sector is saturated and loud. Be part of something bold, ambitious and different. Think about the so what? What value can you add and what meaningful difference can you truly make? That mindset is what sets people apart.
What makes the North East a good place to do business? The business community is second to none. The North East community is supportive, collaborative, and incredibly inclusive. It’s the perfect size to have the opportunity to engage, support and genuinely connect with fellow business owners and leaders, and to build relationships that truly mean something.
You can be yourself here, and people welcome that. I couldn’t imagine Talentheads being founded anywhere else. I am extremely proud to be a North East business founder and entrepreneur.
How important is it for business to play a role in society? It’s absolutely essential for businesses to play an active role in society and within their communities. Our values are brave, community, and legacy, and they guide everything we do.
We believe our business should be a force for good - giving back, collaborating, taking accountability, and bringing people together. And we also believe you can do all of that while being a fully functional, profitable, successful, and international organisation. For us, purpose and performance go hand in hand.
Outside of work, what are you really good at? I’m a great multi-tasker. With four children, two dogs, a husband with a full-on job, and a business I’m proud to lead, life is wonderfully busy. I’m the one who drives the experiences - planning get-togethers, organising adventures, and creating memories for the people I love. It’s something I take joy in and something I’m genuinely good at.
Who would play you in a film about your life? This is a great question! Anne Hathaway please. Amongst all the fabulous films she’s been in, The Intern really stands out. She plays a business owner, leader, mother, wife… someone who cares about leaving a legacy. That really resonates with how I see life and my own perspective on work, family, and impact.
Which three people would you invite to a dinner party, and why? Alan Carr, Marilyn Monroe and my husband. Alan Carr because I love to laugh. I know I would be in my absolute element belly laughing all evening. Marilyn Monroe because I would love to hear the perspective of such a siren of her times. And my husband because I would want to share that unforgettable experience with him. What a night?!
