Digging through the archives: when The Telegraph spotlighted PSM's revolutionary approach to HR Outsourcing

Recently, while sorting through old files, we stumbled upon a gem from 1998 – a Telegraph feature that captured PSM at a pivotal moment in our journey. Reading it now, we're struck by how prescient our approach was, and how relevant it remains today.

A small Surrey firm making big waves

Back in 1998, when outsourcing was still largely associated with "menial tasks of cleaning, catering and security," PSM was already pioneering something different. The Telegraph article, titled "Have Personnel Capability, Will Travel," captured our founders – Colin Perkins, John Fenton, and Ruth Bishop – at their Egham headquarters, quietly revolutionising how businesses approach human resources.

What strikes us most about this archive piece is how it showcases the core philosophy that still drives PSM today: deep business understanding combined with HR expertise. The Telegraph journalist understood something crucial about our model. As Colin Perkins explained then:

From night shift drug busts to C-suite recruitment
The Telegraph piece captured the remarkable breadth of our work, from the dramatic (helping coordinate a drugs bust involving night shift workers and CCTV surveillance until 4am) to the strategic (recruiting senior executives earning big bucks). This diversity wasn't accidental – it reflected our founders' belief that HR challenges don't exist in isolation from business realities.

The article also highlighted our innovative pricing model. While traditional search firms charged 33.3% of salary, PSM charged for time invested, sometimes completing assignments for as little as 7% of salary when advertised selection yielded high-quality, targeted responses.

Ahead of our time, right on time for today

Reading this 1998 feature, we're struck by how many of the challenges it describes remain relevant today:

• The struggle to find and retain good staff in a competitive market

• Employers becoming more selective about hiring while needing to move quickly

• The increasing importance of employee development and retention strategies

• The complexity of employment law and the cost of getting it wrong

What's changed is that outsourced HR is no longer revolutionary – it's become essential. The small and growing businesses we served in 1998 have been joined by larger organisations recognising that you don't need to employ HR specialists full-time to get expert HR support. Today, businesses of all sizes understand that world-class HR expertise can come from outside their organisation, not just from permanent employees.

The partnership principle

Perhaps the most telling quote from the Telegraph piece came from Ruth Bishop, discussing our approach to difficult dismissal situations: "As a neutral party, we can diffuse tension between a line manager and employee and turn a disciplinary interview into a positive attempt to achieve a change of direction."

This encapsulates what we've always believed: HR isn't about having difficult conversations – it's about having the right conversations in the right way to achieve the best outcomes for everyone involved.

Looking forward through the lens of history

Twenty-five years later, PSM continues to evolve while staying true to the principles that Telegraph journalist captured so eloquently. We're still based in Surrey, we still believe in understanding our clients' businesses inside and out, and we still charge for expertise and results rather than following industry conventions.

The archive photo shows Colin, John, and Ruth enjoying a "short break" with cups of tea – a quintessentially British moment that somehow perfectly captures the approachable professionalism that remains our hallmark.

As we continue to grow and adapt to new challenges in the world of work, it's reassuring to know that our core approach – combining deep business insight with HR expertise, delivered with integrity and pragmatism – was as relevant in 1998 as it is today.

Sometimes the best way to see where you're going is to remember where you've been

About PSM: For over 35 years, Personnel Services and Management has been providing expert HR solutions to businesses across the UK. From recruitment and employee relations to strategic HR planning and compliance, we combine deep sector knowledge with practical business sense to deliver results that matter.

Want to know more about how PSM can support your business? Get in touch – we'd love to have that conversation.