An Exclusive Interview with Ed Grimes: From Hospitality Veteran to AI Recruitment Innovator

In this in-depth Q&A, we sit down with Ed Grimes co-founder of Talent Unlimited, to discuss his journey from leading operations in major hospitality brands to revolutionising recruitment through AI. Discover how his extensive experience shapes his current ventures and his vision for the future of hiring.

Ed Grimes co-founder of Talent Unlimited.

Q: Ed, can you share a bit about your early career and how it led you to the hospitality industry?

Ed Grimes: Absolutely. My career began in 1993 as a Store Manager at Greggs, which provided a solid foundation in retail operations. I then joined Pret A Manger as an Assistant Manager when they had just 32 shops. Over a decade, I progressed to Head of Operations for the Out of London division, overseeing 45 shops, including all airport and shopping centre locations. When I left, Pret had grown to over 150 shops. This experience taught me the intricacies of scaling operations during rapid expansion.

Q: Your tenure at EAT. was during a significant growth phase. What were your key takeaways from that period?

Ed Grimes: Joining EAT. in 2007 as Retail Director, the company operated 62 shops, leading the operations team through a doubling of the estate size and navigating a private equity-backed management buyout. This period was intense and rewarding, reinforcing the importance of adaptability and strategic planning in fast-paced environments.

Q: How did your role at RUSH Hair & Beauty differ from your previous experiences?

Ed Grimes: Transitioning to RUSH Hair & Beauty as Chief Operations Officer was a sector pivot into hair and beauty. This role required leading operational teams through intense growth and cultural change. It was an opportunity to apply my hospitality and retail experience to a new industry, emphasising the universality of strong operational leadership.

Q: What inspired you to found Grovewood in 2018?

Ed Grimes: After over 25 years in senior leadership roles, I recognised the value of my experience in scaling businesses and navigating operational challenges. Founding Grovewood allowed me to leverage this knowledge to help brands, both startups and

established, address their operational and commercial challenges. Our services include feasibility studies, new concept development, scale-ups, operational excellence, technology leverage, brand activation, and change management. (grovewood.net)

Q: Can you tell us about your venture into AI recruitment with Talent Unlimited?

Ed Grimes: Talent Unlimited was founded in 2024, stemming from the recruitment challenges I observed in the hospitality sector. Partnering with Ed Godwin, a seasoned HR professional, and James McClean, a talented CTO, we aimed to address these challenges

through AI. Our platform features an AI assistant named Sophie, which conducts real-time voice interviews, providing a more personalised and efficient candidate assessment.

Q: How does Sophie differ from traditional recruitment tools?

Ed Grimes: Unlike basic keyword CV screening tools, our platform uses gen-AI to scan for synonyms, transferable and implied skills, ensuring stand-out talent ius never overlooked. Sophie conducts real-time voice interviews, analysing answers and asking follow-up questions based on candidates' responses. This approach provides a more comprehensive understanding of a candidate's experience and suitability for a role. Every candidate gets bespoke feedback and coaching tips, and no applicant is ever ignored. Additionally, Sophie operates in 62 languages, and the client dashboard is fully translatable, enhancing accessibility for global recruitment.

Q: Bias in AI recruitment is a concern. How does Talent Unlimited address this?

Ed Grimes: We designed Sophie to assess candidates based on objective criteria rather than historical hiring decisions, which can carry human biases. By focusing on candidates' actual responses and experiences, we aim to promote inclusivity and fair evaluation, ensuring that all candidates are assessed equitably.

Q: What is Talent Unlimited's business model, and how does it benefit clients?

Ed Grimes: Our platform operates on a subscription-based model, allowing organisations to forecast recruitment spend accurately. Basic CV screening is provided free of charge, SmartScreen incurs a small fee, with payments only required when candidates progress to AI interviews. We offer both Pay As You Go and Contract plans, accommodating various hiring frequencies. This model reduces hiring time significantly, from the traditional 22 days to just one day.

Q: Beyond Talent Unlimited, what other ventures are you involved in?

Ed Grimes: I'm a Non-Executive Director at Checkfer Ltd and Telsen Ltd. These roles allow me to apply my expertise across different sectors, from food and beverage to technology.(checkfer.com)

Q: Looking ahead, what is your vision for the future of recruitment?

Ed Grimes: I envision a recruitment landscape where AI and human judgment work hand in hand to create more efficient, fair, and inclusive hiring processes. By leveraging technology like SmartScreen and Sophie's real-time interviews, we can streamline recruitment while ensuring that each candidate is assessed on their merits, leading to better hiring outcomes for organisations and candidates alike.

Ed Grimes's journey from hospitality operations to AI recruitment innovation exemplifies the dynamic nature of modern business leadership. His commitment to leveraging technology to solve real-world challenges continues to shape the future of recruitment.

For more information on Ed Grimes and his ventures:

• Grovewood

• Talent Unlimited

• Checkfer

Contact Ed Grimes: ed.grimes@talentunlimited.io