Launch with a controlled operating plan
Course overview · 4 min reading + 12 min practice, estimated
Principles and method
Prepare the minimum complete service: qualified market, reviewed agreements, secure records, client and candidate communication, delivery checklist and financial administration. Test the journey with fictional records before live work. Define launch limits such as a small number of active searches and a review after the first engagements. Keep a backup plan for absence and critical supplier failure. A partnership with Vitae or another provider requires its own agreement; completing courses does not create that relationship or guarantee clients. Learning should support a responsible decision about readiness.
Worked example
A recruiter launches with two active-search slots, a weekly cash review and a peer cover arrangement with appropriate confidentiality controls. Capacity expands only after actual delivery effort is understood.
Put it into practice
Write a launch checklist and thirty-day operating review.
Use fictional information and keep your work in your own notes.
Compare your approach: self-review guidance
Include evidence that each essential process works, not just that an account was purchased. State what would make you delay launch and which limits protect delivery quality.
Sources and further reading
Original Academy teaching and fictional examples. These references provide context, not endorsement. Edition 2026.09; updated 2026-09-24.
- GOV.UK: Set up a business
UK starting point. Business structure and obligations depend on the circumstances.
- GOV.UK: Employment agencies and businesses
UK sector context. Distinguish introducing permanent staff from supplying workers.