To celebrate two years of thriving business in Royston, a social care recruitment company is expanding to include a GP division.

Hojona Specialist Staffing started off in Stevenage in 2012, before founder Stuart Hunter decided to move operations further north so that he could be closer to home.

The 33-year-old ‘fell into recruitment’ at 19, and has been working in the industry ever since.

After getting married, and with aspirations to break through the glass ceiling and do things his own way, he set up Hojona with the support of friends and family.

Now he’s supporting Calum James, business manager for the GP desk, to expand the new wing for doctors and nurses.

Commenting on the tough industry, which has recently seen widespread staff shortages and a struggle to recruit doctors, Stuart said: “There is a national shortage of GPs and nurses, but there is also a shortage of social workers. It’s not a problem that we haven’t previously tackled.

“We are speaking to our clients. We like to get to know people. We are looking for individuals who won’t move around.”

The recruitment industry, Stuart says, can often be cut throat, with some bigger agencies using underhand tactics to make a fast buck, but he wants to distinguish his business from that. He said: “We don’t want to be the biggest.

“We want to be known for finding candidates that are getting a fair rate of pay, and for finding the right people who have a real passion for what they do. It’s not all about making money.”

Stuart is also hoping, that as the business expands, they can recruit more local people to work for them, as Hojona, he says, has a firm focus on helping people in the area.

Hojona Limited, which works with local authority, NHS, private and charitable organisations providing to all social care and medical disciplines, is based at 3, Melbourn Street, above craft shop No.3 Royston.

To find out more, visit the website at www.hojona.com or email info@hojona.com.