By In Conversation With John Daly,Irishexaminer.com
Copyright irishexaminer
Name: Ruby Fergus
Occupation: Managing Director, InSource Recruitment
Background: Places temporary and permanent contract workers across a range of facilities, including hospitality, cleaning, administration and logistics
The recruitment sector is an ever-changing world where flexibility to the demands of clients is a constant.
For Ruby Fergus, the challenges include leading the day-to-day business and steering future growth. “On any given day, I could be meeting with clients to understand their upcoming staffing needs, working with our team to make sure shifts are covered, or looking at where we can expand capacity in sectors like logistics and cleaning.” Recruitment is fast-
paced and unpredictable, she agrees, so problem-solving is a regular part of any given day. “For me, the balance is making sure we deliver consistently for clients while also keeping an eye on scaling the business for the months and years ahead.” InSource Recruitment provides staff into the less visible sectors of the economy – cleaning, warehousing, forklift operations, security and hospitality. “The sectors we serve are often overlooked and ‘invisible’ – but essential to how Ireland functions. These sectors rarely make headlines, but they are the backbone of hospitals, logistics hubs, shopping centres and office complexes. If these roles aren’t filled, the impact is felt immediately. Our staff are the people who keep operations moving every single day, and part of my job is to ensure their work gets the recognition and respect it deserves.”
Sourcing quality staff is a recurring problem across many sectors in 2025, she agrees, and getting more challenging all the time: “Staffing has always been challenging, but today it’s even more competitive. We’ve adapted by focusing on building long-term relationships with workers and being known as a fair and reliable employer. Word of mouth is incredibly powerful in our sectors if people feel supported, they recommend us to others.” The firm has broadened how talent is sourced, using a mix of digital outreach and community connections: “We are not relying on just one channel. For clients, this means they can depend on us to have people ready when they need them, which is the real test in recruitment.”
Specialising has been key to the growth of the company. “By focusing on cleaning, forklift, security and hospitality roles, we’ve built deep expertise and a trusted network in those areas. Clients know we understand the pressures of their industries whether it’s seasonal surges, compliance checks, or covering last-minute absences.” All staff are Garda vetted, and are employed directly by InSource and then outsourced to meet client needs. “That can mean anything from two hours a day to five days a week, giving businesses the flexibility they need without the pressure of full-time employment contracts. We take the responsibility for payroll, compliance and vetting, so clients can get on with running their operations.” Because of that, she explains, onboarding is smoother, placements are stronger, and retention is better. “It has also allowed us to grow organically once we prove ourselves in one facility, word travels and more contracts come our way.”
Ruby agrees that coming in as a younger leader has helped bring fresh energy to the business. “This industry is often seen as traditional, but I’ve leaned into technology to streamline processes and into culture to make sure staff feel valued. For me, leadership isn’t about age it’s about empathy, making smart decisions, and building a team that is motivated to deliver. I’ve also been keen to show that these sectors, though sometimes overlooked, offer real opportunities for innovation and growth.”
Expansion is very much part of the future InSource Recruitment plan. While the head office is in Dublin, it already serves clients nationwide with strong contracts in Cork, Galway and Kilkenny, alongside our wider footprint. “We’ve seen strong demand in cleaning, logistics, warehousing and hospitality, and we know those sectors will continue to grow as Ireland’s economy expands.” She envisages the care sector becoming an increasingly important focus for the firm: “We’re already active in this space but see significant potential to expand further, supporting hospitals, residential facilities and community care providers who need flexible, reliable staff. Recycling and facility management are also emerging growth areas. The opportunity lies in being a trusted partner who can scale with clients as their needs change whether that’s covering a few hours a week or staffing large teams full time.” The core values of InSource Recruitment encompass respect, reliability and results. “Respect means treating both clients and candidates fairly – we are dealing with people’s livelihoods, so it’s never just about numbers. Reliability is about being there when we’re needed, whether that’s a last-minute request from a hospital or clarifying shifts for a worker. And results matter, because at the end of the day our reputation is built on delivery. Clients come back to us because we consistently solve their staffing problems.”
Working at the coalface of the ‘invisible’ economy, Ruby Fergus has a ringside seat to the overall economy – especially in a period of uncertainty and global turbulence. “Ireland is resilient, but like everywhere else we’re facing challenges with housing, inflation and labour shortages. For me, the real focus needs to be on the everyday economy the sectors we recruit for.” These industries employ thousands of people and keep businesses running, yet don’t always get the policy support they deserve, she says. “Jobs like cleaning or shift work in logistics may not be seen as attractive, but they are essential. They’re not a ‘nice to have,’ they are a ‘must have’ for businesses, hospitals, warehouses and retail centres – places that simply can’t function without them.” The difficulty is that at €13.50 an hour, many people in these roles struggle to cover basics like childcare and transport: “I see it first-hand: plenty of people want to work, but the costs of returning to low-paid jobs can outweigh the benefits. If government supports were better aligned through childcare subsidies or transport assistance it would make a huge difference in getting people back into the workforce. That kind of practical support, along with stronger infrastructure and training, would go a long way to strengthening both the workforce and the wider economy.”
In a business where the personal touch goes hand-in-hand with efficiency and reliability, Ruby points to seeing the direct impact of the work as the most gratifying. “Helping a client keep their operations running smoothly, giving someone consistent work they can rely on, or watching a member of our own team grow into leadership – those are the wins that matter.” It is not about big headlines, but knowing that InSource is making a difference for people and businesses every day. “On a personal level, shaping the future of a company I believe in is something I’m very proud of, and I’d like to think I’m also making my dad proud, having taken over the reins and carried forward what he built. That sense of continuity makes the job even more meaningful.”
