# They Nearly Gave Away 51%: How Jason & Jev Turned a £25K Loan Into a 100% Owned, Seven-Figure Agency

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/recruitment-mentors-podcast-1064772/they-nearly-gave-away-51-how-jason-jev-turned-a-25k-loan-into-a-100-owned-seven-figure-agency
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/recruitment-mentors-podcast-1064772/they-nearly-gave-away-51-how-jason-jev-turned-a-25k-loan-into-a-100-owned-seven-figure-agency.md
Podcast: [Recruitment Mentors Podcast](https://stenobird.com/podcast/recruitment-mentors-podcast-1064772)
Published: 2026-07-06T05:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://recruitmentmentorspodcast.captivate.fm/episode/they-nearly-gave-away-51-how-jason-jev-turned-a-25k-loan-into-a-100-owned-seven-figure-agency
Audio file: https://op3.dev/e/episodes.captivate.fm/episode/c510733f-c7e4-41e7-a054-00e064119ad9.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/recruitment-mentors-podcast-1064772/episodes/they-nearly-gave-away-51-how-jason-jev-turned-a-25k-loan-into-a-100-owned-seven-figure-agency
Duration seconds: 4152

## Resource

In this episode, I sit down with Jason and Jev, co-founders of Alexander Barnes, to unpack how they turned two £25K bank loans into a seven-figure, 100% owned fintech search firm, and the moment early on when they nearly gave away 51% of the business to a PE-backed model before choosing a different path entirely. We dive into the brutal first three months chasing any deal they could get, the shift to a niche, relationship-led process that changed everything, and the two-year candidate relationship that landed them a retained PSL spot ahead of Korn Ferry and Spencer Stuart. Connect with Jason here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonthomas0784/ Connect with Jev here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jevon-barnes-56244a153/ ------------------------- Watch the episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/HKZ5Y3rs5f4 ------------------------- Podcast Sponsors: Claim your exclusive savings from our partners with the links below: Sourcewhale - Check Out Sourcewhale & Claim Your Exclusive Offer Here. Atlas - Check Out Atlas & Claim Your Exclusive Offer Here Raise - Check Out Raise & Claim Your Exclusive Offer Here. ------------------------- Want more content like this? The Wednesday Debrief is our free weekly newsletter for recruiters who take their craft seriously. Join 7,000+ subscribers here: https://newsletter.recruitmentmentors.com/ ------------------------- Get in touch with me: Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hishemazzouz/ -------------------------

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