Helena Scone

About

Building & Retaining High-Impact Teams for Start and Scale-Ups for iGaming, FinTech & Crypto | Beyond Placement | Co-Owner

I’m Co-Owner & Director of ESR Group, with over 25 years’ experience in recruitment and 16+ years specialising in iGaming, fintech, crypto and Web3. Having worked both in-house and externally, I bring a commercial perspective to helping founders and senior leaders build and scale teams. I specialise in executive search, talent strategy and leadership hiring, with a focus on understanding the business behind the role, not just filling the vacancy. My approach is simple: understand the business, understand the market, and be honest about what it takes to hire the right people.

1. Co-Owner & Director

   ESR Talent

   Jan 2026 – Present

2. Director

   ESR Talent Ltd

   Jun 2024 – Present

   Andalusia, Spain

   I specialise in start and scale ups and am able to provide strategic guidance and implementation support to organisations building or refining their People Strategy function. This includes: Talent Acquisition department setup: Designing efficient and scalable recruitment processes tailored to the startup's specific needs and growth stage. Compensation and Benefits: Benchmarking key roles, ensure competitive packages, and effectively communicate your value proposition to candidates. Job Descriptions: Craft compelling job descriptions that attract the right talent and align with your brand. Learning and Development: Create a development strategy that invests in your employees, leading to increased retention and internal promotions. Compliance: Ensure your policies are compliant with local regulations while maintaining consistency across locations. HRMS/ATS: Assess your current systems and recommend improvements or alternative solutions to support your growing business. Employer Branding: Develop a strategy to enhance your employer brand, attracting top talent and increasing your company's visibility in the industry Beyond strategy, I leverage my expertise in Executive Search and Headhunting to connect visionary leaders with high-growth organisations seeking exceptional talent for primarily senior positions. I partner with clients to gain a deep understanding of their unique needs and company culture. This allows me to conduct targeted searches that identify top performers with the skills and experience to drive success.

3. Head of Talent

   BVGroup

   Jul 2022 – May 2024

   Gibraltar

   Manage and develop a team of TA professionals Oversee procurement of new systems and negotiation of current contracts Led the design and set up of a new ATS and part of the team leading a new HRMS migration Created agile and innovative strategic sourcing plans Consistently align business plans with C Suite executives Define and implement accurate and insightful OKR's for the department Developed strategies to identify skills gaps and create career paths for employees Collaborate with Director of HR on performance monitoring, onboarding, and retention strategies Conduct regular succession planning across the organisation Participate in company strategic planning and ensuring talent projects are aligned with business priorities Utilise data and automation to drive results, introducing additional tech platforms for process improvement Establish and maintain talent pipelines for future hiring needs Complete regular and accurate benchmarking across roles and locations Foster strong working relationships with hiring managers to periodically review and redefine requirements Lead new initiatives, such as ERP implementation, from planning to delivery Advocate for diversity and inclusion, implementing strategies to promote fairness and inclusivity in the hiring process Continually stay updated on recruitment trends and seek market intelligence for a competitive advantage in attraction, assessment, and sourcing Ensured compliance with legal, moral, and ethical practices and provided evidence of adherence.

4. Head of Talent

   Eyas Gaming

   Aug 2021 – Jul 2022

   As part of the original team for this start up with the CEO and COO I successfully established and led the HR and recruitment function from scratch, implementing a comprehensive strategy that aligned with the company's unique needs, culture, and values. Key achievements include: Created and managed the HR and recruitment budget, including benefits such as healthcare, death in service, and pension plans for all employees. Introduced new ATS and HRMS Developed and implemented an OKR strategy across the business to drive talent acquisition and retention. Built and managed a talent pipeline through proactive sourcing and engagement of top talent, resulting in a 50% increase in employee retention. Designed and executed employer branding campaigns across traditional and non-traditional media channels, resulting in a 200% increase in brand awareness. Collaborated with the HR Business Partner to shape and drive the leadership and development agenda, making Eyas Gaming the employer of choice in the industry. Acting as a trusted L&D/Talent SME, guided and supported leaders with their people development and retention. Worked with HRBP to deliver and analyse employee satisfaction evaluations, resulting in a 25% increase in employee satisfaction. Managed off-line and on-line employer branding campaigns, increasing brand awareness and positive reputation within the industry. Owned and re-forecast the recruitment and learning and development budget, resulting in a 30% reduction in recruitment costs. Built strong and credible relationships with people at all levels in the business, resulting in a 33% increase in employee referrals. By leveraging my expertise in HR and recruitment, I was able to build a high-performing team that drove the success of Eyas Gaming, positioning the company as a leader in the industry. Reason for leaving: Contract

5. Talent Manager

   Eyas Gaming

   Aug 2020 – Aug 2021

   Gibraltar, Gibraltar

6. Senior Talent Acquisition Partner

   Kindred Group plc

   Aug 2018 – Aug 2020

   Gibraltar

   Recruiting for all roles based in our Gibraltar office as well as global recruitment when required Full end to end recruitment cycle Advertising of new roles Resourcing candidates for Kindred Group live positions Maintaining and building talent pool Determining applicant qualification by interviewing and response analysis Shortlisting resumes, scheduling interviews, collating and communicating feedback Evaluation of applicants by discussing requirements and qualifications with hiring managers - Reason for leaving: Redundancy

7. Senior Recruitment Consultant (Freelance)

   Various iGaming Companies

   Aug 2016 – Aug 2018

   Gibraltar

   Professional recruiter specialising in the iGaming industry Sourcing for a wide variety of positions including IT, Marketing, Customer Support, VIP etc Resourcing candidates via social media, online job boards and networking Screening and qualifying potential candidates

8. Maternity

   Stay-at-home

   Dec 2015 – Aug 2016

   Full time mum

9. InHouse Recruiter

   LeoVegas

   Jan 2015 – Dec 2015

   Malta

   Full end to end recruitment cycle Resourcing candidates for LeoVegas live positions Establishing effective recruiting channels Maintaining and building database Determining applicant qualification by interviewing, response analysis and referencing Shortlisting resumes, scheduling interviews, collating and communicating feedback Evaluation of applicants by discussing requirements and qualifications with hiring managers Writing job descriptions Supporting Head of HR and HR Manager Carrying out new starter inductions including all related paperwork and welcome tour Staff meetings to discuss internal progression plans Attending industry networking events Reason for leaving - Relocation

10. Recruitment Consultant

    Betting Connections

    Dec 2013 – Nov 2014

    Malta

    Responsible for the full recruitment cycle Specialising in iGaming and Game Development recruitment Resourcing for all positions including IT, Marketing, Finance, C-level and support staff Account Management Business development and lead generation Sourcing potential candidates through the use of in-house database, social networking sites and job boards Fully conversant in boolean, key word and field searches Screening all applicants through face to face interviews or in depth telephone interviews Arranging interviews for both local and overseas candidates and assisting with relocation issues when required Providing full support both during and after application process

11. Senior Recruitment Consultant (Freelance)

    Freelance, self-employed

    Apr 2013 – Sep 2013

    Bali Province, Indonesia

    Freelance and travel

12. Recruitment Consultant

    Quad Consultancy

    Sep 2011 – Mar 2013

    Gibraltar

    Specialised in IT, Finance and general office based vacancies Business Development Account Management Resourcing and Headhunting Use of social media network

1. CIPD Qualifications

   Advanced Diploma in Strategic People Management, Human Resources Management and Services

   Feb 2023 – Feb 2025

2. Udemy Alumni

   Career Coaching Practitioner Course, Counseling Psychology

   May 2024 – Sep 2024

3. The University of Glamorgan

   Bachelor of Science (BSc), Psychology

   Jan 1996 – Jan 2000