‘If you believe you have something that offers quality, don’t be afraid to take the leap’ – HR Plus Directors

Bringing together years of experience within the hospitality sector where they first crossed paths, Adrian Buttigieg and Gilbert Xuereb, Directors at HR Plus, have one distinct goal: connecting the dots to deliver customised solutions through a deep understanding of their clients’ individual needs.

Looking back on each of their journeys leading up to this point, Adrian recalls working in hospitality since 2003, starting “from the bottom” as a food and beverage attendant, and working his way up to Director of Culinary, Food and Beverage at a leading five-star hotel in Malta.

Gilbert’s story is similar, encapsulating some 16 years in the industry – starting as a waiter in a five-star hotel and moving through various roles and departments, including events, front office and guest relations, until finally being made Director of  Rooms. This is where he first met Adrian, and the rest, as they say, is history.

Noticing a gap in quality in the employment market, they set out to address it at HR Plus. “While there’s a lot of general manpower business, we wanted to differentiate ourselves by focusing on quality. Our main drive is to source quality employees, even if it takes more time. We aim to bring skilled professionals to Malta, particularly in hospitality and other sectors,” explains Adrian.

Since starting out four years ago, he highlights several landmark moments. “A significant milestone was being one of the first companies awarded a licence when new regulations for employment agencies came into effect on June 1st. We were presented with the licence on May 23rd by the  Parliamentary Secretary Dr Andy Ellul, which was a proud moment for us as a young company achieving the same results as industry pioneers,” he smiles. Another landmark moment, Gilbert adds, was receiving the ISO 9001 certification. “Having auditors tell us that we’re operating at international standards within our industry was a significant achievement,” the Director maintains.

Reflecting on the development of the landscape in relation to their business since its inception, Adrian notes significant changes. Initially, there was widespread acceptance of the influx of foreign workers. However, this emphasis seems to have shifted from quality to quantity, to quality over quantity. He remarks, “With the recent licensing and skill card introduction, we hope this trend will remain in place. Competition has increased, but if rules are followed, competition is healthy.

Speaking of current projects and challenges, he reveals, “we’re always planning and consolidating our future. Our biggest project, which we kicked off last year, is taking our brand international. We’re aiming to launch this by the end of this year or Q1 of 2025 at the latest.”

Picking their brains on leadership, I ask what Adrian and Gilbert consider to be the qualities of a good business leader. The pair list visionary thinking, integrity, strong communication skills and accountability, as well as being actively involved with the team, empathy and respecting boundaries. This goes hand in hand with achieving a healthy work-life balance. “Prioritising your health and well-being and taking time to train and take care of yourself actually makes you more productive in the long run,” Gilbert attests.

Looking ahead, the directors share ambitious plans for HR Plus. “Locally we’re planning to strengthen our position in other markets beyond hospitality, such as retail, finance, and manufacturing. We’re also working on our international expansion,” Adrian maintains, noting that their biggest challenge now lies in supporting employees financially with the rising costs of working in Malta, particularly in the hospitality industry with the new skills card requirement.

Concluding our conversation with some parting words of advice for aspiring leaders, Adrian recommends embracing diversity, leading with empathy and being agile to adapt quickly to changing situations. He also highlights the importance of continuing to learn, be patient and finally, maintain your financial responsibility. As for Gilbert, his advice to anyone thinking of starting their own business is simple: “just do it. If you believe you have something that offers quality, don’t be afraid to take the leap.”

This interview forms part of the Digital 50 Business Leaders project. These high-profile interviews are exclusively featured online at MaltaCEOs.mt, highlighting 50 distinguished conversations with business leaders, CEOs, and emerging entrepreneurial talents. Through these discussions, we aim to showcase the remarkable journeys, achievements, and successes of Malta’s business leaders.

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