Joe Atkinson: Redefining Talent Acquisition through Learning, Content and Community
In today’s rapidly evolving world of work, Talent Acquisition (TA) has become one of the most important functions in building resilient and competitive businesses. Among the voices driving innovation in this space is Joe Atkinson, a recruiter turned entrepreneur and educator, who has successfully blended experience, technology and community into a platform that serves recruiters across the globe. Through his company PURPL, his engaging content, and his dedication to professional development, Joe Atkinson is shaping how the next generation of recruiters learns, collaborates and grows.
This article explores his career journey, his achievements, and the ways in which he continues to influence recruitment professionals worldwide.
The Journey of Joe Atkinson
Early Education and Foundations
Joe Atkinson studied at Durham University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Business and Management with an Industrial Placement Year. During this period, he gained early exposure to entrepreneurship and business leadership, serving as Business Club Manager at Entrepreneurs Durham. Here, he founded an incubator for student-led start-ups, which helped cement his passion for both innovation and talent development.
Early Career in Business and Sales
Before fully entering the world of recruitment, Joe gained valuable experience in sales and supply chain. His early roles included being a Sales Development Representative at tutor2u, an EdTech start-up, where he focused on lead generation, cold calling, and social media outreach. He also worked as a Supply Chain professional at Noble Foods Ltd, and undertook a Sales Internship at Nestlé, where he performed competitor and pricing analysis. These experiences developed his commercial acumen and his understanding of how businesses operate.
Transition into Talent Acquisition
First Steps into Recruitment
Joe’s recruitment journey began when he moved into consultancy roles at HiTalent, a company based in London and Berlin. He progressed from Talent Consultant to Senior Talent Consultant, and eventually became Principal Talent Consultant and Team Lead. In this capacity, he specialised in scaling technology start-ups and scale-ups across Europe, contributing to the growth of leading companies such as Berlin Brands Group, Sennder, Flink, Sono Motors and Adjust.
He worked closely with C-Suite executives and founders, gaining insight into how talent acquisition strategies directly impact organisational success. Joe also built the DACH finance and data function into a key revenue stream for the company. This phase of his career equipped him with deep expertise in recruitment challenges, particularly in fast-paced and competitive industries.
Experience with Omnipresent
In 2022, Joe joined Omnipresent, a Series B HR SaaS company, as Partnerships Manager (Talent Acquisition). In this role, he was responsible for working with talent acquisition partners across EMEA and the Americas, focusing on commercial agreements, co-selling, and co-marketing. This gave him exposure to global TA operations and broadened his perspective on international recruitment practices.
Founding PURPL: A Vision for Recruiter Education
Birth of the Idea
In February 2023, Joe Atkinson founded PURPL, an online learning platform designed specifically for Talent Acquisition professionals. His motivation stemmed from recognising that traditional training often failed recruiters, being either outdated or overly theoretical. PURPL set out to solve this by delivering highly practical courses created and taught by experienced TA leaders currently working in the industry.
What PURPL Offers
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Practical Online Courses: Over 30 global recruiting leaders contribute to the platform, sharing real-world strategies and solutions.
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Growing Community: More than 1,000 recruiters have joined the platform, creating a vibrant space for peer-to-peer learning.
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Premium Membership: PURPL’s premium members include recruiters from leading organisations such as Monzo, Contentful, Salesloft, Accurx and Funding Circle.
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Accessible Learning: The courses are available online and are designed to be easily digestible, fitting into the busy schedules of recruitment professionals.
PURPL’s unique approach positions it as a disruptor in recruiter training, ensuring that learning is current, relevant, and actionable.
Content Creation and Knowledge Sharing
The Newsletter
Joe produces a free learning newsletter with over 2,500 subscribers. This newsletter provides recruiters with regular insights, resources and updates that help them stay ahead in their careers. It has become a trusted resource for those seeking continuous professional development without the high costs often associated with traditional training programmes.
The LinkedIn Leaders Podcast
Joe also founded and hosts the LinkedIn Leaders Podcast, where he interviews global TA leaders in concise, 20 to 30-minute episodes. The podcast focuses on practical advice that can be applied immediately, making it a valuable resource for recruiters who want to learn from industry experts in a time-efficient format.
Social Media and Free Resources
Beyond formal platforms, Joe Atkinson is highly active on LinkedIn, where he shares free resources, tips, and best practices for recruiters. His approachable style and dedication to open learning have positioned him as a thought leader in the space. He actively encourages recruiters to reach out for collaboration and discussion on topics such as talent acquisition, entrepreneurship and personal branding.
Leadership Style and Philosophy
Community Over Competition
Joe believes in the power of community and peer-to-peer learning. His philosophy is that recruiters learn best from each other, especially those currently embedded in the challenges of hiring. This underpins the collaborative spirit of PURPL, where knowledge flows from practitioners to practitioners.
Emphasis on Practicality
A key feature of Joe’s work is the emphasis on practical solutions. Whether through PURPL courses, his podcast, or his content, Joe ensures that the advice shared can be applied directly in a recruiter’s daily work.
Entrepreneurial Drive
From his student days through to his current ventures, Joe has demonstrated a strong entrepreneurial spirit. He thrives on building new solutions, challenging outdated systems, and creating platforms that add tangible value to professionals.
Future of Joe Atkinson and PURPL
Joe’s vision for PURPL is to continue expanding its reach, bringing in more global TA leaders and increasing its membership base. As the recruitment landscape continues to change—shaped by technology, remote work, and evolving candidate expectations—platforms like PURPL will play a crucial role in equipping recruiters with the skills they need to succeed.
Joe Atkinson himself is set to remain a prominent figure in the industry, known for his commitment to accessible education, innovative thinking, and the empowerment of recruitment professionals.
Conclusion
Joe Atkinson represents the new generation of leaders in Talent Acquisition. His journey from Durham University graduate to recruiter, consultant, partnerships manager, and now founder of a growing learning platform showcases his adaptability and vision. Through PURPL, his newsletter, his podcast, and his consistent content creation, Joe has created a comprehensive ecosystem for recruiter education and development.
For recruiters seeking growth, practical insights, and a supportive community, Joe Atkinson has become a go-to figure whose impact continues to grow across the United Kingdom and beyond.
