Ep 6: Alex Mason of Hydrec

EPISODE DESCRIPTION Alex Mason has spent seven years building teams across the water sector and recently launched his own firm, Hydrec, dedicated entirely to water globally. In this conversation, he and Paul get into what's actually happening in the hiring market right now: the wave of consolidation reshaping the major players, the redundancies that follow, the "gray wave" of retiring operators with no junior pipeline behind them, and the scramble to land software and AI talent in an industry that has never had to compete for it. A practical, no-fluff conversation for anyone hiring, building, or marketing in the water industry. IN THIS EPISODE Why Alex stuck with water after recruiting across defense, life sciences, and automation What makes water different: a recession-proof necessity without the funding spikes of "hot" sectors Launching Hydrec and the service gap he's trying to fill The state of the 2025 hiring market and the delayed UK AMP cycle Consolidation among the big players (Veolia/Suez, Xylem/Evoqua, Grundfos) and the talent that shakes loose Whether the acquirers are still hiring during integration The hottest and hardest roles right now: software architects, AI engineers, and smart-water talent Recruiting from outside water: hire on how someone sells, not what they sell The "gray wave," the junior pipeline gap, and reaching new talent on TikTok and Instagram, not just LinkedIn UK vs. US water markets and cross-border hiring Career advice for people early in the water industry Why working with a recruiter beats going it alone: network, time, and objectivity What companies get wrong about attracting talent, and why "recruitment is a marketing job" CHAPTERS 00:00 — Meet Alex Mason and how he landed in water recruitment 01:43 — What makes water different from other sectors 03:03 — Launching Hydrec and the gap in water recruitment 04:16 — The 2025 hiring market, the UK AMP, and consolidation 06:56 — How the big players throw their weight around 08:18 — Are the acquirers still hiring during integration? 09:37 — Hot roles: AI, smart water, and the salary problem 11:42 — Recruiting talent from outside the water industry 13:27 — The "gray wave" and reaching a new generation 15:29 — UK vs. US water markets 17:14 — Cross-border hiring between the UK and US 18:32 — Advice for early-career talent in water 20:21 — Why work with a recruiter instead of going alone 22:57 — What companies get wrong about attracting talent 25:39 — Where to find Alex ABOUT THE GUEST Alex Mason is a UK-based recruiter specializing in the water sector, with roughly seven years building teams for technology providers and companies across the water industry globally. He is the founder of Hydrec, a recruitment firm dedicated exclusively to water, working with clients across the US, Europe, and Asia. ABOUT THE SHOW Below the Surface with Paul Balsom is a podcast about marketing, growth, and go-to-market strategy for the water and environmental industry. Host Paul Balsom is a fractional CMO and former water technology company operator who sits down with the founders, marketers, investors, and operators shaping the sector. Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube. New episodes drop regularly.