Career Dilemma: Build a New Desk on My Own with High Earnings Potential, or Join a Bigger Agency with Training and Progression?

I’m at a crossroads in my recruitment career and could use some advice.

I’m currently working for a small recruitment company that spun off from a team in our building. It’s a straightforward setup, very focused on phone calls and deals, with little emphasis on things like speccing, personal branding, or client meetings—things I valued in previous roles. Everyone has their own patch and reports directly to the directors, so there’s no team leadership structure or clear path for progression. 2024 has been a tough year here, with top billers likely to reach around £120-£150k, and historically, it hasn’t gone much above £175k. I’ve personally billed £45k since April.

My company is offering me the chance to set up a new desk in life sciences—a sector with significantly more earning potential and one I find genuinely interesting. While I’d be building everything from scratch with no client base or team, I’d have the chance to create my own success and potentially earn very well. The catch is that I’m still early in my career (about two years in) and feel like I still have a lot to learn and grow into. I’m worried I won’t get the structured training and mentorship I need if I stay, and I’m concerned I could stagnate and limit my potential long-term.

Alternatively, I could join a larger agency with an established team of high-performing billers, structured training, and a clearer progression path. This would mean commuting at least two hours a day (though they offer hybrid working, which I don’t have now), so I’d have more flexibility day-to-day. Eventually, I could consider moving closer if it was the right fit.

So here’s my dilemma: Are you only as good as the company you work for, or is success more about what you make of it individually? Should I stay to build this new desk and try to carve out my own success, or join a bigger agency to learn from top billers and benefit from a stronger structure?

I’d love to hear from anyone who’s faced a similar decision or has advice on which option might be best for long-term growth. Thanks so much for any insights!