What we do

Services

We combine research-led scouting with structured assessment. The result is a shortlist you can trust, with the evidence to explain why.

Talent scouting

Research-led search and direct approach, before a role is advertised.

We map the market, identify the people who can do the job and start a conversation before they are looking. Direct scouting is slower than posting a vacancy, but it reaches the people who are already employed, already good and not reading job boards.

Market map agreed with you before the search starts
Direct approach to named individuals, not a database sweep
A longlist of 30–40 people with a clear view of the market

Technical assessment

Structured, role-specific assessment with evidence you can discuss.

Every search uses a scorecard agreed with the hiring manager. We assess technical depth, problem-solving, communication and motivation through structured interviews, work-sample review and calibrated scoring. We have been designing online technical assessments since 2003, and every shortlist comes with a written rationale, not a list of adjectives.

Role scorecard agreed before candidates are approached
Structured interviews and work-sample review
Written calibration note for every shortlisted candidate

Permanent & contract

Permanent, fixed-term and contract hiring across the UK, Europe and North America.

We hire for permanent, fixed-term and contract roles, from senior individual contributors to leadership teams. We are clear about IR35 status, AWR obligations and right-to-work requirements before a candidate is submitted.

Permanent and fixed-term search
Contract and interim hiring with transparent day rates
IR35, AWR and right-to-work checks handled properly

Executive search

Retained, confidential search for CTO, CIO, CISO and VP Engineering appointments.

Senior appointments carry more risk and more scrutiny. We run retained searches with a written brief, a market map, structured assessment and a confidentiality standard that matches the appointment. You get a shortlist of four to six, not a folder of CVs.

Retained search with staged milestones
Confidential approach and candidate handling
12-month replacement guarantee on permanent appointments

Embedded talent

An extension of your hiring team for three to twelve months.

When you are hiring several people at once, we can embed a search team inside your process. We own sourcing, assessment and scheduling while you keep control of the decision, the employer brand and the offer.

Dedicated search team inside your hiring process
Weekly calibration and pipeline reporting
Designed for three- to twelve-month hiring plans

Talent intelligence

Salary benchmarking, competitor mapping and practical hiring plans.

We turn live search work into market intelligence: salary bands, team structures, competitor hiring plans and the trade-offs that come with each. It is built from conversations with the market, not scraped data.

Salary and package benchmarking
Competitor and team mapping
Hiring plans with realistic timelines and trade-offs

Commitments

What you can expect from us.

Our commitments to clients

A search should be clear about what it is doing and why. These are the standards we work to.

A written role scorecard before the search starts.
A shortlist of four to six people, not twenty.
A written rationale for every candidate you meet.
Feedback within 48 hours of every interview.
A 12-month replacement guarantee on permanent placements.

Our commitments to candidates

You should know where you stand. We keep the process honest, even when the answer is no.

We will not send your CV anywhere without asking you first.
We will tell you the salary band before your first interview.
We will give you feedback after every interview.
We will tell you where you are in the process and what happens next.
We will not keep your details longer than we need them.

Fees

Agreed before we start.

Fees are agreed in writing before work starts. We do not add charges for market maps, assessment materials or feedback.

Permanent placements carry a 12-month replacement guarantee. Contract placements carry a 30-day replacement guarantee.

Contingent permanent

15–20% of first-year base salary, payable on start.

Retained search

30% of first-year base salary, staged 30/30/40 across the search.

Embedded talent

Monthly retainer, minimum three months, agreed against the hiring plan.

Contract and interim

Margin-based day rate, transparent to the client.

Questions

Before you brief us.

How long does a search take?

It depends on the role, the market and the seniority of the appointment. We agree a realistic timeline at the briefing stage and keep you updated as the search progresses.

Do you work on contingent or retained terms?

Both. Contingent works for many permanent roles. Retained is usually better for confidential, senior or multi-hire searches where the market needs a sustained approach.

What happens if a placement leaves?

Permanent placements carry a 12-month replacement guarantee. Contract placements carry a 30-day replacement guarantee. We will restart the search rather than simply send more CVs.

Do you charge candidates?

No. Candidates never pay us. Our fees are paid by the client.

Can you hire outside the UK?

Yes. We hire across the UK, Europe and North America and have placed people in 31 countries. We check right-to-work, IR35 and local compliance before a candidate is submitted.

Do you use AI to screen candidates?

No. We use AI for research, drafting and scheduling. Every shortlist is reviewed by a consultant, and every recommendation is ours.

Contact

Start with a conversation.

Tell us what you are building, the role you need to fill and the timeline. We will come back within one working day.

New briefs
[email protected]

Candidates
[email protected]

+44 (0)20 7946 0958