01
Technology & Product
Engineering leadership, platform, product and design in scale-ups and established groups.
- CTO, VP Engineering, Head of Platform
- Principal and staff engineers
- Head of Product, Head of Design
Mandates that survive the counter-offer.
We take twelve mandates at a time across three practices. Every one gets a named consultant, a research budget and a written schedule. Fees are published below — we do not negotiate them case by case.
01 — Scope
What we are mandated to fill.
Senior individual contributors and leadership roles where a wrong hire costs more than six months of salary. If the role sits below that line, we will point you to someone better placed to fill it.
02
Data & Analytics
Data platforms, applied machine learning and the leadership that owns both.
- Chief Data Officer, Head of Data
- Applied ML and platform leads
- Analytics engineering
03
Finance & Operations
Commercial finance and transformation, including interim cover for gaps that cannot wait.
- CFO, Finance Director, FP&A lead
- Interim COO and transformation leads
- Post-acquisition integration
02 — Fees
Three models. Published rates.
All rates are a percentage of first-year base salary and exclude VAT. Travel outside the office cities is recharged at cost with prior approval.
Retained search
28% of first-year salary
For confidential or scarce appointments. Three-stage engagement: 30% on commencement, 30% at shortlist, 40% on start.
- Exclusive for the agreed market
- Named consultant and research support
- Market map handed over at close
- Six-month replacement guarantee
Contingent
18% of first-year salary
For roles with a defined profile and available candidates. Nothing is payable until the candidate starts.
- No retainer, no exclusivity clause
- Six profiles or we stand down
- Invoice 30 days after start
- Six-month replacement guarantee
Contract & interim
Margin agreed per engagement
Day-rate contracts for cover, transformation and post-merger integration. Rolling terms with a two-week notice period.
- Weekly or monthly invoicing
- Compliance and right-to-work handled
- Extension at the same margin
- Named point of contact throughout
Guarantee. If a permanent placement leaves within six months, we replace the hire at no additional fee. If we cannot, the fee for that placement is refunded in full. Full wording sits in the terms of business.
03 — Process
What you get, and when.
01
Brief and market map
A 45-minute brief with the hiring manager, then a written map of 40–60 named candidates within five working days. You approve the map before any approach is made.
02
Shortlist in nine days
Six profiles with written evidence, motivation for the move and compensation expectations, delivered on the date agreed at brief. Interviews are scheduled by us, not by you.
03
Offer, close and guarantee
Offer management, reference taking, resignation support and counter-offer handling. We stay engaged until the start date is met, and for six months after it.
Working with us
What we need from you.
A named hiring manager, a salary band you will actually pay, and two hours of diary across the shortlist week. That is the whole list.
- One decision-maker, not a panel of approvers.
- A band published internally before we start.
- Feedback within 48 hours of each interview.
- Permission to name your company in the approach.
What we will not do
Our refusals are part of the service.
These are the reasons clients leave us, and the reason the shortlists hold up.
- Present a candidate we have not spoken to ourselves.
- Send the same profile to six firms at once.
- Take a role we cannot fill within the market.
- Approach a candidate's current employer without consent.
Brief us on a role.
Send the job description, the band and the start date. You will hear back within one business day with a view on feasibility and a proposed schedule.