Leading UK headhunter HW Global is launching a mid-market recruitment business using executive search techniques to attract sub-£100K candidates.HW People will operate alongside HW Global’s Executive Search division, working with its consultants and researchers to offer a comprehensive bespoke service sourcing the best permanent and interim talent.
Industry sectors it will cover include consumer (FMCG, retail, digital), financial services, leisure, food & grocer, and care – supporting both family office/shareholder managed and private equity backed companies.
Specialisms will include finance and treasury, e-commerce/marketing, digital/technology/data, risk and compliance, change and transformation, and procurement.
Adrian Hitchenor, Founding Partner at HW Global, is leading the new division and explained how it will be different. He said: “Unlike the contingent recruitment model used by most recruiters in the sub-£100K market, HW People will collaborate exclusively with clients on a retained basis.
“This gives them the benefit of our unrivalled ability to research and source talent across discipline, sector and geography. We will work as a trusted adviser, acquiring a deep knowledge of our clients and the culture of their business to find the best fit when conducting a search assignment on their behalf.
“Using our extensive network of executive contacts, we will approach and interview the most successful candidates who are currently high performing in their roles, select and shortlist the most appropriate, and assist with the on-boarding process following appointment.”
Rachel Frankland, who has been with HW Global for 15 years as a researcher and consultant, has been promoted to Director at HW People.
She is being joined by Director Howard Murfin, who has more than 20 years’ recruitment experience and was previously Senior Account Director at Matt Burton Associates.
Rachel said: “Companies need to attract the best talent, which doesn’t typically sit on traditional databases. Working in partnership with clients provides a more comprehensive and rigorous approach to identify the best talent for a role, taking into account both skillset and culture fit.
“We’re currently working on assignments for Senior Finance Analysts, Financial Controllers, Finance Business Partners and Head of Accounting roles and are keen to engage with other businesses looking for a bespoke talent service.”
HW Global, which has a £20m turnover and employs 50 staff based in London, Leeds and Manchester, currently operates on an exclusive and retained basis in the £120K+ search market, also placing interims on daily rates from £500 to £2,000.
The launch of HW People is the latest move in the parent group’s rapid growth strategy. In 2019, London-based Zebra People was acquired to enable HW Global to offer a comprehensive digital talent service to its clients. HW Global now appoints senior digital leaders, with the Zebra People team building the critical capability that sits underneath.
Last year HW Global announced it was seeking similar acquisitions of leading human capital organisations operating in its key market sectors of consumer and financial services, at the tier below executive level. Other potential acquisition targets include recruitment agencies specialising in finance, HR, technology and professional interim.
Pictured (l-r) are: HW People Director Howard Murfin, HW Global Founding Partner Adrian Hitchenor and HW People Director Rachel Frankland.
