Retained and project work

    Focused partnership for a critical hiring outcome.

    Retained search or a clearly scoped recruitment project, with committed capacity, defined milestones and shared accountability from the start.

    When retained or project work makes sense

    A retained engagement protects the attention a critical search or transformation needs. Both sides commit to the outcome, giving the work clear priority, deeper market coverage and a more deliberate process.

    The same structure works for defined projects beyond search: hiring strategy, organisational change, ATS or HRIS selection and implementation, and practical technology transformation.

    How it works

    What an engagement actually looks like

    01

    Define the outcome

    We turn the requirement into a clear scope, milestones, responsibilities and evidence of success.

    02

    Build the plan

    We map the market or project, identify risks and agree a practical delivery rhythm.

    03

    Deliver with visibility

    You see progress, evidence and decisions throughout — not just an end-of-project reveal.

    04

    Embed the result

    We complete the work, document decisions and make sure your team can carry it forward.

    What's included

    • Exclusive retained search
    • Leadership and hard-to-fill hiring
    • Market mapping and intelligence
    • Hiring strategy and process change
    • ATS and HRIS selection or implementation
    • Technology transformation support

    A good fit if

    • The outcome is business-critical
    • You need dedicated capacity and clear milestones
    • The role or project needs deeper discovery
    • You want a partner accountable for delivery

    Probably not if

    • You want several agencies competing on the same brief
    • The scope has no decision-maker
    • You need unstructured extra hands rather than a defined outcome

    FAQs

    Common questions

    Projects can cover a defined hiring campaign, talent strategy, process redesign, ATS or HRIS work, market intelligence or a practical technology change.

    Retained search is exclusive and reserves dedicated capacity against agreed milestones. Contingent search is success-only and is better suited to individual permanent or fixed-term hires.

    No. Retained and project work is scoped around the outcome, so we provide a clear proposal after an initial conversation.

    Other ways we work

    Fractional talent

    Ongoing capability that flexes with demand.

    Learn more

    Contingent search

    Success-only support for individual hires.

    Learn more

    Talent advisory

    A focused view of retained strategy, process and tooling work.

    Learn more

    Not sure this is the right model?

    Tell us what you're hiring for and we'll tell you honestly which approach fits — even when the answer isn't us.