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Retained Executive Search

When looking to find your next Senior Executive or recruiting to a post that requires a particularly niche skill-set, you may prefer us, a leading search consultancy, to act for you on a retained basis.

Whilst following the same diligent and focused process as when working on a ‘search and select’ assignment, we are able to dedicate increased time and resource to produce a deeper and more detailed analysis of the market and the needs of the client.  This includes undertaking a still more intensive screening and evaluation process, and providing full and thorough candidate profiles.  We also offer advice to our clients on the salary and benefits package attached to the post and the level of experience this is likely to attract.  When retained we are able to ensure less commercial downtime for our clients, often saving considerable cost to the business.

In addition to offering our proactive search service, fully utilising our network and ‘headhunting’ the best in the market, we can also, if desired, directly advertise the post, screening and selecting suitable candidates and alleviating a significant administrative burden from the client.  Alternatively we can offer a more discreet campaign, with no explicit advertising instead utilising a highly personal approach using discreet headhunting techniques, if preferred.

When acting on a retained basis, we also offer a range of complementary options designed to provide an enhanced level of support to the process.  These options include, if desired, interview training for the panel, attending throughout the panel interviews, provision of various materials to support the selection process (including interview questions devised around the ’competencies’ of the role and assessment score cards), advice on candidate assessment, enhanced due diligence, and more.

For further details on the services we provide on a retained basis, please contact us at enquiries@telferpartners.com or on +44 (0)1223 632510.

‘I had the pleasure of working with Neil Telfer when I led the Talent Acquisition team at O’Reilly between 2020 and 2022. Neil initially partnered with us on hiring in the UK, where his local expertise made him a great asset. However, his impact extended far beyond that region—he was instrumental in helping us build our team in APAC and also supported us on a couple key roles in the U.S.

Neil partnered with us during a period of extremely high hiring demand and rapid growth, while we were operating with a very lean recruiting team—initially just me, and later expanding to two. During this time, his ability to understand our company’s culture, hiring needs, and what makes a candidate successful at O’Reilly made him an invaluable extension of my team.

He is an excellent collaborator—proactive, responsive, and insightful. He listens carefully, provides meaningful market insights, and offers thoughtful advice throughout the hiring process. Beyond his expertise, Neil is a pleasure to work with, demonstrating professionalism, adaptability, and a strong commitment to results.

I highly recommend him to any company looking for a trusted recruiting partner.’

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