Executive Search I

Technical Specialists

The right people for senior technical leadership positions.

We specialise in identifying and appointing senior technical leaders for SMEs — individuals who combine deep domain expertise with commercial awareness and strategic vision. These professionals are essential to driving innovation, improving operational efficiency, and leading complex technical programmes that support growth and competitiveness.

Building High-Impact Senior Technical Teams

Our technical leadership recruitment process is designed to meet the unique needs of scaling businesses. We appoint highly skilled, results-focused specialists in fields such as engineering, technology, data, and manufacturing — individuals who deliver hands-on value while contributing at a strategic level. At Adderleys, we understand that securing “The Right People” in specialist functions is critical to sustainable growth and technical excellence. Every technical leader we place is commercially aligned, culturally compatible, and ready to deliver measurable impact in high-performance SME environments.

The Power of Self-Awareness in Leadership

A key component of our methodology is the Self-Awareness Questionnaire, an advanced assessment tool that goes beyond technical skills. This unique evaluation delves into:

  • The questionnaire gathers detailed insights into a candidate’s career trajectory, including previous roles, leadership experience, and key achievements.

  • A skills scoring system (1-10 scale) evaluates leadership traits like emotional intelligence, resilience, decision-making, adaptability, and strategic thinking. This provides a measurable leadership profile rather than relying solely on qualitative assessment.

  • Personal statements and core competencies sections help gauge leadership philosophy, cultural alignment, and career motivations, ensuring a deeper understanding of a candidate’s long-term potential.

  • Core leadership traits such as business acumen, innovation, results orientation, and integrity are assessed in a structured manner, aligning with modern leadership expectations.

  • Candidates provide insights into their key performance indicators (KPIs) in both their current and potential roles, allowing for a performance-driven assessment of leadership effectiveness.

  • The inclusion of company culture preference, management philosophy, and work environment suitability ensures candidates align with your client’s strategic and cultural goals.

What sets us apart?

Specialist, Senior-Led Delivery

Every assignment is led by an experienced consultant - never passed to junior staff. We bring commercial acumen, market insight, and real leadership experience to every project, ensuring your search is handled with the focus and expertise it deserves.

Deeper Candidate Insight: The SAQ

Our proprietary Self-Awareness Questionnaire (SAQ) gives you unrivalled insight into each candidate’s leadership style, motivations, and behaviours. It goes far beyond a CV, helping you make better-informed decisions.

Unrivalled Candidate Reporting

Every candidate is presented with detailed consultant commentary, behavioural insight, and performance history, not just a CV. Our reports give you clarity, comparison, and the confidence to assess fit across strategic, cultural, and operational dimensions.

Fee Structures Built for SMEs

We offer transparent, fixed fees designed around the realities of SME budgets, without the inflated pricing models of traditional firms. You receive board-level quality with flexible terms and no hidden extras.

Access to Exceptional Talent

With over 30 years of experience, we have built deep networks across leadership functions. We find proven technical specialists and rising leaders who are ready to create impact in fast-moving, scaling businesses.

Agile, Focused, Results-Driven

We’re an agile business, able to move quickly, adapt to your timelines, and stay aligned with your goals. We typically deliver fully assessed shortlists within 4–6 weeks, without compromising quality or process.

Our Fees

  • At Adderleys, we believe executive search should be high quality, not high cost.

    That’s why we offer a clear, fixed-fee model designed specifically for scaling SMEs. Our fees are agreed upfront and stay fixed, regardless of the final salary offered.

  • We operate on a fixed three-stage retained model, structured around the actual consultancy input required at each stage:

    1. Retainer – Engagement and briefing

    2. Working Fee – Presentation of fully assessed shortlist

    3. Appointment Fee – Final candidate acceptance and onboarding support

    This approach ensures full commitment at every stage — from both sides — and gives you total cost certainty from day one.

  • We agree your fee upfront based on the role’s salary band, not on what’s negotiated later. That means you stay in control of your budget.

    No Minimum Fees

    Unlike traditional firms, we don’t impose minimum charges. Our pricing is flexible and accessible, making board-level recruitment realistic for ambitious SMEs.

    Value-Driven, Not Volume-Driven

    Our fees reflect the real strategic input, research, and senior consultant time we invest in every assignment, not a formula tied to inflated final salaries.

    Designed to Outperform Big Firms

    Big firms often charge FTSE-style fees for SME assignments. We don’t. Our model delivers the same calibre of leadership, at a price that fits your scale and priorities.

Looking to recruit? Let’s talk

Interested in working together? Let us know and we will be in touch shortly.