WHAT WE DO

Starfish search was created to deliver board level recruitment with purpose, sustainability and influence. We exist for organisations that directly or indirectly serve the public interest. We are equipped with the skills, insight and networks to find and engage influential senior leaders across the private, public and social sectors. We work to strengthen the connection between the recruitment of great leaders and social change and are as experienced at working with senior executives as we are with non-executive leaders to achieve this.

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What sets us apart

What makes us different is how we work. We are structured in a way that enables our directors to work hands-on with their clients. Through our Social Sector and Socially Responsible Business practice and our Public Policy and Influencing practice, we focus on giving balanced, trusted recruitment advice grounded in insight and common sense. This ethos is reinforced through the people we hire for our search and interim talent teams. We also integrate members of our carefully selected associate and advisory group to further enhance capability and assure quality. Our approach safeguards client reputation and provides a concentrated advisory resource. Starfish Search actively engages with leaders and opinion-formers on the big issues and co-creates topics for debate with them. We put our relationships at the heart of our work: as an owner led business, we are reliant on reputation and relationships.

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Wondering how we chose our name?

The starfish is a symbol of guidance, vigilance, inspiration, brilliance and intuition. For millennia it has represented safe travel over troubled waters, friendship to the impoverished and those in need, and been guardian to troubled seafarers. Through its powers of regeneration, the starfish is also an emblem of strength and longevity. In a social and leadership context, the starfish helps us think about the power of renewal through organisational change and shifting thought and attitudes.

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Our clients share a commitment to social, economic and political progress. Our candidates – regardless of their professional background – all bring their social conscience to work.
We work with existing and emerging leaders, identifying potential and helping to build capability for the future. We want existing leaders from all backgrounds to be promoted and supported and new leaders to be encouraged to enter the frame.
We focus our energies on our clients’ priorities: our most experienced team members work close to the people with whom we work, giving clients the best value for money.
We take a personal interest in our candidates and clients, are prepared to ask the difficult questions, and give our clients the highest chance of appointing the best, not the predictable.
Once appointed candidates can easily be forgotten: we make sure our candidates have the support they need to be successful. We offer one year’s mentoring support to everyone appointed through us.
We stay up to date with the issues of the day, with influential people who are thinkers and commentators on a wide range of topics.