Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

At Starfish we use our skills and expertise in search and selection to help build, shape and foster inclusive senior teams, whatever the sector.

We partner with clients to diversify their leadership teams and work with organisations across the public and social sectors. We have an outstanding track record of appointing candidates from ethnically diverse backgrounds and with protected characteristics and have developed a 10-point plan to ensure we maintain a relentless focus on inclusion and equity through every search and selection process we lead.

We work in true partnership with our clients to promote inclusive cultures, equity and belonging. As part of our search we look to enrich the generational mix of the candidates we present to clients, introducing neurodivergence and differing socio-economic backgrounds beyond traditional notions of ‘diversity’.

Through carefully targeted search work and focused support to candidates with diverse backgrounds and characteristics, we build relationships and trust.  We encourage individuals to challenge themselves and to apply for roles that they may not have considered previously whilst supporting our clients to push against traditional conventions and recruit for talent and potential beyond the usual suspects.  Through honest conversations and high-quality advice, we highlight potential for unconscious bias and the importance of recruiting for values and lived experience.

Every search we lead is an opportunity to develop and appoint future leaders who reflect the communities they serve.   We know from our candidates and clients that the care and consideration we give to supporting candidates throughout the process helps to deliver outstanding, diverse appointments.

Our Values

Social Focus – life is changing for everyone: we use our skills to achieve momentum and positive impact for our clients and for society today and tomorrow

Questioning – we don’t shy away from the difficult issues and are willing to offer a different view where it could lead to a better outcome

Dedicated – our expert team is immersed in the issues and geared up to meet a complex range of needs; our client partnerships are for the long term and here to stay 

Integrity – we are transparent; we do what we say we are going to do and we take accountability

Partnerships

City CV is an international career consultancy. We provide a complete range of professional writing and coaching services to thousands of individuals within the not-for-profit and public sectors across the globe. This includes CV writing, LinkedIn profile writing, Personal Statements, Cover Letters and Applications in addition to Career Coaching, Executive Coaching and Interview Coaching.

Working in collaboration with Starfish, we know how employers in these areas prefer to recruit – the language they use, the values they seek, and the techniques and strategies that will boost chances of success both on paper and in person at interview.

We recognise the personal attributes that help candidates thrive in these fields – and we understand how to translate these into brilliantly effective, personal branding documents and a compelling interview pitch for promotion and professional advancement.

We transform careers.

ACCREDITATIONS

ESPO

ESPO is a public sector owned professional buying organisation (PBO), specialising in providing a wide range of goods and services to the public sector for over 40 years. Starfish Search has been awarded a place on ESPO’s Strategic HR Services framework (3S) Services we offer under the framework include: Lot 1, Executive and Managerial Interim Recruitment Lot 2, Executive and Managerial Permanent Recruitment

ESPO

Bloom, launched in 2012 is the UK’s leading marketplace for professional services. They provide an end-to-end solution for the procurement, contract management and payment of all professional services, via the compliant NEPRO³ framework. Their public sector clients have access to 20 professional services categories and over 4500 accredited suppliers. Bloom provides swift routes to market via either direct award or mini competition. Starfish is an accredited supplier to BLOOM; our services can be accessed via this framework - Executive and Non-Executive Search and Interim Management.

ESPO

Crown Commercial Service supports the public sector to achieve maximum commercial value when procuring common goods and services. In 2020/21, CCS helped the public sector to achieve commercial benefits equal to £2.04bn - supporting world-class public services that offer best value for taxpayers. Starfish Search has been named as a supplier on Crown Commercial Service’s Executive and Non-Executive recruitment services. Services we offer under the framework include: Lot 3 - Non-Executive and Public Appointments

ESPO

Starfish Search has been certified as compliant with the requirements of the Cyber Essentials Scheme, and compliance will be monitored, reviewed and re-certified on an annual basis.

ESPO

Starfish are proud to be certified Disability Confident Committed. This scheme provides employers with the knowledge, skills and confidence needed to attract, recruit, retain and develop disabled people in the workplace.