Starfish launches The 50NED Challenge

Today, Starfish launches The 50NED Challenge. Coinciding with the start of Black History Month, our aim is to help to contribute, 50 ‘boardroom ready’ first time non-executives by the end of 2023: our hope is that, by setting ourselves this target, we can do our bit to break down the barriers that exist when it comes to getting appointed to board roles without having any board experience. We want to encourage and support would-be non-executives from all walks of life who want to join boards, but simply don’t know how to access opportunities and get started.

Our 50NEDs microsite is free to use and contains honest articles and materials to help support would be non-executives as they start their own journey to getting a first board role. We also have a series of videos of non-executives sharing their advice and personal journeys. We hope you find it insightful and informative.

https://50neds.starfishsearch.com or click the link below.

Starfish shortlisted as 6th in the 2026 IIM Interim Management Survey

We are delighted to share that Starfish Search has been recognised in the latest Institute of Interim Management (IIM) Survey.

Governing through uncertainty – what happens next?

For council officers already operating under pressure, the question is broader than what the political implications may be - it’s also whether organisations have the leadership capacity and resilience to absorb such rapid change.

Upcoming Webinar – Starfish | Hanover Presents: Boardroom Bound: The Insider’s Guide to NED Interview Success

Landing a Non-Executive Director (NED) interview is a major milestone - but it’s also where many candidates stumble. Why? Because NED interviews aren’t about what you’ve done - they’re about how you think. You’re no longer being assessed on delivery or execution. You’re being evaluated on your ability to challenge, advise, and govern. That means showcasing strategic insight, independent judgement, and the ability to influence without authority.

ACCREDITATIONS

espo
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.

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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.

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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 we offer under the framework include: Lot 3 - Non-Executive and Public Appointments.

espo
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.

Join the starfish team

We hire people who bring insight, integrity and ambition to their work. If you’re ready to contribute to shaping the future of leadership and you want to explore our current opportunities please click the link below.

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