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.
The survey, based around insights from thousands of interim professionals each year, ranks providers and individuals based on peer feedback and experience.
The IIM – Institute of Interim Management Survey doesn’t just recognise firms, it also celebrates the individuals who go above and beyond to support interim careers with insight, empathy and action.
This year, our very own Lorraine Payne, Partner at Starfish Search, has once again been recognised as one of the UK’s top interim consultants, and has this year climbed to second place in the rankings.
This is a fantastic achievement both individually and professionally and we are proud to see Lorraine rise in the rankings year on year.
This year’s achievements reflect both continued progress and the strength of relationships Starfish has built across the interim community.
The IIM rankings are unique in that they are driven by responses from interim managers themselves, offering an authentic view of how providers perform across the market.
Catherine Kift, Director at Starfish Search comments:
“The result is a true reflection of our team’s hard work and the trust our candidates place in us every day. A huge thank you to everyone who has been part of this story, including our team, our clients, and our candidates.”
We recognise the vital role the survey plays in shaping understanding of the interim market. Each year, the survey explores key trends including demand, day rates, confidence levels and ways of working, helping to create a clearer, more informed picture of the sector.”
Lorraine Payne, Partner at Starfish Search, added:
“Being placed 2nd in this survey genuinely means the world to me. It fuels my desire to keep growing, to sharpen the insight I bring and deepen the support I give to clients and candidates alike. But this isn’t mine alone, the wider Starfish Search team deserve huge credit. We lead with collaboration and shared values, and moments like this remind me why that matters.”
The full results of the 2026 IIM Survey will be published soon.
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ACCREDITATIONS
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.
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.
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.
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.
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