Partner Article

Exclusive to serve North-East’s “buoyant” jobs market

EXCLUSIVE – one ofNewcastle’s leading recruitment and HR consultancy firms – has appointed an outstanding and highly experienced new member of staff as principal consultant.

Clare Fenwick, a law graduate and seasoned recruiter, will lead a dedicated service for recruiting at a senior manager and director level, including non-executive directors, across the North of England.

Exclusive say that despite the doom and gloom surrounding the current state of the economy, the jobs market in the North-east is buoyant with almost double the vacancies of last year. It adds that employers are very discerning and increasingly selective when they recruit, so now is an ideal time to add a new search and selection specialist to the team.

One of Clare’s key aims will be to support the growth of SME’s in the region by focusing on the recruitment of non-executive directors (NEDs), a market which has boomed by 125%.

“NEDs have been a necessity for public companies for some time but they are starting to gain momentum in smaller businesses,” explains Clare. “The benefits can be vast. NEDs offer totally objectivity and are a relatively inexpensive resource. They offer outside strategic advice, commercial wisdom and provide the all-important ‘sounding board’ for directors.

“NEDs also add the necessary credibility and proven track-record sought by banks and investors when businesses seek to raise finance. They bring with them an extensive network of contacts that the business owner or existing board would not have access to without them.”

Clare has previously worked inLondon, where she launched and developed an executive search firm, and also in theChannel Islandsas an executive search consultant to global clients in the offshore financial services industry.

Clare says that as a professional business person, it was really important to her to find the right company to join to re-launch her recruitment career:

“I have found that Exclusive shares my value, ethics and professionalism. I’m really excited about the opportunity to provide an exceptional results-driven service for our clients who struggle to recruit senior people in a competitive marketplace. With over 16 years’ recruitment and career development experience, I know that I can make a difference to both clients and candidates in the North of England.”

Exclusive, who are already witnessing a great deal of expansion across Yorkshire and northScotlandhave recognised another huge area of growth in the buoyant energy sector. The North-east has long been a hub for providing world class supply chain resources to the global energy industry. From its origins in the North Sea oil and gas sector, theUKhas more recently expanded into the emerging offshore renewables industry, particularly offshore wind. Valued at £900m, and set to grow over the next 10 years as it strengthens its position as aUKhub for renewable energy and a key player in the low carbon economy, Clare is confident that she can utilise her international executive search skills to help clients meet the skills demand locally.

Mark Ions, managing director of Exclusive added: “Having worked across the north ofEnglandwith professional level appointments for the last 12 years it was evident to me that there was a real gap in the market for a boutique consultancy to deliver Executive Search and Selection. I believe it’s vital that we stop the talent drain of candidates leaving the North-east for the bright lights ofLondon. It’s also vital that clients are provided with a service that presents them with the best director level talent the north has to offer. Clare’s international search experience, coupled with the reputation of Exclusive for delivering exceptional service, means we can now offer Executive Search which is unrivalled by our competitors. I’m delighted to welcome Clare to the Exclusive team.”

For further information please contact Exclusive on 01661 867 730.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Daniel Reed .