Retained Recruitment

When you need to hire someone who will make a real difference, whether that’s a senior leader, technical manager, or hard-to-find specialist, our retained recruitment service offers a focused, high-impact solution.

Unlike contingency recruitment, retained search gives you exclusive access to a dedicated consultant, a tailored search strategy, and a deeper level of support from role definition through to onboarding.

What Is Retained Recruitment?

Retained recruitment is our premium, fully managed recruitment model. It’s designed for business-critical roles where getting it right the first time is essential.

When you retain Allstaff, you secure our full attention and specialist expertise to manage every stage of the recruitment process. We work in genuine partnership with you to identify, attract, and secure the best talent, not just the best applicants.

Why Choose a Retained Approach?

A retained search is ideal when:

  • You’re hiring for senior, specialist, or sensitive positions.
  • You want a dedicated, strategic recruitment partner.
  • You need to move quickly but carefully.
  • Confidentiality and candidate quality are key.

You’ll benefit from:

  • A single point of contact throughout.
  • Customised search strategy and delivery plan.
  • Structured candidate assessment.
  • Access to passive candidates not applying elsewhere. 

Our Process

1. Discovery & Briefing

We begin with an in-depth consultation to understand your goals, timelines, and the profile of your ideal hire. This forms the foundation of the brief and search plan.

Happier, More Engaged Staff

2. Market Research & Search Strategy

We combine headhunting, competitor mapping, and network-led sourcing to reach highly relevant candidates, including those not actively job seeking. With your permission, we can include your brand in advertising to attract culturally aligned talent.

3. Candidate Identification & Assessment

Candidates are approached directly, assessed using structured interviews, and shortlisted based on both capability and cultural fit. All candidates are exclusively sourced for your role we won’t submit them elsewhere.

Office Support

4. Shortlist & Interview Support

You’ll receive a curated shortlist with detailed candidate insights. We arrange interviews, provide honest feedback, and support you through the final selection process, including salary benchmarking and offer management.

5. Onboarding & Post-Placement Support

Once the hire is secured, we stay involved to support onboarding and ensure long-term success. You’ll also receive weekly progress updates via virtual meetings throughout the entire project.

What You Can Expect

  • A fully scoped plan from day one.
  • Weekly progress updates with full transparency.
  • A shortlist of qualified, pre-screened candidates.
  • Tailored communication and project delivery to fit your business.
  • Reference checking upon offer acceptance.
  • A consistent, accountable partnership not just a transaction.