Client Overview
Our client is a fast-growing SME ATMP CDMO, providing specialised manufacturing services to support advanced therapies. In 2024, they partnered with us to rapidly expand their manufacturing team at a critical stage of growth. With ambitious project deadlines and a new production line coming online, they needed a partner who could quickly understand their culture, build relationships across the business, and deliver the right talent — fast.
The Challenges
The client was scaling at speed, but faced several hurdles:
Critical Timelines: New client projects and a new production line required senior and specialist hires to be made quickly.
Limited Internal Resources: With no large backroom or HR team, they needed external support to manage hiring at pace.
Visibility & Reach: As a smaller SME in a competitive market, they had limited candidate networks to draw from.
Role Diversity: They needed to fill a wide variety of positions — from Head of Facilities, QA, and Validation to QC Scientists and Production Scientists — requiring a partner able to flex across functions.
Our Solutions
We focused on becoming a true extension of their business from day one:
Onsite Partnership: We quickly embedded ourselves by visiting their site, meeting hiring managers across departments, and developing a detailed understanding of their culture and technical environment.
Tailored Talent Search: Leveraged our specialist ATMP/CDMO network to identify candidates who could not only deliver technically but thrive in the client’s unique culture.
Cross-Functional Delivery: Successfully recruited across a wide range of functions, ensuring both leadership and hands-on expertise were in place to meet deadlines.
Streamlined Process: Acted as the bridge between managers and candidates, ensuring fast communication, smooth interview coordination, and consistent candidate engagement.
Our Results
11 critical hires secured within 12-months to support a new production line.
Successfully filled roles across Production, QA, Validation, QC, and Facilities — demonstrating breadth as well as depth.
66% success rate, the highest of all their recruitment partners.
Enabled the client to meet critical project deadlines and scale effectively.
Progressed to become their sole recruitment partner.
Why It Worked
Speed & Flexibility: We were able to deliver new, high-quality candidates within days of roles opening.
Cultural Understanding: By going onsite and engaging directly with teams, we could match not only technical requirements but cultural fit.
Breadth of Expertise: Our ability to recruit across multiple specialist functions gave the client one partner for all their needs.
Embedded Partnership: Acting as an extension of their team, we created a seamless recruitment process that allowed them to focus on project delivery.
This partnership allowed the client to scale rapidly, meet their most urgent deadlines, and build a foundation for long-term success — all powered by our ability to quickly understand their business and deliver across critical roles.
If you want to find out more about this case study, including the data we produced for our client, get in touch with Jude Southon - +44 (0) 1403 216216.