Who it's for
Agencies, brands, growth businesses and marketing teams making specialist or mid-to-senior permanent hires.
Permanent Recruitment
Permanent marketing recruitment. Done properly.
For permanent marketing, digital, PR, communications and agency hires where you need specialist market knowledge and access to people beyond whoever happens to apply.
It's the straightforward, success-based recruitment model.
Straightforward doesn't mean chucking CVs at you.
What it solves
You need better candidates than the advert is producing, or the brief, salary and proposition need tightening before you properly go to market.
When it makes sense
You know you need somebody permanently and want specialist, success-based recruitment with a proper search behind it.
Where this service fits
You know roughly what you need. Now let's make sure the brief stacks up.
Permanent Recruitment works when the role is permanent, the market is reasonably accessible and you want specialist recruitment without committing to a retained search.
Typical briefs span marketing leadership, digital, performance, PR, communications, client services, agency operations and senior specialist appointments.
The Permanent Recruitment process
Good people. Properly recruited.
A straightforward search. Done with a bit more thought.
Understand
Get underneath the brief
What does this person actually need to change?
Pressure-test the market
Does the salary, title and proposition stack up?
Find
Search beyond applicants
Search the real market. Not just who's looking.
Get behind the CV
What did they actually deliver?
Get it right
Build a shortlist worth meeting
Fewer people. Better evidence.
Interview, offer & onboard
Keep momentum and make the hire stick.
What David actually does
Fewer CVs. Better conversations. Better hiring decisions.
I get underneath the brief before searching.
What does this person actually need to do? What's genuinely essential? Does the salary stack up? And why would somebody good want the job?
Then I search the market, speak to the right people and give you a focused shortlist of candidates I genuinely think are worth meeting.
Public recommendations
What people say about working with David.
Short excerpts from public LinkedIn recommendations, used here because they speak to the work behind the brief.
Read LinkedIn recommendationsAgency networkAbby WhiteFounder & CEO at hAWk comms · August 2026 “David is incredibly well connected across the agency world.”
Public LinkedIn recommendation
Honest adviceMark VarleyCommercial & agency leader · June 2026 “He has a refreshingly honest approach and believes in doing things the right way.”
Public LinkedIn recommendation
Digital marketing understandingHanna DymondPaid media lead · April 2026 “Professionalism, transparency and deep understanding of both the role and the wider digital marketing landscape.”
Public LinkedIn recommendation
Candidate careLorna BithellSenior PR consultant · June 2024 “Supportive, proactive, and communicative. He also really understands the public relations field.”
Public LinkedIn recommendation
Common mistakes
What usually gets in the way.
Firing a job advert out and hoping the right person happens to apply
Sending candidates before the recruiter properly understands the brief
Judging people by job title rather than evidence
Dragging feedback out until the best candidate takes another role
Related proof
Proof only works when it is specific.
Hiring a Managing Partner for Havas Media Manchester
Role: Managing Partner
A retained search for a senior agency leader that resulted in James Reddington joining Havas Media Manchester as Managing Partner — and later progressing into the leadership of the Manchester agency.
Read case studyRelated services
Other routes that may fit the brief.
Retained Search
Retained SearchMarket Intelligence & Advisory
Market Intelligence & AdvisoryRelated insight
Useful reading before you hire.
How Much Does Senior Marketing Recruitment Cost?
How Much Does Senior Marketing Recruitment Cost?Why Senior Marketing Hiring Goes Wrong
Why Senior Marketing Hiring Goes WrongManchester & North West Marketing Salary Guide 2026
Manchester & North West Marketing Salary Guide 2026Hiring for a Media Agency? Start With the Job, Not the Job Title
Hiring for a Media Agency? Start With the Job, Not the Job TitleMarketing Recruitment in Manchester & the North West: A Straight-Talking Guide
Marketing Recruitment in Manchester & the North West: A Straight-Talking GuideRetained Search vs Contingent Recruitment: Which Should You Use?
Retained Search vs Contingent Recruitment: Which Should You Use?The Job Title Isn’t the Brief: 7 Questions to Answer Before You Hire a Senior Marketer
The Job Title Isn’t the Brief: 7 Questions to Answer Before You Hire a Senior MarketerThe Marketing Recruitment Market Isn’t Dead. But Businesses Are Definitely Hiring Differently.
The Marketing Recruitment Market Isn’t Dead. But Businesses Are Definitely Hiring Differently.What Should You Pay a Senior Marketing Hire in 2026?
What Should You Pay a Senior Marketing Hire in 2026?Why Hiring Senior Agency People Is Harder Than Matching Clients and Job Titles
Why Hiring Senior Agency People Is Harder Than Matching Clients and Job TitlesYour CV Tells Me Where You’ve Worked. I Want to Know What You Actually Did.
Your CV Tells Me Where You’ve Worked. I Want to Know What You Actually Did.Your First Marketing Director: What Should You Actually Be Hiring For?
Your First Marketing Director: What Should You Actually Be Hiring For?How to Hire a Marketing Director Without Wasting Six Weeks
How to Hire a Marketing Director Without Wasting Six WeeksWhen Should an Agency Use Retained Search?
When Should an Agency Use Retained Search?FAQs
Clear answers before a conversation.
Is Permanent Recruitment the same as contingency recruitment?
Broadly, yes. It's the traditional success-based model: you pay a fee when I successfully appoint somebody. But contingent shouldn't mean chucking CVs at the wall and hoping one sticks.
Is Permanent Recruitment success-based?
Yes. Permanent Recruitment is the straightforward success-based model, but still starts with a proper brief and a focused market search.
Which permanent roles does Essential recruit?
Marketing, digital, PR, communications and agency roles, from specialist appointments through to senior managers and heads of function.
When is retained search a better fit?
When the hire is senior, confidential, difficult, commercially important or needs a more committed market-mapping process.
Do you only recruit permanent roles in Manchester?
No. Essential is Manchester-led and North West-rooted, but permanent marketing searches can run UK-wide when the brief needs it.
Next step
Need a permanent marketing hire?
Tell me what you're trying to hire. I'll give you a straight view on the brief, salary and market.