Following a successful start to the year, cybersecurity recruitment experts, EliteCyber and technology recruiters, Hayward Hawk Technology, are going full steam ahead and expanding their horizons from Europe and Ireland respectively to focus new operations in the UK market.
From their northern headquarters in Newcastle, EliteCyber Group has established a multilingual team that supplies specialist talent for niche cybersecurity roles across Europe, whilst Hayward Hawk Technology has built an industry-leading team of renowned hawks based in Belfast. Both support perm and contract placements and both are part of the Recruitment Entrepreneur portfolio, backed by former Dragons’ Den star and recruitment ambassador, James Caan CBE.
Despite the challenges the global pandemic has bought to the recruitment industry and businesses as a whole; there’s still huge growth potential in the UK’s tech sector. In 2019, technology investment in the UK reached over £10 billion, more than France and Germany combined. Britain is also second in the world for fintech and number one in Europe for emerging technologies. In light of this, the businesses have agreed to take more of a collaborative approach to better service key clients and are actively hiring for positions to support UK market expansion and increase their brand awareness.
Commenting on the current state of the tech market and why EliteCyber is expanding into the UK, Co-Founder, Andrew Robinson said, “What we can determine is that this unique set of circumstances has dramatically driven the use of new and innovative technology. Without it, the ability to do business wouldn’t have been sustainable. Companies have been forced to adapt to different ways of working and transition their employees, where possible, to remote working therefore rapidly advancing the requirements for hardware, software, cybersecurity, and other cloud-based services.
Our objective is to become a global leader in cybersecurity recruitment by 2024. Growing our UK presence and supporting large established brands and emerging clients on the ground here is essential to achieving that goal.”
Stephen McDowell, Founding Director of Hayward Hawk Technology, commented, “We’ve been present in the UK market for a while and witnessed the transformation new investment and innovative technology has made. We’ve also experienced great success in our government and public sector contract division, supplying contractors to many high-profile digital transformation projects. We have plans to grow out this division along with our private sector contract division. The UK Government has already recognised the critical role technology has played during the crisis and we anticipate many businesses will look to technology to facilitate further agility within their organisations. Our sights are set firmly ahead, and we have both the experience and knowledge to help shape the technology workforce of the future.”
Abid Hamid, CEO of Recruitment Entrepreneur, who works with both business leaders said, “The technology sector has weathered the global economic storm better than most. The skillsets required for today’s work environment are increasingly technology-driven and in high demand. The detailed insights and partnership approach both businesses can provide offers real value to clients and candidates. When many recruiters are downsizing and reducing their reach, the relentless ambition and professionalism both businesses have shown over the last few months have proven their commitment to becoming industry leaders in the UK as well as in their respective markets.”
With Manchester already ranked as the best performing UK city, outside of London, for attracting tech talent and foreign direct investment projects, and the only NW location to make the Top 10 for FDI, it’s the ideal location for growth and will likely be one of the hub locations, along with London and Newcastle for both businesses to operate from as they develop their specialist teams.
Chairman of Recruitment Entrepreneur, James Caan CBE said, “It’s fantastic to see EliteCyber and Hayward Hawk working together and harnessing the potential of the UK market to drive their brands forward. They’ve earned their place in the technology space and I’m confident they’ll maximise the opportunity this move brings.”
A bespoke cybersecurity recruitment service with over 20 years of experience, EliteCyber is now established as a leading cybersecurity recruitment agency in Europe. We are recognised within this space for the exceptional level of service we bring to our clients through the recruitment process and our clients’ onboarding into our client’s organisation.
Our practice covers information security, cybersecurity, IT security, technology risk, and information risk. Our long-established team has extensive experience of recruiting on a permanent and contract basis for internal positions in global organisations, SME and start-ups, as well as consultancy and systems integration businesses, and cyber & information security vendors.
As a strong player within the market, EliteCyber is present at various specialist events such as FIC, Cybersecurity Recruitment Forum, ICICS, and Cyberdays.
We’re interested people, helping interesting people. Partnering our expert knowledge and experience, we’re here to help you grow your business, support your ambitions, make your vision a reality, and help you find the best permanent or contract staffing solutions.
Our extensive network has secured our positions as trusted advisors to some of Northern Ireland’s leading employers. We take time to really understand our clients’ organisation, so that we have the insight to support them, through the good times and the bad. We find individuals that fit perfectly into businesses to enhance their culture, and above all, have the skills to move companies in the right direction.
We put our candidates at the centre of everything we do with a clear focus on the quality of service, transparency, and delivering results. Our approach is strategic, confidential, and consultative.
Hayward Hawk Technology launched in 2016, with an exclusive focus on Northern Ireland’s technology market. Over the past few years, we’ve grown from a plucky start-up to a team of more than 20 hawks, working with clients across the UK, Ireland, and the US. We are also a trusted partner for Invest NI FDI companies. In May 2019, we launched Hayward Hawk Professional Services which was also nominated for Best New Recruitment Company just eight months after launching.
About Recruitment Entrepreneur
Recruitment Entrepreneur is the world’s most successful investor in start-up and scaling recruitment businesses. Since 2014, we’ve invested in over 30 talented founders. Our success lies in our ability to provide not just knowledge, but also know-how.
We have fostered a community of businesses that benefit from the expertise of our dedicated team who provide; funding, financial expertise, operational strategy, back-office support, legal advice, marketing, and talent attraction solutions, all of which enable our partner businesses to flourish.
Investing time, money, and experience in people with the potential to become great leaders, we partner with and empower budding entrepreneurs to build world-class recruitment businesses, capable of achieving a high equity value on exit.
In terms of scale, focus, and sophistication, there is no other investment business to rival Recruitment Entrepreneur. Our exclusive focus on the recruitment sector, underpinned by a highly experienced management team that has developed a proven track record of success, is core to our unique market positioning and offering.
James Caan is one of the UK’s most successful entrepreneurs. He made his fortune through the global success of his recruitment companies, Alexander Mann and Humana International. In 2004, he founded private equity firm Hamilton Bradshaw which grew to a portfolio of over 30 businesses. He is best known for joining the panel of the hit BBC show Dragons’ Den, and more recently, The Business Class on CNBC. A passionate supporter of small businesses, James chaired the government’s Start-Up Loans scheme and now invests in and mentors Recruitment Entrepreneur businesses.
Media contacts
Andrew Robinson – Founding CEO of EliteCyber Group
Stephen McDowell – Director of Hayward Hawk Technology
Sam Proctor – Group Marketing & Communications Director
0771 444 7423
Abid Hamid – CEO of Recruitment Entrepreneur
