Non Executive Director Search Firms Guide - NED Recruitment Agencies UK
What is a NED?
Welcome to our guide to the best NED recruitment agencies our there! But first let's explain what the term means;
Non Executive Director Meaning
As the non-executive director of a company, you play an important role in managing and steering it in the right direction. In this blog, we'll focus on the different duties that a non-executive director carries out, and discuss the best ways to fulfil them.
From verifying financial reports to ensuring compliance with regulations, to supporting CEO in decision making - this blog has it all! So whether you're new to the role or have been filling in for someone else lately, make sure to read on to get a better understanding of what a non-executive director does and how you can fill that role effectively.
Verifying the financial reports
It's important to have a non-executive director on board if you want to maintain good corporate governance. This person plays an important role in ensuring that the company's books are accurate and that all required filings have been made. They also play an important role in monitoring the company's performance and making sure that it's complying with applicable regulations. It's essential to find someone who is qualified and has the necessary experience for the role. Make sure to check out their resumes and interview them thoroughly before appointing them.
Ensuring compliance with regulations
The non-executive director (NED) is an important figure in any company. They work alongside the CEO to ensure that business operations are in line with regulatory requirements.
This includes ensuring that the company complies with all applicable regulations and taking action to mitigate any potential risks. The role of the NED is vital in helping a company to avoid fines or other penalties from regulators. In addition, the NED is involved in overseeing risk management and monitoring financial performance of the company.
Supporting CEO in decision making
If you're looking to take your career to the next level, a good place to start is by becoming an effective non-executive director (NED). This role requires good communication skills, as well as motivation and dedication to the company's success.
As a NED, you often have experience and knowledge that can be beneficial in decision making. This means you're valuable members of the team and can help guide and direct the CEO in the right direction. It's also important to keep in mind the non-executive director (NED) is not a CEO. Rather, they are an important part of the board of directors and support the CEO in decision making.
Leading strategic projects
If you're looking to lead successful projects, then the Non-Executive Director position is the right fit for you. This position requires strong communication and organizational skills, as well as leadership experience. Additionally, the Non-Executive Director is responsible for leading strategic projects, which can include developing business plans and marketing initiatives. If you have the qualities that are required for this position, don't hesitate to apply!

Rainmakrr
Our network in across the startup eco system covers entrepreneurs, CMOs, CTOs and VCs and is expanding every day, so if you want specifically advisors with strong startup experience or technical skills, please get in contact.
Specialism(s): Tech, AI, Blockchain
Contact:
Non Executive Director Search Firms Guide - NED Recruitment Agencies UK

NED Exchange
The Exchange was formed in 1999 by Ray Fox following his experiences trying to finding a non executive directorship and has become one of the best NED recruiters London has to offer.
Specialisms: Generalist
Contact:
01494 483728 / [email protected]

Eton Bridge
Eton Bridge are in our NED Recruitment Agencies guide as their Partners’ Board Practice helps organisations with Non Executive Director recruitment -enabling leadership teams to tap into the expertise of experienced, objective advisers.
Eton Bridge's established network of NED contacts extends across industry sectors and locations. This is underpinned by a team of in-house researchers who identify and build links with the senior talent that will add strength to your Board or leadership teams.
Eton Bridge's Trusted Partner approach to working with privately-owned, private equity backed and listed organisations enables them to develop an in-depth understanding of their clients’ needs and objectives.
Eton Bridge challenge and ask difficult questions to make sure they match your organisation with precisely the right kind of NED to take your organisation to the next level or to help steer it through a period of challenge or change.
Specialism(s): NEDs
Contact:
+44 (0) 020 8059 4443 | [email protected]

Stone
Stone are one of the UK’s most respected executive headhunters and handle executive recruitment for clients in every major sector and work with global corporations, public sector and not-for-profit agencies, plus a great many SMEs and family-owned businesses across diverse industries. And whatever the challenge, their aim is always to deliver a solution that gives their clients a genuine edge in an increasingly competitive environment.
Specialisms: Finance, Non-Profit
Contact:
0333 800 1560 | [email protected]


Warren Partners
Warren Partners are in our Non Executive Director Recruitment Agencies guide as thy have expertise in executive and non-executive director recruitment and delivering Board Review services within the retail financial services sector extends across retail banking, with a particular depth of experience in working with challenger banks and mutuals, to general and life insurance, asset and wealth management.
Specialisms: Finance
Contact:
[email protected] | 0203 170 5653

First Flight
First Flight are in our Non Executive Director Search Firms guide as they are a specialist Chair and Non-Executive Director search firm founded in 2004 and claim to be the only UK search firm focusing solely on providing Chairs and Non Execs, Trustees and Advisory Board Members.
Every search they manage is carefully tailored with a focus on independence, diversity, quality and effectiveness.
First Flight clients include: FTSE, AIM, Investment Trusts, growth companies, PE Backed, family businesses, not-for-profits and charities.
First Flight know that the appointment of the right Chair and Non Exec is crucial to the effectiveness of a Board and selecting the right candidates has never been more vital to the success of an organisation – not just a good candidate but the best candidate.
What sets First Flight apart from other Search firms is their understanding of Board dynamics and achieving a high success rate providing diverse candidates – skills, gender, age and ethnicity.
First Flight are AIM Specialists and have many AIM Clients such as Trackwise, ZOO Digital, Angle, Ceres Power, Cambridge Cognition, Ideagen, Proactis, Pressure Technology and understand the challenges that AIM companies face between being entrepreneurial and ensuring good Governance, helping strike the right balance to achieve this when selecting candidates for Non Exec roles.
First Flight are also fully conversant with both the UK Corporate Governance Code and the Quoted Company Alliance (QCA) Code.
Specialism(s): Chairs, Trustees
Contact:
[email protected] | 020 7458 4072

Norrie Johnston
Norrie Johnston are in our NED recruitment consultants guide as they were founded in 2013 and corporate members of the REC and support exciting start-ups right through to major blue chip organisations, finding and maximising the highly specialised, senior talent they need – fast.
Their team has placed senior executives around the world with companies such as IMI, Veon, G4S, Shiseido Group, Apple, GSK, Diageo, Leapfrog Toys, SEGA, Nestle, Premier Foods, WEIR, BBC, Network Rail, Royal Mail, Dalkia, Legal & General, American Express, Aioi Nissay Dowa Insurance, RSA, Toyota Financial Services, RBS Insurance and Direct Line – to name a few.
Norrie Johnston believe that when you have an executive recruiter working on your behalf you want two things – someone highly motivated who understands the world of recruitment, but also understands the world of business.
Specialism(s): FMCG, Multi-nationals
Contact:
0203 026 1178 | [email protected]

Elliot Marsh
Elliot Marsh are in our Non Executive Director Recruitment Agencies guide as they have been delivering specialist headhunting services for over 15 years across the full range of business sizes, from small and medium sized companies, right up to FTSE 100 clients.
Elliot Marsh know how vitally important it is to get the right person for the job to ensure your business has the best possible leadership, but they also know the very best professional talent in your industry can be hard to obtain.
Often, they are already employed and being retained and rewarded for the fantastic job they do and are committed to attracting this talent on your behalf, delivering expert headhunting solutions for your business, and helping to complete your winning team with the right individuals, who will help your business to develop, grow and thrive.
Specialisms: Finance, Non-Profit
Contact:

Edward Drummond
Edward Drummond are in our NED recruitment consultants guide as they have extensive experience in identifying, approaching and introducing first-class candidates to companies looking for Non-Executive Directors, having filled their first NED position soon after the firm was founded over twenty years ago.
Working at board level, Edward Drummond will use their expertise to identify the men and women whose track records, skill sets, insights, temperament, contacts and motivation will take your business forward.
Edward Drummond's NED search clients include FT-SE 100 and international PLCs, law firms and accountants, Aim listed companies, privately owned and owner managed companies, and not-for-profit based organisations such as schools, universities, Housing Associations.
Specialism(s): NEDs
Contact:

Savannah
Savannah are in our NED recruitment consultants guide as they have a highly capable board practice that balances the deep relationship needed to understand the challenges and ambitions for the board, along with objective council through their unbiased perspective on what is best for you.
Savannah have the proven experience, knowledge and intelligence to advise and assist Chairs in building effective boards.
Multiple searches in the past five years
81% repeat business
Fortune 500, FTSE 100, 250, Public Sector and PE backed.
Specialism(s): Fortune 500, FTSE 100
Contact:
0203 781 7425 | [email protected]

Cast
Cast are in our NED recruitment consultants guide as they are a non executive director recruitment consultancy specialising in sourcing executive and management level roles in business change & transformation, HR, procurement, buying, supply chain, logistics and transport.
What makes Cast UK unique is that their consultants have extensive experience in these disciplines, which bridges the gap between employers and candidates.
Through their expertise they help companies find qualified and experienced managers and executives, and guide the candidates themselves to the best jobs in the market, anywhere in the UK.
Specialism(s): Business Change & Transformation
Contact:
0208 185 5200 | [email protected]

HIEC
HIEC Executive Consulting are in our Non Executive Director Recruitment Agencies guide as they are a leading global executive search firm focused on hiring Board, CEO and Senior-level executives globally.
HIEC was established by several senior partners from the leading global search firms to disrupt the traditional approach to executive search by placing a premium focus on hiring transformational leaders across the sectors they serve.
Rapid globalization has given rise to new types of disruptive leaders, spread across the globe, in the traditional and transformative functional areas.
HIEC are devoted to connecting the world’s leading corporations, Private Equity, and Venture Capital portfolio firms with this new wave of leaders to help their clients scale and win in the digitized economy.
Specialism(s): Board, C-suite
Contact:
+44 20 7042 5040 | [email protected]

Fletcher Jones
Fletcher Jones are in our Non Executive Director Recruitment Agencies guide as they are a leading independent Executive Search firm, with offices in London and Edinburgh.
Since 1984, Fletcher Jones have been providing a bespoke Search service for companies wishing to recruit for Chair, NED, director and leadership appointments and are one of the UK’s most experienced Executive Search practices with a national client base.
Contact:
0131 229 7151 | [email protected]

In Touch
In Touch are in our Non Executive Director Search Firms Guide as they were established in 2013 with the purpose of connecting elite professionals with businesses in pursuit of exceptional board-level talent.
Their exclusive member platform allows senior professionals to broaden their skills and gain access to all the essential tools and resources needed to succeed as a non-executive, consultant or senior business leader.
Just six years since In Touch was established, the business has gone from strength to strength, winning numerous accolades, including being named Fastest Growing Company for three consecutive years by Deloitte and one of the Fastest Growing Companies in Europe 2018 by the Financial Times.
As a forward-thinking business, In-Touch will try to continually evolve and continually turn heads through their innovative approach, performance and global charity initiatives.
Specialism(s): NEDs
Contact:
+44 (0) 161 714 4179 | [email protected]


Agent NED
Agent NED matches companies with Non-Executive Directors to fuel growth through sharing skills, experience, contacts and guidance.
Specialisms: Platform
Contact:
How to become a NED
“NED stands” for non-executive director and it means you advise the company board on strategic direction, technology, business models and operations based on your experience but you do not actively manage or work for the company. Thank goodness….
Ensure that your LinkedIn page shows your value to NED recruiters or register with one directly. join the relevant trade association and give speeches as well as writing articles, In short, cultivate a reputation for being a category expert
As any of the great firms in our are in our Non Executive Director Recruitment Agencies guide will tell you, NEDs can be required to attend (in person, pre-corona…) 1 or 10 days a year of meeting working in this capacity either for free or for a day rate which is on average around £800 although ranges from £200 to £2k depending on size of the company and your experience.
And with all that being said it’s a dream role giving you an opportunity to pass on your experience and help others, learn about a new company or industry from the inside and also network often at a much higher level which brings it’s own rewards.
If that’s not compelling apparently the lunches and drinks are pretty good too…
One great starting point on your journey to becoming a NED is to start to network in that world and let the serendipity build up but at some point you’ve got to make it known you’re available and interested and one of the best ways of doing that would be to sign up with one of the select free good ned recruitment agencies london has to offer.
If you’ve never been a NED before they know its a massive jump and can feel like your not yet at that level, but if you’ve over 10 years experience – or much less if you are in a new industry like AI, Blockchain or Fintech – you may already have the experience to add value, so our recommendation is get on and do it. Because at the end of the day, we all want to be NEDS!
How do I become a non-executive director in my company?
There are different levels of non-executive directors in a company. These include independent directors, supervisory board members, audit committee members, and nomination committee members.
The main purpose of a non-executive director is to provide advice and support to the CEO on matters pertaining to the management of the company.
They play an important role in helping the CEO manage the business and make sound judgments when it comes to business decisions.
Many companies appoint one or two non-executive directors with specific expertise like accounting or finance etc., but others just have nominees who need not meet any specific qualifications. It's important that you have relevant experience and be able to make sound judgments when it comes to business decisions in order to be considered for a non-executive director position.
Non Executive Directors, as any of the NED recruiters in our guide will tell you, if selected well can provide a wealth of experience and insight and bring in new ideas and perspectives to your business and so it's vital you pick well.
To do this it does help to step outside your friendship or business circle and find people with more varied experience and to help you do that let's take a look at some of the movers and shakers finding and placing experienced business people and professionals into non executive director roles

Average Income of NEDs
By understanding the average income of NEDs in different industries, you can better understand the importance of appointing NEDs to boards and executive committees. As you can see, the average income of NEDs varies significantly, depending on industry. So, if you're looking to appoint a NED to a board or executive committee, it's important to understand the average income of NEDs in that industry.
It's no secret that the executive suite is one of the most sought-after positions in corporate UK. With hefty salaries and impressive perks, non-executive directors (NEDs) are sure to rake in the dough. But just how much do NEDs earn on average? And what industry is most generous with its paychecks? Read on to find out!
How much do NEDs earn in different industries
With so many career options available today, it's important to understand the average annual income of non-executive directors (NEDs). According to the 2017 Annual Survey of NEDs, the highest-paying sectors for NEDs are engineering and scientific, with an average annual income of $187,000. Other high-paying sectors include banking, legal services, and accounting. Salaries vary depending on experience and company size, so it's important to research your potential employer before applying. As a career advisor, it's our goal to help you find the right job that pays well while matching your skills and interests. We hope this article has helped you understand the average annual income of NEDs and given you some insights into the best sectors to pursue as a NED.
The Average Annual Income of Non-Executive Directors (NEDs)
Being a non-executive director (NED) on a board of directors can be rewarding, but it's important to be aware of your own salary and how it compares to others in your industry or sector. The average annual income of non-executive directors (NEDs) is £187,000 according to The Financial Times. This figure increases for senior NEDs who earn an average of £237,000 per year. As a board member, it's important to be aware of your own salary and how it compares to others in your industry or sector. Make sure you're getting value for money from all aspects of your role as a NED - including the remuneration package offered by the company you serve on the board of directors with!
What are the median annual incomes of NEDs?
The median annual incomes of NEDs is €231,000. However, the income range for them goes from £130,000 to €630,000 annually.
What is the gender gap among NEDs?
The gender gap among NEDs is slowly shrinking, albeit slowly. According to a recent survey by Organization Management magazine, 97% of non-executive directors (NEDs) are men. This is definitely not the case in every organization, but it is slowly changing nonetheless. Why is the gender gap among NEDs slowly shrinking? There are a few reasons for this. First of all, with more women working as CEOs and senior executives in companies around the world, the gender gap should be shrinking. Secondly, even though there is still a gender gap when it comes to income levels and leadership roles in organizations, things are slowly starting to change. As women gain more experience and knowledge in different sectors, they are likely to occupy more leadership positions in the future.
How has the income of NEDs changed over the past few years?
The income of NEDs (Non-executive Directors) has seen a rise in the past few years, as their duties have evolved and now they play a much bigger role in boardroom decision making. Their income has increased by around 7%.
Are there any other factors that affect an individual's income as a NED?
There are many other factors that affect an individual's income as a NED. Some of the most important ones include an individual's experience and expertise in governance, age, gender, location, company size etc.
Thank you for reading our NED recruitment agencies guide to Non Executive Director Search Firms
How much do NEDs earn?
According to the IoD Business Information Service who holds copies of the ‘Life in The Boardroom’ series of Chair and NED pay surveys reports that across all UK companies which responded to the survey, NED pay ranges from £38,000-£105,000.