Client Testimonials

First Flight responded quickly and professionally to our Chair recruitment need.  The support throughout the process through to successful appointment was thorough, swift and presented high calibre of candidates.

Rachel Barber, Customer Service Director, South Staffs Water

I commissioned First Flight to find a non-executive director for Watts PLC, a company I Chair. Despite a tight and demanding specification, First Flight were able to produce a high class short list of candidates by the scheduled time. We selected an excellent candidate who has since joined our board.  Throughout the process I was impressed by First Flight; with their professionalism and ability to deliver on time and with high quality candidates. I would not hesitate to use them again.

Nick Winks, Chairman, Watts Group PLC

We were reluctant to use our resources to pay for a recruitment agency and we didn't think we would be able to afford it however when we were introduced to First Flight we were immediately and understandably drawn to their approach and as it led to a successful candidate being appointed we felt their fees were not unreasonable.

Graham Whitlock, Chief Executive, Dream Arts

What really struck me was the quality of the First Flight candidates. By the time we got to the shortlist, we had four exceptional candidates and only one Board position available. When we narrowed this down to a final two, the choice was even harder: both candidates would have been a valuable asset for almost any Board and satisfied all our key criteria.

Robert Goddard

Chairman, Hardide PLC

First Flight have provided us with a new Non-Executive Director following two previous Non Execs they provided us with in 2011. Alex Pike is our latest appointment provided by First Flight, this followed their help with an evaluation of the skills we had around the Boardroom table and identifying where we had gaps. Alex brings to the Simplyhealth Board proven customer-first expertise plus strong entrepreneurial marketing and communications expertise, in particular with digital communications. We are delighted with Alex’s appointment and to have another woman on our Board.

Corinne Williams, HR Manager, Simplyhealth

We gave First Flight a sensitive and challenging brief. They delivered quickly and intelligently. I was impressed by the expertise, financial services experience, diversity and all-round calibre of the non-executive director candidates they presented.

Mark Thompson

Chairman, The Holmesdale Building Society

I am delighted to welcome Lorraine Adlam (the NED recruited through First Flight) to the Board. Her appointment will bring considerable experience of the financial and insurance sector to the Company. Having had experience with fast growth companies, Lorraine is ideally placed to help the Company to accelerate its growth and to provide support to the management team.

Simon Richards

Chairman, Red24 PLC

First Flight delivered a comprehensive, thoughtful and professional service, providing high quality, carefully selected and relevant candidates. We have started working with our newly appointed NED, who has been able to make a positive early impact.

Graham Ayres

Managing Director, Weatherbys Ltd

Quality, speed and cost - I was always told you can only have 2 out of 3, but First Flight delivered all three for us; a high quality candidate list, a rapid and efficient process and competitive pricing.

Mark Myers

Chief Executive, British Friendly

The Chairman we recruited through First Flight Non-Executive Directors has proved a real asset and continues to deliver added value on an almost daily basis. I am very grateful to William Micklethwait and the rest of the First Flight team for their help, professionalism and incisive appraisal of candidates.

Barrie Clatworthy

Managing Director, Carbonlights Solutions Ltd

We asked First Flight to find us a Non Exec who could help us expand into technology and international markets. Norrie Johnston Recruitment is an ambitious and fast growing agency providing permanent and interim senior managers. Clients come to us because they like the fact that we're not just good at recruitment but our team are serious business people too. So we needed someone with an impressive corporate track record and a real understanding of professional services.
We met four experienced and knowledgeable candidates who all met our brief, but one was outstanding, and I am very pleased that he has decided to join our board. We are in the recruitment business ourselves, so we know what good headhunting is all about, and in the specialist field of NED recruitment, First Flight absolutely delivers.

Norrie Johnston

Founder and CEO, Norrie Johnston Recruitment Ltd

Using First Flight for the first time was a great experience for us.  They took the time to meet and discuss with us in order to clearly understand our needs and the outcome was fantastic.
At every stage of the process they were assessing potential candidates against our requirements to ensure the best fit from a cultural point of view, as well as from a skills and experience perspective.
Our experience with First Flight met our expectations in various aspects of the candidate placement process. We have found First Flight colleagues to have an excellent ability to search identify and match candidates to the role requirements and competencies, which combined with their strong awareness of our culture and brand, adds great value to the partnership

Ian Hilditch

CEO, ETL Systems Ltd

First Flight has a clear value proposition and I liked the way they worked with us to clarify the role specification. For each position we met several strong and viable candidates which meant that the final decisions were not easy, so I was grateful for the way William Micklethwait (First Flight's London Practice Director) supported our team and helped us engage with each candidate. The result is that, with First Flight's help, we have found two very different new Board members who both have the experience and skill-sets we were looking for.

Seamus Creedon

Chairman, Reliance Mutual

This was the first time I had used First Flight so I did not know what to expect. William Micklethwait took full responsibility for the NED search. I found William to be very personable and easy to deal with. The communication was good so I always knew where things were up to. The whole process was well managed and straight forward for me as a client, and importantly the outcome (we wanted) was achieved.

Karen Wilson

CEO, Origin Housing Ltd

I have used several London head-hunters in the past to find Chairmen and Non Execs. First Flight Non-Executive Directors Ltd had an efficient process and produced a strong shortlist that exceeded my own, and the Nominations Committee's expectations. First Flight was less expensive than the more traditional headhunters and provided HSSMI with an excellent Chairman. I would certainly recommend them.

Bill Williams

CEO, CEME and Director of The High Speed Sustainable Manufacturing Institute (HSSMI)

Many thanks for all of your advice and support through the process of finding us a Non-Exec Chairman, We couldn’t be more pleased with the result!

Troy Barratt

Managing Director, Contracts Engineering Limited

We needed Non Execs with complementary areas of expertise as well as all-round business skills. I am very grateful to First Flight for helping us to find such a knowledgeable and renowned Advisory Board.

Clifton Melvin

Chairman, EcoHydra Technologies Ltd

As a fast growing, Venture Capital-backed company, we need to recruit high-calibre Board members and advisers who can understand our brand, give practical help and strategic guidance to our management team and satisfy the requirements of our VC investors. First Flight have successfully shown that they can find people who can do all that.

Gabriela Vinader

Director, Monica Vinader Ltd

I was recommended to work with First Flight and I have to say it's been a slick, straightforward and ultimately very successful process. Good understanding of the brief, quick responses and corrections along the way, a good mix of candidates - more than originally promised and some were outstanding - and reasonable charges. I would certainly recommend William Micklethwait and use First Flight again.

Gordon MacSween

CEO, Captive Media Ltd

William Micklethwait (First Flight's London Practice Director) was first referred to us by a trusted partner to help us recruit a new Non-Executive Chairman. William and the rest of the First Flight team provided us with excellent advice, managing the search, shortlisting, interview and selection process very professionally, keeping us up to date, offering timely and appropriate advice along the way just when we needed it. It was almost like William has a sixth sense for what a company like ours is really looking for. The chairman First Flight found for us had exactly the track-record we wanted, and is already making a significant positive contribution to our business. We have already recommended First Flight to others in our network and consider William's expertise part of the unofficial value we can add to our network and clients.

Richard Conner

Managing Director, Assembly Studios Ltd

I would like to thank First Flight for presenting the Society with such a diverse but high quality shortlist of candidates to choose from. Oliver and Sophie, our two new Non-Executive Directors, will undoubtedly have a very positive effect on the Society's governance.

Mark Goodale

Chief Executive, Reliance Mutual

We were introduced to First Flight and met with William Micklethwait and found we had a great connection with him as he fully understood our business sector and our requirements. Very quickly, we were given an incredibly strong short-list of Non Exec candidates, all of whom met our brief very well. I was really impressed by the standard of the short-list we were given so quickly. For any business looking for a Non Exec, I would strongly recommend First Flight for its service levels, understanding of the Non Exec market, quality of contacts and value for their fees.

Peter Orr

MD, Intelligent Mobile

I was very happy with the service I received from First Flight, they produced an excellent long list of CVs in a very short time and the service was professional, straightforward and the bench strength of the candidates they provided was impressive. Their approach makes the process easy and transparent. The Non-Executive Directors they have introduced to Chubb are working out well.

Kevin O'Shiel

Chief Financial Officer, Chubb Insurance Company of Europe S.A

First Flight has shown a great understanding for the needs of our business and have been instrumental in providing us with well qualified NEDs who are making an active contribution to The Business Software Centre. First Flight is unique in providing a highly professional and valuable Non Exec service unrivalled by any other organisation. I would recommend their services to any entrepreneurial business who need to strengthen their Board.

Phil Hames

Director, The Business Software Centre (TBSC)

We are very pleased that First Flight Non Execs has helped us recruit an independent Non Exec of David's stature and reputation. It's been a very professional process.

Nick Dimmock

Managing Director, Solar 350 Ltd

First Flight did an excellent job for us in finding us NEDs with the experience, expertise, technical knowledge and commitment that we needed. I am extremely pleased that we decided to use First Flight.

George Frangou

CEO, Massive Analytic Ltd