Talented Hires

At Talented Hires, we partner with tech founders to help them build the world-class teams they need to achieve breakout growth, secure funding, and deliver on the promise of artificial intelligence.

Beyond recruiting, we provide strategic guidance to help you:

◦ Define your ideal tech stack and organizational structure
◦ Implement best practices for onboarding, training, and career development
◦ Foster a mission-driven culture that aligns with your values
◦ Position your startup's technical vision to attract investors and top talent

Having scaled talent solutions for Fortune 500 companies and hired over 2,000 engineers, I bring a wealth of insights and best practices to help you navigate the unique challenges of scaling a startup with AI. 

If you're looking for a strategic partner to help you build an elite team, secure funding, and achieve your world-changing vision, let's connect. 

I'm always happy to share insights, make warm intros to VCs and experts in my network, or brainstorm how we can leverage AI to create a better future.

Founder and CEO

Project People

Global technology search & placement 
Specialised focus on AI & DevOps
Over 2,000 successful appointments from CTO to Senior Software Engineers
Retained Search projects for critical niche hires
Impactful Diversity and Equality initiatives
Deep customer relationships built on partnership, trust, and continuous innovative delivery

Senior Search Director, AI & DevOps

Rethink

Search Director

Experis

Search Consultant

Tech Founder | AI Enthusiast | DevOps Expert

Fellow founder and CTO,

I understand the challenges of building an elite team to bring a vision to life and navigate the complex funding landscape. 

My journey began at age 8 when my father brought home a computer, sparking a lifelong passion for technology. 

This led me to study Computer Science in 1999, where I discovered the potential of AI.

Frustrated by recruiters' lack of technical understanding, I realized my CS degree could be a powerful asset in building world-class tech teams. 

Over the past 20 years, I've partnered with founders to:

✓ Clarify Talent Needs: Develop winning hiring strategies
✓ Foster Innovation: Create a culture that retains top talent
✓ Attract A-Players: Identify & recruit elite engineers
✓ Achieve Growth Milestones: Build the right team to secure funding and scale
✓ Navigate Fundraising: Provide warm introductions to VCs and domain experts

After scaling Fujitsu's talent solution to £500M annually, I founded Talented Hires to help startups achieve their world-changing visions. 

Here are some of our success stories:

Pienso

— Hired 2 dream engineers (DevOps & FS)
— Secured Series A funding
— Launched 2 new products and signed $XXM in customers

Mersive Technologies

— Hired 8 dream engineers (DevOps, FS, FE, BE)
— Established a new engineering division
— Signed a $XXM contract with WeWork

Spacelift

— Hired a critical DevOps Engineer after 3 interviews in 14 days
— Engineer promoted to Chief Product Officer
— Increased customer base by 400%

GSR & Lake Parime

— Made 4 business-critical hires for each company (DevOps, SRE, Go, CTO)


✅ VC APPROVED

— Approved by Insight Partners due to positive customer feedback
— One of 11 IT globally recognized recruiters


As a strategic partner, I share battle-tested insights on scaling teams, nurturing culture, and navigating the evolving AI landscape. 

Whether you're hiring your first critical engineer in 14 days or scaling your team to 50+, I'm here to support you.

Let's chat about your startup journey, swap founder stories, or brainstorm how AI can positively impact society.

Join over 1,000 tech leaders who receive my newsletter, 'Hiring Tips from 2K+ Recruits': 

Subscribe here: https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=7184211996072951812

Rich Roberts

UK Home Office

I’ve moved into recruiting for new specialist areas within our Digital, Data and Technology (DDaT) function, with a focus on Architecture, Delivery, Product and IT Ops. In this role, I am responsible for:

Headhunting and Talent Attraction
Proactively sourcing high-calibre professionals across Architecture, Delivery, Product and IT OPs, and championing the meaningful work we do at the Home Office to protect and serve the UK.

Promoting Civil Service Opportunities
Engaging with diverse talent to showcase the impact and innovation within government digital services, and highlighting the unique benefits of a career in public service.

Improving Recruitment Processes
Working closely with hiring managers to streamline recruitment journeys, refine documentation, and ensure a consistent, inclusive, and candidate-friendly process.

📧 alice.davis3@homeoffice.gov.uk
🔗 https://careers.homeoffice.gov.uk

Lead Technical Recruiter - Architecture, Delivery and Product

Building on my first year with the Home Office Digital, Data, and Technology (DDaT) team, my role has expanded to lead recruitment efforts across Engineering, Quality Assurance & Test (QAT), and User-Centered Design (UCD). My mission is to attract top talent and enhance the recruitment experience for candidates and hiring managers alike.

In this role, I am responsible for:

Headhunting and Talent Attraction: Actively sourcing high-caliber professionals in Engineering, QAT, and UCD, showcasing the meaningful impact of working with the Home Office to protect and serve the UK.

Promoting Civil Service Opportunities: Engaging with potential candidates to highlight the unique benefits of a career with the Home Office, emphasising our work in digital transformation and public service innovation.

Improving Recruitment Processes: Refining our processes and documentation to streamline hiring, ensuring a positive and efficient experience for both candidates and the hiring community.

If you’re passionate about technology, public service, or user-centered design and want to make a difference, please reach out! You can contact me at alice.davis3@homeoffice.gov.uk or explore current opportunities on our careers page: https://careers.homeoffice.gov.uk/

Let’s work together to make government better.

Lead Technical Recruiter - Engineering, Quality Assurance & Test (QAT) and UCD

In my role within the Digital, Data, and Technology (DDaT) team, I am committed to strengthening our in-house expertise in Quality Assurance and Testing (QAT). By advancing our technical capabilities, we’re driving forward the digital transformation critical to the public services we deliver.

As Lead Recruiter for the new QAT Accelerator Cell, I design and refine processes and documentation to streamline hiring, grow our Civil Service workforce, and reduce reliance on Managed Service Providers. I actively headhunt specialized QAT talent to support our digital goals.

If you’re interested in our mission or want to explore opportunities, please reach out at alice.davis3@homeoffice.gov.uk or visit our careers site: https://careers.homeoffice.gov.uk

Help us make government better.

Lead Technical Recruiter - Quality,  Assurance & Test (QAT)

3-month secondment to improve recruitment processes for Bp Digital Design.

Senior Recruiter (Digital Design) - 3 Month Secondment 

Microsoft

Objective: Enhance the onboarding experience for new starters in Microsoft Customer and Partner Solutions (MCAPS) UK.

Key Initiatives:

•       MCAPS UK Welcome Day: Launched an in-person welcome day to foster connection and immersion for new hires.
•	Onboarding Video: Collaborated with the Principal Content Project Manager to create a visually engaging onboarding video to guide new starters.
•	Branding and Communication Overhaul: Developed fresh branding for all MCAPS UK onboarding communications, creating a cohesive and welcoming experience.
•	Post-Onboarding Communications: Established follow-up communications to keep new starters engaged and supported beyond their initial onboarding period.
•	New Starter Welcome Box: Partnered with an external agency to design a custom welcome box, ensuring a memorable start for new hires.
•	Manager Engagement: Developed targeted communications for managers to clarify onboarding responsibilities and highlight improvements.
•	Resource Hub on SharePoint: Created a dedicated SharePoint site for both new starters and managers, serving as a central resource for updates and reference materials.
•	Program Success Tracking: Designed, distributed, and analysed post-attendance surveys to continuously improve and measure the onboarding program’s effectiveness.

This initiative has allowed us to create a warm, supportive, and consistent onboarding journey, reinforcing Microsoft’s commitment to new starter success from day one

Onboarding Lead - UK MCAPS

Stakeholder Management: Partner with hiring managers to understand and interpret business needs, share insights on the industry landscape, and leverage data to shape hiring decisions. Assigned to manage high-demand stakeholders due to strong relationship-building and problem-solving skills. Develop and execute comprehensive hiring plans tailored to business requirements.

Candidate Attraction & Engagement: A proactive talent hunter with a keen interest in both active and potential candidates. Attract talent by authentically sharing Microsoft’s story, culture, and team environment, emphasising career growth, unique benefits, and the rewards of joining Microsoft. Prioritise inclusivity in job postings to ensure accessibility for diverse applicants.

Candidate Experience: Own the candidate journey by thoroughly preparing applicants at each stage, enhancing the job search experience through comprehensive briefings, support, and feedback. Anticipate potential challenges candidates may face and collaborate with the business to address them proactively.

Talent Sourcing & Market Insight: Build and maintain relationships with emerging talent pools and professional communities, leveraging market knowledge to engage with complex candidate profiles that align with future business needs.

Diversity & Inclusion Advocacy: Champion diverse hiring practices, with a focus on initiatives such as Women in Tech, advocating for an inclusive workforce and fostering acceptance of diverse talent across teams.

Data-Driven Recruitment: Utilise data analysis to extract relevant trends and insights, supporting stakeholders in making data-driven hiring decisions that align with organisational goals.

Senior Technical Recruiter (EMEA)

Ericsson

Ericsson - With nearly 102,000 employees worldwide, Ericsson is a global leader in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) for service providers. We enable the full potential of connectivity through innovative technology and services that drive success in a fully connected world.

Key Responsibilities:
• Technical & Executive Hiring: Responsible for complex technical and executive recruitment, managing the most challenging stakeholders and delivering tailored solutions to meet their unique needs.
• Hiring Strategy & Briefing: Conduct thorough briefings with Hiring Managers to fully understand their hiring needs, advising on effective candidate attraction strategies to achieve successful outcomes.
• Full-Cycle Recruitment Consulting: Oversee end-to-end recruitment, including sourcing, screening, assessing, and short-listing, to meet hiring objectives across various business functions.
• Stakeholder Management: Maintain strong, collaborative relationships with Hiring Managers at all levels, championing best practices throughout each stage of the recruitment process.
• Premium Candidate Experience: Ensure all candidates receive a seamless and positive experience, enhancing Ericsson’s reputation as an employer of choice.
• Mentorship & Team Support: Mentor junior team members, sharing best practices and insights to strengthen their recruitment skills and industry knowledge.
• Leadership & Psychometric Assessments: Coordinate leadership and psychometric assessments, providing valuable insights to support hiring decisions.
• Diversity & Inclusion Advocacy: Monitor diversity and inclusion throughout the hiring process, fostering an equitable and diverse talent pipeline.
• Recruitment Metrics: Track and analyse recruitment metrics to continually refine strategies, delivering effective, data-driven recruitment solutions.

Senior Recruiter (EMEA)

With over 8,000 employees in the UK and Ireland, Fujitsu is a “top 5 IT Service provider” and the largest Japanese employer in the UK.

Senior Technical Recruiter responsible for UK wide delivery for Security, Cloud, Project/Program Management, Application, Testing, End User and Functions (HR/Finance), for both private and public sector customers. 

Work in a fast paced, high volume, competitive dual supplier environment.

Responsibilities include:
•	Own high level relationships with key client stakeholders
•	Manage end to end delivery with Technical Managers/Resource Managers
•	Relationship management – both customer facing and remote
•	Sourcing, including executive searching/headhunting 
•	Arrange and attend career fairs
•	Support Fujitsu on bids  
•	Benchmarking/market intelligence.
•	Resolve client and contractor escalations
•	Work in collaboration with our commercial team to resolve legal disputes
•	Support Fujitsu with ensuring candidate security clearances are valid/transferable 
•	IR35 advisor on client/candidate side. Limiting impact of regulation change 
•	Source candidates for challenging roles with Fujitsu Europe, when required
•	Daily use of AMS (Taleo), MS Office, ITRIS database, LinkedIn and online job boards

Senior Technical Recruiter/Account Manager - Fujitsu Services

Telecoms and IT recruitment specialist responsible for international business development including EMEA and USA. Operating at a global level I am responsible for identifying new business opportunities, developing accounts and  managing delivery to the highest standards. Experienced in candidate migration and redeployment of candidates under employed consultant model. Work with virtual resource teams supporting delivery across key accounts.

International Account Manager

Responsible for contract and permanent recruitment within the Telecom and IT Industries. Whilst part of my position involved working on key accounts, my role also included identifying potential business opportunities. My additional responsibilities covered the bid / tender process and supplier management.

Senior Consultant

Hays Information Technology

Account Management
Managed a portfolio of clients in both public and commercial sectors, I arranged meetings, one-to-one discussions and presentations to maintain and create customer service opportunities. 

Solutions Provider
Provided solutions to new business customers and existing clients within a variety of business sectors (from initial contact, problem management, negotiation and finally through to resolution). 

Recruitment
Provided technical recruitment and successfully supplied contract resource within very demanding timescales.

Candidate Attraction
I adopted a number of methods to attract candidates, from advertising through the Hays web portal, to other on-line web boards. Additionally I searched the Adapt database of over 350,000 applicants, also having access to on-line databases. 

Pre-Screening
In association with line-management I analysed specific recruitment needs and carried out pre-screen interviews of potential candidates through competency based interviews, both over the telephone and face-to-face on their behalf.

wire-e

Sales
Sold Business Communications Solutions from Vodafone to corporate clients (Astra Zenica, Barclay’s, Lloyds TSB), with extended work forces throughout the UK and overseas.

Solutions
Provided answers to communication issues for large workforces through the Rapide product suite (Remote / Response / Relay). These messages were broadcast through voicemail, text, and email, ensuring the workforce were kept informed at short notice.

Team Leadership
Instructed teams in the creation of distribution lists for clients to contact their workforce in relation to the Rapide product suite detailed above.

Sales Consultant

✔  This is in the top 1% most viewed profiles of 2024
✔  Over 20,000 first degree connections
✔  Nearing 32,000 followers 

An REC Certified Lead Technical Recruiter with over 18 years of expertise across diverse sectors, specialising in technology roles. I am skilled in sourcing and recruiting both technical and non-technical talent on a global scale, covering roles from Graduate to Senior Management in both permanent and contract placements.

I apply a persistent, solution-oriented approach to identifying top talent, particularly in challenging and niche markets. Networking is a central tool in my strategy, and I continuously look to expand my professional connections, especially within the tech sector.

I blend strategic recruitment solutions with hands-on sourcing expertise, serving as a trusted advisor to both clients and candidates. With a strong track record in delivering successful international recruitment outcomes, I excel at building meaningful client and candidate relationships, applying a proactive, innovative mindset to solve complex hiring challenges, and maintaining agility in a fast-paced environment.

With a network of over 25,000 connections and followers, I am a LinkedIn champion and influencer, dedicated to making a positive impact within the recruitment landscape.

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The Battle

Rich Roberts

Alice Davis

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