Case study - hgh Consulting
2x Senior Planners and Associate Director for hgh Consulting
The Challenge
hgh consulting had multiple requirements throughout 2024. As an industry leading town planning consultancy, a number of recruiters are keen to work with them, and their expectations are high.
We have worked on multiple searches with the business over the last few years, and in particular worked in partnershp during 2024 on a number of roles from Senior Planners to Director-level.
Ideally, hgh seek candidates from consultancy backgrounds with London or major development experience, depending on level. They want bright, engaging and driven individuals.
The solution
We initially started working on a contingent basis that evolved during the year into more of an exclusive basis, based on the roles we filled early in the year. While they may have used other agencies historically we are now their preferred recruitment partner and have ongoing searches with hgh at the time of writing.
Having the close relationship that we’ve developed with hgh, it allowed us to quickly identify candidates of an appropriate calibre for them that would suit the way that they work and their workplace culture, successfully introducing a number of candidates who secured 1st interviews with them.
As a growing organisation, we fill the mandates presented to us by hgh, but also keep them posted on outstanding candidates that would suit their organisation in areas they may not actively be searching for.
Our searches involve a combination of headhunting, recruiting through our LinkedIn networks – both individually and as a team, and referencing our extensive database and referral network.
The results
Understanding what they wanted to see in a candidate meant that the majority of CVs that we sent over were asked to a first interview with them. Quick decisions, without too many stages meant that the roles were filled quite quickly. Those placed and now working at hgh include:
Bella Tidswell – Senior Planner, now Principal Planner
Katie Fong – Senior Planner
With the confirmed Associate Director not having started within their role yet at the time of writing.
The Feedback
Richard Henley, Executive Director at hgh commented on the work across 2024:
“hgh Consulting enjoys a very successful recruitment relationship with Cobalt forged over several years. Kate and Tom have a very personal and effective approach to recruitment and continue to take the time to really understand the hgh business and the type of candidates we are looking for at all levels to help us support and grow the hgh team. Their ability to identify and match high calibre candidates with specific roles, ensuring that the personalities will fit the team culture and clients' professional expectations is a rare quality and on which they have succeeded on numerous occasions.”
Within Residential Development, our team place professionals from MRICS-qualified Development Surveyors and Development Managers, to Land Buyers, Land Managers and those in Strategic Land from Assistant to Director-level.
From urban planning and regeneration to rural town planning, our Town Planning recruitment team place those working towards their RTPI Chartered Town Planning status through to Directors with years of experience. Across both spaces, the team works with a range of organisations including Hill, Berkeley Group and hgh Consulting.
