Portman Scott

Portman Scott is a specialist recruitment consultancy founded in 2012 by Bernard Howard and Bridie Cunningham, two experienced business leaders with deep expertise in building and scaling successful companies. The firm specialises in executive search and recruitment, focusing on finding leaders and key talent for technology companies, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and rapidly growing businesses. With a wealth of recruitment experience combined with genuine business acumen, Portman Scott understands the challenges that growing companies face when hiring for business expansion. The consultancy operates a proprietary recruitment methodology called Next Generation Search (NGS), which combines company knowledge with tailored behavioural assessments to ensure candidates are the right fit for both immediate and long-term success.

Portman Scott serves clients across multiple sectors including technology, financial services, legal, retail, property, and private equity-backed companies. The firm has built an impressive network of candidates at all levels and takes a quality-focused approach, preferring to present three outstanding candidates rather than overwhelming clients with mediocre CVs. The consultancy provides comprehensive support including salary benchmarking, organisational structure advice, and guidance on the types of talent needed to take businesses to the next level. With more than 83 per cent of their candidates invited for second interviews, Portman Scott demonstrates a strong track record of identifying high-calibre talent.

Based in London at The Explorers Club on Kensington Gore, Portman Scott operates as a trusted partner for companies seeking to improve retention and recruitment outcomes. The firm is recognised as a member of Helm, London's established entrepreneurship club for scale-up founders. Clients choose Portman Scott for their professional, attentive approach, their understanding of business culture and growth trajectories, and their commitment to building long-term partnerships rather than pursuing quick placements. The consultancy combines flexibility, speed, and rigorous candidate screening to ensure that every hire contributes meaningfully to their client's business growth.