Retained Search is the Smarter Choice for Filling Difficult Roles in Construction - Why?

Why Retained Search is the Smarter Choice for Filling Difficult Roles

By Kilburn Jackson | Experts in Executive Search for the UK Construction Sector

In a market where experienced professionals are scarce, business demands are high, and your reputation matters more than ever—how you hire is just as important as who you hire.

At Kilburn Jackson, we specialise in Retained Executive Search for the UK Construction industry. We don’t dabble in CV farming or multi-agency free-for-alls. Instead, we partner with construction businesses like yours to solve hiring challenges strategically, confidentially, and successfully—especially when it comes to difficult-to-fill or business-critical roles.

Here’s why Retained Search is not only the better option—it’s the only option that makes real business sense.

1. No Difference in Cost. Just a Smarter Payment Model

Let’s clear something up: Retained Search costs no more than Contingency Search in total.

The only difference? You pay the first third of the anticipated fee (based on the first-year salary) at the start of the search.

This small upfront commitment isn’t just a financial transaction. It unlocks a whole new level of service, strategy and success.

2. A More Thorough, Structured, and Targeted Process

Retained Search allows us to conduct a far more robust and meticulous approach to identifying, assessing and securing top-tier talent.

You receive:

• Detailed market mapping

• Precision-targeted headhunting

• Structured assessment frameworks

• Candidate benchmarking

• Interview shortlist within guaranteed timelines

This isn’t about lobbing CVs over the fence. It’s about giving your business a competitive edge by engaging the best-fit talent—whether they’re actively looking or not.

3. Better for You. Better for Your Business

Hiring managers and internal teams are often stretched. Retained Search takes that pressure away by:

• Reducing time spent reviewing irrelevant CVs

• Ensuring all candidates are pre-qualified and aligned

• Providing a single point of contact for seamless updates

• Shielding your brand from overexposure in the market

Our clients repeatedly tell us that Retained Search is more efficient, more professional, and far less time-consuming.

4. A Stronger Employer Brand Experience

When multiple agencies compete to fill the same role, your message gets diluted. Worse—candidates are often approached multiple times with inconsistent information or tone.

This creates confusion, damages perception, and leads to a fragmented candidate experience.

By contrast, Retained Search means:

• One voice representing your brand

• One consultant handling the candidate journey

• One clear and consistent message to the market

The result? Stronger candidate engagement, better first impressions, and a more respected employer reputation.

5. A Guaranteed Result—Not Just an Attempt

Contingent search operates on a "no win, no fee" basis. That might sound attractive—until you realise it means:

• No commitment

• No accountability

• No priority

Retained Search flips this. You’re not buying CVs. You’re investing in a guaranteed solution.

Kilburn Jackson commits to filling your role. We don’t stop until we do.

Why Wouldn’t You?

When you consider:

• No difference in overall cost

• A more professional process

• A better experience for candidates

• A lighter load for your team

• And guaranteed delivery…

It’s hard to see why a business would not use Retained Search for its most difficult and vital roles.

At Kilburn Jackson, we make the process simple, strategic and successful.

Ready to Hire with Confidence?

If you’ve got a role that’s business-critical, hard to fill or too important to leave to chance—Retained Search is the way forward.

Let’s have a 20-minute conversation to explore how we can deliver a guaranteed result for your next senior or specialist hire in construction.

We’ll provide:

• A role analysis and market insight

• A clear plan of action

• Timelines and deliverables

No hard sell. Just smart strategy.