
Our Services
Direct Recruitment
Specialist search at 10% of first-year salary + VAT, not the 20-25% agencies charge.
Summary
Direct recruitment is how we fill your hardest roles alongside a Fractional Head of Talent retainer or an International Team Build project. When a role needs targeted search, we find, approach and introduce candidates ourselves. You only pay a fee, 10% of first-year salary + VAT, if you hire someone we sourced. Inbound applicants and your team's referrals are always covered.
What This Service Includes
Specialist search for your hardest technical and leadership roles, priced fairly and reported openly.
Targeted Search: headhunting across the primes, research labs, big tech and competitors.
Specialist Screening: candidates assessed against your scorecard before you meet them.
Candidate Management: we keep candidates engaged through interviews, vetting and notice periods.
Transparent Fees: 10% of first-year salary + VAT, only on candidates we introduce, with every hire's source shown in your weekly report.
Replacement Guarantee: direct hires come with a 12-week replacement guarantee.
Why It Matters
Agencies are paid per hire, so they are paid to fill roles, not to fix how you hire. Because you already work with us on a retainer or project, we can recruit directly at a fraction of agency fees without any conflict of interest. You get the reach of a specialist recruiter and a hiring process that stays with you.
Struggling to Fill a Critical Role?
Specialist search for senior and hard-to-fill technical roles, run by people who know your sector and the candidates in it.
Fahad McCann
Founder & Director of Talent

Testimonials
What Our Candidates Say
"Working with Fahad was very pleasant. He helped me secure a job very quickly, and he was all very supportive throughout the process and beyond. I highly recommend Fahad as a recruiter!"
Jorge P
Senior Data Scientist & AI Engineer
"It has been great to work with Fahad to secure my next role. He has been professional, helpful and friendly in all engagements. I would highly recommend Fahad and hope to work with him again in the future."
Chris W
Defence Programme Director
"Fahad is fantastic to work with, proficient, organised and a genuinely fantastic recruiter. I thoroughly recommend to anyone to work with Fahad."
Sathish G
Senior Software Safety Assurance Consultant
"Fahad has provided me with an excellent candidate experience. He was highly responsive to messages and kept me updated throughout the process. He provided a truly tailored and considerate care and ensured I was fully informed at all times."
Sara A
Leadership Director
"I have had the pleasure to work with Fahad in helping to secure me a role. He was a joy to work with, always explaining what is going. This just made the whole process very easy. He clearly cares about what he does and his clients."
Soyab N
Agile Delivery Lead
"Working with Fahad was very pleasant. He helped me secure a job very quickly, and he was all very supportive throughout the process and beyond. I highly recommend Fahad as a recruiter!"
Jorge P
Senior Data Scientist & AI Engineer
"It has been great to work with Fahad to secure my next role. He has been professional, helpful and friendly in all engagements. I would highly recommend Fahad and hope to work with him again in the future."
Chris W
Defence Programme Director
"Fahad is fantastic to work with, proficient, organised and a genuinely fantastic recruiter. I thoroughly recommend to anyone to work with Fahad."
Sathish G
Senior Software Safety Assurance Consultant
"Fahad has provided me with an excellent candidate experience. He was highly responsive to messages and kept me updated throughout the process. He provided a truly tailored and considerate care and ensured I was fully informed at all times."
Sara A
Leadership Director
"I have had the pleasure to work with Fahad in helping to secure me a role. He was a joy to work with, always explaining what is going. This just made the whole process very easy. He clearly cares about what he does and his clients."
Soyab N
Agile Delivery Lead
"Working with Fahad was very pleasant. He helped me secure a job very quickly, and he was all very supportive throughout the process and beyond. I highly recommend Fahad as a recruiter!"
Jorge P
Senior Data Scientist & AI Engineer
"It has been great to work with Fahad to secure my next role. He has been professional, helpful and friendly in all engagements. I would highly recommend Fahad and hope to work with him again in the future."
Chris W
Defence Programme Director
"Fahad is fantastic to work with, proficient, organised and a genuinely fantastic recruiter. I thoroughly recommend to anyone to work with Fahad."
Sathish G
Senior Software Safety Assurance Consultant
"Fahad has provided me with an excellent candidate experience. He was highly responsive to messages and kept me updated throughout the process. He provided a truly tailored and considerate care and ensured I was fully informed at all times."
Sara A
Leadership Director
"I have had the pleasure to work with Fahad in helping to secure me a role. He was a joy to work with, always explaining what is going. This just made the whole process very easy. He clearly cares about what he does and his clients."
Soyab N
Agile Delivery Lead
"Working with Fahad was very pleasant. He helped me secure a job very quickly, and he was all very supportive throughout the process and beyond. I highly recommend Fahad as a recruiter!"
Jorge P
Senior Data Scientist & AI Engineer
"It has been great to work with Fahad to secure my next role. He has been professional, helpful and friendly in all engagements. I would highly recommend Fahad and hope to work with him again in the future."
Chris W
Defence Programme Director
"Fahad is fantastic to work with, proficient, organised and a genuinely fantastic recruiter. I thoroughly recommend to anyone to work with Fahad."
Sathish G
Senior Software Safety Assurance Consultant
"Fahad has provided me with an excellent candidate experience. He was highly responsive to messages and kept me updated throughout the process. He provided a truly tailored and considerate care and ensured I was fully informed at all times."
Sara A
Leadership Director
"I have had the pleasure to work with Fahad in helping to secure me a role. He was a joy to work with, always explaining what is going. This just made the whole process very easy. He clearly cares about what he does and his clients."
Soyab N
Agile Delivery Lead
Testimonials
What Our Candidates Say
"Working with Fahad was very pleasant. He helped me secure a job very quickly, and he was all very supportive throughout the process and beyond. I highly recommend Fahad as a recruiter!"
Jorge P
Senior Data Scientist & AI Engineer
"It has been great to work with Fahad to secure my next role. He has been professional, helpful and friendly in all engagements. I would highly recommend Fahad and hope to work with him again in the future."
Chris W
Defence Programme Director
"Fahad is fantastic to work with, proficient, organised and a genuinely fantastic recruiter. I thoroughly recommend to anyone to work with Fahad."
Sathish G
Senior Software Safety Assurance Consultant
"Fahad has provided me with an excellent candidate experience. He was highly responsive to messages and kept me updated throughout the process. He provided a truly tailored and considerate care and ensured I was fully informed at all times."
Sara A
Leadership Director
"I have had the pleasure to work with Fahad in helping to secure me a role. He was a joy to work with, always explaining what is going. This just made the whole process very easy. He clearly cares about what he does and his clients."
Soyab N
Agile Delivery Lead
"Working with Fahad was very pleasant. He helped me secure a job very quickly, and he was all very supportive throughout the process and beyond. I highly recommend Fahad as a recruiter!"
Jorge P
Senior Data Scientist & AI Engineer
"It has been great to work with Fahad to secure my next role. He has been professional, helpful and friendly in all engagements. I would highly recommend Fahad and hope to work with him again in the future."
Chris W
Defence Programme Director
"Fahad is fantastic to work with, proficient, organised and a genuinely fantastic recruiter. I thoroughly recommend to anyone to work with Fahad."
Sathish G
Senior Software Safety Assurance Consultant
"Fahad has provided me with an excellent candidate experience. He was highly responsive to messages and kept me updated throughout the process. He provided a truly tailored and considerate care and ensured I was fully informed at all times."
Sara A
Leadership Director
"I have had the pleasure to work with Fahad in helping to secure me a role. He was a joy to work with, always explaining what is going. This just made the whole process very easy. He clearly cares about what he does and his clients."
Soyab N
Agile Delivery Lead
"Working with Fahad was very pleasant. He helped me secure a job very quickly, and he was all very supportive throughout the process and beyond. I highly recommend Fahad as a recruiter!"
Jorge P
Senior Data Scientist & AI Engineer
"It has been great to work with Fahad to secure my next role. He has been professional, helpful and friendly in all engagements. I would highly recommend Fahad and hope to work with him again in the future."
Chris W
Defence Programme Director
"Fahad is fantastic to work with, proficient, organised and a genuinely fantastic recruiter. I thoroughly recommend to anyone to work with Fahad."
Sathish G
Senior Software Safety Assurance Consultant
"Fahad has provided me with an excellent candidate experience. He was highly responsive to messages and kept me updated throughout the process. He provided a truly tailored and considerate care and ensured I was fully informed at all times."
Sara A
Leadership Director
"I have had the pleasure to work with Fahad in helping to secure me a role. He was a joy to work with, always explaining what is going. This just made the whole process very easy. He clearly cares about what he does and his clients."
Soyab N
Agile Delivery Lead
"Working with Fahad was very pleasant. He helped me secure a job very quickly, and he was all very supportive throughout the process and beyond. I highly recommend Fahad as a recruiter!"
Jorge P
Senior Data Scientist & AI Engineer
"It has been great to work with Fahad to secure my next role. He has been professional, helpful and friendly in all engagements. I would highly recommend Fahad and hope to work with him again in the future."
Chris W
Defence Programme Director
"Fahad is fantastic to work with, proficient, organised and a genuinely fantastic recruiter. I thoroughly recommend to anyone to work with Fahad."
Sathish G
Senior Software Safety Assurance Consultant
"Fahad has provided me with an excellent candidate experience. He was highly responsive to messages and kept me updated throughout the process. He provided a truly tailored and considerate care and ensured I was fully informed at all times."
Sara A
Leadership Director
"I have had the pleasure to work with Fahad in helping to secure me a role. He was a joy to work with, always explaining what is going. This just made the whole process very easy. He clearly cares about what he does and his clients."
Soyab N
Agile Delivery Lead
Testimonials
What Our Candidates Say
"Working with Fahad was very pleasant. He helped me secure a job very quickly, and he was all very supportive throughout the process and beyond. I highly recommend Fahad as a recruiter!"
Jorge P
Senior Data Scientist & AI Engineer
"It has been great to work with Fahad to secure my next role. He has been professional, helpful and friendly in all engagements. I would highly recommend Fahad and hope to work with him again in the future."
Chris W
Defence Programme Director
"Fahad is fantastic to work with, proficient, organised and a genuinely fantastic recruiter. I thoroughly recommend to anyone to work with Fahad."
Sathish G
Senior Software Safety Assurance Consultant
"Fahad has provided me with an excellent candidate experience. He was highly responsive to messages and kept me updated throughout the process. He provided a truly tailored and considerate care and ensured I was fully informed at all times."
Sara A
Leadership Director
"I have had the pleasure to work with Fahad in helping to secure me a role. He was a joy to work with, always explaining what is going. This just made the whole process very easy. He clearly cares about what he does and his clients."
Soyab N
Agile Delivery Lead
"Working with Fahad was very pleasant. He helped me secure a job very quickly, and he was all very supportive throughout the process and beyond. I highly recommend Fahad as a recruiter!"
Jorge P
Senior Data Scientist & AI Engineer
"It has been great to work with Fahad to secure my next role. He has been professional, helpful and friendly in all engagements. I would highly recommend Fahad and hope to work with him again in the future."
Chris W
Defence Programme Director
"Fahad is fantastic to work with, proficient, organised and a genuinely fantastic recruiter. I thoroughly recommend to anyone to work with Fahad."
Sathish G
Senior Software Safety Assurance Consultant
"Fahad has provided me with an excellent candidate experience. He was highly responsive to messages and kept me updated throughout the process. He provided a truly tailored and considerate care and ensured I was fully informed at all times."
Sara A
Leadership Director
"I have had the pleasure to work with Fahad in helping to secure me a role. He was a joy to work with, always explaining what is going. This just made the whole process very easy. He clearly cares about what he does and his clients."
Soyab N
Agile Delivery Lead
"Working with Fahad was very pleasant. He helped me secure a job very quickly, and he was all very supportive throughout the process and beyond. I highly recommend Fahad as a recruiter!"
Jorge P
Senior Data Scientist & AI Engineer
"It has been great to work with Fahad to secure my next role. He has been professional, helpful and friendly in all engagements. I would highly recommend Fahad and hope to work with him again in the future."
Chris W
Defence Programme Director
"Fahad is fantastic to work with, proficient, organised and a genuinely fantastic recruiter. I thoroughly recommend to anyone to work with Fahad."
Sathish G
Senior Software Safety Assurance Consultant
"Fahad has provided me with an excellent candidate experience. He was highly responsive to messages and kept me updated throughout the process. He provided a truly tailored and considerate care and ensured I was fully informed at all times."
Sara A
Leadership Director
"I have had the pleasure to work with Fahad in helping to secure me a role. He was a joy to work with, always explaining what is going. This just made the whole process very easy. He clearly cares about what he does and his clients."
Soyab N
Agile Delivery Lead
"Working with Fahad was very pleasant. He helped me secure a job very quickly, and he was all very supportive throughout the process and beyond. I highly recommend Fahad as a recruiter!"
Jorge P
Senior Data Scientist & AI Engineer
"It has been great to work with Fahad to secure my next role. He has been professional, helpful and friendly in all engagements. I would highly recommend Fahad and hope to work with him again in the future."
Chris W
Defence Programme Director
"Fahad is fantastic to work with, proficient, organised and a genuinely fantastic recruiter. I thoroughly recommend to anyone to work with Fahad."
Sathish G
Senior Software Safety Assurance Consultant
"Fahad has provided me with an excellent candidate experience. He was highly responsive to messages and kept me updated throughout the process. He provided a truly tailored and considerate care and ensured I was fully informed at all times."
Sara A
Leadership Director
"I have had the pleasure to work with Fahad in helping to secure me a role. He was a joy to work with, always explaining what is going. This just made the whole process very easy. He clearly cares about what he does and his clients."
Soyab N
Agile Delivery Lead
Get Started
Ready to Fix How You Hire?
Book a free discovery call. We'll talk through your plans and open roles, then recommend the right way for White Onyx to help.

Get Started
Ready to Fix How You Hire?
Book a free discovery call. We'll talk through your plans and open roles, then recommend the right way for White Onyx to help.

Get Started
Ready to Fix How You Hire?
Book a free discovery call. We'll talk through your plans and open roles, then recommend the right way for White Onyx to help.

