The Situation
Sigma Retail Solutions, a Yorkshire-based subcontractor in the retail fit-out and M&E space, needed to hire a Quantity Surveyor with specific M&E expertise. The problem? M&E QSs are a rare breed. Most aren’t actively looking and won’t engage with job ads or cold outreach. Despite advertising across LinkedIn and job boards, and using multiple agencies, Sigma couldn’t get traction. The risk was clear: a critical hire stalling project delivery.

What We Saw
Sigma’s approach was reliant on visibility — assuming the right QS would see their advert or respond to agency noise. But in M&E, the good people aren’t looking. What was really missing was access. The type of candidate they needed had to be approached with context, timing, and trust. We knew the problem wasn’t the role. It was the channel.

What We Did Differently
We started with a Navigation Meeting. No roles, no CVs — just straight-up market truth. We walked Sigma through current trends in QS hiring, what was driving rejection rates, and how the passive market was behaving. Then we activated our pipeline — built over months of candidate conversations. This wasn’t LinkedIn outreach. It was a call to someone who already trusted us.

The Result
Sigma filled their M&E QS role with someone who understood the business, aligned with the culture, and was excited to join. Both sides went in with eyes open and expectations aligned. No surprises. Just the right fit.

Client Voice
“We’ve used clearnorth for a couple of roles, and they’ve been filled with candidates we’d have never had access to otherwise.”

What This Proves
Niche hires don’t respond to noise. They respond to trust. If you haven’t been building the pipeline before the role goes live, you’re already behind. clearnorth wins because we don’t chase candidates.

We advise them — long before they move