What Xcede does

Xcede is a London-headquartered specialist technology recruitment firm founded in 2003 that provides permanent placement, contract and freelance talent, managed service provider (MSP), and executive search services. The company is organized around six technology verticals — Data, AI & Machine Learning, Product, Software, Cloud, and Cyber — with vertical-specialist consultants sourcing talent across each discipline. It serves clients ranging from pioneering start-ups to global enterprise brands, with disclosed exposure to financial services and fintech, and operates from offices in London, Cape Town, and Miami with global delivery scope. Adam Blaney was appointed CEO in February 2026 after six years on the leadership team.

The company's core capability is recruiter expertise, market knowledge, and candidate networks rather than a proprietary technology product. Its infrastructure includes a candidate CV upload portal, a self-serve job board, a Contractor Zone timesheet management platform, and an annual UK Salary Guide published as a market intelligence product. The firm has maintained Feefo Platinum Trusted Service status for five consecutive years and pursues sustainability credentials through its Ethy partnership.

Xcede's revenue model is primarily transaction-fee based, charging placement fees on permanent hires and margin on contract engagements, supplemented by managed service fees and executive search retainers. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed; contract day rates observed in job listings range from £450-£600 for senior cyber specialists. Go-to-market is sales-led, with vertical specialist consultants supported by content marketing (insights blog, salary guide), SEO-driven job listings, CSR partnerships, and direct client engagement through submit-a-brief workflows.

Name

Xcede

Legal name

Xcede

Website

https://xcede.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Xcede is a London-based technology recruitment specialist founded in 2003, providing permanent, contract, MSP, and executive search services across Data, AI/ML, Product, Software, Cloud, and Cyber verticals to start-ups, fintech firms, and global enterprise brands.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Technology Recruitment Services

NAICS

Employment Placement Agencies (561311)

SIC

Services-Employment Agencies (7361)

akta.pro primary industry

General Permanent Placement (Multi-Industry) (BPACAFAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Agent of Record (AOR) / Contractor Engagement Services (BPACAGAB)

Keywords

• Technology recruitment services
• Talent acquisition
• Executive search
• Contract staffing
• Managed service provider

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Permanent Talent Acquisition: Fees for successful placement of permanent technology professionals into client organizations. The company recruits across Data, AI & ML, Product, Software, Cloud, and Cyber specialisms for roles ranging from individual contributors to executive level.
2. Freelance/Contract Talent Solutions: Placement of contract and freelance STEM professionals across all verticals, providing organizations with flexible talent solutions for short-term and long-term project-based needs.
3. Managed Service Provider (MSP): Comprehensive managed services for organizations requiring ongoing contingent workforce management across technology disciplines.
4. Executive Search: Retained search services for senior and executive-level technology leadership positions.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Xcede is a specialist technology recruitment firm that sources and places permanent, contract, and executive-level talent across six vertical specialisms: Data, AI & Machine Learning, Product, Software, Cloud, and Cyber. The firm operates multiple engagement models including permanent placement, freelance/contract staffing, managed service provider (MSP) outsourcing, and executive search, serving clients from start-ups to global brands across Europe and selected international markets.

Product overview

Xcede is a global technology recruitment specialist founded in 2003, offering a platform of specialist recruitment services organized by technology vertical (Data, AI & Machine Learning, Product, Software, Cloud, Cyber) combined with multiple service delivery models (Freelance/contract talent, Permanent placement, Professional services, MSP, Executive Search). The company operates as a unified recruitment service with vertical specialists who source talent across specific technology disciplines, supported by a Contractor Zone portal for timesheet management and the annual UK Salary Guide research publication.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Data Recruitment Services

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Alzheimer's SocietyminorOthers · 1 January 2026Charity of the Year partnership for 2026, supporting Alzheimer's Society's mission to create a future where dementia no longer devastates lives. Annual target of £5,000 with team events throughout the year to raise funds and awareness.
• EthycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerXcede partners with Ethy, a pioneering organization dedicated to advancing sustainable and ethical initiatives. Ethy provides a sustainability awareness solution that verifies commitment to UN Sustainable Development Goals and aims to combat greenwashing. Through this partnership, Xcede has earned three verified badges: Empowered Employees, Community Champion, and Gives to Charity. The partnership helps Xcede make responsible choices in sourcing, labour practices, and reducing environmental impact.
• EthycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerXcede partners with Ethy for sustainability and ethics. This collaboration demonstrates Xcede's commitment to advancing sustainable and ethical initiatives as an integral part of their CSR strategy since 2015.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• SThree plc: London-listed specialist STEM recruiter operating across technology, life sciences and engineering with permanent and contract models. Highly comparable in vertical specialization (Data, AI, Software) and European footprint.
• Computer Futures: Specialist technology recruiter (part of SThree) covering Data, Cloud, AI and Software verticals on a permanent and contract basis. Closely overlaps with Xcede's vertical focus and UK/European footprint.
• Hays plc: Global publicly listed recruitment group with a substantial technology and digital practice across permanent and contract placements in the UK and Europe. Directly comparable in service mix and geography, though Hays is significantly larger and broader in vertical coverage.
• Reed Technology: UK-based generalist recruitment firm with a sizeable technology division covering permanent and contract tech hires. Comparable on the permanent placement side, though less vertically specialized than Xcede.
• PSD Group: UK-headquartered specialist technology and digital recruitment firm offering permanent, contract and executive search services. Directly comparable in size, vertical focus and UK enterprise client base.
• Investigo: UK-based professional services recruitment firm with technology, finance and change practice. Comparable as a mid-sized specialist recruiter serving similar enterprise and mid-market clients in the UK.
• Michael Page Technology: UK-listed PageGroup division focused on technology permanent placements across mid-to-senior roles. Directly competes with Xcede in the UK tech permanent market with comparable fee-based model.
• Harvey Nash Group: UK-headquartered technology recruitment and outsourcing firm offering permanent, contract and MSP services across technology verticals. Closely comparable business model and target client base to Xcede.

Broad incumbents

• Robert Half: Global publicly listed staffing and consulting firm with a significant technology practice. Overlaps with Xcede in technology permanent and contract placement but operates as a much broader generalist staffing platform.

Emerging players

• Opus Talent Solutions: Boutique recruiter with technology and digital specialisms across permanent and contract placements in the UK and select international markets. Comparable mid-sized competitor with overlapping vertical coverage in tech.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/XcedeDigital

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Xcede