GatenbySanderson

What GatenbySanderson does

GatenbySanderson is a UK-based executive search and leadership advisory firm founded in 2003 and headquartered in Leeds, with additional offices in London and Manchester. The firm operates across four integrated service lines: Executive Search (permanent C-suite and board placements), Interim Leadership (temporary executive deployment during transformation), Leadership & Talent Consultancy (assessment, coaching, and development programmes built around its proprietary Altitude model for public sector leadership), and Board Practice (effectiveness reviews and non-executive director recruitment). It serves central and local government, NHS trusts, housing associations, universities, further education colleges, charities, and cultural organisations, with deep sector specialisation spanning more than 20 vertical practices including Housing, Education, Health, Local Government, Digital/Data/Technology, Not for Profit, and Arts/Culture/Heritage.

The firm's go-to-market is enterprise field sales, with senior practice leads and partners engaging directly with executive and board-level buyers. Distribution is reinforced by approved-supplier status across multiple government procurement frameworks, including Crown Commercial Service, ESPO, LGRP, the Irish Office of Government Procurement, and Government Campus (formerly Civil Service Learning). Its revenue model is professional services: quote-based, negotiated per engagement, with revenue streams spanning placement fees, interim day-rate margins, and consultancy/coaching programmes. The business is privately held, founder or management-owned, and operates without external venture or private equity backing.

Recent strategic positioning is anchored in flagship programmes such as LeadershipNOW! (a UNIFY partnership targeting ethnically diverse leadership in housing), the Department for Education-funded Aspiring Directors Programme (now in its seventh year), and the Pride in Leadership series. The firm has accumulated measurable sector credentials — 61 CEO, 148 Executive Director, 33 Board Chair, and 238 Non-Executive Director placements in housing alone since 2016 — alongside operational scale of 4,000+ candidates interviewed annually and 130+ diverse leaders placed per year. Net Promoter Scores of +73 (candidate experience) and +87 (Leadership & Talent Consultancy) and 2024 external recognition from KPMG and EY indicate strong client outcomes, though the firm discloses no AI/ML capabilities beyond standard productivity tooling.

Name

GatenbySanderson

Legal name

GatenbySanderson Limited

Website

https://gatenbysanderson.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

GatenbySanderson is a UK-based executive search and leadership advisory firm serving central and local government, NHS, housing associations, universities, and not-for-profit organisations with permanent search, interim leadership, board practice, and consulting services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Leeds

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Executive Search: Permanent leadership recruitment services for identifying and placing senior executives, board members, and C-level leaders across public sector, not-for-profit, and education organizations.
2. Interim Leadership: Temporary executive placement services providing organizations with strategic leadership during periods of change, transformation, or transition.
3. Leadership & Talent Consultancy: Integrated leadership development programmes, executive coaching, assessment services, and organisational development consulting supporting individuals and organizations long after recruitment.
4. Board Practice Services: Board effectiveness reviews, board development programmes, and non-executive director placements.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

GatenbySanderson is a UK executive search and people advisory firm delivering permanent C-level and board recruitment, interim executive placements, and leadership development and assessment services. Its work is focused on public services, not-for-profit, and education organisations, supported by sector-specialised practices spanning central government, local government, NHS, housing, higher education, and digital/technology leadership.

Product overview

GatenbySanderson is a people advisory firm offering three integrated service lines: Executive Search (permanent leadership recruitment), Interim Leadership (temporary executive placements), and Leadership & Talent Consultancy (assessment and development). The core offering is complemented by sector-specific practices covering Housing, Higher Education, Local Government, Digital Data & Technology, Central Government, Health, Not for Profit, and other public sector domains. Their flagship products include LeadershipNOW! (housing sector diversity program), the Pride in Leadership series, the Academic Leaders Peer Network, and the Aspiring DCS Programme for children's services leadership. The firm delivers bespoke executive coaching programs and interview skills training, supported by organizational psychology expertise and the Altitude assessment model designed for public sector leadership.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Executive Search Permanent leadership recruitment service identifying and placing senior executives, board members, and C-level leaders across public services, not-for-profit, and education sectors.
• Interim Leadership Temporary executive placement service providing organisations with interim leaders who have the experience to deliver transformative agendas during periods of change, transition, or crisis.
• Leadership & Talent Consultancy Integrated consultancy practice supporting individuals and organisations with organisational psychology, behavioural insight, objective assessment, and leadership development programmes, using the Altitude model designed specifically for public sector leadership.
• Board Practice Services Board effectiveness reviews, board development programmes, and non-executive director placements for public sector, not-for-profit, and education organisations.
• Executive Coaching Bespoke coaching programmes tailored to challenges faced by different leaders, including dedicated tracks for Executive Coaching, New CEO, Women in Leadership, and Leaders from Diverse Communities.
• Academic Leaders Peer Network Monthly online peer support network for Heads of Academic Schools and Departments providing collaboration, knowledge sharing, and networking opportunities to support and enhance their leadership roles.
• Interview Skills Training One-day assessment masterclass providing interviewers with tools and expertise to run effective, consistent, and inclusive interviews, incorporating best-practice assessment and organisational psychology.
• LeadershipNOW! Flagship leadership development programme delivered in partnership with UNIFY, providing coaching, development, career support, and peer networks for current and aspiring ethnically diverse leaders at senior levels in the housing sector.
• Aspiring Directors of Children's Services Programme Programme designed to grow the UK talent pool of future Directors of Children's Services, co-created and delivered by a consortium including The Staff College, Institute of Public Care, Skills for Care, and GatenbySanderson, funded by the Department for Education.

Quantifiable outcome

• 61 Chief Executive appointments in Housing sector since 2016
• +9 more outcomes

Named customers21 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• UNIFYcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with UNIFY to deliver LeadershipNOW!, a flagship leadership development programme designed to address systemic under-representation of ethnically diverse leaders at senior levels in the housing sector. The programme provides coaching, development, career support, and peer networks for current and aspiring leaders.
• The Staff CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConsortium partner in the Aspiring Directors Programme, co-created and delivered to grow the UK's talent pool of future Directors of Children's Services. Funded by the Department for Education, now in its seventh year.
• Institute of Public CarecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConsortium partner in the Aspiring Directors Programme for developing future Directors of Children's Services, funded by the Department for Education.
• Skills for CarecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConsortium partner in the Aspiring Directors Programme for developing future Directors of Children's Services, funded by the Department for Education.
• Department for EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment funder of the Aspiring Directors Programme, which is co-created and delivered by consortium partners including GatenbySanderson to develop future leaders in Children's Services.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Green Park: UK executive search and interim leadership firm focused on the public sector, not-for-profit, and diversity-led mandates — directly comparable in vertical focus, sector specialization, and leadership development offering.
• Saxton Bampfylde: UK-headquartered executive search firm with deep public services and not-for-profit practices; comparable in mission-driven leadership placement and UK-centric delivery model.
• Odgers Berndtson: International executive search with a substantial UK public sector practice across government, healthcare and education; comparable in serving senior public appointments but with broader international scale.
• Penna: UK HR consulting and executive search firm with a public sector and NFP focus; comparable in advisory-led search, leadership development, and public sector client base.
• Norman Broadbent: UK-listed executive search firm with public sector, NFP and board practice exposure; comparable in mid-sized UK search positioning and senior leadership mandates.
• Wilton & Bain: UK and European executive search firm covering public sector, NFP and regulated industries; comparable in senior public sector mandates and board advisory, with similar boutique positioning.

Broad incumbents

• Hays: Global recruitment firm with a large UK public sector practice; overlaps in executive search and talent advisory but operates as a generalist at much greater scale.
• Korn Ferry: Global leadership consulting and executive search firm; comparable in executive search and leadership development services but operates at far broader scale across all sectors.
• Heidrick & Struggles: Global executive search firm with public sector and education practices; comparable in C-suite and board placement but with broader international footprint and scale.
• Spencer Stuart: Global executive search firm with board practice and significant public services experience; comparable in board effectiveness and C-level search but at global scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/gatenbysanderson
• Xx.com/gatenbys

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

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 GatenbySanderson