Insignis
Insignis is a STEM-specialist recruitment consultancy that delivers contingent, retained, and managed workforce solutions in engineering, manufacturing, technology, and cyber security for enterprise and mid-market clients across the UK, US, and Switzerland.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2000
- HeadquartersPortsmouth, United Kingdom
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Insignis does
Insignis is a STEM-specialist recruitment consultancy operating as a niche brand within the privately-held STR Group. Following a 2022 rebranding that consolidated two legacy teams into a unified brand, the company provides talent solutions across engineering, manufacturing, technology, and IT and cyber security sectors. It serves enterprise and mid-market clients in aerospace and defence, automotive R&D, oil and gas, power and energy, consumer electronics, housing, and property services, anchored by long-tenured accounts such as a 7+ year managed service programme with Shawcor and preferred-supplier-list status with BAE Maritime Services.
The company's service portfolio comprises eight revenue-generating lines: contingent recruitment, retained (exclusive executive) search, engaged search with a 20 working-day candidate delivery commitment, exclusive projects, statement-of-work STEM project delivery, international recruitment (including E-2 visa-enabled UK-to-US mobility), managed service provider programmes for contingent and temporary workforce outsourcing, and market insights (competitive intelligence and salary benchmarking). Insignis operates from three offices — Portsmouth UK as headquarters, Troy Michigan USA, and Baar Switzerland (trading as STR AG) — generating revenue primarily through placement transaction fees, tiered retainers on executive search mandates, and managed service fees on outsourced workforce programmes. The go-to-market is consultative and sales-led, with dedicated account managers engaging directly with hiring managers and HR teams; no retail or self-serve channel exists.
Insignis's competitive positioning rests on domain specialization in STEM disciplines and on an exclusive Make UK partnership, through which it is the only recruitment brand within STR Group affiliated with Make UK. The underlying capability is consultant expertise, candidate databases, and recruitment process infrastructure rather than proprietary technology or AI tooling. Internally, the firm operates a Training Academy for new recruits and a Leadership Academy for career progression, supported by a high-achiever incentive programme and an Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Board across the STR Group brands.
Insignis firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Insignis
- Legal name
- Insignis
- Website
- https://insignistalent.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2000
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Insignis is a STEM-specialist recruitment consultancy that delivers contingent, retained, and managed workforce solutions in engineering, manufacturing, technology, and cyber security for enterprise and mid-market clients across the UK, US, and Switzerland.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Insignis industry classification
Industry- Product category
- STEM Recruitment Services
- NAICS
- Employment Placement Agencies (561311)
- SIC
- Services-Employment Agencies (7361), Services-Help Supply Services (7363)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Remote & Global/Multilingual Direct Hire (BPACAFAO)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Onboarding, Offboarding & Employee Lifecycle Administration (BPACAHAL), Immigration Outsourcing & Managed Services (BPO/RPO for Immigration) (THACAKAM)
Keywords
Where Insignis is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Portsmouth
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices3 records
Markets served
Insignis business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Recruitment Services - Contingent: End-to-end contingent recruitment service for permanent and contract positions. Fees are charged only when a candidate is successfully placed, mitigating client risk.
- Recruitment Services - Retained Search: Confidential end-to-end executive search solution. Typically involves an upfront fee, payment upon candidate shortlist production, and final payment upon successful placement. Works exclusively with clients on specific senior or niche roles.
- Managed Service Provider (MSP) Services: Managed programmes providing company-wide approach to recruitment of permanent, contract, and temporary staff. On-site account management handles sourcing, screening, onboarding, and daily workforce management for project-based clients.
- Statement of Work: Delivery of STEM-related projects within defined scope, timescale, and budget. Project-based professional services engagement.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | IT Team Leader role: £35,000 - £45,000 base salary with uncapped commission up to 30% |
| Subscription | Monthly | Engineering Recruitment Consultant: £24,000 base salary |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Client recruitment services - fee structure not publicly disclosed |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels7 records
Insignis product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Insignis is a B2B STEM-specialist recruitment consultancy providing permanent, contract, and temporary talent solutions across Engineering, Manufacturing, and Technology sectors. The firm delivers eight core service lines: International Recruitment, Retained Search, Engaged Search, Exclusive Projects, Statement of Work, Contingent Services, Market Insights, and Managed Programmes (MSP). Services span local and international staffing for sectors including aerospace, defence, automotive, IT/cyber security, oil & gas, and power & energy.
Product overview
Insignis, established in 2000 and operating as part of the STR Group, is a STEM-specialist recruitment organization offering a comprehensive suite of talent solutions across Engineering, Manufacturing and Technology sectors. The company's portfolio consists of eight core service offerings: International Recruitment (cross-border and in-country hiring), Retained Search (exclusive headhunting), Engaged Search (20-day candidate delivery commitment), Exclusive Projects (bespoke recruitment programmes), Statement of Work (STEM project delivery), Contingent Services (contract/permanent recruitment), Market Insights (competitive intelligence), and Managed Programmes (enterprise workforce solutions). Supporting these client-facing services, Insignis operates internal development programmes including the Training Academy for new recruits and Leadership Academy for career progression. The company also offers specialized E-2 visa services for international talent mobility between the UK and US markets.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- International Recruitment
Quantifiable outcome
- Managed workforce scaling for 7+ years for Shawcor
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Insignis
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Insignis technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Insignis partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- MakeUK DefencecoreStrengthening of partnership with MakeUK Defence reinforcing commitment to the UK's defence supply chain sector. As a trusted talent partner in engineering, defence and technology, this collaboration places Insignis at the heart of an industry driving innovation and resilience. The partnership provides market insights, thought-leadership content, and recruitment expertise to help members navigate skills shortages.
- MakeUKcoreMakeUK is the leading voice of the UK manufacturing industry. Insignis is the only recruitment company, as one of STR's niche brands, to be partnered with MakeUK. This partnership evidences the depth and commitment to and expertise within the Technology, Engineering and Manufacturing sectors. As a Make UK Advantages Partner, Insignis supports the manufacturing community through market-leading consultancy and talent solutions.
- STR GroupcoreInsignis is a niche brand within the STR Group, a broader STEM recruitment organization. STR Group provides corporate infrastructure, shared services, and brand portfolio management. Insignis underwent successful rebranding uniting two teams to form the combined brand.
- Smallpeice TrustminorCharitable partnership through STR Group for STEM education initiatives. Partners with MakeUK and Smallpeice Trust to bring STEM skills to life for students during National Manufacturing Day events.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights7 records
Insignis competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Hays plc: Global FTSE-listed recruitment group with extensive UK presence across engineering, technology and professional services — broader portfolio but overlapping in many of Insignis's target skill verticals.
- Adecco Group: Global staffing leader operating in the UK across engineering, IT and industrial staffing through brands like Adecco and Modis — a much larger incumbent competing for Insignis's enterprise clients.
- Robert Half: Global specialist recruiter with established UK footprint in technology, engineering and professional support — competes for similar enterprise mandates but at significantly larger scale.
- Reed Technology: Established UK recruitment group with technology and engineering practices serving enterprise clients — broader portfolio but directly overlapping with Insignis's technology recruitment offering.
- Michael Page: Listed global professional recruiter with strong UK technology and engineering desks; competes for mid-market and enterprise mandates in the same verticals as Insignis though with broader coverage.
Direct peers
- Morson Group: UK-headquartered engineering and technical recruiter with strong defence, aerospace and rail exposure; overlaps directly with Insignis's engineering/manufacturing focus and managed service offering.
- Computer Futures: Specialist technology and engineering recruiter with deep UK presence serving IT, cyber and engineering hires — directly comparable in Insignis's technology and cyber security segment.
- SThree: London-listed STEM specialist recruiter with similar engineering, technology and life sciences focus across permanent and contract placements — the closest direct UK-listed comparable for Insignis's niche STEM placement model.
- Cobalt Recruitment: UK-based specialist recruiter focused on property, construction, engineering and technology — overlapping with Insignis's engineering/manufacturing and corporate accounts segments.
- Gattaca: UK-listed specialist engineering and technology recruiter (now part of Morson) with overlapping sectors in aerospace, defence, energy and infrastructure — highly comparable business model and customer base to Insignis.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Insignis social profiles
Digital presenceInsignis financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Insignis leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
Insignis funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Insignis M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Insignis
What does Insignis do?
Insignis is a B2B STEM-specialist recruitment consultancy providing permanent, contract, and temporary talent solutions across Engineering, Manufacturing, and Technology sectors. The firm delivers eight core service lines: International Recruitment, Retained Search, Engaged Search, Exclusive Projects, Statement of Work, Contingent Services, Market Insights, and Managed Programmes (MSP). Services span local and international staffing for sectors including aerospace, defence, automotive, IT/cyber security, oil & gas, and power & energy.
Is Insignis a public or private company?
Insignis is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Insignis founded?
Insignis was founded in 2000. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Insignis based?
Insignis is headquartered in Portsmouth, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Insignis make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Recruitment Services - Contingent is the primary driver. The others are recruitment Services - Retained Search, managed Service Provider (MSP) Services and statement of Work.
Who are Insignis's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Hays plc, Adecco Group, Robert Half, Reed Technology and Michael Page. Direct peers are Morson Group, Computer Futures, SThree, Cobalt Recruitment and Gattaca.
Does Insignis have an API?
No public API is recorded for Insignis.
What industry is Insignis in?
Insignis's product category is STEM Recruitment Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPACAFAO, Remote & Global/Multilingual Direct Hire, with a secondary code of BPACAHAL, Onboarding, Offboarding & Employee Lifecycle Administration. Its NAICS code is 561311 and its SIC code is 7361.