Holt Executive Ltd
Holt Executive Ltd is a UK-based specialist recruitment firm placing engineering and professional service talent across Space, SATCOM, Aerospace & Defence, and Commercial Aviation sectors, serving clients from SMEs to global blue-chips via contingent search, executive search, embedded talent acquisition, and advisory services.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2016
- HeadquartersBournemouth, United Kingdom
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Holt Executive Ltd does
Holt Executive Ltd (legal entity: Holt Executive Recruitment Ltd) is a UK-based specialist recruitment firm founded in 2016 as part of The Holt Recruitment Group. The company recruits professional service and engineering talent exclusively for the Space, SATCOM, Aerospace & Defence, and Commercial Aviation sectors, placing candidates from entry-level through to Senior Vice President across geographies including the UK, the United States, and EMEA. Its core offerings are split into four service lines: Contingent Search (success-based placements with no upfront cost), Executive & Specialist Search (retained mandates for senior and niche roles including SC/DV-cleared defence positions), Embedded Talent Acquisition (recruiters placed inside client organizations as an extension of in-house talent functions), and Talent Advisory & Transformation (talent audits and full talent-function design). Named clients include Inmarsat, Viasat, Astroscale, Panasonic Avionics, Leonardo, OneWeb, L3Harris, Chess Dynamics, Telespazio, and L3 Commercial Aviation, alongside a long tail of SMEs.
The business operates as a private, founder-led professional services firm. Its only known director is Co-Founder Daniel Barrett, who previously worked as a B2B marketer at Vodafone and British Telecom, supported by Talent Partner Julie Hyam. Headcount is in the 1-10 range, with all operations run from the Bournemouth headquarters (Melbury House, 1-3 Oxford Road). The company is registered with the UK Information Commissioner's Office (Data Protection Act 1998, Registration Number ZA383940) but has no external institutional investment, no subsidiaries, and no disclosure of revenue. Distribution is direct and consultative, supported by a multi-channel presence including a website, LinkedIn, X/Twitter, an industry news and insights blog, a newsletter, and in-person participation in events such as UK Space Conference, Space Tech Expo Europe, MRO Europe, and ASCEND. In 2025 the firm won Gold for Best Place to Work at the Bournemouth Local Business Awards.
Revenue mechanics are entirely fee-based, with pricing negotiated directly with clients and not publicly disclosed. The mix spans contingent (no upfront fee, paid on placement) and retained models (typical for executive and specialist mandates), with embedded and advisory services adding recurring or project-based revenue. The pricing model is "Other" (quote-based) and contracts are multi-year in some cases. Technology is not a core capability; the job-search platform is a standard candidate portal rather than a proprietary AI-driven matching engine, and the firm's competitive edge rests on domain specialization, candidate networks, and sector-specific expertise rather than software.
Holt Executive Ltd firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Holt Executive Ltd
- Legal name
- Holt Executive Recruitment Ltd
- Website
- https://holtexecutive.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2016
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Holt Executive Ltd is a UK-based specialist recruitment firm placing engineering and professional service talent across Space, SATCOM, Aerospace & Defence, and Commercial Aviation sectors, serving clients from SMEs to global blue-chips via contingent search, executive search, embedded talent acquisition, and advisory services.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Holt Executive Ltd industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Executive Recruitment Services
- NAICS
- Employment Placement Agencies and Executive Search Services (56131), Executive Search Services (561312), Employment Placement Agencies (561311), Management Consulting Services (54161)
- SIC
- Services-Employment Agencies (7361), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Professional & Technical Direct Hire (IT, Engineering, Finance, Healthcare) (BPACAFAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Functional Leadership Search (HR/Finance/Legal/Marketing/Sales/Ops) (BPACAAAB), C-Suite & Board Search (BPACAAAA), Confidential/Replacement & Succession Search (BPACAAAK)
Keywords
Where Holt Executive Ltd is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Bournemouth
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Holt Executive Ltd business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Recruitment and Talent Acquisition Services: Holt Executive generates revenue through professional recruitment services, including contingent search (success-based placement with no upfront cost), executive and specialist search (retained search for senior/niche roles), embedded talent acquisition (integrated on-site recruitment support), and advisory & transformation services. They place candidates ranging from entry-level to senior vice presidents across their specialist sectors.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Others | Multi-year contract | Recruitment services for employers seeking talent |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels6 records
Holt Executive Ltd product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Holt Executive provides specialist executive and technical recruitment services exclusively within the Space, SATCOM, Aerospace & Defence, and Commercial Aviation sectors. Its core services include contingent search (success-based placements with no upfront cost), executive and specialist search (retained search for senior and niche roles, including SC/DV-cleared candidates), embedded talent acquisition (in-house style on-site recruitment support), and talent advisory & transformation consulting. Placements span entry-level through Senior Vice President.
Product overview
Holt Executive Ltd operates as a specialized recruitment firm offering a unified suite of talent acquisition services rather than a software product platform. The core offerings include Contingent Search Service, Executive & Specialist Search Service, Embedded Talent Acquisition Service, and Talent Advisory & Transformation Service. These services are complemented by a Candidate Job Search Platform. The company focuses exclusively on placing candidates within the Space, SATCOM, Aerospace & Defence, and Commercial Aviation sectors, serving organizations from SMEs to global blue-chip companies.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Contingent Search Service A success-based recruitment service with no upfront cost that carefully matches candidates to specific roles for client organizations, saving time and resources while presenting qualified candidates who align with organizational culture across Space, SATCOM, Aerospace & Defence, and Commercial Aviation sectors.
- Executive & Specialist Search Service A highly targeted, retained recruitment approach for sourcing top-tier professionals for leadership or niche roles, including sensitive searches with discreet and confidential processes and placement of candidates with SC/DV security clearance.
- Embedded Talent Acquisition Service An in-house style talent support service where Holt Executive talent partners work within client organizations as an integral part of their teams, handling recruitment and broader HR functions including onboarding, workforce planning, and employee retention.
- Talent Advisory & Transformation Service A forward-thinking talent management consulting offering that includes talent audits, single-solution advisory for specific areas, and full transformation services including creating entire talent functions from scratch for client organizations.
- Job Search Platform An online job board and search platform allowing candidates to search and filter vacancies across Space, SATCOM, Aerospace & Defence, and Commercial Aviation sectors, with job registration and application functionality, complemented by a CV registration process.
Quantifiable outcome
- No cost to candidates for recruitment services
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Holt Executive Ltd
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Holt Executive Ltd technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Holt Executive Ltd partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- InmarsatcoreSatellite communications company and key client partner. Holt Executive supports Inmarsat's talent acquisition needs across satellite communications and space sectors.
- ViasatcoreGlobal communications company and key client partner for talent recruitment in satellite communications technology.
- AstroscalecoreSpace technology company specializing in active debris removal and key client partner in the space sector.
- Panasonic Avionics CorporationcoreLeading aerospace company and key client partner for aviation technology talent recruitment.
- LeonardocoreAerospace, defence and security company and key client partner for talent acquisition in aerospace and defence sectors.
- OneWebcoreSatellite communications company building LEO constellation and key client partner for space sector recruitment.
- L3HarriscoreAerospace and defence technology company and key client partner for talent recruitment.
- Chess DynamicscoreDefence technology company and key client partner for defence sector talent acquisition. Featured in case studies section.
- TelespaziocoreSpace services company and key client partner for space sector talent recruitment.
- Round Table Children's WishminorHolt Executive's chosen charity partner - a registered charity dedicated to granting handcrafted wishes for children and young people with life-threatening illnesses across Britain and Ireland.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Holt Executive Ltd competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- VHR: Specialist technical and engineering recruitment firm focused on aerospace, defence, aviation, and space — directly comparable to Holt Executive in vertical focus and candidate profile.
- CBSbutler: UK-based specialist recruitment firm covering aerospace, defence, and engineering roles, including security-cleared placements — a direct competitor in Holt Executive's core verticals.
- Carbon60: Specialist technical recruitment and workforce solutions provider serving aerospace, defence, and energy sectors — comparable business model and vertical focus to Holt Executive.
- Jonathan Lee Recruitment: UK specialist engineering and technical recruitment firm with established aerospace, defence, and automotive practices — a direct peer in niche permanent and contract placement.
- iO Associates: UK-based specialist recruitment firm focused on technology, engineering, and space sectors — directly comparable to Holt Executive's space and SATCOM focus.
Broad incumbents
- Morson Group: Larger UK-headquartered engineering and technical recruitment group with strong aerospace, defence, and rail exposure. A broader incumbent that overlaps with Holt Executive in aerospace and defence but operates at significantly greater scale.
- Matchtech: Established UK engineering recruitment firm with a long-standing aerospace, defence, and space practice. Operates more broadly than Holt Executive but competes for the same candidate pool and mandates.
- Orion Engineering & Technical: Global technical recruitment firm with aerospace, defence, and energy practices. Broader scale than Holt Executive but operates in adjacent verticals and shares the same engineering talent pool.
- Hays plc: Global generalist recruitment firm with a dedicated aerospace, defence, and government practice. A broader incumbent that competes for the same enterprise clients but across many verticals.
Emerging players
- Quanta Consultancy Services: Specialist recruitment and workforce solutions provider serving aerospace, life sciences, and technology — overlaps with Holt Executive's aerospace and technical placement focus.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Holt Executive Ltd social profiles
Digital presenceHolt Executive Ltd compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Holt Executive Ltd financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Holt Executive Ltd leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Holt Executive Ltd funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Holt Executive Ltd 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 Holt Executive Ltd
What does Holt Executive Ltd do?
Holt Executive provides specialist executive and technical recruitment services exclusively within the Space, SATCOM, Aerospace & Defence, and Commercial Aviation sectors. Its core services include contingent search (success-based placements with no upfront cost), executive and specialist search (retained search for senior and niche roles, including SC/DV-cleared candidates), embedded talent acquisition (in-house style on-site recruitment support), and talent advisory & transformation consulting. Placements span entry-level through Senior Vice President.
Is Holt Executive Ltd a public or private company?
Holt Executive Ltd is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Holt Executive Ltd founded?
Holt Executive Ltd was founded in 2016. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Holt Executive Ltd based?
Holt Executive Ltd is headquartered in Bournemouth, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Holt Executive Ltd make money?
One revenue line is on record: recruitment and Talent Acquisition Services.
Who are Holt Executive Ltd's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are VHR, CBSbutler, Carbon60, Jonathan Lee Recruitment and iO Associates. Broad incumbents are Morson Group, Matchtech, Orion Engineering & Technical and Hays plc. Quanta Consultancy Services is listed as an emerging player.
Does Holt Executive Ltd have an API?
No public API is recorded for Holt Executive Ltd.
What industry is Holt Executive Ltd in?
Holt Executive Ltd's product category is Executive Recruitment Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPACAFAC, Professional & Technical Direct Hire (IT, Engineering, Finance, Healthcare), with a secondary code of BPACAAAB, Functional Leadership Search (HR/Finance/Legal/Marketing/Sales/Ops). Its NAICS code is 56131 and its SIC code is 7361.