Case Studies

Real Recruitment Challenges. Proven Solutions.

Explore our case studies to see how we've supported organisations across Life Sciences and the impact our work has had on their businesses.

Our Success Stories

Discover how we've helped Life Sciences organisations overcome recruitment challenges, secure specialist talent and build teams that support their ambitions.

Explore our case studies to learn more about the challenges our clients faced, the solutions we delivered and the results achieved.

Anthony Nolan

Case Study

7: candidates shortlisted, 5 candidates interviewed, 1 offered, and 1 on hold for future appointment
7 weeks: from search sign-off to completion.
9 weeks: from search sign-off to successful candidates starting.

Anthony Nolan, a leading life sciences charity with over 50 years of experience, has been saving lives through stem cell transplants since its founding by Shirley Nolan. Her vision has enabled the organisation to assist four patients daily. To advance their new contract service offering to the pharmaceutical industry and replace their previous business development head, Anthony Nolan enlisted HRS to help recruit a new Commercial Director.

The Challenges

Seeking a commercially savvy Commercial Leader with experience in private sector negotiations to support a team accustomed to working in a charitable environment.
Achieving this within the budget constraints of a charitable organisation.

Our Solution

Conducted a retained search to identify candidates in the CGT, Bioprocess, and CDMO sectors.
Signed off a robust milestone roadmap to keep all parties aligned and informed.
Direct interactions between the CCO & Head of People at Anthony Nolan with the CEO of HRS and resource team to address the technical, strategic, and cultural requirements of the search.
HRS performed market benchmarking to assess the competitiveness of the compensation package.
Targeted market mapping, candidate outreach, and personalised service through the HRS network, both in person and online.

Nic AldersonCEO
I highly recommend Ricky and the team at Hyper. We have recently worked together to recruit our Director of Business Development and it’s been the smoothest, fastest and simplest recruitment at a senior level I’ve ever been involved in. We will definitely be using Ricky and the team again.

Pharmaceutical

Charles River Laboratories

Case Study

7: person shortlist presented, 4 people interviewed, 2 at final stage and 1 appointment
10 week: from proposal sign off to offer presentation
4 month: from proposal sign off, passing security checks and candidate start

Following an internal promotion, Charles River Laboratories was looking to appoint a new General Manager for its Research Model Services (RMS) business at its Margate facility in Kent.

The facility specialises in providing a comprehensive range of research models and services, enabling clients to research, discover and develop new therapies. As a commercial breeding facility, it operates to rigorous genetic standards, with a strong focus on animal welfare and biosecurity to meet the specific requirements of its clients' research.

The Challenges

Location: Hiring for a remote location in an area of the UK, which is less known for core CRO business.
Site Focus: Limited talent pool due to the specialist nature of animal husbandry and candidates' personal views on animal research.
Finances: Salary expectations varied significantly depending on candidates' industry backgrounds, particularly across Pharma, CDMO and CRO organisations.

Our Solution

Conducted a retained search to identify candidates with Life Sciences, CRO or CDMO experience, capable of navigating complex global operations and international service delivery.
Established a robust Confidentiality Disclosure Agreement (CDA) and a milestone-based roadmap to ensure clear deadlines and a focused search process.
Worked closely with the HR Director and senior leadership to understand the required leadership style, strategic experience and ability to drive site-wide development.
Conducted targeted market mapping and candidate outreach, leveraging the HRS network to deliver a personalised recruitment service both in person and online.

Eberhard RankEV VP of RMS
Working with Ricky Martin and Hyper Recruitment Solutions was an outstanding experience, resulting in one of the best hiring decisions I have made in years. Their professionalism was evident throughout, from the high-quality candidates and insightful executive summaries to the timely management of the entire process. The feedback sessions following interviews were particularly valuable, supporting informed decision-making. Ricky and the team exceeded my expectations and played a key role in our hiring success.

CDMO, CMO & Service Providers

Kinomica

Case Study

8 candidates: placed across a 12-month period
£36,400: saved in recruitment fees for Kinomica.

Kinomica were an early stage organisation that needed support in hiring highly skilled scientists on a flexible basis pre-funding.

The Challenges

Start up funding.
Candidate attraction.
Location.

Our Solution

Provided a flexible contract solution with the cost spread over a weekly basis, as opposed to a one off fee.
Spent time on site with the CEO to understand the reasons to work with them.
Research on competitors within the radius, focusing on candidates that were able to relocate within the designated timeframe.

Jane TheakerCEO
As we grew and scaled, we knew we needed a Mass Spectrometry Scientist, but could not afford to provide a permanent contract until our Series A fund raise was achieved. HRS not only found us the perfect candidate, but also provided this candidate as a contractor, using a very easy to use contracting platform.

The HRS team supported us through lean and abundant times and always gave us fantastic candidates who fit the company brilliantly. These were not easy positions to fill, so a big thanks to HRS for the support!

Biotechnology

TCR² Therapeutics

Case Study

16 people: compiled, shortlist of 6 presented, and 5 people interviewed
6 months: from sign-off to appointment (including an extended notice period)
15 additional appointments: made across multiple disciplines over the next 24 hours.

As a US-based therapeutics company, TCR was looking to expand its operations into Europe, establishing its first EU presence in the UK. Having selected the Cell & Gene Therapy Catapult in Stevenage as the location for its new facility, TCR was introduced to Hyper Recruitment Solutions (HRS) following a recommendation from the Catapult's then Chief Business Officer (CBO).

The Challenges

Brand: Despite previous success in R&D and Process Development in the US market, TCR had little experience in the EU market.
UK Business: Due to the organisations US heritage, TCR was used to US legislation, both in employability and governance. This role would require UK standards and compliance.
GMP: To this point, very few companies were in GMP for Gene Therapy products.

Our Solution

HRS provided a full service search process, as well as a high-level UK employability introduction to legislation.
We were able to market outreach and direct headhunt an EU-wide talent base.
Working closely with the TRC team in the US across different timezones to deliver a successful search.

Nigel WilliamsVP of Manufacturing
Working with Ricky Martin at HRS for my appointment as the VP of Manufacturing at TCR² Therapeutics, the company's first UK employee, was an exceptional experience. Ricky’s deep understanding of the industry, combined with his genuine support throughout the process, made all the difference.

He went beyond typical recruitment by offering tailored advice and insights, ensuring I was well-prepared for this pivotal role. Post-placement, Ricky continued to engage, showing his dedication to my ongoing success. especially with executive-level appointments. It has been a real pleasure working with Ricky over the years and getting to know him on a personal level and I highly recommend HRS for anyone seeking a recruitment partner who truly adds value.