Employing nine people at Liverpool Innovation Park in Edge Lane, Hyperion Executive Search and was founded by recruitment professional David Hunt four years ago. Tony McDonough reports
A specialist Liverpool recruitment business that finds senior and experienced people for the clean energy sector has opened a European base.
Employing nine people at Liverpool Innovation Park in Edge Lane, Hyperion Executive Search and was founded by recruitment professional David Hunt four years ago.
The company is on a upward growth trajectory, with a 77% rise in turnover over the past year, and has just opened a subsidiary business in Munich in Germany as it looks to meet growing demand from its client base.
Senior talent
David said: “We recruit senior and experienced talent for innovative clean energy companies. They can range from $20+ billion companies such as Innogy and LG Chem, to cool start-ups in energy storage or ride-hailing and eMobility.
“Many of our clients are post-investment start-ups or young companies looking to scale up. We recruit for a lot of global clean energy companies looking to build a new team in a new country or launch a new product.”
Hyperion has clients in Korea, China, the US, and across Europe, Germany in particular. It’s usually ‘C-level’ or senior management roles it looks to fill, with salaries typically in the £60,000 to £200,000 range.
Building teams
“These vary across general management, commercial, technical, finance and operational disciplines,” added Mr David.
“While building teams though we do sometimes recruit more junior roles, particularly in sales. So, for one client, for example, we recruited an MD for the UK and one for Germany, then built the team underneath.”
David spent 17 years in the executive search sector up to 2007 before starting a renewable energy installation business, mostly focused on solar PV. Although the business won awards for its work it was held back by what he claims is a lack of Government support for renewable energy.
He added: “I had and have a real passion for clean energy, so I decided to combine the two parts of my career and start an executive search firm that specialises exclusively in the clean energy and clean mobility sectors.”
Charity support
Mr Hunt explained how the ethos of what they do matters as much as the financial success of the business. He said: “Everyone in the company is passionate about what we do, about supporting the growth of the cleantech sector.
“As a company and as individuals’ sustainability is important to us, from implementing a green procurement policy, to driving electric and hybrid cars, to cycling to work, to composting our coffee grounds (no plastic pods).
“We support two environmental charities, Solar Aid supplies solar lights to Africa, and Trees for Life plant trees in the Caledonian forest.
“Social responsibility is also important to us, we are working with the Social Mobility Foundation around mentoring for young people.”
Overseas growth
Locally, Hyperion is working with organisations such as the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and is very focused on continued overseas expansion.
David added: “We’ve been working across Germany and mainland Europe for a couple of years, so it made sense to open a German operation. Given the unknowns around Brexit it also made sense that this be a German legal entity rather than a branch office.
“We’ll be building that team this year, as well as the UK team because from the UK office we also service the US and Scandinavia. There is one other area I expect that we will expand into in the coming year, but that’s under wraps for now.”
Ends