• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
bfpeople logo and phone number

bfpeople

Executive search and leadership consultants

MENUMENU
  • Home
  • What we do
        • Recruitment
          • Executive search
            • Executive search process
          • Recruiting teams
          • International recruitment
          • Graduate Recruitment
          • Send your CV
        • Leadership assessment
          & psychometric Testing
          • Individual assessments
          • Team profiling
          • The Leadership Judgement Indicator
            • Take the LJI
        • Leadership development
          & executive coaching
          • Executive coaching
          • Team coaching
          • First 100 days coaching
        • Outplacement
          & career transition
          • Career Coaching
          • Outplacement services
  • About bfpeople
  • Insights
  • Contact
Executive search 0 image of man in desert looking through a telescope

About bfpeople

bfpeople works with ambitious business owners and leaders, like you, to find your leaders and develop your people.

Let’s talk

I wanted a different kind of recruitment and people consulting business

The image and reputation of the recruitment industry has been poor for a long time. Today, it seems, everyone is a headhunter. Although for many that just means bombarding people on LinkedIn.

I had worked for – and held very senior roles in – big consulting firms. Some of them can be guilty of being more interested in getting their fee than making a great appointment.

I wanted to change that and so I was happy to acquire bfpeople in 2012.

I wanted to run an integrated people consulting business. One that brings together the best of recruitment, assessment, leadership development and coaching. One where executive search uses personality and leadership questionnaires to learn more about candidates – and clients. Where new hires receive help with onboarding and coaching. And one where coaching and development never loses sight of today’s high expectations and demands of leadership.

A recruitment and people consulting firm you can trust

  • we will be honest and direct with you. If we can’t help, we won’t take the work
  • we are discreet, and ethical. We work in some sensitive industries, have been vetted, and signed the official Secrets Act.
  • we understand business and leadership. All our team have been founders, board members, or have grown and sold successful businesses
  • we will deliver a tailored solution that will save you time and money
  • we won’t sell you something that you don’t need, or won’t add value
  • we will collaborate with you and your team. We want to share knowledge and expertise.
Let’s talk

Who do we work with?

In over 30 years of trading, we have worked with clients of all sizes in almost every industry in the commercial, public, and third sectors. To name a few, this includes manufacturers, designers, distributors, retailers and wholesalers. Others include musicians, broadcasters, artists, marketers and advertisers, builders and architects, bankers, investors and founders. Not to forget start-ups, technology, energy, IT and SaaS, food & drink and health & beauty. Last, but not least, we also work with a variety of government bodies, NDPBs, and charities.

We also work directly with a growing number of ambitious leaders. who view assessment and coaching as a key part of their on-going self-development.

We work best with leaders and employers who want to do things the right way. They want to work with a people consulting partner who will be candid and direct. They don’t want quick fixes. And they value the time and effort required to get the right result.

bfpeople’s people

The bfpeople team brings vast experience and expertise to all projects. We have a small core staff and make great use of a long-established team of trusted associates. This group consists of chartered psychologists, qualified executive coaches, HR experts, innovative recruiters, and resourceful researchers. Every project is unique and requires its own approach and skill set. We have the depth and breadth to deliver.

bfpeople also offers international reach. In addition to our own international business and consulting experience, we have a carefully curated network of experts in recruitment, assessment, and leadership advisory consulting. Our network extends across Europe, South East Asia, India and North America. Whether you have business units overseas or are looking to establish a new operation we can support with local knowledge and advice.

John Hamilton leads the business. He has more than 20 years’ experience of recruiting, leading and coaching people through leadership roles in large organisations. He has also founded consulting, design and manufacturing companies. His global business experience covers Europe, USA, GCC and APAC. John has worked with graduates to CEOs in many industries including government, energy, automotive and aerospace, through manufacturing and technology to retail and hospitality.

“We’re not the biggest firm out there. And we’re definitely not the loudest.
But we punch above our weight, doing great work with great clients.

We just quietly get on with the job of finding your leaders and developing your talent.”

John Hamilton

Follow, or connect with, John

John Hamilton headshot image

We also work directly with a growing number of ambitious leaders. who view assessment and coaching as a key part of their on-going self-development.

We work best with leaders and employers who want to do things the right way. They want to work with a people consulting partner who will be candid and direct. They don’t want quick fixes. And they value the time and effort required to get the right result.

We’re not the biggest, or the loudest, firm out there. We quietly get on with doing a good job for our clients. We know that “fit” is just as important when choosing a consultant as it is when hiring your own key staff. Put bfpeople on the short list for your next project and see how we measure up.

Things we are often asked

What does the “BF” stand for in bfpeople?

Brian Ford-Powell founded BFP Executive Recruitment in 1990. Everyone called Brian, and the firm, “BFP”. Brian retired and sold the business in 2003 but the name stayed the same.

When buying the BFP Executive Recruitment business in 2012, we did not want to lose the legacy of the BFP name, or Brian. A new name needed to reflect a broader “people consulting” approach so we put BFP together with people – bfpeople.

So, BF simply stands for Brian Ford – two-thirds of the name of a very good man!

Do you only work at leadership level?

Most of the projects we are involved with are at senior leadership or management level in our clients.

But, the principles, and processes, apply to most positions in organisations. We have recruited for the most difficult people to find at all levels and we have supported production operatives through redundancy. We have designed training schemes and campaigns for graduate trainees, and conducted psychometric assessments for volume junior and non-skilled hires.

Talk to John about your potential project. We won’t take on anything we either can’t do, or don’t think will be successful.

Do you work remotely, or in person?

We have clients across the UK. We also work with many international businesses through our membership of ERI, the global executive search and leadership advisory network.

Online meetings are very time-efficient for initial discussions with clients and candidates. Some coaching and feedback sessions take place very effectively on Teams or Zoom, too. But there are many situations when it is best for people to be together, in the room. More so when it involves three or more people, or when the nuances of the discussion are important.

We will always consider the cost and time of travel and meeting in person. And will always do whatever will produce the best outcome.

Who will do the work if we engage bfpeople?

Many consulting firms have salespeople, or partners, who sell the work. Then they send in consultants, who sometimes have limited experience.

bfpeople is an owner-led business and John is involved in every engagement. He will either lead the design and delivery or coordinate the activities of the hand-picked team.

The chemistry between consultants, sponsors, and participants is essential to the success of any project. You will never work with someone you haven’t met and don’t have confidence in.

Why should we work with bfpeople?

We appreciate that you have many choices when you’re buying consulting services. Every firm tells you they are the best and different from the rest. Very few are, of course.

At this point you probably don’t know us yet. For now, you’ll have to trust us when we say we will deliver great results and provide sound advice. You’ll have to take our word that we will add value to your business – and really help the people who take part in projects.

We treat all our work as confidential. Much is completed under NDAs. But, if you’re serious about working with us, we’ll be happy to put you in contact with people we have worked with.

However, we don’t want to work with everyone. We only work with ambitious organisations that want to recruit, develop and retain the best people they can.

And we don’t always want to do everything for you.

We help clients to do more themselves:

  • we have designed recruitment and assessment systems for many firms to use in-house. These include two leading FMCG brands and a car manufacturer/retailer. Training their HR teams and line managers allows them to control their own process and get better results
  • we have designed situational judgement questionnaires for retailers, advertising agencies, distribution firms, and manufacturers. These make them more effective in managing volume recruitment projects in-house
  • we train and coach line managers and business owners. We help them to interview better, assess behaviour, and coach their teams. They make better recruitment decisions and reduce their spending on recruiters. They also retain staff and have more engaged people.

These are just some of the things we love to talk about when we’re asked “What makes you different?”

Are you ready to
get to know bfpeople better?

Call John

Copyright © 2017-2025 bfpeople | All rights reserved

  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookies in Use on this site
  • Website terms and conditions
  • Equality, diversity & inclusion policy