HFBAC Hiring For and Building Awesome Companies
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CALL: +44(0) 117 290 0200
HFBAC Hiring For and Building Awesome Companies

Want to Thrive in Startups and Scale-Ups?

Small, growing companies.

Real impact.

You’re not just another employee.

No corporate BS.

Join Our Talent Network

Tired of Corporate Politics? We Get It.

Slow Decision-Making

  • Meetings about meetings.
  • Approvals that take weeks.
  • Ideas that die in committee.

Limited Impact

  • You're a cog in a machine.
  • Your work disappears into bureaucracy.
  • Recognition? Rare.

Boring Work

  • Same tasks, same processes, same results.
  • No innovation.
  • No ownership.
  • Just clocking in.
There’s a better way to work.

Why Startup and Scale-Up Talent Love What They Do

Real Impact

  • Your work directly affects company success.
  • See results in days, not years.

Ownership & Autonomy

  • Make decisions.
  • Own projects.
  • Lead without waiting for permission.

Rapid Growth

  • Learn 5 years of skills in 1 year.
  • Get promoted based on results, not tenure.

Diverse Challenges

  • No two days are the same.
  • Solve new problems.
  • Wear multiple hats (if you want to).

Culture That Actually Matters

  • Work with people who give a damn.
  • Values aren't just posters - they're lived.

Equity & Upside

  • Many roles include equity.
  • You're not just an employee - you're an owner.

The Kind of Companies We Partner With

We don’t work with everyone.
We only place candidates with companies that have:
  • Strong founding teams (chemistry-tested, aligned values)
  • Real traction (revenue, users, or funding)
  • Growth mindset (investing in people, not just profits)
  • Inclusive culture (diverse teams, supportive environment)
abtec
cipher
shadow robot
medical
spur
simplyBD
nexus
tickitto
business ip center
startup

Are You a Fit for Startup and Scale-up Life?

You Are:

  • Comfortable with ambiguity (things change fast)
  • A problem-solver (you figure things out)
  • Collaborative (no room for ego)
  • Adaptable (you pivot when needed)
  • Results-driven (output matters more than hours)

You're Not:

  • Waiting for perfect instructions
  • Afraid of failure
  • Looking for a 9-5 job with no flexibility
  • Needing constant hand-holding
  • Resistant to change
If you checked more ✅ than ❌, you’re probably a great fit.

The Roles We Place

We specialise in placing talent from the founding level up to senior executive leadership. Because most roles are newly created headcount.

You’re not just filling a seat.

You’re stepping in as the inaugural leader of your function.

You’re establishing the blueprint from day one.

Technical

  • CTO / VP of Engineering
  • Lead Developer / Senior Engineer
  • Product Manager
  • IT Support - 1st, 2nd and 3rd Line

Commercial

  • Head of Sales / Sales Director
  • Marketing Director / CMO
  • Customer Success Lead
  • Business Development Manager

Operations

  • COO / Operations Director
  • Finance Manager / CFO
  • People & Culture Lead
  • Project Manager

Not seeing your role?

We work on custom searches too.

Submit your Profile here and we’ll reach out when we have an interesting opportunity for your consideration.

How We Match You with the Right Company

Step 1: Submit Your Profile

Tell us about your experience, skills, and what you're looking for in your next role.

Step 2: Chemistry Assessment

We'll have a 30-min conversation to understand your values, work style, and career goals.

Step 3: Company Matching

We match you with companies that align with your values and aspirations - not just your CV.

Step 4: Introduction & Support

We introduce you to the founding team and support you through the interview process.

Timeline Note:
Most placements take 4-12 weeks from submission to offer.

What Candidates Say

“Helen didn’t just find me a job – she found me a company where I actually want to work. The culture fit is perfect, and I’m learning more in 6 months than I did in 3 years at my last company.”
Find Your Co-Founder

Sarah T.

Head of Product, Manchester

“I was skeptical about leaving corporate life, but Helen made the transition seamless. She understood what I needed and matched me with a scale-up that values my expertise.”
Find Your Co-Founder

James K.

VP of Sales, Reading

“The Chemistry First approach works. Helen didn’t just check boxes on my CV – she made sure the founding team and I were aligned on values. Best career move I’ve made.”
Find Your Co-Founder

Priya M.

CTO, Chicago

There’s a better way to work.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to pay to use your service?

No. Our service is 100% free for candidates. Companies pay us to find the right talent.

A: We place candidates across the UK, South Africa, across the USA, with occasional opportunities in Europe and remote roles globally.

It depends whether we’re hiring for an active role or keeping you on file for future opportunities.

If you’re applying for a specific vacancy:

Week 1-2: We’ll review your application and reach out if there’s potential fit. If we don’t get back to you within 2 weeks, it means we don’t think this particular role is the right match (but we might reach out about something else later).

Week 2-3: Initial chemistry screening – a 30-45 minute conversation to understand your working style, what you’re looking for, and whether there’s alignment with the company culture.

Week 3-4: If there’s good chemistry, we’ll introduce you to the client. From there, timelines vary by company (usually 2-4 weeks for their interview process).

Total time: 4-8 weeks from application to offer for active roles.

 

If you’re registering your profile (no specific vacancy):

We’ll keep your details on file and reach out when we’re working with a company that genuinely matches what you’re looking for.

This could be:

  • Next week (if we’re already hiring for something perfect)
  • In 3-6 months (when a relevant role opens up)
  • Never (if we don’t find the right fit)

 

We don’t send your CV to 15 companies hoping something sticks. We wait for the right match.

You’ll only hear from us if:

  ✅ The role genuinely fits your skills and experience, and your desired next career move
  ✅ The company culture aligns with your working style
  ✅ The compensation matches your expectations
  ✅ We think you’d actually thrive there (not just survive)

What this means in practice:

Some candidates hear from us within days. Others might not hear from us for months. It’s not personal – it just means we haven’t found your perfect match yet.

Want to increase your chances of hearing from us sooner?

Be specific in your application about:

  • What you’re actually good at (and what you’re not)
  • What kind of company culture you thrive in
  • What you’re definitely NOT looking for (deal-breakers matter)
  • Your salary expectations (so we don’t waste your time)

 

The more honest you are, the better we can match you.

If you don’t hear from us, it doesn’t mean we’ve forgotten about you. It means we’re waiting for the right opportunity rather than sending you to interviews that won’t work out.

A: No problem. We keep everything confidential and only introduce you to opportunities you’re interested in. Your CV does not go anywhere without your prior permission.
A: Most of our roles are for those established in their career, but we occasionally have opportunities for high-potential less experienced people.

Ready to Explore Your Next Career Move?

Submit your Profile using the link below, and we’ll reach out if there’s a match.

Join Our Talent Network
Takes 2 minutes. No commitment required.