Developing Leaders

Long servicing employee at Irving Knight

Aidan Kerr

Joined in 2020

Syeef Sharif

Joined in 2022

Luca Dowdell

Joined in 2023

Investment in our people is the highest priority for us here at Irving Knight. From your very first day you will be given the skills and knowledge to evolve and succeed within your recruitment careers. Whether it is our renowned ‘Knight Academy’, or our successful Leadership Programme, there are continuous avenues to help our employees grow.

For top performers, progression is fast and earned. Within 12–18 months, you can step into a Management Consultant role, leading a team of 1–2 Consultants. Continue delivering, and 18–24 months can see you operating as a Business Manager, running a team of four. For those who consistently outperform, the opportunity to launch and lead international offices is very real — we back ambition with responsibility.

Not everyone wants to manage — and that’s fine. Our refreshed Principal Consultant programme is designed for high billers who prefer to focus on performance over people management. It offers greater flexibility, increased recognition, and rewards success without forcing you down a leadership path.

Career Path

Every consultant enters the business as a Business Consultant, learning the fundamentals, building market knowledge, and proving their ability to deliver results. Our current CEO, Joseph Davey, joined the business as a Business Consultant over 10 years ago. He progressed through the ranks, built his own operation, and today leads the Group as CEO — responsible for £7.5m in revenue, three offices, including one international location.

Business Consultant

Your entry point into the business. You’ll learn the fundamentals of executive search, develop commercial awareness, and work toward your first placements.

Senior Consultant

Achieved once you’ve generated £50,000 in revenue. You’re consistently billing, managing clients independently, and operating with confidence in your market.

Principal Consultant

Awarded after £250,000+ billed career-to-date. Recognised as a top-performing consultant with additional benefits, including, extra holiday entitlement, flexible working and increased autonomy and earning potential.

Managing Consultant

You step into leadership, managing 1–2 consultants. Responsible for mentoring, performance management, and supporting the growth of others alongside your own billing.

Business Manager

You’re now leading a team of 3+ consultants. This role focuses on team performance, culture, revenue growth, and developing future leaders within the business.

Divisional Manager

Full ownership of a division. You lead strategy, hiring, revenue delivery, and long-term growth — effectively running your own business within the Group.

Divisional Director

You take full P&L responsibility for your division. Accountable for revenue, costs, hiring strategy, and long-term performance. At this stage, you’re taking deliberate steps toward building your own business — shaping structure, leadership, and commercial direction while operating under the Irving Knight Group.

Managing Director

You run your own business as part of the Irving Knight Group, with full commercial ownership and responsibility for team growth, leadership, strategic direction, and sustainable profitability — true entrepreneurial control, backed by the Group’s infrastructure, brand, and support.

Great work
starts here

We proudly earned our certification as a Great Place to Work®️—an achievement that reflects our culture, our people, and our values. We’re committed to creating an environment where wellbeing comes first and continuous improvement drives everything we do.

We’re equally proud to have earned an Excellent rating on Trustpilot®️, a reflection of the trust and satisfaction our clients and candidates consistently place in us. This recognition underscores our ongoing commitment to delivering exceptional service and building long-term partnerships based on transparency, reliability, and results.

View Irving Knight on Great Place to Work

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93% of employees at Irving Knight say it is a great place to work, compared to 54% of employees at a typical UK based company. Great Place to Work Statistic

Irving Knight Group delivers executive search across 20+ core industries.