Non-Executive Director Recruitment Across the UK and Beyond
NED Capital places Chairs, Non-Executive Directors and fractional executives with boards across every major UK city and internationally. National coverage, local insight — and a search process led personally by Adrian Lawrence FCA from instruction to appointment.
UK-Wide NED Search — and International When Required
NED Capital operates a genuine national practice. Whether you are a growth business in Manchester, a charity board in Cardiff, a fintech scaleup in London, a listed company in Edinburgh, or an academic spin-out in Cambridge or Oxford, we deliver board-level search and fractional leadership with the rigour and confidentiality the appointment demands.
Our national footprint reflects active client mandates and long-standing regional relationships — not a list of cities we claim to cover. We place experienced Chairs, independent NEDs, audit and risk committee specialists, and sector-matched fractional executives across England, Scotland, Wales and internationally. Each location page below provides specific context on the regional market, the sectors we are most active in, and the type of board appointments we are most frequently briefed on in that city.
NED Capital operates in accordance with the UK government’s voluntary code of conduct for executive search firms and the governance principles of the UK Corporate Governance Code.
Find a NED for Your Location
Select your city or region for location-specific search capability, sector context and recent appointment examples.
The UK’s financial and corporate heartbeat. We place Chairs, Audit and Risk Committee specialists and sector-specific NEDs for corporates, PE-backed businesses and high-growth scaleups that prefer regular in-person board engagement.
A powerhouse for professional services, technology and advanced manufacturing. Manchester clients benefit from our deep regional network and an extensive shortlist of senior executives experienced in part-time, hybrid and portfolio board engagement across the North West.
The Midlands hub for industry, logistics and financial services. We place experienced finance and operational NEDs who understand large-scale transformation and governance in one of the UK’s most dynamic regional economies.
Strong in financial services, legal services and digital. Our search teams know the Yorkshire market and the mix of strategic, commercial and finance skills that Leeds boards most commonly require — from independent Chairs to NEDs for PE-backed businesses.
Focused provision for manufacturing, maritime and the creative economy. NED candidates we place here combine sector experience with boardroom stewardship and a thorough understanding of the commercial and governance dynamics of the Liverpool city region.
A South West cluster for technology, health-tech and creative industries. We place non-executives who can guide scaling businesses through governance and growth challenges — particularly for founder-led and investor-backed organisations.
Specialist placements for knowledge-intensive organisations — university spin-outs, deep-tech, life sciences and medtech companies that need board members with IP commercialisation, fundraising and governance experience relevant to the Cambridge innovation ecosystem.
Tailored NED support for Welsh charities, public bodies and commercial boards. We combine governance expertise with local market insight and an understanding of the devolved governance landscape — placing independent directors effective across both Welsh public sector and private commercial environments.
Full Scottish capital coverage for financial services, energy, renewables and professional services boards. Edinburgh clients benefit from our understanding of both UK corporate governance standards and the distinct regulatory environment relevant to Scottish institutions and listed companies.
Scotland’s commercial capital — active across financial services, technology, manufacturing and the third sector. We place experienced non-executive leaders who understand Glasgow’s distinct business community and can operate effectively at board level in both private and public sector contexts.
Specialist support for academic spin-outs, early stage technology and life sciences businesses, and the broader Oxford innovation cluster. We match technical founders with experienced independent directors who provide the governance credibility and investor network that ambitious Oxford businesses need at board level.
Many assignments require an international outlook — placing a UK-based NED for a business expanding overseas, or sourcing an internationally experienced board member to support cross-border growth. We have placed board members for organisations in Europe, North America, the Middle East and Asia Pacific.
Why Location Matters for NED Appointments
Practical Availability
Even in an era of hybrid governance, proximity matters for site visits, investor meetings and crisis response. A NED who can attend in person at short notice is meaningfully more effective than one who participates exclusively remotely.
Local Market Knowledge
Local economic, regulatory and sector nuances are vital — whether it’s cluster dynamics for tech hubs in Manchester and Cambridge, devolved governance in Scotland and Wales, or the specific investor relationships that matter in each city’s business community.
Regional Network Value
A NED who lives and works in a region can open doors to customers, funders, advisers and partners crucial to growth. Regional networks are often denser and more commercially relevant than London-centric networks for businesses operating primarily outside the capital.
Sector-Matched Searches
Our regional briefs are overlaid with sector expertise — fintech in London and Manchester, life sciences in Cambridge and Oxford, energy and renewables in Scotland and the Midlands. Every shortlist candidate has both geographical suitability and sector pedigree.
Flexible Working Models
Many modern boards want hybrid engagement — local attendance for key meetings with remote participation for routine governance. We place NEDs practised at balancing local presence and virtual governance, and we advise on appropriate attendance expectations during briefing.
Local Bases, National Reach
Our principal office is in Great Portland Street, London, with a satellite presence covering the Midlands from Shropshire. Adrian travels regularly for brief-taking and candidate assessments across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Adrian Lawrence FCA — Founder, NED Capital
Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales | Board-level NED search since 2018 | Good Business Charter accredited
Adrian Lawrence FCA is a Chartered Accountant with over two decades of experience in finance leadership and executive search. He holds a BSc from Queen Mary College, University of London and is a Fellow of the ICAEW with an ICAEW registered practice. Before founding NED Capital he worked across private, listed, owner-managed and PE-backed organisations, giving him direct experience of the governance challenges and hiring decisions that boards face. Adrian leads all senior NED searches personally — brief-taking, candidate assessment and final shortlist presentation. To discuss your requirement, call 0203 137 2496.
Peer-reviewed research: The Evolution of Fractional CFO Leadership in Modern UK Businesses (2026) · The Strategic Role of Fractional and Interim Executives in Supporting Organisational Growth and Transformation (2026, co-authored)
Recent NED Placements
PE-backed technology business — Independent NED
A private equity-backed SaaS business approaching Series B required an independent non-executive director with digital transformation experience and existing relationships in the institutional investor community. NED Capital placed an INED with prior NED experience on two PE portfolio boards, appointed within six weeks of instruction.
Mid-size charity — Finance-qualified Trustee
A national charity with £8m annual income needed a finance-qualified trustee to chair its audit and risk committee. The brief required ICAEW or ACCA qualification and experience of Charity Commission reporting. NED Capital placed a qualified chartered accountant with prior trustee experience within the voluntary sector.
Founder-led professional services firm — First NED appointment
A founder-led consultancy with 45 employees sought its first non-executive director to provide independent strategic oversight and help the founders navigate a planned management buyout. NED Capital sourced a NED with direct MBO experience and sector-relevant commercial background, providing the independent voice the founders needed at this stage.
AIM-listed company — Additional independent director
An AIM-listed business required an additional independent non-executive director to meet QCA Corporate Governance Code requirements following a secondary listing. NED Capital placed a candidate with prior AIM NED experience and a relevant sector background within eight weeks of instruction.
Start a Confidential Conversation
Tell us your location, sector and the type of board leader you need. NED Capital will respond within one business day.
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