When one of our long-standing clients – a successful Manchester-based marketing agency – began receiving more frequent requests from clients for web development services, they realised there was an opportunity they couldn’t ignore.
The agency already had strong expertise across content, SEO, PR and brand strategy, but web development had always been delivered through freelancers or external partners.
As demand grew, they decided the time had come to bring web development in-house. However, with no internal expertise in this area, they needed a recruitment partner who could help them define the role and identify the right person to build this capability.
That’s when they turned to Focus 5 Recruitment.
The Challenge
The agency didn’t just need a developer – they needed help understanding what the role should look like.
They were looking for a recruitment partner who could:
- Provide insight into the digital talent market
- Help define the role and expectations
- Advise on salary benchmarks across the North West
- Ensure the new hire would integrate well with existing creative and client services teams
They wanted guidance throughout the process, not just someone to fill a vacancy
How Focus 5 Recruitment Helped
We worked closely with the agency’s leadership team to understand how web development would fit into their future growth plans.
Together we defined:
- The core purpose of the role
- What success would look like in the first 6–12 months
- The technical skills required
- The personality fit needed for their agency environment
Once the role was clearly defined, we:
- Conducted research into web developer salaries across Manchester and the North West
- Helped the client decide whether to hire a mid-weight developer or Head of Web
- Created the job description and advert
- Promoted the role across targeted digital channels
- Proactively approached candidates within our network of developers and agency professionals
All candidates were screened and interviewed before being presented to the client, complete with video profiles, salary expectations and feedback.
The Result
The role attracted strong interest across the North West digital market.
The process generated:
- 65 candidates expressing interest
- A longlist of 18 candidates
- A shortlist of 6 high-quality applicants
Following 4 first-stage interviews and 2 second-stage interviews, the agency hired a talented Full Stack Developer.
Nine months into the role, they have already:
- Built the agency’s in-house web development capability
- Delivered 7 client websites
- Improved delivery times and client satisfaction
- Introduced new processes for quoting and managing web projects
The new service has helped the agency retain and grow existing client relationships and what started as client demand has now become a valuable and profitable new service offering for the agency.
Looking to Build New Capabilities in Your Team?
If your business is exploring how to hire digital talent or expand your service offering, defining the right role can often be the hardest part.
At Focus 5 Recruitment, we specialise in helping businesses across Manchester and the North West recruit exceptional marketing, digital and sales professionals.
If you’d like to talk about how we can help you build your team, we’d love to hear from you.
☎ 0161 401 4055
📧 info@focus5recruitment.com