Portman Partners invests in new rapid-hire recruitment service

Specifically designed for the high-growth needs of the data centre industry.

  • Saturday, 12th April 2025 Posted 4 hours ago in by Phil Alsop

Portman Partners, the global Executive Search business for data center people, is making a strategic investment in Flint DC, a new no-nonsense rapid-hire recruitment service specifically designed to provide the industry with the talent and expertise it needs, and help it overcome the ongoing talent challenge it faces at a crucial growth phase.

Currently, the sector relies upon the traditional contingent recruitment model, which is proving to be ill-suited for the industry, says Mike Meyer Managing Partner of Portman Partners: “The data center industry is predicted to be powering up the future but it is failing to find and attract the right talent to build it today. There are some great recruiters out there but contingent recruitment processes, combined with emerging recruiters who have limited industry knowledge, and an influx of unsuitable applicants due to this put businesses at risk of falling short of their ambitions.”

Recognising these challenges, Portman Partners is leveraging its deep industry expertise to create a new style of recruitment solution with the launch of Flint DC, one that will deliver better outcomes for clients. Flint’s service – Contingent+ - combines the standard contingent terms of business, with recruitment fees contingent on a successful outcome, with the bespoke search methodology typically reserved for head-hunting or specialized roles. Flint is built on a recruitment model that will deliver critical talent speedily, efficiently - with a new approach that won’t slow businesses down.

“Flint is born out of the demand for a better approach to hiring in the data center industry,” explains Mike. “In my 30 years in data centers I’ve encountered the same frustrations again and again across the sector. We want to change the way things were done.

“With Flint DC and the Contingent+ model, we’re taking everything that makes Portman successful in stealth executive search - our specialised knowledge, our global reach, and our no-nonsense approach - and building an agile recruitment model that delivers the right results for all hiring levels,” says Mike. “We’re not just another recruitment firm. We’re the solution our clients have been asking for.”

Paul Cutliffe, Managing Director of Flint DC, says this represents a new era in data center recruitment: “We are offering a Contingent+ model that streamlines hiring while ensuring quality, speed, and alignment with the unique needs of data center businesses. I am passionate about helping businesses find high-calibre candidates who are a good cultural fit and will enable transformational change. I am looking forward to supporting our clients as they power on into the future.”

By investing in Flint DC, Portman Partners reinforces its commitment to innovation, solving industry-wide hiring issues, and continuing to support businesses in securing the best talent available.