Commercial Recruitment Manchester — Nigel Wright Group

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Commercial Recruitment in Manchester and the North West

Nigel Wright Group helps organisations across Manchester and the North West appoint the commercial leaders and specialists who grow sales, protect margin and win new customers. We hire for sales, marketing, category, pricing and business development roles at every level. Each brief can be filled on a permanent or interim basis. Our Manchester team knows the local business scene well. A wider Northern view informs every search.

Expertise you trust. Hiring people you value.

Commercial Recruitment Track Record at a Glance

• Who we work with: consumer brands, food firms, manufacturers, engineering groups, transport operators, care providers and charities.
• Roles we fill: Commercial Directors, Sales Directors, Heads of Category, National Account Managers, pricing leads and sales specialists.
• How we hire: permanent and interim appointments at board, senior and specialist level.
• What we offer: executive search, advisory, and specialist recruitment.

Why North West Organisations Use a Specialist Commercial Partner

Commercial roles carry direct accountability for growth. The right Commercial Director can reset prices, win key accounts and sharpen how a business sells. When a hire goes wrong, growth slows and the cost soon shows in the numbers.

Manchester and the North West have a broad commercial economy. Consumer brands, makers, logistics firms, care providers and professional services all chase the same strong people. Most of them are happy in their jobs and are rarely job searching. A job advert reaches only a small part of that market.

As a commercial recruitment agency in Manchester, Nigel Wright Group goes further. We map the regional market, speak with people who are happy where they are, and test each brief before the search begins. You get a clear view of who is out there, what they cost and how they compare.

Commercial Roles We Recruit in Manchester and the North West

Board and director appointments

Working as a commercial executive search firm, we handle confidential briefs at the top of the business, including:

• Chief Commercial Officer and Commercial Director
• Sales Director and Head of Sales
• Marketing Director and Head of Brand
• Business Development Director
• Managing Director with full commercial accountability

Commercial managers and specialists

• National Account Manager and Key Account Manager
• Category Manager and Head of Category
• Pricing, revenue and commercial finance roles
• Trade marketing and shopper marketing specialists
• Bid, tender and contract managers
• Sales operations and commercial operations leads

Interim commercial appointments

Interim work often starts with a gap at the top. We place Commercial Directors who steady the ship after a sudden exit. Experienced sales leaders step in to turn around a weak region, channel or customer group. Programme leads deliver pricing, route-to-market or restructure work to a set deadline.

Sector Expertise Across the North West Economy

Commercial hiring looks different in every sector, and the North West economy has real depth. Food, consumer goods, engineering, transport and care all play a major part in regional growth. Our consultants bring that context to each search. Candidates are judged on the real demands of the market they will join.

• Consumer goods and food: grocery accounts, category plans, trade spend and brand growth.
• Manufacturing and engineering: technical sales, distributor deals, contract talks and export growth.
• Transport and infrastructure: bids, public sector frameworks and key partnerships.
• Health, care and mental health services: commissioning, tenders and income growth for providers and charities.

Our Commercial Track Record: Client Examples

Nigel Wright Group has supported commercial hiring for organisations including:

• Unilever: a global consumer goods business behind well-known food, beauty and home brands.
• St Pierre Groupe: a fast-growing bakery brand group sold through major retailers.
• ITD Global: a branded merchandise firm that works with large brands.
• M & I Materials: a specialist materials maker serving industrial and scientific markets.
• Arriva: a passenger transport firm running bus and rail services.
• CareTech: a provider of specialist care and education services.
• Siemens: a technology and engineering group serving industry, transport and healthcare.
• Everyturn Mental Health: a charity that runs community mental health and wellbeing services.

This mix shows the breadth of our commercial work. Global brands, founder-led firms, engineering groups and charities all hire in different ways. Each one needs leadership talent that suits its market, its pace and its company culture.

The outcomes clients look for are practical, and they show up in the figures each quarter. They want closer customer ties, healthier margins and more contract wins. Most of all, they want commercial teams that stay and grow.

How Our Services Support Commercial Hiring

Executive search: securing leaders who shape your future

Our executive recruitment work covers board and director hires where discretion matters. Each search for senior executives starts with a full market map. We then make direct approaches. You receive a shortlist of ideal candidates tested against your brief.

Advisory: expert insight for wiser decisions

Advisory support helps you make confident choices about commercial leadership and talent. Our consultants share what they see across the Manchester and North West market. That insight helps you shape the role and set fair expectations.

Specialist recruitment: connecting you with talent others cannot

We fill manager and specialist roles from talent pools built over years of local work. Each shortlist reflects sector know-how, proven results and long-term fit. Our consultants keep in touch with strong people long before they consider a move.

Permanent and Interim Commercial Recruitment: Which Model Fits?

Choose a permanent hire when you are:

• building commercial leadership for the long term.
• launching a plan that will take years to deliver.
• planning who will step into a senior role next.

Choose an interim appointment when you face:

• the sudden exit of a Commercial or Sales Director.
• a pricing or restructure project with a clear end date.
• a period of new investment, a sale or fast growth.

Using both models together

Many clients combine the two. An interim Commercial Director can steady results and lead urgent change. Meanwhile, we run the permanent search with great care and pace. Your new hire then inherits a clear plan and a settled team. This joined-up approach supports a leadership team as the business moves to its next stage.

How We Hire for Commercial Roles, Step by Step

Our recruitment process is clear, open and built around your goals:

1. Brief: we learn your strategy, your market and the results the role must deliver.
2. Market mapping: we identify senior leaders and specialists across Manchester, the North West and the wider North.
3. Direct approach: consultants call candidates in person and present the role with care.
4. Assessment: careful candidate screening checks track record, sector know-how, drive and fit.
5. Shortlist and offer: you meet a tight shortlist, and we handle feedback, terms and the offer.
6. Aftercare: we stay in touch through notice periods and the first months in post.

Commercial Recruitment FAQs

What does a commercial recruiter do?

A commercial recruiter finds and tests people for roles that drive sales and growth. These include sales, marketing, category, pricing and business development jobs. Roles range from specialist level up to the boardroom.

How long does it take to hire a Commercial Director in Manchester?

Timescales depend on seniority and notice periods. Senior commercial leaders often work notice periods of three to six months, so early planning helps. An interim appointment can cover the gap while a permanent search runs.

How do I choose a leading recruitment agency for commercial hiring?

Look for sector knowledge, a clear process, real client examples and genuine local insight. A partner based in Manchester will know local pay levels and rival hiring plans. It will also know where the strong people sit.

Can commercial professionals register with Nigel Wright Group?

Yes. Job seekers in sales, marketing and other commercial fields can speak with our team. We share permanent and interim roles that match their skills and goals.

Speak to Our Manchester Commercial Recruitment Team

Our ambition is to be the driving force behind the North’s most successful organisations. Strong commercial leaders sit at the heart of that goal. Whether you need a Commercial Director, an account team or interim cover at short notice, our recruitment services fit your plans.

Contact Nigel Wright Group today to talk about your next commercial hire in Manchester or the North West. Expertise you trust. Hiring people you value.

Manchester Office

Telephone: +44 (0)161 552 5027

Email: marketingdept@nigelwright.com

Address: The Lincoln, Lincoln Square, Brazennose Street, Manchester, M2 5AD