Answers to the questions hiring organisations and senior professionals most often ask about executive search in UK construction and infrastructure.

About Lechley

What does Lechley do?

Lechley is a retained executive search and talent advisory firm specialising in board-level and senior leadership appointments across UK construction, infrastructure, civil engineering, nuclear, and energy. It places commercial directors, project directors, and C-suite leaders for the organisations delivering the UK's largest building and infrastructure programmes.

Who is Scott Lechley, and who founded the firm?

Lechley was founded by Scott Lechley, a qualified Quantity Surveyor who spent an international career in construction before moving into executive search. He describes the background as "poacher turned gamekeeper", giving him a working understanding of cost, risk, and contractual strategy on complex programmes, not just the job descriptions.

When was Lechley established?

Lechley Associates has advised senior leaders in the construction sector since 2002, drawing on a professional network built over more than two decades.

Where does Lechley operate?

Lechley operates across the United Kingdom and supports senior leaders relocating internationally, including Gulf returnees moving back into UK-based roles. The practice works with clients nationally rather than from a single regional desk.

What makes Lechley different from a standard recruitment agency?

Lechley is a retained, research-led search practice, not a contingency agency or a volume operator. Each search is mapped and personally managed from brief to placement, and the focus is exclusively senior and board-level roles. Many of the leaders placed were not actively looking and were approached directly.

Which sectors does Lechley work in?

Lechley works across four areas: major construction including healthcare and education programmes such as the New Hospital Programme; civil engineering and infrastructure including HS2 and National Highways frameworks; nuclear, energy, marine and utilities including Hinkley Point C and Sizewell C; and international, defence, and data centres.

Our services

What is executive search?

Executive search is a retained, research-led method of identifying and securing senior leaders, including high performers who are not actively looking. Unlike contingency recruitment, the search firm is engaged exclusively and works the full brief rather than forwarding available candidates. At Lechley, every search is mapped, researched, and personally managed from brief to placement.

What is succession planning at Lechley?

Succession planning is the work of building leadership pipelines before vacancies become risks. Lechley maps internal capability, identifies gaps, and develops targeted external talent strategies so that organisations are not left exposed when a senior leader moves on.

What does talent advisory include?

Talent advisory covers market intelligence, salary benchmarking, and strategic advice on leadership structures. It is informed by more than two decades of relationships across every tier of the UK construction sector, and helps boards make evidence-based decisions about how they build and reward leadership teams.

How does retained executive search work?

In a retained search, the client engages the search firm exclusively and the work proceeds through defined stages: briefing, market mapping, approach, assessment, shortlist, and placement. This funds a thorough, research-led process and gives the firm the commitment to pursue passive candidates who are not on the open market.

Which functions does Lechley recruit for?

Lechley recruits senior leaders across commercial, design, engineering, project management, estimating and pre-construction, executive and board, health and safety, and planning. Examples include quantity surveying directors, chief engineers, project directors, and HSE directors.

For hiring organisations

Can Lechley help me fill a senior role?

Yes. Lechley runs retained, research-led searches for board and senior leadership positions across construction and infrastructure. The starting point is a conversation about the brief, the programme, and the leadership the role requires. Contact scott@lechley.com or book a conversation at lechley.com/contact-us.

How is executive search different from contingency recruitment?

Contingency recruitment is paid only on a placement and suits active, available talent pools at mid level. Retained executive search is engaged exclusively, paid in stages, and built to identify and approach senior leaders who are in post and not looking. For board and director appointments, where the cost of a wrong hire is high, retained search is usually the right model.

For senior professionals

What does Lechley offer senior professionals?

Lechley offers confidential career advocacy and market intelligence to senior leaders. That includes honest guidance on a potential move, access to leadership opportunities that never reach job boards, and a long-term relationship rather than a single transaction.

How do I get considered for senior roles?

You can apply through the relevant vacancy page at lechley.com/jobs, or contact Scott directly at scott@lechley.com to discuss your background. Every approach is treated confidentially, and it is worth registering your interest even when nothing listed fits, since many roles are never advertised.

Will my current employer find out I am exploring a move?

No. Lechley handles every conversation with senior professionals confidentially. You can discuss the market and specific opportunities without any disclosure to your current employer.

Get in touch

Whether you are building a leadership team or considering your own next move, you can email scott@lechley.com or book a conversation at lechley.com/contact-us. No hard sell, no obligation, just a direct conversation with someone who understands the sector.

Pricing a senior appointment? Download the free UK Construction Leadership Salary Guide 2026: director and board-level pay across UK building, infrastructure and energy, benchmarked against real searches.