A guide to leading outplacement providers in the UK

When deciding on outplacement services, you’ll want to know which is the best outplacement firm for your company. There’s plenty to choose from, as the UK outplacement market is one of the most dynamic in Europe, driven by significant downsizing, especially in the retail, finance, and technology sectors. They offer up a wide range of suitability, from global players with extensive digital resources to more localised firms focused on bespoke services.

At Careerminds, we’re so confident in our outplacement services that we’re willing to showcase our competitors and what they have to offer. To help you better understand what sets these companies apart, we’ve taken a look at the top outplacement firms to see what makes them tick. It’s not a compare and contrast exercise, but a statement of facts about what these outplacement firms offer.

Expert Tip: Keep in mind that it’s difficult to get a real sense of a provider’s outplacement services from a short article such as this one, so make sure you conduct your own research into these companies.

Let’s take a look at the best outplacement firms in the UK and what services they provide when supporting employees through a career transition, beginning with our own outplacement services at Careerminds.

Yes, we’re biased! So we top the list. It would be odd if we didn’t. We offer numerous resources that illustrate why we’re top.

One of the main differentiators at Careerminds is that we don’t have any limits on our services and don’t charge retainer fees. We work with your employees until placement, i.e. as long as we’re needed, to help them secure a new position that is right for them. We also only charge when you require our services, proving that we are so confident in our outplacement services that we know we’ll succeed, however long it takes.

When it comes to something as important as finding a new position, it’s good to know that the outplacement service at Careerminds is flexible enough to work with individuals and meet each one’s unique needs. Careerminds supports clients as a truly strategic partner until all participants are placed. We couple this unique, unlimited support with a virtual outplacement platform and innovative technology, along with career coaches dedicated to steering participants through every stage of the outplacement process. 

Each participant receives comprehensive e-learning training, tools, and 1-2-1 coaching so they can improve their CVs, learn how to search the hidden job market, become expert networkers, and update social media accounts such as LinkedIn, to help them apply for the jobs they want.

But what if some of your workforce are geographically dispersed? There’s no need to worry on that score. At Careerminds, we harness the power of the internet to offer cost-effective, global outplacement for clients regardless of where they are located. This modern, high-tech approach allows us to be anywhere our client is, while ensuring that the service has a human element to it as well.

These facts say it all:

• We boast a 95% placement rate
• Enjoy 80%+ in engagement rates
• Take just under 12 weeks, on average, for participants to secure another position
• Offer personalised services at lower prices than other outplacement companies

Download our comparison sheet so you can see the true difference between Careerminds and our competitors. We strive for, and achieve, transparency in everything. 

LHH (Lee Hecht Harrison) has a strong presence in the UK, operating via a proprietary platform called the LHH Career Studio. This platform centralises career resources, providing participants with immediate access to job search tools and career development resources. With a strong standing in Europe and North America, LHH is expanding into the APAC region, so purports to be one of the largest outplacement firms across the globe. 

Its outplacement services are built around a redeployment-first model, which prioritises opportunities for employees within the organisation before transitioning. These departing employees are supported with analytics-based tools and virtual career coaching, while simultaneously providing LHH with valuable transition metrics. The company targets large and medium-sized firms across all industries, while offering flexible pricing options for different client needs.

The philosophy of Right Management is, “Empower individuals. Improve performance. Elevate engagement. Increase retention,” according to their website. Another global talent management company with a UK arm and a robust hiring network across EMEA and North America, these outplacement services focus on career transition support, talent development, and redeployment. 

The company’s global outreach means they’re perfect for multinational  firms, particularly in regulated sectors such as healthcare and finance. The service focuses on using executive coaching for high-level transitions and data analytics that deliver real-time insights, while accurately placing participants in high profile roles.

The USP of Korn Ferry is its global hiring manager network, connecting outgoing employees with potential employers for a (hopefully) speedier transition into a new position. It also has services available for retained employees to maintain productivity and morale during unsettling times. Its services are best employed by global firms and it specifically leans towards the finance, healthcare, technology, and manufacturing industries. This positioning at the top level is reflected in its pricing, taking the platform’s global reach and comprehensive nature of services into account.

At the other end of the scale, NFP is an outplacement service that mainly caters for medium to small companies in the UK, with no reliance on digital tools. Instead it emphasises its in-person support and 1-2-1 coaching. An added bonus is that it offers psychological counselling for those employees having to deal with career transitions. Very much UK-based and concentrated on the UK job market, NFP supports job matching and placement, ideal for those clients who prefer local expertise and hands-on support above a global reach.

Practical support, including interview training, CV workshops, and the development of soft skills, is very much the skill set of INTOO. They tailor their services to the needs of SMEs across the UK, with limited reach into Europe. This local approach means their services are more cost-effective, allowing smaller companies to access top quality outplacement services without having to fork out too much. Without the back-up of numerous digital tools, this outplacement provider employs insightful face-to-face coaching and workshop-based services. The pricing structure reflects its affinity with smaller firms who don’t need to shell out for expensive technological support.

There are plenty of other firms out there offering outplacement assistance services. This sampling provides detail of just some of the best outplacement firms in the UK.

If you’re seeking outplacement support for outgoing employees, while attracting the best talent, protecting your brand, and keeping remaining employees happy, we suggest asking tough questions, getting references, and scheduling a demo to make sure the outplacement firm you’ve set your sights on is the right fit for your business.

• Careerminds, LHH, Right Management, and Korn Ferry are the ones who broadly serve the international market, with global operations and a further reach
• INTOO and NFP focus on narrower markets, with a truly personalised approach that caters well for smaller firms

If you think that Careerminds might be the one for you, with a great return on your investment, we would encourage you to dig a little deeper into the successes and specifics of our programmes so you’re doubly sure that what we have to offer is what you require.

If your organisation is considering using outplacement services, at Careerminds we’re here for you every step of the way. Contact us today to see how we can help.

Elizabeth Openshaw

Elizabeth is a diligent, articulate, and versatile Blogger and CV Consultant with over 13 years of experience in the job search sector, including extensive expertise in outplacement services and CV reviews, supporting job seekers and all of those involved in the recruitment process. With a personable and self-assured outlook, Elizabeth consistently produces work to a high standard and hits deadlines 100% of the time. Showcases excellent organisational and time management skills, proven by 17 years as a Journalist on numerous national publications including as Features Editor on a monthly glossy magazine and as a regular contributor to Men’s Health, Slimming World and Candis. As Director of her own company, OpenDoor CV Expertise Ltd, Elizabeth displays a high level of professionalism, demonstrated by the positive recommendations and testimonials from many previous clients. Additionally, she is an active member of both the British Association of CV Writers (BACVW) and the Institute of Employability Professionals (IEP), supporting people to gain work, progress in work, and retain work.