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Government & Defence

Government & Defence

Defence talent solution specialists

We are experts in sourcing hard to find, hard to reach talent in the UK Government & Defence sector.

Sanderson Government & Defence was established over 20 years ago as a bespoke solution to a unique talent problem: sourcing and placing high-calibre professional talent to work within the UK Government and Defence sector.

We provide talent solutions for the UK government and their critical supply chains, including: Ministry of Defence (MOD) and areas of National Security; Central Government and Arm’s Length Bodies; National Policing and Justice; and the broader Public Sector.

Our Expertise

It is rare that a talent challenge can be solved with one solution, and when you layer in the unique requirements of the UK government and defence sectors, then that challenge becomes even more complex.

By devoting our business to solving challenges across this sector, and combining it with an appetite for problem solving and innovating, we are able to offer multi channel talent solutions that can tackle the most complex talent challenges in the UK government and defence sectors.

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Our Services

Our services encompass the full range of workforce management from total talent solutions, including RPO and non-permanent managed services, through to retained projects, search offerings, consulting services and contingent recruitment.

Recruitment Services

We recruit for a wide variety of roles, both directly and indirectly to government customers. Our understanding of the sector, ability to reach hard to find candidates and knowledge of security clearance processes means we can deliver the best quality candidates for our clients.
Consulting Services

Our Government & Defence Consulting Services support clients who have a complex portfolio of initiatives or projects and either lack the time, or specialist capability, or are struggling to deliver project outcomes. With an agile delivery process, we offer our clients access to our experienced specialist talent pool, aligned specifically to your desired outcomes.
Executive Search

We work with both government departments directly, via Crown Commercial Service (CCS) approved frameworks, and the integrated supply chain to the defence sector to find the best leadership talent. Our specialism is in business leadership roles, working into networks of talent who have either the domain expertise specific to your problem or transferrable skills and a desire to contribute to the mission importance of secure government.
Recruitment Process Outsourcing (RPO)

We innovate our talent solutions to be sensitive to the unique demands of the government and defence sector. By partnering with you, we can develop and deliver outsourced recruitment solutions, from full RPO to individual bespoke projects, to ensure you compete for the best talent. As your embedded partner we focus on building your EVP, attracting the best talent, delivering critical mission messages throughout the process, and delivering where other solutions have failed.
Managed Service Programmes (MSP)

Our approach to MSP is to see your non-permanent population as an extension of your talent pool, we offer technology backed solutions that are sensitive to your needs, bespoke to individual business divisions, and can range from vendor neutral to master vendor solutions. Our approach is to implement a simple, transparent, and compliant process, spanning the non-permanent lifecycle from workforce planning to offboarding, providing visibility, cost savings and access to the best extended talent.

Meet the G&D Leadership Team

Nick Walrond
- Managing Director - Sanderson Government & Defence
Nick established Sanderson Government & Defence over 20 years ago to meet the unique challenge of supplying skilled resources to secure government. He solves clients talent problems as a partner, collaboratively and transparently, building long-term relationships and owning the problem through to completion. Sanderson Government & Defence has evolved into a versatile, multi-product service, with technology, diversity, and social value at the core of solutions. Nick ensures that the approach remains dynamic, making sure clients are positioned at the forefront of innovation and inclusivity.
Nick Yarham
- Head of Talent Partnering - Government & Defence
Nick started in recruitment in 1996 and established Sanderson Government and Defence in 2002 alongside Nick Walrond. Nick manages talent partnering providing solutions for permanent recruitment. He has fostered trusting relationships and yielded business opportunities through his active listening and ethos of treating others how you’d like to be treated. Nick and his team build solutions that enable businesses to attract the best talent, and work with them to enhance their holistic business creating candidate retention and business growth.
Mollie Hatton
- Head of Projects - Government & Defence
Mollie manages our project solutions for Sanderson Government and Defence. Mollie, alongside her team, delivers bespoke talent projects that are centred around hard to find hard to reach skillsets, ED&I consulting, employer value proposition and future talent programmes to help create a diverse workforce. She consistently strives to shift perspectives and break down barriers, embodying a commitment to thinking outside the box to drive positive change. These projects are agile, bespoke, and impactful looking at alternative solutions to meeting the organisational needs of the business.
James Corcoran
- Head of Recruitment Services - Government & Defence
James leads the team of Government and Defence consultants working across the various solutions and driving the evolution of G&D’s regional business hubs. With 19 years of recruitment experience, James serves as an escalation point adding value beyond transactional opportunities. His embedded approach involves lateral thinking, entering strategic conversations to help clients develop ED&I initiatives and diverse teams. James’s impact extends to his role as a council member for the Tech UK Skills and Diversity Council supporting these initiatives in the technology sector.
Josh Irving
- Head of Executive Search - Government & Defence
Josh has worked in Executive Search for over 20 years delivering mandates across a spectrum of clients. He works with his clients to understand how to support their business by strengthening their leadership teams as a long-term strategic partner. Josh joined Sanderson Government & Defence four years ago and has developed a capability that is unique by combining his proactive approach and best practice with deep sector and technical understanding of the secure government sector.
Charlie Lambert
- Head of Client Development - Government & Defence
Charlie serves as the strategic interface for all G&D customers ensuring that clients gain full exposure to the full range of talent solutions available. His approach to working with clients involves listening to their problems and solving them in bespoke ways to meet different intricacies. Charlie has been at Sanderson for over 18 years and regularly deals with large corporate clients as part of a small yet highly effective team. The team have a collaborative team culture where the service level from management to consultant is consistent creating trusting relationships.
Stuart Adams
- Head of Contract Solutions & Delivery - Government & Defence
Stuart has been with Sanderson for 25 years, starting his professional career as a consultant. He has progressed through the technology team, moving to the G&D team after experiencing firsthand the demand for security-cleared specialisms. He now manages G&D's contract solutions as well as mentoring and coaching the internal delivery team. Stuart works with clients to create solutions that address their challenges and is a constant throughout their journey. He believes in honesty and being brave to be truthful offering his advice and guidance to any business interested in recruitment solutions.

Women Empowering Defence

We have teamed up with Women Empowering Defence whose vision is to empower people within the defence industry to achieve their goals and fulfil their true potential.

Find out more about how we are getting involved. We will be attending events, generating podcasts and sharing our thought leadership articles.

Find out more about our partnership

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Search our latest jobs below

Search all live jobs

Wintel (Win 11) SME - SC & NPPV3 Cleared
- West Midlands
- £500 - £535 per week
- Contract
SC Cleared ServiceNow Business Analyst
- South West
- £500 - £650 per day + Inside IR35
- Contract
Senior Infrastructure Engineer - DV Cleared
- South West
- Negotiable
- Contract
Lead Infrastructure Engineer - DV Cleared
- South West
- Negotiable
- Contract
Lead Infrastructure Engineer - SC Cleared
- South West
- Negotiable
- Contract
MS Dynamics Developer / SC cleared
- West Midlands
- Up to £380 per day
- Contract
Procurement Manager
- West Midlands
- Negotiable
- Contract
SAP - iMRO SME
- West Midlands
- £675 - £715 per day
- Contract
Project Manager - DV Cleared
- South West
- £50000 - £65000 per annum + Various Benefits
- Permanent
SharePoint Platform Administrator - SC Cleared
- South West
- £450 - £500 per day
- Contract
Application Packager - SC Cleared
- South West
- £450 - £500 per day
- Contract
Infrastructure Engineer (Virtualisation) - SC Cleared
- South West
- £450 - £500 per day
- Contract

Our
Frameworks

Crown Commercial Service Supplier

We are an approved Crown Commercial Service Supplier for all of our services.

Armed Forces Covenant

We are an approved Crown Commercial Service Supplier for all of our services.

Find Out More

Government & Defence Client and Candidate Testimonials

"We have been partnering with Sanderson Government & Defence for over 10 years. During this time they have sourced over 100 security cleared experts to help us to deliver National Security and Intelligence work."

Multinational technology company
"The introduction of a new candidate talent pool using Sanderson Government & Defence’s resources and network has really helped us to deliver defence critical work."

A technology company helping run mission critical systems and operations
"A superb example of what all recruiters and head-hunters should emulate. They were open, genuine, and really cared about ensuring that the role was going to be the right fit, for both the applicant’s personal experience and ambitions, and the employer’s culture and projects."

Candidate feedback
"I'm really impressed with how professional, knowledgeable and proactive the Sanderson Government & Defence team were."

Candidate feedback
"I can wholeheartedly say they're by far the best recruiting consultant I have encountered over 3 years since leaving HM Forces."

Candidate feedback

Get in touch to discuss your talent challenges

Meet our Government & Defence Managing Director

Nick Walrond

Managing Director - Sanderson Government & Defence

Nick established Sanderson Government & Defence over 20 years ago to meet the unique challenge of supplying skilled resources to secure government. He solves clients talent problems as a partner, collaboratively and transparently, building long-term relationships and owning the problem through to completion. Sanderson Government & Defence has evolved into a versatile, multi-product service, with technology, diversity, and social value at the core of solutions. Nick ensures that the approach remains dynamic, making sure clients are positioned at the forefront of innovation and inclusivity.

Latest G&D News

View all articles

Reading Time: 5 mins
The North West ‘Cyber Corridor’: What you need to know

Here we provide information regarding the Government’s priority of Cyber security, how the creation of the National Cyber Force directly supports that strategy and from there how a Cyber ecosystem has been created in the North West region.
- Written by:
  Devon Yeo
- Managing Consultant in the Northwest
Reading Time: 4 mins
Is AI making applying for a job worse than online dating?

There is a worrying trend beginning to come into the world of recruitment and that is the proliferation of AI bots doing the filtering. Is this lack of human touch and 'swipe to the next' mentality making applying for a job worse than online dating?...
- Written by:
  Nick Walrond
- Managing Director - Sanderson Government & Defence
Reading Time: 5 mins
Unmasking the Imposter: Empowering Women to Lean into Success

Mollie explores the widespread challenge of imposter syndrome and offers actionable strategies for overcoming it. Discover practical tips to acknowledge your successes, harness the power of vulnerability, cultivate self-compassion, and build a...
- Written by:
  Mollie Hatton
- Head of Projects - Government & Defence
Reading Time: 6 mins
How do we deal with the rise of ghosting in the interview process?

Interview ghosting is a big pain point for candidates in today’s job market and is becoming more common. Here we explore the impact this could have on suitable candidates as well as offering our tips on what you should do if this happens to you.
- Written by:
  Nick Walrond
- Managing Director - Sanderson Government & Defence
Reading Time: 5 mins
Future-proofing Cyber Security & Engineering Capabilities

Find out how we worked in partnership with a leading technology-led defence and security solutions company to successfully help them source, assess and place a diverse talent pool into their bespoke cyber security 6-month training programme.
- Written by:
  Mollie Hatton
- Head of Projects - Government & Defence
Reading Time: 4 mins
Java Developers in the Defence Sector: What Does the Future Hold?

As we move through Q4, will the demand for security cleared Java Developers still be as strong?
- Written by:
  James Corcoran
- Head of Recruitment Services - Government & Defence
Reading Time: 4 mins
Sanderson Government & Defence launches Extended Talent &...

Sanderson Government & Defence have been awarded a Vendor Neutral Managed Service into two key divisions of the Cabinet Office, namely Government Digital Services (GDS) and the Central Digital and Data Office (CDDO).
- Written by:
  Nick Walrond
- Managing Director - Sanderson Government & Defence
Reading Time: 1 min
Meet our Government & Defence team at the Security Cleared Expo...

If you're looking for a new challenge and have security clearance, come and meet our talent solutions specialists at the forthcoming Security Cleared Expo in Bristol on the 25th April.
- Written by:
  Nick Walrond
- Managing Director - Sanderson Government & Defence
Reading Time: 4 mins
How to overcome the digital skills gap – to hire or upskill?

Is the UK employment market seeing a shift? Will we start to see more companies upskilling existing talent instead of hiring new? Could this create a digital skills gap? Nick Walrond dives into these hot topics and more as he explores the 2024...
- Written by:
  Nick Walrond
- Managing Director - Sanderson Government & Defence
Reading Time: 4 mins
Championing ED&I within the defence sector

Sanderson’s Government & Defence team are on a mission to support greater gender diversity in the government and defence sector. We are therefore delighted to announce our new partnership with Women Empowering Defence for 2024. Find out more on...
- Written by:
  Mollie Hatton
- Head of Projects - Government & Defence
Reading Time: 3 mins
Sanderson G&D have been awarded the Armed Forces Covenant Silver...

Sanderson Government & Defence have been awarded the Silver Armed Forces Covenant Award in the Employers Recognition Scheme Award across the Southwest!
- Written by:
  Nick Walrond
- Managing Director - Sanderson Government & Defence