The Testing, Inspection, and Certification (TIC) industry operates at the crossroads of regulation, innovation, and trust, and the leaders driving it forward are anything but generic. Finding talent that understands not only ISO standards but also commercial strategy, laboratory operations, and regulatory nuance requires more than a CV scan. It requires a recruiter who knows the terrain inside out.

Enter James Smethurst, the founder of Velocity Talent, and widely regarded as the UK’s leading executive recruiter for the TIC sector.

Who Is James Smethurst?

With a career spanning 13+ years in executive recruitment, James Smethurst has placed over 100 senior leaders across regulated industries, from certification bodies to medical labs, CDMOs, CROs, and scientific instrumentation companies.

He is the driving force behind Velocity Talent, a recruitment firm built on one belief: that better leadership creates better business performance.

What sets James apart is not just his recruitment experience — it’s his ability to understand what makes a business tick, what kind of leader will move the needle, and how to deliver that person, fast.

What Unique Value Does He Bring?

1. Startup and Scale-Up Commercial Insight

Before launching Velocity Talent, James held equity positions in venture-backed companies. This gives him a deep, operational understanding of how commercial performance and talent strategy intersect — a rare but valuable lens in the world of executive recruitment.

When a high-growth TIC company needs a Sales Director or Managing Director who can scale revenue while maintaining compliance integrity, James doesn’t guess — he speaks from experience.

2. Deep Domain Expertise Across TIC and Life Sciences

From sourcing regulatory affairs leaders for CROs to placing directors in ISO 17025-accredited labs, James has built a sector-specific network that few can match. He knows where talent lives, what motivates it, and how to engage it — especially in complex, compliance-heavy industries.

Key areas of coverage include:

  • Calibration laboratories
  • Medical labs (virology, microbiology, andrology)
  • CROs and CDMOs
  • Inspection bodies and certification firms
  • Scientific instrumentation manufacturers

3. Flexible, Impact-Driven Recruitment Models

Every business is different, and James knows one-size-fits-all recruitment doesn’t work in TIC.

Velocity Talent offers tailored models, including:

  • Retained Search: Priority search for critical leadership roles
  • Contingent Recruitment: Speed and performance-based delivery
  • Embedded Recruitment: In-house style partnership without the overhead
  • RPO (Recruitment Process Outsourcing): Full-cycle hiring solution
  • Velocity+: Fractional, strategic talent advisory for startups and scaleups

These flexible models allow clients to scale their hiring with confidence, efficiency, and cost control — whether filling one role or building out an entire executive team.

What Do Clients Say?

James’s reputation is built on results and long-term relationships.

“James listens deeply, delivers fast and intelligently. His hires transform teams.”
— CEO, Medical Devices Lab

“He gets the brief quickly and delivers people we wouldn’t have found ourselves. That’s why we keep coming back.”
— Director, Certification Body

“It’s not just recruitment — it’s partnership. He’s as invested in the outcome as we are.”
— PE-backed CRO Client

With a >90% repeat client rate, James is more than a headhunter — he’s a trusted advisor to businesses navigating regulated growth and change.

Final Thoughts

Finding talent in the TIC industry isn’t just about skill; it’s about finding individuals who can lead through regulation, inspire teams, and deliver commercial outcomes. That kind of recruitment takes expertise, nuance, and grit.

That’s what James Smethurst delivers, and why he’s trusted by over 100 clients in some of the most technically demanding industries in the UK and beyond.

Looking for your next TIC leader?

Contact James Smethurst today and discover why Velocity Talent is the UK’s go-to search partner for executive hires in the Testing, Inspection & Certification industry.

 📞 Schedule Your Consultation Today