We help enterprise and essential-service operators build resilient security teams fast, ethically, and transparently.
Foundations Search is a boutique search partner for cyber security hiring across the UK’s critical infrastructure — aviation, transport, communications, energy and utilities, data centres, and adjacent regulated environments.
We were founded on a simple observation: the organisations that matter most to national resilience often have the hardest time finding the right cyber talent — professionals who combine deep technical expertise with an understanding of regulated, safety-critical environments.
The result is a market where critical roles go unfilled for months and organisations compete for the same small pool of visible candidates — while the threat landscape accelerates.
We exist to solve this problem. Every search is built on sector-specific intelligence and pre-qualified networks. We combine threat-aware speed with a transparent, consultative approach — accessing passive as well as active talent to deliver outcome-ready teams, without the corporate stiffness.
Pace matters, but precision wins.
We handle sensitive searches with discretion to ensure confidentiality, and run a transparent process with clear ownership, honest feedback, and simple fee structure.
We understand OT/ICS constraints, safety cases, and service continuity. Briefing templates map skills to CNI impact — availability, integrity, and safety — with stakeholder maps including Ops, Risk, and Engineering.
We move quickly because adversaries do—but never at the cost of diligence. Time-boxed shortlists; role-specific screening; weekly progress signals.
We measure success by operational outcomes, not CV volume. Agreed hiring OKRs — time-to-competence, incident-response coverage — with post-hire check-ins at 30 and 90 days.
We advise on team shape, not just a job spec. Skill-gap analysis, build-vs-buy guidance, succession planning, and bench development for long-term resilience.
We widen reach beyond typical networks to strengthen teams. Balanced longlists; inclusive JD rewrites; reporting against UK cyber diversity baselines.
Our reputation depends on trust and outcomes.
The team behind Foundations bring a strong and diverse range of skills & perspectives to ensure our highest standards are delivered to clients and candidates alike.
Managing director &
Founder
Gyles founded Foundations Search to close the critical gap between CNI organisations and the specialist cyber security talent essential to national resilience. With over a decade of recruitment experience placing senior security professionals across aviation, energy, defence, telecommunications, he has built a reputation for precision, discretion, and deep sector knowledge. This is delivered with empathy and deep rooted ethics.
He leads every engagement with a consultative, operationally-informed approach — defining roles around mission outcomes before activating targeted search across both passive and active talent pools. Clients trust Gyles and Foundations to deliver where generalist recruiters cannot.
Operations Director
Laurence’s role with Foundations is to improve workflow and provide strategic market analysis & insights for clients running essential services, complex supply chains, and mixed IT/OT estates in regulated environments. Ensuring this is done in an ethical and sustainable manner that makes a positive impact on Clients, Candidates, and helps to protect our Critical Infrastructure is of utmost importance.
With a background in International Development, Operations Management, and Hospitality, Laurence has worked in a variety of positions across the globe and now brings his unique perspective and passion to the world of Tech/Security to help drive Inclusive & Sustainable Innovation and increase Operational Resilience.
A few of the kind words shared by senior stakeholders and the internal talent teams we work closely with
across multiple sectors within Critical Infrastructure & supporting supply chains.
Yes. Many of our engagements are run under strict confidentiality agreements. We can operate discreetly without naming the hiring organisation until candidates have been fully briefed and given consent to proceed. This is particularly common in CNI environments where operational security is paramount.
We specialise exclusively in cyber security recruitment for critical national infrastructure. This includes energy and utilities, defence and national security, telecommunications, transport, financial services, and government. Our depth of focus means we understand the unique operational, regulatory, and clearance requirements of each sector.
We have deep experience navigating UK security clearance frameworks from SC through to DV and eDV. We assess clearance status early in the process, advise on transferability and timelines, and never disclose a candidate's clearance level without their explicit consent. We can also advise on sponsorship pathways for candidates who need to obtain or upgrade clearance.
We operate on a retained or contingent basis depending on the nature and seniority of the search. For retained searches, fees are structured across milestones aligned to delivery. For contingent placements, fees are payable on successful hire. We are always transparent about costs upfront and happy to discuss the right engagement model for your specific requirements.
"I can't recommend Gyles and the team at Foundations enough. We struggled to find a suitable candidate for 5 months, Foundations found 3 perfect candidates in 24 hours."
Manager of EMEA & APAC Network Engineering, Equinix