TERMS & CONDITIONS
TERMS OF BUSINESS FOR THE INTRODUCTION OF PERMANENT OR INTERIM STAFF
1. DEFINITIONS
1.1 In these Terms of Business the following definitions apply:
“Applicant” means the person introduced by the Agency to the Client for an Engagement including any officer or employee of the Applicant if the Applicant is a limited company and members of the Agency’s own Staff;
“Client” refers to the specific company or entity that is the intended recipient of services provided by Night Hawk Executive Search, along with any of its subsidiaries or associated companies as defined by the Companies Act 1985, to which the Applicant is introduced.
“Agency” refers to Night Hawk Executive Search, a business operated by Andrew Nicholls in a self-employed capacity and trading under the name “Night Hawk Executive Search.”
“Engagement” means the engagement, employment or use of the Applicant by the Client or any third party on a permanent or temporary basis, whether under a contract of service or for services; under an agency, license, franchise or partnership agreement; or any other engagement; directly or through a limited company of which the Applicant is an officer or employee;
“Introduction” means (i) the Client’s interview of an Applicant conducted in person, by telephone, video chat, or any other communication medium, following the Client’s instruction to the Agency to search for an Applicant; or (ii) the passing to the Client of a curriculum vitæ or information which identifies the Applicant; and which leads to an Engagement of that Applicant;
“Remuneration” includes base salary or fees, car allowance or company car (assumed cost an annual amount of £10,000) guaranteed bonus and commission earnings, allowances, inducement payments, and all other payments and taxable (and, where applicable, non-taxable) emoluments payable to or receivable by the Applicant for services rendered to or on behalf of the Client.
1.2 Unless the context requires otherwise, references to the singular include the plural.
1.3 The headings contained in these Terms of Business are for convenience only and do not affect their Interpretation.
2. THE CONTRACT
2.1 These Terms constitute the contract between the Agency and the Client and are deemed to be accepted by the Client by virtue of an Introduction to, or the Engagement of an Applicant or the passing of any information about the Applicant to any third party following an Introduction.
2.2 These Terms contain the entire agreement between the parties and unless otherwise agreed in writing by a representative of the Agency, these Terms of Business prevail over any other Terms of Business or purchase conditions put forward by the Client.
2.3 No variation or alteration to these Terms shall be valid unless the details of such variation are agreed between the Agency and the Client and are set out in writing and a copy of the varied terms is given to the Client stating the date on or after which such varied terms shall apply.
3. NOTIFICATION AND FEES
3.1 The Client agrees:
3.1.1 To notify the Agency immediately of any offer of an Engagement which it makes to the Applicant;
3.1.2 To notify the Agency immediately that its offer of an Engagement to the Applicant has been accepted and to provide details of the Remuneration to the Agency; and
3.1.3 To pay the Agency’s fee within 30 days of the date of invoice.
3.2 Except in the circumstances set out in clause 5.1 below, no fee is incurred by the Client until the Applicant commences the Engagement when the Agency will render an invoice to the Client for its fees.
3.3 The Agency reserves the right to charge interest on invoiced amounts unpaid for more than 30 days at the rate of 4% of the gross fee for each month (or part thereof) for which the debt remains unpaid beyond the due date. Where the customer does not settle its debt with ‘NHE’ within the terms agreed, ’NHE’ has the right to remove all discounts and revert to standard tariff. Standard tariff for placements being 30% of the ‘remuneration’ package.
3.4 The fee payable to the Agency by the Client for an Introduction resulting in an Engagement is calculated in accordance with the accompanying Scale of Fees set out in the schedule to these Terms of Business on the gross Remuneration applicable during the first 12 months of the Engagement. VAT will be charged on the fee if Applicable.
3.5 In the event that the Engagement is for a fixed term of less than 12 months, the fee and rebate will apply pro rata. If the Engagement is extended beyond the initial fixed term or if the Client engages or re-engages the Applicant within 12 calendar months from the date of termination of the first Engagement or withdrawal of the offer the Client shall be liable to pay a further fee based on the additional Remuneration applicable for the period of Engagement following the initial fixed term up to the termination of the second Engagement or the first anniversary of its commencement, whichever is the sooner.
3.6 Our minimum fee on permanent placements is £30,000. This fee applied to any placement, including part time Placements.
4. REFUNDS
4.1 In order to qualify for the following refund, the Client must pay the Agency’s fee within 30 days of the date of invoice and must notify the Agency in writing of the termination of the Engagement within 7 days of its Termination.
4.2 If the Engagement terminates before the expiry of 6 weeks from the commencement of the Engagement (except where the Applicant is made redundant) the fee will be refunded in accordance with the accompanying Scale of Refund set out in the schedule to these Terms of Business.
5. CANCELLATION FEE
5.1 If, after the offer of Engagement has been accepted by the Applicant, the Client decides for any reason not to proceed with the appointment prior to the Applicant starting work, the client shall be liable to pay the Agency 50% of the fee in clause 3.4.
6. INTRODUCTIONS
6.1 Introductions of Applicants are confidential. The disclosure by the Client to a third party of any details regarding an Applicant introduced by the Agency which results in an Engagement with that third party within 12 months of the Introduction renders the Client liable to payment of the Agency’s fee as set out in clause 3.4 with no entitlement to any refund.
6.2 An introduction fee calculated in accordance with clause 3.4 will be charged in relation to any Applicant engaged as a consequence of or resulting from an introduction by or through the Agency, whether direct or indirect, within 12 months from the date of the Agency’s Introduction.
6.3 Where the amount of the actual Remuneration is not known the Agency will charge a fee calculated in accordance with clause 3.4 on the minimum level of remuneration applicable for the position in which the Applicant has been engaged with regard to any information supplied to the Agency by the Client and/or comparable positions in the market generally for such positions.
7. SUITABILITY AND REFERENCES
7.1 The Agency endeavors to ensure the suitability of any Applicant introduced to the Client by obtaining confirmation of the Applicant’s identity; that the Applicant has the experience, training, qualifications and any authorisation which the Client considers necessary or which may be required by law or by any professional body; and that the Applicant is willing to work in the position which the Client seeks to fill.
7.2 At the same time as proposing an Applicant to the Client the Agency shall inform the Client of such matters in clause 7.1 as they have obtained confirmation of. Where such information is not given in paper form or by electronic means it shall be confirmed by such means by the end of the third business day (excluding Saturday, Sunday and any public or Bank holiday) following save where the Applicant is being proposed for a position which is the same as one in which the Applicant has worked within the previous five business days and such information has already been given to the Client.
7.3 The Agency endeavors to take all such steps as are reasonably practicable to ensure that the Client and Applicant are aware of any requirements imposed by law or any professional body to enable the Applicant to work in the position which the Client seeks to fill.
7.4 The Agency endeavors to take all such steps as are reasonably practicable to ensure that it would not be detrimental to the interests of either the Client or the Applicant for the Applicant to work in the position which the Client seeks to fill.
7.5 Notwithstanding clauses 7.1, 7.2, 7.3 and 7.4 above the Client shall satisfy itself as to the suitability of the Applicant and the Client shall take up any references provided by the Applicant to it. The Client is responsible for obtaining work permits and/or such other permission to work as may be required, for the arrangement of medical examinations and/or investigations into the medical history of any Applicant, and satisfying any medical and other requirements, qualifications or permission required by law of the country in which the Applicant is engaged to work.
7.6 To enable the Agency to comply with its obligations under clauses 7.1, 7.2, 7.3 and 7.4 above the Client undertakes to provide to the Agency details of the position which the Client seeks to fill, including the type of work that the Applicant would be required to do; the location and hours of work; the experience, training, qualifications and any authorisation which the Client considers necessary, or which are required by law or any professional body for the Applicant to possess in order to work in the position; and any risks to health or safety known to the Client and what steps the Client has taken to prevent or control such risks. In addition, the Client shall provide details of the date the Client requires the Applicant to commence, the duration or likely duration of the work; the minimum rate of remuneration, expenses and any other benefits that would be offered; the intervals of payment of remuneration and the length of notice that the Applicant would be entitled to give and receive to terminate the employment with the Client.
8. SPECIAL SITUATIONS
8.1 Both the Agency and the Client agree to comply with all applicable data protection legislation, including the UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018. Each party acknowledges its role as a data controller for personal data processed during the recruitment process.
8.2 The Agency will ensure that all Applicant data is processed lawfully, fairly, and transparently, with explicit consent obtained where required, and used solely for recruitment purposes.
8.3 The Client agrees to process any shared personal data only for evaluating the Applicant’s suitability for the role and in compliance with data protection regulations. The Client is responsible for maintaining security measures for any personal data received.
8.4 In the event of a data breach, each party shall notify the other without undue delay and cooperate to address the breach in accordance with GDPR obligations.
8.5 The Client indemnifies the Agency against any losses resulting from the Client’s breach of data protection laws in relation to personal data shared during the recruitment process.
9. LIABILITY
9.1 The Agency shall not be liable under any circumstances for any loss, expense, damage, delay, costs or compensation (whether direct, indirect or consequential) which may be suffered or incurred by the Client arising from or in any way connected with the Agency seeking an Applicant for the Client or from the Introduction to or Engagement of any Applicant by the Client or from the failure of the Agency to introduce any Applicant. For the avoidance of doubt, the Agency does not exclude liability for death or personal injury arising from its own Negligence
10. LAW
10.1 These Terms are governed by the law of England & Wales and are subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Courts of England & Wales
11. ACCEPTANCE OF TERMS
10.1 By requesting information about, interviewing, or engaging in any form of communication with a candidate introduced by Night Hawk Executive Search, the Client agrees to accept Night Hawk Executive Search’s’ Terms and Conditions in their entirety. This acceptance includes all terms related to fees, confidentiality, and responsibilities as set forth within these Terms and Conditions.