About Hurren & Hope
Recruiters who share the risk
Hurren & Hope is a technology recruitment firm set up in London in 2013 by two recruiters with in-house, agency and RPO experience. We hire for technology teams in London, New York and San Francisco, and when you work with us you speak to Mark or Mike directly.
6,906 placements as Hurren & Hope since 2013, and 9,606 across our two careers
Our storyBuilt by recruiters, for the people who hire
We started Hurren & Hope in 2013 after years on every side of hiring: inside companies, in large agencies and running RPO campaigns. We had seen what technology companies needed from a recruiter and how often traditional recruitment fell short of it.
So we set out to work as consultants rather than CV senders. We learn the business, the team and the role before we send anyone, and we stay close to every hire long after they start.
In 2025 that thinking reached our fees. Lavanda, a proptech client of ours, was paid by its own customers only while those customers stayed, and we thought recruitment should work the same way. That became Pay While They Stay.
- 2013
Hurren & Hope is set up in London
Two recruiters with in-house, agency and RPO backgrounds, focused only on technology hiring.
- 2020
Inawisdom is acquired by Cognizant
We built the founding technology team of the AWS partner, from startup through to acquisition.
- 2025
Pay While They Stay launches
Our 20% fee, paid monthly over 12 months and stopping if the hire leaves.
- Today
6,906 placements since 2013
Permanent, contract and executive hires in London, New York and San Francisco.
What we believeHow we work with you
Four things we hold to on every search, whoever the client and whatever the role.
Understand first, then search
We would rather ask one more question about your team than send one more CV. You get a short list of people we have met, not a pile of profiles.
Get paid when it works
With Pay While They Stay we are paid only while your hire stays. If they leave, the payments stop. That keeps us honest about who we put forward.
People first, not logos
We build relationships with individuals, and individuals move. When they do, we tend to go with them, which is how our network keeps growing.
Straight answers
We publish our fees and base them on salary only. If we are not the right firm for a hire, we will tell you so.
“My goal is to be part of your internal team with common aims and a collaborative approach to recruitment strategy.”
Your hiring expertsYou speak to Mark or Mike
Between us we have 45+ years in recruitment. Mark has 26 years, in-house and agency side, including 22 years of contract recruitment. Mike has 19+ years, most of them placing software engineers with product-led companies.
We are both based in London, and clients speak to one of us directly.
Talk to a hiring expert
Hires that stay
Every figure here comes from our own placement records. We stay in touch with clients and hires through the first 12 months and beyond, which is how we know who is still in the job.
“With over 20 years in hiring, we are confident in our abilities and our historical data. It’s why we have no trouble offering our clients a 12 month guarantee.”
Some of the teams we have hired for
In their own words
What the people we hire for say about working with us.
“Simply put, Hurren & Hope are the benchmark of how recruiters should act.”
Chief People Officer, One Beyond
“Don’t mistake Hurren & Hope for just a recruiter. They are a true business partner.”
Senior VP of People, Derivco
“Hurren & Hope bring an integrity and honesty to recruitment that’s so important when bringing talent into an organisation. They’re not looking to make a quick buck or a short term gain.”
Chief Information Officer, NHS Professionals
Where we workLondon, New York and San Francisco
We are headquartered in London, and these three cities are where our networks run deepest.
London
Permanent, contract and executive hiring. UK fees are plus VAT.
Technology recruitment in LondonNew York
Permanent and executive hiring for AI, fintech and SaaS teams.
Technology recruitment in New YorkSan Francisco
Permanent and executive hiring for AI, infrastructure and founding teams.
Technology recruitment in San Francisco- Company
- Hurren & Hope is a trading name of Hurren & Hope Holdings Ltd
- Company number
- 09613334
- Registered office
- Suite 5, 5th Floor, City Reach, 5 Greenwich View Place, London E14 9NN
- Talk to us
- 020 3833 0334 · [email protected]
About Hurren & Hope questions
Who founded Hurren & Hope?
Hurren & Hope was set up in 2013 by two recruiters who had worked in-house, agency side and in RPO. Mark Hurren is Co-Founder, and Michael Johnson is our Recruitment Partner. Both are based in London.
What does Hurren & Hope do?
We recruit technology people for companies in London, New York and San Francisco: engineering, AI and machine learning, data, product, go-to-market, cybersecurity and leadership roles. We work on permanent, executive search and, in the UK only, contract hires.
Who will I deal with?
Mark or Mike, directly. You can reach us on 020 3833 0334 or [email protected], or book a call on this page.
How many placements have you made?
6,906 as Hurren & Hope since 2013, and 9,606 across our two careers. 94% of our permanent hires are still in role at 12 months, based on our own placement records.
Why did you start Pay While They Stay?
It started in 2025 from a conversation with Dan Taylor, commercial officer at Lavanda, a proptech client that was paid by its own customers only while those customers stayed. We thought recruitment fees should work the same way, so our 20% fee can be paid monthly and stops if your hire leaves.
Where are you based?
We are headquartered in London. Our registered office is Suite 5, 5th Floor, City Reach, 5 Greenwich View Place, London E14 9NN, and we recruit into New York and San Francisco from London.
Do you work with venture-backed companies?
Yes, alongside bootstrapped and profitable ones. If you have raised or are raising, our Aligned model on hurrenandhope.vc can defer up to 75% of the fee until your next funding round. If that round doesn't happen, the deferred part isn't owed.
Want to hire with people who share the risk?
Why clients stay with us