Mark Goldsmith

Head of Sector, Building Products & Construction

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About me

With 23 years of recruitment experience under his belt, Mark has spent the last 19 focused on Building Products & Construction.


Having finished Sports Exercise Science, I commenced a degree in Human Biology. However, my first son came along, which curtailed this! I later chose a career in Executive Search as I wanted to help people. I still get a satisfactory buzz when I receive great feedback from a client and believe this is why I’m able to build strong understandings with them. I care! I also have a mini MBA and certificate in Prince project management.

I have been with Collingwood since 2012 and manage the Building Products & Construction business unit. I also get involved in operationally led, manufacturing clients.

Outside of work

I coach my sons under 11’s cricket team which I thoroughly enjoy. I love to read, with a broad interest across business books, biographies and fiction (currently reading Something wicked this way comes by Ray Bradbury.  It’s certainly up there with one of my favourites). Both fitness and music take up any additional spare time I have.

What do you like most about your job?

The satisfaction attached to gaining maximum return for a client. I also enjoy interviewing diverse, technical people. There’re some fascinating jobs out there.

Fun Facts

Favourite Band: I’m a music snob (something I dislike about myself). Favourite bands range from White Denim, Thee Oh Sees, to The Who and St Vincent.

Favourite Film: Again, a rich array - Christopher Nolan’s Batman Trilogy and anything with Daniel Day-Lewis in.

Favourite Food: Mexican food or anything with a generous dollop of spice! 😊

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Since placing the candidates, I have gained feedback from all involved.  The result has not only been successful in terms of their individual performances but the three appointees regularly meet up to share best practice and guide each other.

It was not only a very rewarding set of assignments but I obtained added satisfaction from the fact that this new contact from Germany completely understood the importance of partnership in order to gain maximum return.  I cannot wait to work with her and, what is, a great client again.

Mark Goldsmith,
Senior Executive Search Consultant at Collingwood headhunting for German based Construction Products Group
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From start to finish, the approach Mark used to introduce his client and the job role, was excellent. His knowledge of the client, the job requirements and skills set and personality they were looking for was expressed effectively to ensure a suitable fit. Mark had intricate knowledge of the client, including its future ambition and how the role would be an important area for the organisation. His approach was efficient and honest. He managed the whole process with integrity and I felt I was kept informed during all stages of the recruitment process. I would happily recommend Mark as a exemplary recruiter for senior positions.

Candidate,
Group HSE Director at Leading Industrial Building Materials Group
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I've used the services of Collingwood on several occasions over a period of more than 10 years and have found in every case them to be exemplary in all aspects. Their attention to finding the right fit in search and selection is excellent as is their expertise in the provision of development tools in team development. I would have no hesitation in recommending them both professionally and personal.

Managing Director,
Leading Window Systems Provider
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I have no hesitation in recommending Mark from a candidates’ point of view.

From the moment he reached out, I was impressed with the details he had put together for the role, knowledge of the industry, personalities within the company and follow up on interests from my view.

Mark kept me updated throughout the recruitment process and was very forthcoming with information when asked and willing to get more as required. He spent significant time getting to know me and making sure I had the competencies he was looking for and most importantly that I was also interested in the role from both a skills and value based fit.

I found the entire experience from the first contact to the numerous calls, an enjoyable one which is rare in the world of recruiters – I could not recommend Mark and the level of service he provided highly enough.

Marketing Director , Candidate
Building Product Manufacturers
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In a crowded marketplace, its not often that a recruitment specialist really stands out from the crowd. He is thorough, collaborative and very thoughtful in working alongside you in helping specifying the requirements for senior roles and producing excellent candidates. Always happy to take on board further comments and adapt his approach as needed to ensure the right hires are found and properly reviewed. High emotional intelligence and also an all-round nice guy and a pleasure to work with. I would have no reservations at all recommending Mark.

Head of Water, Client
Utilities Infrastructure
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In my opinion Mark has the x-factor that most recruiters are missing. He isn't just looking for a professional fit to meet the brief that most professional recruiters do. He truly understands the immeasurable value of personal fit and future relationships, and the potential impact on the culture of a business. He placed considerable emphasis on this throughout the process, and his understanding and recollection of the detail was seriously impressive. The level of service Mark provided, combined with his engaging personality, gave me the best recruitment experience I've had in over 30 years of both recruiting and being recruited. I could not recommend Mark and the level of service he provides highly enough. I will certainly be working with him again in the future.

Candidate,
Sales Director, Matrix Networks
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Mark is a professional, friendly and intelligent recruitment professional. He has excellent communication skills and the ability to identify talent and find the right person for the identified role.

Candidate,
Head of Sales - Aggregates, Rail Freight
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Mark is a highly professional and knowledgeable industry professional. From the first time we met Mark created a positive and welcoming environment. Throughout the recruitment process Mark provided information and insight to enable me to consider the opportunity and make the important next step in my career journey. The support at each stage ensured that the recruitment and onboarding process were seamless. Mark's industry, organisational and assignment knowledge were first class and I couldn't have asked for more in terms of a candidate's experience. I would be very happy to recommend Mark to others in the industry.

Placed Candidate, Commercial Director
Building Products & Construction
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From start to finish, the approach Mark used to introduce his client and the job role, was excellent. His knowledge of the client, the job requirements and skills set and personality they were looking for was expressed effectively to ensure a suitable fit. Mark had intricate knowledge of the client, including its future ambition and how the role would be an important area for the organisation. His approach was efficient and honest. He managed the whole process with integrity and I felt I was kept informed during all stages of the recruitment process. I would happily recommend Mark as an exemplary recruiter for senior positions.

SHEQ Director, Candidate
Utilities
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We have worked with Collingwood on several occasions over the past five years, having had meaningful conversations about what we were looking for, they were always ultra-professional in their dealings with us and they found some fabulous candidates which were all certainly credible. We would not hesitate to recommend them to other businesses

Managing Director,
Building Products & Construction
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We are very happy with our new MD for the UK. Mark monitored the process towards us as well as towards the candidates very carefully and made adjustments where necessary. We have never seen a process running so smoothly. As a group, we operate in various European countries, as well as the USA, Canada and South Africa. Fortunately for us, Collingwood also perform their activities outside the UK. A reliable, effective and pleasant recruitment partner, which we truly can recommend.

HR Director,
International Packaging Company
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I have no hesitation in recommending Mark from a candidates’ point of view.

From the moment he reached out, I was impressed with the details he had put together for the role, knowledge of the industry, personalities within the company and follow up on interests from my view.

Mark kept me updated throughout the recruitment process and was very forthcoming with information when asked and willing to get more as required. He spent significant time getting to know me and making sure I had the competencies he was looking for and most importantly that I was also interested in the role from both a skills and value based fit.

I found the entire experience from the first contact to the numerous calls, an enjoyable one which is rare in the world of recruiters – I could not recommend Mark and the level of service he provided highly enough.

Candidate, Marketing Director, EMEA
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I would have no hesitation in recommending Collingwood Search to any company looking to recruit senior personnel for their organisation.

Right from our first conversation, through the engagement process, finalising job specifications, reviewing potential candidates and so forth, Mark and Callum provided excellent input, with some great suggestions and were diligent and professional throughout.

The candidates taken forward to interview were all top quality individuals, who met the brief well and we had some difficult decisions to make when deciding on who to appoint to what role.

The bottom line is we wouldn’t have found the key people we needed for our businesses without Collingwood Search and their expertise.

Managing Director,
UK based Building Product Manufacturer - Housebuilder, Social Housing & RM&I markets
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Really impressed with Mark and the team at Collingwood, right balance of listening and probing - we were doing something a bit different and it worked. Great communication, pace met expectations and all done with a pleasant, friendly and professional approach. Looking forward to next time. Thank you!

Director of Talent & Relationships,
UK based contractor serving the social housing sector
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Mark shows fantastic candidate care throughout the recruitment process. Mark is a great interviewer; very engaging - he looks to get the best out of people and is keen to make sure the fit is right between candidate and client.

Very quick to respond to any messages/queries.

A pleasure to work with - I would recommend any candidate to trust Mark and his experience in helping them achieve their ambitions.

Contracts Manager (placed candidate),
UK based contractor serving the social housing sector

Book a 30 minute - no obligation meeting with Mark Goldsmith, Senior Consultant Building Products & Construction
Book a meeting with Mark