Home Business Awards & Achievements North East recruitment firm celebrates first anniversary with global partnership deal

North East recruitment firm celebrates first anniversary with global partnership deal

Alex Cooper, founder and director at Cooper Edwards.

An independent North East-based search and selection firm has celebrated its first year in business by expanding its services overseas.

North Tyneside-based Cooper Edwards has joined forces with RGF Executive Search in Osaka, Japan, to deliver high-quality recruitment services to its clients operating in the Japanese marketplace.

Specialising in senior management and board level recruitment, Cooper Edwards works with clients operating across manufacturing sectors such as automotive, aerospace and subsea, capital equipment and FMCG, both in the UK and abroad.

Due to client demand for high calibre candidates in Japan in particular, Cooper Edwards’ founder and director, Alex Cooper, saw fit to forge a partnership on a more permanent basis to help service this niche business market.


“Recruitment in Japanese business culture is incredibly different to anywhere else in the world,” Alex explained.

“The process and overall approach to executive search and selection, especially at upper management level, is very particular which is why it helps to have an expert on the ground to help us navigate the market on behalf of our clients.

“RGF Executive Search is one of Japan’s leading recruitment specialists so we are delighted to be working closely with them. The partnership will enable us to further expand our service offering in Asia while continuing to establish the Cooper Edwards brand in the UK.”

The partnership with RGF Executive Search is the cherry on top of a fantastic first year of trade for Cooper Edwards.

The business was established in September 2017 to plug a gap in the North East recruitment sector for a firm that could deliver a results-driven, professional service with an added personal touch. Since then, the business has gone on to attract a number of blue chip clients and is already exporting its expertise overseas.

“I never imagined that the business would be in the strong position it is today after just one year of trading,” Alex added.

“Having spent the last decade or more working in the recruitment industry, I have been able to build up a strong network of contacts which has been invaluable in getting the company up and quite literally, running! In business, they say you shouldn’t run before you can walk, but Cooper Edwards has got off to a flying start and I’m incredibly excited to see what the future holds.”

Cooper Edwards provides highly-effective, tailored search and selection services to businesses operating globally across numerous market sectors.