You win the client. You find the talent. What could you build with more ownership?
You already know the effort behind every placement. The conversations. The judgement. The relationships that make it happen.
Talnet gives entrepreneurial recruiters a different way forward: an independent desk under a shared brand, supported by the tools, development and community to help you grow.
A bigger next chapter.
More ownership. More possibility.
01
Your earning potential.
Earn an agreed share of the recruitment revenue you generate. Build a desk where your commercial results shape your income.
02
Your direction.
Define your market. Develop your relationships. Take responsibility for how you build your business.
03
Your support network.
Independence with shared infrastructure, practical development and people to learn alongside.
A different structure for your ambition.
Traditional agencies. The Talnet alternative.
Understand the choices behind the opportunity: how you work, where support comes from and the business you want to build.
Your priorities
Traditional agencies
Talnet
Earning opportunity
Typically a basic salary with a bonus or commission plan set by the employer.
Commission-based independent earnings, shaped by your business activity and agreed commercial terms.
Desk direction
Market focus and priorities sit within the agency’s business structure.
Develop your desk and market focus within the consultant agreement.
Ways of working
Working arrangements depend on the employer and role.
Independent working with shared systems, branding and agreed support.
Development
Training and progression vary between agencies.
Explore Recruitment 101, Launchpad and ongoing development within your offer.
Responsibility
Deliver an employed role with its agreed pay and benefits.
Run your desk as an independent business and plan for costs and variable income.
A general comparison. Traditional agencies vary, and some offer substantial autonomy and high earnings. Talnet arrangements are defined in the consultant agreement.
Your ambition deserves room.
Build a future with more of you in it.
You know what you can do. Imagine bringing that drive to a desk shaped by your ideas, your relationships and your ambition.
OWN YOUR DIRECTION
Choose what you build.
Focus on the market you understand. Develop your approach. Create a business that reflects your strengths and where you want to go.
BACK YOUR ABILITY
Give your ambition space.
Turn your commercial instinct into opportunities of your own. Build relationships and a reputation that can take your desk further.
THINK LONGER TERM
Make progress mean more.
Each conversation, client relationship and successful placement can become part of something you are building for your future.
Work for yourself. With support behind you.
Your business. A head start.
Starting independently brings a lot to think about. Talnet’s platform brings the foundations together, so you can put your energy into building relationships and winning business.
Technology that connects your work.
Explore the CRM, communication tools and recruitment systems available within your offer.
A professional brand from the start.
Build your presence with Talnet branding, positioning guidance and marketing resources.
Practical help behind the scenes.
Understand the administration, invoicing and compliance support available for your desk.
Illustrative imagery
The business behind the ambition.
Make your desk mean something.
A successful recruitment business starts with knowing who you serve, the problems you solve and why people should choose you.
Find your focus.
Define your market, geography and role types. Build the knowledge that makes conversations relevant.
Develop your relationships.
Get to know clients and candidates. Bring judgement, attention and useful market insight to every interaction.
Create your pipeline.
Turn research into outreach, conversations into briefs, and strong delivery into repeat business.
Build your reputation.
Show up consistently. Communicate clearly. Become someone people want to work with again.
Technology with a human purpose.
Less disconnected work. More connected thinking.
The right systems should help you keep relationships, activity and opportunities moving. Explore the tools and access included in your Talnet offer.
01
Know your market.
Organise target companies, contacts and candidate relationships.
02
Keep momentum.
Plan follow-ups, record conversations and track your next action.
03
See the opportunity.
Follow vacancies, candidates and the stages that move towards a placement.
04
Learn from activity.
Review your pipeline and use what you learn to sharpen your approach.
Tool availability, licences and integrations are confirmed during your discussions. Technology supports your judgement and relationships; it does not replace business development.
Make more of your potential.
You bring the ability. Imagine the possibilities.
What if your next career move was about building something of your own?
Earning potential. Driven by you.
Put your business development, market knowledge and ability to deliver at the centre of your earning opportunity. Build the desk. Develop the relationships. Give yourself room to grow.
Independence. With people behind you.
Take ownership of your direction with Talnet’s shared brand, practical support and development framework behind you. Bring your ambition to a conversation about what comes next.
We’ll talk through the opportunity and commercial terms personally, so you can decide whether it is right for you. Independent, commission-based earnings depend on performance and are not guaranteed.
Understand the earning opportunity.
Your potential. In perspective.
Research helps frame the opportunity. Your market, activity and results determine what your own desk can achieve.
01 / PUBLISHED PAY CONTEXT
Traditional agency pay.
Basic annual salaries in the Prospects recruitment consultant guide.
£0£20k£40k
Experienced consultant£30k–£33k
Senior consultantUp to £39k
Basic salary only. Commission, bonuses and employment benefits are additional and can materially increase the package. This is not a benchmark for total earnings.
Modelled annual business earnings after modelled operating costs, before personal tax.
£0£60k£120k
Lower output~£32k
Consistent output~£68k
Higher output~£104k
Illustrations, not Talnet results, forecasts or guaranteed earnings. Lower activity or higher costs can produce lower earnings, including a loss. These figures are not take-home pay.
See the whole picture.
The charts use different scales and measure different things: employee basic salary and modelled independent business earnings. They do not establish a like-for-like total-income uplift. Traditional agency commission, paid leave, employer pension and benefits are not valued here; an independent consultant must plan for their own provision.
Research and scenario context
Prospects reports experienced recruiter basic salaries of £30,000–£33,000 and senior basic salaries up to £39,000, excluding bonuses and commission. OneUp’s analysis of 322 agencies’ 2024 data reports around 2–3 permanent placements per consultant per month across its international customer sample; this is not a representative UK-only average or a new-consultant target.
The Talnet illustrations model 10, 20 and 30 successful permanent placements over a year, equivalent to 1, 2 or 3 per active month over 10 active months. They assume role salaries of £40,000 as a scenario input, not a measured average salary of agency-placed roles. ONS reports UK full-time median annual earnings of £40,911 for April 2026, which provides broad context rather than a placement-specific benchmark.
The private model deducts agreed modelling assumptions for Talnet commercial arrangements and £2,400 of additional annual business costs. Those costs are illustrative, not a quote. Scenarios assume placement fees are collected and have no rebates or bad debt. They do not forecast a new desk’s ramp-up or payment timing. Actual commercial terms are discussed personally.
Build around your ambition. And the life behind it.
A desk with your direction.
Bring your market knowledge, your commercial judgement and your way of building relationships. Take ownership of the work and the results.
Room to think bigger.
Develop a focused solo desk. Explore new opportunities as you grow. Discuss what progression could look like within the Talnet model.
Independent working arrangements and available support are agreed before joining. Self-employment brings responsibilities alongside autonomy.
Turn ambition into activity.
You bring the drive. Let’s build the momentum.
LEARN
Recruitment 101.
Strengthen your understanding of the recruitment process, commercial fundamentals and client relationships.
LAUNCH
Your desk. Defined.
Use Launchpad to sharpen your niche, positioning, target accounts and first outreach.
DEVELOP
Keep moving forward.
Explore coaching, review points and continued learning available within your consultant offer.
Individual drive. Collective perspective.
Independence doesn’t have to feel isolated.
Your desk. A wider circle.
The freedom to work independently feels different when you have people to exchange ideas with.
Talnet’s community model brings coaching, shared learning and peer connection into the experience. Ask questions, discuss your approach and learn from different perspectives.
The format and frequency of support are explained in your consultant offer.
A focused beginning.
Your first 90 days. Built around progress.
An outline of the early journey we’ll discuss with you. Your actual onboarding and review plan is agreed before you start.
01 / DEFINE
Build your foundation.
Clarify your market, ideal clients and value proposition. Get familiar with the systems and agree the activity that moves your desk forward.
Desk and market definition
Positioning and outreach preparation
Systems and process orientation
02 / ACTIVATE
Turn plans into conversations.
Research prospects, begin outreach and develop candidate relationships. Use feedback to improve your messaging and qualify opportunities.
Prospect research and target lists
Business development activity
Early pipeline development
03 / DEVELOP
Build repeatable habits.
Review what is working, address blockers and refine your approach. Establish a rhythm that supports ongoing business development and delivery.
Pipeline and activity reviews
Coaching and practical learning
Next-stage desk planning
A development outline, not a promise of placements, revenue or a particular timetable of results.
Think beyond the first placement.
Start with a desk. Keep your ambition open.
Build consistency, deepen your market knowledge and strengthen relationships that can lead to repeat business.
As your business develops, discuss opportunities to broaden your market or take on a mentoring or leadership role. Progression arrangements depend on performance, suitability and the terms available at the time.
A clear market. Consistent activity. Relationships that matter.
DEEPEN
A trusted reputation.
Useful expertise, strong service and reasons for people to return.
EXPLORE
Your next opportunity.
A broader market, greater capability or a conversation about leadership.
The right move starts with an honest conversation.
Ready for ownership? Let’s explore the fit.
You bring recruitment or relevant B2B sales experience, the confidence to build relationships, and the discipline to create opportunities.
This is self-employment, with commission-based earnings rather than a guaranteed salary. Consider the financial runway, business development and responsibility involved. We’ll explain the commercial terms and support personally before you make a decision.
No. Talnet’s consultant model is an independent, commission-based opportunity. You are responsible for developing business and should review the consultant agreement and financial implications before joining.
What does it cost to join?
We’ll discuss the commercial arrangements with you personally, explain what is included and give you the details you need to make an informed decision. You can review the terms before committing.
Do I need an existing client book?
Tell us about your relationships and market experience. We can explore your starting point together; do not share client information that you are not entitled to disclose.
Can I join from a sales background?
Relevant B2B sales experience can be a useful foundation. We will discuss your skills, understanding of recruitment and readiness to build an independent desk.
Can I work remotely or internationally?
The model supports independent working. Tell us where you intend to work and the markets you plan to serve so we can confirm the arrangements and support available.
Will Talnet give me clients or guarantee earnings?
No guaranteed clients, placements or earnings are promised. Your business development, delivery, market conditions and the agreed commercial terms influence your results.
What happens after I enquire?
We review your introduction and contact you to discuss your experience and interest. An enquiry is an expression of interest, not a commitment or an accepted consultant agreement.
What do I need to bring to the introductory conversation?
Your recruitment or B2B sales background, the markets you understand and what you want from independent working. Think about the time, financial runway and business development involved. You do not need to share confidential client lists or candidate data.
Can I bring existing clients or candidates?
Discuss your circumstances with us before transferring any information or approaching relationships connected to a current or previous employer. Confidentiality, data protection and contractual restrictions must be respected.
What should I understand before agreeing to join?
The consultant agreement, commercial arrangements, included support and the responsibilities of independent working. We’ll walk you through the details and answer your questions before you decide.
Your next chapter could start here
Let’s talk about what you could build.
Tell us a little about yourself. We’ll explore whether Talnet is the right platform for your next move.
No commitment at this stage. Just a conversation about your experience, ambitions and the opportunity.
Independent ambition. Connected potential.
Individual drive. Collective perspective.