Stephen Start

Stephen Start

Managing Director

Stephen is the Founder and Director of Banner Lane, having launched the business in 2020. A career Executive Search and Recruitment professional, Stephen intimately understands the challenges of hiring quality talent and maintains rigorous standards of professionalism.

Prior to Banner Lane, Stephen worked for leading executive search firms, placing candidates up to C-suite and Main Board levels across the UK and Europe. Prior to focusing on the Defence sector in 2019, Stephen worked across the broader industrial markets gaining experience throughout the Energy, Automotive and Infrastructure sectors.

Stephen has a BA in Philosophy from University of Lancaster.

Personal  Recommendation

Alan Lines – SCS SRO LIOS, Ministry of Defence

“Stephen is incredibly proactive and well-connected at senior levels. He has an excellent knowledge of the industry and has an extremely respectful and diligent working ethic. I have worked with over twenty headhunters during the course of my career and Stephen stands head and shoulders above his competition.”

Brigadier James Daniel CBE

“Coming towards the end of a full military career, I was recommended to Stephen by a trusted contact. After initial discussions Stephen quickly introduced me to a number of senior industry executives; organising several interviews for prospective senior positions. Throughout my time working with Stephen I can attest to his respectful, helpful and highly professional work ethic. If you are looking for a proactive, knowledgeable and determined headhunter who genuinely wants to help you with transition, then go to Stephen. Stephen is a credit to the UK Defence industry and I cannot recommend him enough.”

Jatin Thaker – Vice President

“Stephen has many contacts across the European Industrial markets. I have always been impressed with his enthusiasm and conscientiousness. Several occasions during our time together, Stephen has acted with great integrity, which has built a strong trust between us. He is a credit to the companies and individuals he represents. I have no hesitation in testifying to the quality of his services.”

Howard Sloane – Regional HR Director

“I first came across Stephen in 2017 and was immediately taken by his friendly, humble and knowledgeable approach to business. Stephen’s passion for his profession is clear; he works hard to understand the businesses he represents in great detail, and is perpetually focused on delivering a perfect candidate experience. These factors combined make Stephen a scarce and particularly valuable addition to any talent development endeavour. I consistently recommend Stephen’s services and look forward to working with him for many years to come.”

Roderick Scotto – Chief Operating Officer

“I have known Stephen for several years during which he has worked for me across UK and Europe, finding niche management talent. He has always impressed me with his headhunting capabilities and the high quality technical and cultural fit of the candidates he introduces. Stephen will also provide clear advice on which candidate we should select for the position and how best to secure them quickly. He is very easy to work with.”

Ramsey Changoo – Vice President & Managing Director

“Stephen is highly skilled at accessing candidates with very niche skills that other recruiters struggle to identify. The premium level of service Stephen provides is superior to many of the top executive search firms. He is proactive with updates, reliable and highly effective. Whilst recruiting the right people can sometimes be very difficult, I can depend on Stephen to always persevere and deliver a good result.”