Saïd Business School (University of Oxford) is one of the most recognised names in higher education, with a growing focus on online and executive education. As demand for digital learning continued to increase, the school needed specialist talent across a number of areas, including Learning Design, Learning Technology, Learning Innovation and Data. 

Finding the right people can be difficult, as the market for experienced digital learning professionals is relatively small, particularly within higher education. The team needed people who not only had the technical expertise, but also understood how to work with academics, stakeholders and programme teams in a fast-paced and often complex environment. 

Several of the roles were business-critical, supporting the delivery and ongoing development of online and executive education programmes. Getting the wrong hire could have put additional pressure on internal teams and impacted key projects, so quality was just as important as speed. 

The Challenge 

Saïd Business School required ongoing support in sourcing specialist Digital Learning and Learning Technology professionals across both permanent and contract requirements. 

The brief spanned a range of highly specialised positions, including Learning Designers, Learning Technologists, Senior Data Consultants, Product & Portfolio Managers and leadership roles focused on learning innovation. Success depended on finding professionals with the right blend of technical expertise, stakeholder management skills and experience operating within complex higher education environments. 

The challenge was made more complex by the relatively small talent pool available. Experienced Digital Learning professionals with backgrounds in online learning, executive education and learning technologies are in high demand across the higher education sector, with many candidates considering multiple opportunities simultaneously. 

For Saïd Business School, securing the right talent was absolutely critical. These roles directly supported the development and delivery of online and executive education programmes, meaning delays or unsuccessful hires could impact programme delivery, learner experience and internal team capacity. 

Our Approach 

As specialists in learning and talent, Instinct worked closely with hiring managers to develop a detailed understanding of both the technical requirements of each role and the wider objectives of the teams involved. 

Through regular briefing discussions and ongoing consultation, we provided market insight, salary benchmarking and recruitment advice to help inform hiring decisions and ensure recruitment strategies remained aligned with market conditions. 

Drawing on our established Higher Education and Digital Learning network, alongside targeted market mapping and proactive outreach, we identified and engaged professionals with experience that would be difficult to access through traditional recruitment channels. Referrals from existing contractors and trusted industry contacts also played a very important role in expanding the talent pool. 

Our understanding of learning design, learning technology and online education enabled us to act as a strategic recruitment partner, advising on talent availability, market trends and hiring strategy throughout the process. 

The Outcome 

Over the course of the partnership, Instinct successfully supported Saïd Business School with a range of permanent and contract appointments across specialist Digital Learning and Learning Technology functions. The professionals introduced not only met the technical requirements of each role but were also well aligned with the culture and expectations of a world-leading academic institution. 

For contract requirements, specialist shortlists were typically delivered within 48 hours, enabling critical projects to maintain momentum. Permanent positions were filled in an average of three weeks from brief to offer, while contract opportunities were often sourced, interviewed and filled within five working days. 

The partnership has helped Saïd Business School increase team capacity, support strategic digital learning initiatives and successfully deliver programme and platform-related activity. Repeat engagement across multiple projects has led to a long-term relationship built on trust, market expertise and consistent delivery. 

Client Feedback 

“Instinct has been a fantastic recruitment partner. They are highly responsive,  professional, and consistently deliver strong candidates who are well aligned with our  requirements. The process is always smooth and efficient, and we particularly value the  thoughtful advice and market insight they provide. I would happily recommend them to any organisation looking for a trusted recruitment partner.” 

– Anna Krajewska – Director, Online Learning, Innovation and Impact 

De’Longhi UK is a recognised leader in small domestic appliances, with a portfolio of well-known brands including De’Longhi, Kenwood, Braun, and Nutribullet. Operating across multiple international markets, the business is continuing to invest in technology and innovation to improve both customer experience and employee productivity. 

As part of its wider AI adoption strategy, De’Longhi UK had recently introduced Gemini AI across the business and was investing in learning initiatives to help employees adopt the technology effectively and realise its full potential. 

The Challenge 

Following the rollout of Gemini AI, De’Longhi UK wanted to ensure employees could confidently apply the technology in their day-to-day roles and maximise the value of the organisation’s investment. 

While a global learning programme was already underway, some teams required more tailored support. The business needed an experienced AI learning specialist who could design and deliver both virtual and face-to-face training, adapting content to the needs of different departments and business functions. 

Finding the right person required more than training expertise alone. The successful consultant needed a deep understanding of AI, strong facilitation skills, and the ability to translate emerging technology into practical workplace applications. The role also involved travel to multiple locations across the UK, making the search even more specialised. 

Our Approach 

As leading specialists in learning and talent, we understood that this wasn’t simply a hiring requirement. De’Longhi UK was looking for expertise that would help drive AI adoption and support a wider business transformation initiative. 

Following a detailed briefing with the hiring manager, we focused on understanding the outcomes the organisation was looking to achieve and the type of experience required to deliver them. Rather than conducting a broad market search, we tapped into our established network of learning and transformation specialists to identify a consultant whose experience closely aligned with the brief. 

The consultant had successfully delivered similar AI learning initiatives for other organisations and brought a combination of AI expertise, stakeholder management skills and hands-on training experience. Because of our existing relationship and knowledge of their capabilities, we were able to move quickly and confidently. 

The Outcome 

Within just one hour of receiving the brief, we introduced a suitable consultant to the client. Following a streamlined interview process, the consultant was engaged and started within a week. 

The consultant went on to successfully scope and deliver tailored AI learning support, helping employees build the skills and confidence needed to use Gemini effectively across different areas of the business. The engagement proved successful enough that the consultant continues to support the organisation on an ad-hoc basis as requirements evolve. 

The project demonstrated the value of combining specialist learning market knowledge with an established network of proven consultants. By understanding both the learning challenge and the capability required to solve it, we were able to connect De’Longhi with the right expertise quickly and effectively. 

Client Feedback 

“I’ve been incredibly impressed by the level of customer service provided by the Instinct team. They have taken the time to truly understand our specific training needs and reacted immediately, delivering high-quality trainer CVs that perfectly matched our brief in a highly efficient, slick process. It’s been a joy to work with Instinct, and I would have no hesitation in recommending them.” 

– Liz Pillans, L&D Manager