Joshua 
Brunel and Taylor Hopkinson started a joint venture one year ago with a clear goal: to help clients in their energy transition by connecting pioneering renewables specialists with clients. We asked different stakeholders to share their highlights from the past twelve months.
Our successful partnership began
Brunel International N.V. announced on December 8 th 2021 that it would be joining forces with Taylor Hopkinson. Taylor Hopkinson is a specialist in recruitment for the Renewable Energy sector. Brunel’s COO, Graeme Maude, says that it was obvious from the beginning that Brunel was working alongside a high-quality partner. He adds:
“My expectations regarding the quality of the business have been continually exceeded in the time following the acquisition.” This applies to the business’s leadership, processes and people as well as its marketing positioning, culture, and culture.
Our first major win
We were able to combine the global reach of Brunel with Taylor Hopkinson’s sector expertise to create a unique selling proposition which allowed us to win early wins. Egon Kerkhof (ex-Bruneller, now Business Development Manager at Taylor Hopkinson) recalls:
“On the third and final day of the merger, Neil Brown, my new colleague (Director, Offshore Wind Contract, Taylor Hopkinson), reached out to me asking if we could support one of their major clients in Dubai or China. Brunel has a presence in both countries, so I was able to refer Neil to my colleagues in China and the UAE. They prepared a bid together and Taylor Hopkinson Powered By Brunel was awarded the sole supplier contract.
We continued our winning streak in the months that followed and won significant tenders with some of the most prominent offshore wind farm operators and owners. Donna Ellcock, Taylor Hopkinson’s Managing Director, says:
Brunel’s global mobility and recruitment services have made us the market leader in the Renewable Energy sector. Deals like these were only possible with Brunel.
One team with one goal
Our people have built close-knit relationships across continents and teams, collaborating to create a diverse workforce that will help drive the world’s transition toward sustainable energy.
“It has been a whirlwind twelve months,” says Graeme Maude (COO of Brunel). “But, through the integration process, we have found the best ways to work together that play to both the strengths Brunel as Taylor Hopkinson. This powerful combination will allow us to grow in the renewables industry faster.
Tom Hopkinson (CEO of Taylor Hopkinson) also noted that Taylor Hopkinson’s people, including our specialists and internal employees, played a crucial role in the merger integration process. We have had the opportunity to meet many talented colleagues from all walks of the globe. We have learned, adapted, and collaborated well to achieve exciting results from China to Germany, Brazil to the UAE, to Brazil to China. We’ve also had a lot of fun. Our shared values and culture are the key to our success and future success.
2023 Outlook
Fiona McRae (COO of Taylor Hopkinson) notes that 2022 was a challenging and stimulating year. It was full of relationship building, steep learning curves, collaboration, and exciting planning.
With our 1000 renewables specialists, we support more than 200 projects worldwide and have established a strong position in the market. What’s next for 2023? Fiona, Taylor Hopkinson, and Brunel said they would continue developing and nurturing the country’s culture, technology, and facilities. The demand for specialists in renewable electricity is expected to grow as the world’s energy sector grows faster than ever. Jilko Andringa is the CEO of Brunel. “This means we will be able to unlock even greater exciting opportunities.” “This acquisition is a perfect example of what we want to achieve moving forward: greater diversification, deeper specialism, and new capabilities.
