How can a UK managed service provider find companies hiring for the first time?
A company advertising its first role in a function has just created a need. Lockley recorded 116 first-of-function hires in the week to 10 October 2026; check each posting before you call.
Written from Lockley's index and the sources below, updated 11 October 2026.
A managed service provider can find prospects by watching for companies that advertise a role in a function for the first time, such as a first IT, operations or finance role. The posting is a public, dated sign that the work now exists and nobody yet owns it. Lockley recorded 116 first-of-function hires in the week from 3 to 10 October 2026, against 151 the week before, each tied to the job posting.
This page explains what a first-of-function hire means, how to find them yourself, and how to avoid ringing companies for whom the signal is misleading.
What a first-of-function hire is
Lockley counts a role as first-of-function when it is in a function it has not seen that company hire for before. The caveat matters: Lockley's job records begin in September 2026, so a role may be the first Lockley has seen rather than the first the company has ever advertised. Treat it as a strong lead to check, not proof.
Why it matters to a managed service provider
A company that is hiring its first person in a function is deciding between an employee, a contractor and an outsourced service. For a provider, the window is the weeks between the posting going live and the hire starting. After that, the role has an owner and the buying conversation changes. The posting gives you a date, a job title and often a description of the work, which together make a specific opener.
How to find them yourself
Search the major job boards for the function you serve and filter to the last seven days. For each result, note the company name, then check Companies House for its age, size and officers. Compare with the company's earlier postings if the board shows them. This is manual and slow, which is why most teams only do it for a handful of companies.
Checks before you call
What to say
Open with the posting and ask about cover: 'I saw you are advertising for your first IT manager. Who is looking after your systems until they start?' Do not assume the company wants to outsource; ask. If the answer is that an outsourced provider already covers it, ask when that contract is reviewed.
Where Lockley fits
Lockley reads job postings from Adzuna nightly, alongside Companies House, Contracts Finder and Find a Tender, and planning registers. It gives a small B2B sales team a short list of companies to call each morning, each with the public record that says why now, linked so you can check it. It does not sell contact lists, so you will still need to identify the right person.
Questions
What counts as a first-of-function hire?
A role in a function Lockley has not previously seen that company hire for. Its job records begin in September 2026.
How many were there this week?
116 in the week to 10 October 2026, against 151 the week before.
Is a job posting a buying signal?
It is a sign of a need, not a commitment to buy. Use it as a reason to ask, not to assume.
Can I do this without a tool?
Yes. Search job boards by function and date, then check each company at Companies House. It takes time.
Does this work for sectors other than IT?
Yes. The same logic applies to finance, marketing, HR or operations services.
See which of these companies are worth calling for your business, with the source for each.
Start the research