Member Spotlight: Nick Derham, Co-founder & Owner, Adria Solutions

Introduce yourself
I have spent 26 years working in recruitment and am the co-founder and owner of Adria Solutions, which I launched alongside David Berwick 22 years ago. The business was founded with a clear ambition to create a recruitment company built on trust, long-term relationships and a genuine commitment to doing things properly. Over the years, Adria Solutions has grown into a well established recruitment partner supporting organisations across technology, AI, digital, marketing and sales, while staying true to the values we started with.

Career highlight
Founding Adria Solutions with David and successfully building the business from the ground up has been the standout highlight of my career. Taking the step to set up independently, navigating the challenges of growth and change, and seeing the company develop into a trusted name in recruitment has been incredibly rewarding. Longevity in an industry that evolves as quickly as recruitment is something I am particularly proud of.

Name three words that describe your personality 
Driven, Honest & Resilient.

What’s the best thing about pro-manchester?
The quality of the network. Pro-Manchester brings together people who are open, collaborative and genuinely interested in building meaningful relationships. The focus on connection, knowledge sharing and long-term value aligns closely with how we approach business.

What are your priorities for 2026?
Building on the strong foundations put in place over the past year and continuing to drive sustainable growth. This includes deepening existing client partnerships, expanding further into AI and emerging technologies, and ensuring the business continues to deliver high-quality experiences for both clients and candidates.

What do you think are the most important things going on in Manchester at the moment?
Confidence is starting to return across the Manchester business community. After a period of uncertainty, there is renewed momentum and appetite for growth, making this an important time to invest, collaborate and make the most of the opportunities emerging across the region.

Favourite meeting place in Manchester
Informal settings work best, particularly coffee meetings that allow for relaxed, open conversation and genuine relationship building.

Are their any particular types of businesses that you would like to meet?
Tech startups and scale-ups that are ambitious, growth-focused and looking to build strong teams as they evolve. Businesses that are hungry to grow and value long-term partnerships are always of interest.

Get In Touch (optional)
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 01625 874399
LinkedIn: Nick Derham