Research Specialist: Build UK SME M&A Advisor Database (Fire Safety & Electrical Compliance)

JOB TITLE: Research Specialist: Build UK SME M&A Advisor Database (Fire Safety & Electrical Compliance) PROJECT SCOPE I am building a high-accuracy database of senior Partners and Directors at UK Accounting and Law firms. These contacts must be gatekeepers for SME business owners in the Fire Safety & Electrical Compliance sectors — alarm testing, emergency lighting, extinguisher servicing, electrical inspection and testing. REQUIREMENTS - Firm selection: The firm must explicitly serve the SME market (turnover £500k–£5M) and have a documented practice in Exit Planning, Succession, or Corporate Finance. - Sector focus: The firm must explicitly advise businesses in Fire Safety, Electrical Compliance, or Facilities Management with a statutory inspection component. - Individual selection: You are targeting the Senior Partner or Director who leads these practices — no managers, associates, or consultants. - Evidence URL: Every lead must include a direct URL to the firm's website page that proves their expertise in the target sector. A generic "About Us" page is a fail. PAID TEST TASK — MANDATORY FIRST STEP We begin with a paid test task of 5 verified leads before any full engagement. This is non-negotiable. - Payment: £40–£50 fixed price - Deliverable: 5 verified leads, submitted via Google Sheet or CSV - Payment released on validation only - Pass = full 50-lead batch commissioned immediately PASS/FAIL EVALUATION Each lead is graded against three binary criteria. All three must pass: 1. Seniority correct? — Confirmed Partner or Director, verified on LinkedIn. Associate or Manager = FAIL. 2. Sector evidence real? — Evidence URL shows explicit Fire Safety or Electrical Compliance expertise. Generic page = FAIL. 3. Contact details verified? — Email format consistent with firm pattern. LinkedIn profile real and active. APPLICATION FILTER — REQUIRED TO APPLY To be considered, your application must open with this exact phrase: **"I have experience researching UK professional services firms for M&A/Investment purposes and I understand the requirement for 100% verified evidence."** Applications that do not open with this phrase will not be reviewed. CANDIDATE MINIMUM STANDARDS - $100+ total earned on Upwork - Job Success Score of 90% or above - Demonstrable experience in UK professional services research or M&A/corporate finance contexts