Market Insights

As we near the end of 2024, there’s no doubt that the HR recruitment market has experienced challenges throughout this year.  That being said, it hasn’t all been doom and gloom as our team have remained focused and adaptable. We’ve worked hard to continue to connect top talent with forward-thinking businesses, capitalising on emerging opportunities and ensuring that both candidates and clients are supported through every stage of the recruitment process.  Below are some of the recent opportunities that our team has successfully filled with our clients:

At Hunter Adams, we’ve seen a variety of trends and insights unfold as we adapt to the evolving landscape. Here’s a recap of key developments in the latter half of the year:

Following the traditional slowdown during the summer months, where many vacancies were put on hold or delayed due to periods of annual leave, the market has shown notable signs of recovery since end of Q2/beginning Q3.

In general we’ve found a high number of candidates actively seeking new roles, but the pool of available opportunities, particularly at the permanent senior level has been limited. This has created a more competitive environment for job seekers, with many facing lengthy waits as hiring processes dragged – sometimes over a number of months, with multiple stages.

The interim and fractional HR market has also had it’s challenges however we have seen a significant uptick in activity in this final quarter, particularly within the consultancy/project space. This is often driven by the need for businesses to quickly adapt their workforce to changing conditions, particularly in areas requiring immediate expertise or project-based support.  Areas such as employee relations (case work) and redundancies have been a common trend, along with more ‘Business as Usual’ roles to cover periods of absence or to guide through restructures.

Roles that offer hybrid and remote (more common in the interim space) still tend to attract more interest from candidates, although we are starting to note a growing number of organisations moving back to 80 – 100% onsite.

As we move through the final month of 2024, businesses will likely continue to make the most of the remaining hiring opportunities before the holiday season begins to impact recruitment timelines. It’s essential for job seekers to be proactive and maintain momentum, as there are still exciting opportunities on the horizon.

The Team

The Hunter Adams Recruitment Team specialises in both permanent and interim HR roles across the UK. The map below highlights some of the locations where we have supported our clients in the second half of 2024.

Each member of our Team has their own specialism, which we’ve provided a snapshot of below:

Candice Thompson, Head of Recruitment – Permanent & Fixed Term Contracts

With a proven track record in HR recruitment for the North of Scotland, Candice also partners with clients in England, Wales and Northern Ireland to fill senior permanent HR and Talent Acquisition positions.

Some of the roles that Candice has supported our clients with during the latter part of 2024 are:

• People & Culture Lead, Renewable Energy, Remote
• HR Business Partner, IT & Software, London
• Senior Principle HRBP, Oil and Gas, London
• People & Culture Manager, Arts & Culture, Aberdeen
• HR Advisor, Oil and Gas, Aberdeen
• Head of People & Culture, Food & Beverage, Aberdeenshire

Candice’s Fun Festive Facts

• Christmas Tree: Real or Artificial?
• Christmas Jumpers or Festive Pjs?
• Hot Chocolate or Mulled Wine?
• Caroling: Love it or Skip it?
• Christmas Morning: Early Riser or Late Sleeper?
• Christmas Morning: Breakfast First or Presents First?
• Christmas Morning: Opening Gifts One at a Time or All at Once?
• Christmas Playlist: Classic Carols or Christmas Pop?
• Gift Giving: Big Surprise or Thoughtful Small Gift?
• Christmas Shopping: Early Bird or Last-Minute Rush?
• Christmas Dinner: Ham or Turkey?
• Christmas Day: Relax at Home or Visit Family?
• Elf on the Shelf: Love It or Find It Creepy?
• New Year’s Resolutions: Make Them or Skip Them?

Favourite Christmas Film: Home Alone

Favourite Christmas Song: Mariah Carey- All I want for Christmas is you

Jude Fletcher, Senior Recruitment Specialist – Permanent & Fixed Term Contracts

A leading recruiter for HR roles in Central Scotland, Jude also specialises in placing mid-level HR and Talent Acquisition professionals in permanent and fixed-term positions across England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

She has a robust cross-sector experience across all HR disciplines, working on and placing a number of permanent and Fixed Term roles in H2 of 2024, including:

• Organisational Effectiveness Partner, Financial Services, Edinburgh
• HR Business Partner, Financial Services, London
• Capability Consultant, Financial Services, Newcastle
• Payroll Coordinator, Oil & Gas, Aberdeen
• HR Operations Manager, Manufacturing, Fife

Jude’s Fun Festive Facts:

• Christmas Tree: Real or Artificial?
• Christmas Jumpers or Festive Pjs?
• Hot Chocolate or Mulled Wine?
• Caroling: Love it or Skip it?
• Christmas Morning: Early Riser or Late Sleeper?
• Christmas Morning: Breakfast First or Presents First?
• Christmas Morning: Opening Gifts One at a Time or All at Once?
• Christmas Playlist: Classic Carols or Christmas Pop?
• Gift Giving: Big Surprise or Thoughtful Small Gift?
• Christmas Shopping: Early Bird or Last-Minute Rush?
• Christmas Dinner: Ham or Turkey?
• Christmas Day: Relax at Home or Visit Family?
• Elf on the Shelf: Love It or Find It Creepy?
• New Year’s Resolutions: Make Them or Skip Them?

Favourite Christmas Film:  Elf

Favourite Christmas Song: Walking in a Winter Wonderland

Laura Brownhill | Senior Recruitment Specialist | Interim (UK)

Laura’s remit sees her focusing on interim HR and Talent Acquisition roles across the UK.

Below are just some of the interim roles that she has successfully supported clients with in the second part of the year:

• ER Consultant, Financial Services, London
• HR Business Partner, Financial Services, Glasgow
• HR Consultant (Redundancy), Financial Services, Remote
• Training & Competence Lead, Oil and Gas, Aberdeen
• HR Advisor, Animal Health, Remote
• HR Business Partner, Oil and Gas, Aberdeen
• HR Consultant (TUPE), Healthcare, Remote
• HR Assistant, Financial Services, Edinburgh
• HR Advisor, Non-Profit Organisation, Edinburgh
• Reward Consultant, Healthcare, Remote
• Head of HR, Drinks and Beverages, London

Laura’s Fun Festive Facts:

• Christmas Tree: Real or Artificial?
• Christmas Jumpers or Festive Pjs?  Both!
• Hot Chocolate or Mulled Wine?
• Caroling: Love it or Skip it?
• Christmas Morning: Early Riser or Late Sleeper?
• Christmas Morning: Breakfast First or Presents First?
• Christmas Morning: Opening Gifts One at a Time or All at Once?
• Christmas Playlist: Classic Carols or Christmas Pop?
• Christmas Dinner: Ham or Turkey?
• Christmas Day: Relax at Home or Visit Family?
• New Year’s Resolutions: Make Them or Skip Them?

Favourite Christmas Film:  Miracle on 34^th Street

Favourite Christmas Song: It’s a tie between Step into Christmas and Fairytale of New York

Eilidh Robertson – Head of Search & Selection – Retained and Executive Search (UK)

Eilidh leads our retained search capabilities. Her track record includes UK and international assignments covering a breadth of roles from Senior Leaders to Non-Executive Trustees.  Eilidh also provides career transition coaching services.

Recent assignments include:

• HR Director, Engineering, UK
• CFO, Education, Aberdeen

Eilidh’s Fun Festive Facts:

• Christmas Tree: Real or Artificial?
• Hot Chocolate or Mulled Wine?
• Caroling: Love it or Skip it?
• Christmas Morning: Early Riser or Late Sleeper?
• Christmas Morning: Breakfast First or Presents First? Stockings, Breakfast, Presents
• Christmas Morning: Opening Gifts One at a Time or All at Once?
• Christmas Playlist: Classic Carols or Christmas Pop?
• Christmas Shopping: Early Bird or Last-Minute Rush?
• Christmas Dinner: Ham or Turkey? Salmon 😊
• Christmas Day: Relax at Home or Visit Family?
• New Year’s Resolutions: Make Them or Skip Them?

Favourite Christmas Film:  Elf

Favourite Christmas Song: Fairytale of New York

Out and About

The CHeRries Business Breakfast –  Fostering Respectful Culture in The Workplace

Candice and Laura had an excellent morning representing the Hunter Adams recruitment team at The Cherries Business Breakfast event on 2^nd October, which was focused around fostering a respectful culture in the workplace.

A key takeaway from the discussions was that in order to truly succeed in creating a respectful workplace culture, buy-in from the leadership team is required and they must lead by example. Another was that education on the topic is vitally important, as is ensuring that respect is both mutually given as well as received.

Our thanks to the organisers and all sponsors for a fantastic, thought-provoking morning – always nice to catch up with the lovely HR community too!

Employment Law Update

Candice enjoyed a morning at The Marcliffe Hotel, Aberdeen at the end of October at our employment law update breakfast seminar in partnership with Shepherd and Wedderburn.

Such a great turnout for a run down of some very timely topics, including the Labour government’s proposals and upcoming employment law changes to look out for courtesy of the Employment Rights Bill.Huge thanks to everyone who took the time to come along and join us, and to Tricia Walker, Andrew Knight, Morag Hutchison and Jack Freeland for their insights.

Disrupt HR

Hunter Adams hosted our first Edinburgh Disrupt HR Event on Wednesday 27th November. Jude and Eilidh from our recruitment team were there to represent us.

A huge thank you to all of our incredible speakers for embracing the event’s unique format, and to everyone who attended and made the evening so special. Stay tuned for our next event – it could be coming to a location near you soon!

The Business Show

On the 13th & 14th of November 2024, Hunter Adams exhibited at Excel London for The Business Show (50^th anniversary).

We’re looking forward to a busy events diary in 2025 with another Disrupt HR Event pending, confirming our spot at the CHeRries Conference and Awards and lots more!

Socially

In addition to our busy H2 schedule, the team has also taken the time to enjoy the following…

Summer Social

Following our QGM, we hosted a Summer Social in August for the entire Hunter Adams team. This event brought together our offices in Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Manchester and London for a fun-filled day, celebrating our achievements, strengthening team bonds and enjoying some friendly competitions – Jude and Laura emerged victorious at the cardboard box game, Candice reigned as giant Jenga champ (with some very impressive skills) and Eilidh pulled together an excellent ‘pub quiz’ for us all.

Lunchtime Yoga on World Mental Health Day

Some of the team got their lunchtime yoga on in October for World Mental Health Day 🧘‍♀️

Jude is part of our wonderful Wellbeing Team, who do a fantastic job at organising events like this for us all.  We offered this as an in person and online opportunity to destress – which is always a great way to start an afternoon.

The Kilt Walk

Well done to Eilidh Robertson who completed the Edinburgh Kiltwalk alongside Lesley Redley and Fraser Sked to raise funds for Aberdeen-based male mental health charity Men In Mind. By all accounts it was a fantastic and well organised event and they got lucky with the weather too.Lynn Corner in the team also completed the Dundee Kiltwalk in August.

Together they raised an outstanding £1,150 for Men in Mind – an excellent result!  Men in Mind was founded earlier this year by Hunter Adams team member, Andy Joss, and aims to support men struggling with their mental health in the local community by providing peer to peer support in a safe space.

The Great (Crispy Cake) Bake Off 🧁

After some heated debate in the office about how to make the perfect crispy cake, some of the Hunter Adams team in put their money where their mouth is and made a batch to be tasted and judged in the office by an independent adjudicator (Laura Brownhill).

Candice’s – bottom right – was pretty tasty but not quite enough to trump Wendy’s (Head of Client Services) who was crowned Star (Crispy) Baker!

After the heat of the competition was over, we had a lovely time polishing them off – although the debate over what constitutes as a Crispy Cake still rages on….!

Christmas Carols

The Hunter Adams Recruitment team recently had their end of year get-together in Aberdeen, which coincided with the Business Community Carols service at Fountainhall Church. If a carol service doesn’t get you into the festive spirit then nothing will!

Looking Ahead

As we mentioned in our introduction, this past year in recruitment has been a roller coaster ride. Since January, the job market has become increasingly chaotic and competitive due to many factors out with our control. This leading to a surge in available candidates intensifying the competition for employment opportunities.

So, what do we think 2025 will look like for new opportunities? Our Head of Recruitment Candice Thompson predicts that in the first quarter of 2025 we will see employers still being slightly cautious in hiring until the government have implemented the new employment law updates. There will still be a need for HR/Recruitment support however more from an interim/FTC perspective rather than permanent hiring from the get-go.

In 2025, we predict that technology will enable a much more personalised recruitment process. Employers will tailor their approach based on how candidates prefer to engage—whether that’s through virtual interviews, specific communication channels, or even custom onboarding experiences. Conversely, candidates will use AI to personalise their job searches, helping them find roles that perfectly align with their skills and preferences. Recruitment will become a two-way street, driven by personalisation on both sides.

Recruitment/HR trends we predict for 2025

1. Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Recruitment: Streamlining candidate searches, efficient screening, and initial assessments.
2. Remote Work and Flexibility.
3. Skills-Based Hiring.
4. Emphasis on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI).
5. Employee Well-being and Mental Health Support.

At Hunter Adams, we’re committed to supporting both candidates and clients through these transitions, ensuring that talent and opportunities align for continued success in the HR market.

We’ll continue to monitor the trends closely and will keep you updated on any significant shifts in the market in the weeks ahead.

Signing off for 2024

Throughout this newsletter, we’ve shared an insight into market trends, a snapshot of what the second half of 2024 held for our amazing recruitment team and our outlook for the new year.

If you want to continue to stay up to date with our news and live vacancies, please follow Hunter Adams on LinkedIn, or sign up for our fortnightly Roles Round up by emailing us a copy of your CV to recruitment@hunteradams.co.uk.

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

Candice, Eilidh, Jude and Laura