Market Update
As Q3 2025 draws to a close, the UK HR recruitment market is still feeling the strain. Although we are beginning to see some positive indications that the hardest phase is behind us and new opportunities are beginning to surface, it does remain a challenging environment, with many employers continuing to delay permanent hires and manage budgets cautiously.
Permanent hiring is still cautious, especially at senior levels, but some regions are seeing softer drops. For example, in the Midlands there was a smaller decline in permanent placements than in many other regions, and a marginal increase in demand for temporary/contract roles during August. Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce+2KPMG+2
In the interim HR market, we’ve seen Employers continue to lean heavily on interim support to navigate organisational change, with the demand being particularly strong for professionals experienced in restructures (often involving redundancy programmes, employee relations consultancy and complex casework). Our clients have been seeking interim specialists who can step in quickly, manage sensitive situations and deliver results. This reflects a broader shift towards agility, with companies prioritising flexible expertise to steer through transformation and cost pressures.
What This Means for Candidates & HR Professionals:
- If you’re early in your HR career, things are tight right now; opportunities are fewer, and competition is greater. It may help to sharpen your skills, highlight specialised expertise (especially in change, ER or transformation), and be open to interim or contract work to build experience and visibility.
- For ‘mid to senior’ level HR leaders, there are still strong opportunities. Organisations value people who can manage complexity, drive change and provide stability.
- While permanent opportunities remain competitive, those with proven experience in restructuring, redundancy, or ER casework are well placed to secure impactful interim assignments.
Our Head of Recruitment, Candice delves into the 2025 UK Job Market further in this article: The UK Job Market: What’s Happening Right Now & What It Means for HR | LinkedIn
What’s been happening at Hunter Adams during Quarter 3
Out and About
With offices in Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Manchester and London, Hunter Adams provides HR services across the UK.
The Team have been busy with lots of in person catch ups and attending networking events during Q3, including:
- Offshore Europe
- Edinburgh Chamber Event at Edinburgh Zoo
- HRA Connect – Hosted by Hunter Adams
- CIPD, Edinburgh
- SAMH at The TallShips Aberdeen
Speakers Wanted
Following on from the success of our DisruptHR events in Aberdeen and Glasgow earlier in the year, we’re now on the lookout for a dynamic and engaging line-up of speakers to be part of our next event in Edinburgh, taking place in November.
The unique DisruptHR format calls for multiple speakers with 5 minutes each and slides changing every 15 seconds. This is a fast-paced event exploring the future of work, sharing ideas and smashing the mould of traditional HR networking.
If you’ve got something interesting to say and fancy being part of an event like no other this autumn, please get in touch with Wendy Atkinson (wendy.atkinson@hunteradams.co.uk) giving a brief outline of your proposed topic.
Employee Engagement Offering
We’ve Engaged. We’ve Listened. We’ve Acted.
At Hunter Adams, we believe that employee engagement is more than a survey – it’s a conversation, a commitment, and a catalyst for change.
Over the past few years, we’ve worked closely with organisations of all sizes across the UK to understand what truly drives engagement. We’ve listened to hundreds of voices, uncovered powerful insights, and supported leadership teams turn feedback into action.
Now, we’re proud to introduce our enhanced Employee Engagement service – designed to meet the evolving needs of today’s workforce. Whether through our unique engagement platform, inclusive focus groups facilitated by our HR experts, or a fully integrated approach that combines both methods, we help you build a culture where people feel heard, valued, and empowered.
Read more details in the Manchester Chamber of Commerce article below:
Hunter Adams Unveils Refreshed Employee Engagement Offering Led by Director of HR, Sarah Beaumont
ED&I white paper
We also published our latest white paper on “Building Inclusive Workplaces – The Business Case for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion.”
In today’s evolving business landscape, EDI isn’t just a moral imperative – it’s a strategic advantage. Our guide offers practical insights for leaders and HR professionals on how inclusive cultures drive performance, innovation, and engagement.
Inside, you’ll find:
- The latest trends and challenges in EDI
- Real-world examples from UK organisations
- Common myths debunked
- A clear framework for embedding inclusion into your culture
- Key actions for business leaders to drive meaningful change
Whether you’re just starting your EDI journey or looking to strengthen existing efforts, this paper provides actionable guidance tailored for organisations of all sizes.
Looking ahead
As we head into the final quarter of 2025, we’re continuing to connect talented HR professionals with organisations that need their skills for interim assignments, permanent opportunities, or strategic projects.
If you’re an HR professional considering your next move, or simply curious about what’s happening in the market, our team is here to talk, share insights and help you navigate this evolving landscape.
Please see below for the best POC to support you with your search and feel free to connect in with them via the links below:
Candice Thompson – Head of Recruitment – Permanent and FTC – North Scotland, England (Senior Hires), Wales & NI
Eilidh Robertson – Head of Executive Search – Permanent and Interim (London / Senior Hires)
Laura Brownhill – Recruitment Manager – Interim (UK)
Jude Fletcher – Senior Recruitment Advisor – Permanent and FTC – Central Belt Scotland, England, Wales & NI
Or you can follow Hunter Adams and keep an eye our weekly round up of new vacancies, which we post every Friday:
