Market update
As we move towards the end of Q1 2026, the UK HR recruitment market still feels a bit like a rollercoaster. The market hasn’t quite settled, but we’re continuing to see a steady flow of work coming through. Employers remain cautious when it comes to budgets and committing to permanent/long term hires.
Permanent recruitment is still relatively careful, particularly at the more senior end of the market. That said, the declines we saw earlier last year have largely stabilised, and in some regions things are starting to level out. We’re also noticing a gradual increase in interim and FTC opportunities, which suggests organisations are still moving forward with their plans but doing so in a more flexible way.
Many businesses are relying on interim or fractional HR professionals who can step in quickly to support restructures, manage complex employee relations issues and deliver wider transformation projects. See our article on Interim and fractional HR in 2026 for a more in depth analysis on trends and insights.
Overall, while the market still has its ups and downs, the steady pipeline of interim work and the continued flow of hiring conversations are encouraging. It’s not a sharp recovery, but there are signs that confidence is slowly building as we move further into 2026.
Hunter Adams insights
M&A: the cost of getting the people side wrong
As part of this quarterly update, we wanted to share some insights on a topic we know continues to be front of mind for many HR professionals. With M&A activity remaining a key feature of the market, the role of HR in shaping successful integration is more critical than ever.
When people risks are underestimated in M&A, the consequences are rarely immediate., but they tend to show up over time.
Common impacts include:
- loss of critical talent
- disengagement and productivity drops
- leadership conflict
- slow or stalled integration
These issues can erode deal value long after completion. In some cases, they can undermine the entire investment case.
Treating the people agenda as a strategic priority from the start helps organisations avoid many of these risks.
We explore what “good” looks like in practice in our latest white paper: White-paper-Delivering-MA-value-through-people-and-culture.pdf
There is also persistent myth in leadership that senior executives should already know how to handle everything. The reality is that large-scale change is complex and emotionally demanding
Even the most experienced leaders benefit from having a trusted space to think through the pressures and decisions they face.
That is what coaching provides.
When leaders have clarity, resilience and support, the entire organisation benefits.
Executive coaching during M&A and restructuring
Q&A Session – Why Talent Development is crucial in organisations
We caught up with one of our Learning and Talent Development Consultants to chat all things people development.
Touching on career pathways, technology and workplace culture, read the full Q&A for insights on talent development within an organisation and why’s it’s so much more than just a ‘nice to have’.
“Talent development has the power to unleash innovation, boost productivity, and enhance employee engagement. By investing in talent development businesses can ensure they maintain a workforce that is not only competent in their current roles, but also agile enough to adapt to change and meet the challenges of tomorrow.”
Read the full interview here: Why talent development is crucial in organisations
Quarterly Insights Roundup
We’ve pulled together some of our Team’s top read articles from the past few months over on Linkedin and collated into the list below.
TUPE explained: what it really means for employers
Family-friendly reforms under the Employment Rights Act 2025
Workplace investigations: getting it right
Why “we’re too small for HR” is a risky assumption
Why specialist support matters when hiring into your HR team
Trades unions and the Employment Rights Act 2025
What’s been happening at Hunter Adams
With offices in Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Manchester and London, Hunter Adams provides HR services across the UK.
We’ve also been busy expanding our recruitment offering by supporting our clients with roles outside of HR. While many people know us for our HR recruitment and interim work, we’re also trusted by our clients with hiring across a wide range of roles – from operational and commercial positions through to specialist and leadership hires.
The Team have been busy with lots of in person catch ups and attending networking events, including:
The Employability Network, a newly created group in Aberdeen, designed to connect those within the recruitment, talent & acquisition and HR space. With some great speakers and Q&A session, Candice and Laura enjoyed an evening connecting with peers and sharing ideas.
Laura attended the Women on Top event – hosted by egg, which highlighted the value of connection, shared experiences and supporting each other as we grow in our careers and businesses.
Hunter Adams and AMS Group recently hosted a joint HR Leaders Dinner at the start of March where a number of our top HR leaders gathered to debate AI, from automation, trust to robot dogs and future jobs were hot topics of discussion.
Dean Hunter and Paula Smith led a lively chat on the opportunities, risks, and responsibilities of AI. As Paula said: “We have to get on the bus, or we’ll be left behind.”
Jude attended the Gaps to Growth event – hosted by Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce where there were interesting discussions on the current gaps in the Scottish workforce and how collaboration between industry and education was going to be critical for ensuring we have the right talent in place to support economic growth.
She also attended, Edinburgh’s first Women in HR Network event which was a great opportunity to spend time with the local HR community and make some great new connections with conversations on a wide range of topics, beyond just HR.
Eilidh was in London, checking out our London office, meeting clients and candidates, and enjoying her first trip on the River Boat.
Eilidh also attended a Recruitment Roundtable hosted by Johnston Carmichael on the “Generation Gap” in talent attraction. It was a great opportunity to discuss how we’re experiencing differences in candidate communication, engagement and expectations with other recruiters.
Photo credit: Laura Mackenize, Johnston Carmichael
Get in touch
If you’re an HR professional considering a move or would like to have a chat about what’s happening in the market, our team is here to talk.
Please see below for the best point of contact to support you with your search and feel free to connect 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
We also support businesses with non HR recruitment across a wide range of roles – from operational and commercial positions through to specialist and leadership hires.
If you’d like to keep an eye on our new vacancies, you can follow Hunter Adams to be kept up to date with our weekly Roles Roundup posts (every Friday):
Check out our Jobs Board for details of all our latest >> https://hunteradams.co.uk/jobs-board/
Contact the recruitment team directly at recruitment@hunteradams.co.uk
