2024 was an eventful year for the recruitment industry with economic challenges prevailing and the formation of a new Government followed by an Autumn Statement heavily impacting the sector. Despite the continued challenges, M&A activity remained resilient as deal volumes increased by 49% compared to 2023.

Download the report to find guidance on offering diversified solutions to clients, practical insights on managing liquidity, and the latest update on increased costs and compliance pressures on recruiters.

Recruitment trends 2025

Read more about the trends we are seeing in the recruitment sector, including:

• An overview of the recruitment sector in 2024
• Economic and market drivers influencing the performance of the sector
• Key trends within the recruitment M&A market including analyses on buyers and sub-sectors
• Overseas M&A activity involving recruitment companies in the UK
• Analyses from our recent survey on sentiment within the sector

Explore insights from our experts:

• Sam Seehra from our People Advisory team shares insights on how recruitment companies can navigate complex times
• Practical insights from Glyn Maisey, Special Situations M&A on how to navigate liquidity challenges
• Rob Woodward from our Employment Tax team talks about increased costs and compliance pressures on the sector

If you would like to discuss any of the content in this report, or are a recruitment business looking to speak to an expert, please do get in touch.

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Recruitment M&A Snapshot 2024

During a sustained period characterised by Private Equity investment over recent years we’ve seen a notable shift during the first half of 2024 towards strategic trade buyers re-entering the acquisition trail. We remain positive on outlook for the sector.

What’s included in this snapshot:

• H1 deal volumes show year-on-year growth
• UK recruitment companies continue to attract overseas interest
• 2024 deals characterised by a diverse sector mix
• UK businesses continue to look overseas for strategic acquisitions
• The BDO FTSE Recruitment Index implies a significantly more stable period compared to 2023

Download the snapshot for further insights.

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If you would like to discuss any of the content in this snapshot or are a recruitment business looking to speak to an expert, please do get in touch.