Building on our Autumn 2025 Market Summary, here’s what changed in the last three months of 2025 and what we’re seeing at the start of 2026.
The last three months of 2025 at a glance
- Hiring cooled further but skills shortages kept starting pay firm for scarce profiles.
- Unemployment ticked up to around 5.1% by autumn, confirming a looser market than mid‑
- Regional activity steadied: cautious optimism rather than a surge.
What that meant on the ground
Shortlists were larger than a year ago, but the best people still moved quickly. Salary inflation eased overall, yet there’s a clear quality premium for systems‑literate, commercial finance talent—exactly what we flagged in autumn.
Early 2026 signals
Surveys into January show the market starting 2026 subdued, with weak placements but some firmness in pay for in‑demand roles—consistent with an economy finding a floor.
Regional bright spots (new since September)
- Sizewell C: fresh supply‑chain/logistics awards and increased local spend signal multi‑year finance demand in construction, logistics and maintenance.
- Norwich Airport: winter route additions improve connectivity—helpful for inward investment and candidate mobility.
- Hethel: growth‑infrastructure works unlocking capacity for advanced engineering/manufacturing near Norwich.
- Gateway 14 (A14 corridor): innovation centre and new manufacturing space progressing.
- Cambridge Beehive Innovation Park: government‑approved lab‑led district strengthens the science real‑estate pipeline.
- Norwich regeneration: Anglia Square demolition progressing; Phase One due Spring 2026, with the East Norwich investment narrative sharpened.
Recruiter’s view: finance & accountancy
- Busier: Management Accountants stepping into Finance Manager roles; Finance Business Partners; systems‑savvy FCs (ERP/Power BI/project work).
- Interim: demand up for systems upgrades/integrations and risk‑managed team cover.
- Process: two stages + practical where useful; be decisive at second interview to avoid drop‑
What the Budget means for SMEs and owner‑managed firms
- Dividends: from 6 April 2026, basic and higher dividend rates rise by 2p (to 10.75% and 35.75%; additional rate unchanged at 39.35%).
- Home‑working: from 6 April 2026, personal tax relief for non‑reimbursed home‑working costs is abolished; employer reimbursements remain under the usual rules.
- Context: expected tax/employment cost increases are keeping some decisions slow in early Q1 before loosening later.
Practical takeaways for Q1 2026
- Use the lull to upgrade scarce commercial‑finance skills without extreme salary pressure.
- Be explicit on hybrid pattern early; late changes drive drop‑
- Benchmark offers against local bands; top candidates still command a quality premium.
- Directors: revisit remuneration planning ahead of April 2026 and update home‑working expense policies.