Written by Amy Davies, Managing Director of Workwell Global and APSCo Committee Representative.
I think there are a few really clear themes coming through from the recent Trusted Partner Forum.
Firstly, the market is still tough. It feels flat in places, cautious in others, and clients are being much more selective. There are opportunities, but they are taking longer to convert, time to fill is stretching, and recruitment businesses are having to work harder to win, retain and deliver.
Secondly, commercial pressure is everywhere. We have heard about margin pressure, cost scrutiny, internal costs and the need to listen much more closely to what clients are actually asking for. The old model cannot just carry on unchanged. Recruitment businesses are having to think differently, whether that is around diversification, efficiency, pricing, service or where they create value.
Thirdly, compliance is no longer sitting in the background. It is a core part of the conversation. Whether that is worker classification, employment status, screening, international hiring, data, supply chain risk or client due diligence, it is becoming a real differentiator. But what also came through is that compliance still has to feel practical and human. Businesses do not need complexity for the sake of it; they need support they can understand, explain and use.
Technology was another big theme. AI and automation clearly have potential, but the message is not to jump on the bandwagon for the sake of it. Technology has to solve real problems, improve productivity, create better client or candidate experiences, and show a return. Otherwise, it becomes more noise in an already noisy market.
And finally, for us as Trusted Partners, I think the message is very clear. Recruitment businesses do not need more people simply trying to sell to them. They need partners who understand their pressures, who can bring insight, practical support and commercial value, and who are prepared to build relationships over time.
Trust, relevance and consistency really matter. So does being able to demonstrate ROI, support meaningful conversations with clients, and help recruitment businesses respond to the market they are actually in, not the market we wish they were in.
So my challenge to all of us is to take what we have heard today and think about how we show up for APSCo members differently. How do we become more useful? How do we create conversations and value that genuinely help members? How do we build long-term relationships, not just short-term opportunities?