Recruitment and workforce solutions sector: M&A activity update Q1 2026

M&A activity in the sector got off to a solid start as Q1 2026 recorded a further 19 UK recruitment (and broader workforce solutions) deals consistent with the overall quarterly average for 2025. Encouragingly, there were some notable transactions and renewed activity in executive search firms, sparked by Advent’s $1.3bn take-private acquisition of Heidrick & Struggles that completed in December 2025.

There was a reasonably even mix of trade and private equity (PE) M&A activity, with PE transactions again heavily weighted towards add-on acquisitions for existing portfolio companies.