Wednesday Market Insights: Confidence Returns, Expectations Rise

The Read

The built environment jobs market continues to show signs of measured optimism. Hiring confidence is improving across some disciplines, but employers remain selective, focusing on talent that can create business value while supporting long-term growth.

This week's insights highlight two clear trends: investment activity is reigniting demand for specialist finance professionals, while increasing workloads are prompting facilities management leaders to rethink capacity, retention and workforce planning.

Market Signal: Investment activity is reigniting hiring, but employers are raising the bar

Hiring confidence across the UK real estate finance market has strengthened in recent months as investment activity has begun to recover. Organisations that had previously delayed recruitment decisions are now progressing with both permanent and interim hiring, signalling a more positive outlook while remaining selective about the talent they bring into their teams.

Demand is centred on commercially focused finance professionals, particularly those with expertise in FP&A, business partnering, development finance and fund finance. Interim hiring also remains strong, with organisations bringing in specialist resource to support finance transformation, ERP implementations and increased reporting requirements.

As confidence returns, employers are becoming more selective. Technical expertise remains essential, but organisations are placing greater emphasis on finance professionals who can partner with the business, support growth and deliver commercial value from day one.

From Jaden Alie, Managing Consultant – Accounting & Finance:

"We're seeing renewed confidence across the UK real estate finance market, with clients restarting recruitment as investment activity increases. While hiring has picked up, businesses remain focused on securing finance professionals who can add commercial value and drive operational improvements through technology and process optimisation. The strongest candidates, particularly those with real estate sector experience, continue to move quickly and command competitive salaries."

Market Signal: Rising workloads are reshaping FM hiring priorities

Chris Sycamore's recent LinkedIn poll found that 78% of Facilities Managers feel they have more on their plate than they did last year. While the sample size is limited, the result reflects a sentiment we're hearing consistently across the market: despite increased investment in technology and AI, many FM professionals feel workloads are continuing to rise rather than ease.

The pressure appears to be driven by expanding responsibilities, leaner resourcing levels and growing expectations around compliance, sustainability, reporting and operational performance.

As a result, organisations are reviewing workforce capacity more closely, recognising that technology can support efficiency but not replace experienced professionals responsible for service delivery.

For employers, the message is clear: while digital tools can improve efficiency, they are not replacing the need for skilled FM professionals. Businesses that proactively address capacity challenges and invest in the right talent are likely to be better positioned to retain employees and sustain operational performance.

From Chris Sycamore, Head of Facilities Management:

"The poll isn't intended to be definitive research, but perception matters. If nearly eight in ten Facilities Managers feel they're carrying a heavier workload than they were a year ago, it's a signal employers shouldn't ignore. Technology is helping in some areas, but it's clearly not offsetting the increasing demands many FM professionals are facing."

Map the Gap

The built environment has talked about its skills gap for years without ever measuring it. Together with BE News, we're building the sector's first real benchmark on skills, retention, pay and AI, and it only works if the people living it take three minutes to fill it in.

Why it's worth three minutes:

Benchmark where you sit on skills, retention, pay and AI against sector-wide data Help shape the findings presented at October's Skills Gap Spotlight Everyone taking part goes into a cash prize draw

Take the survey and add your view here

From the Desk

We've spoken a lot this week about hiring, retention and building high-performing teams. two weeks ago, we took some time to focus on our own.

The team spent a few days together in Dublin, catching up away from the day-to-day, celebrating successes and creating space for the conversations that don't always happen over Teams. We shared some of the highlights on LinkedIn, but it was a good reminder that strong businesses are built on strong relationships internally as well as with our clients and candidates.

Thanks to our contributors, Jaden Alie - Managing Consultant - Accounting & Finance , Chris Sycamore - Head of Facilities Management and Una McGuinness - Fractional Chief Marketing Officer