Wednesday Market Insights - Edition One

The Read

The mood coming out of UKREiiF this year (Leeds May 2026) was the most confident it's been since 2022, but the conversation has changed. Nobody's asking whether the capital will return anymore. They're asking whether the UK can actually consent, fund and build the things that capital wants to back. Ambition isn't a constraint now. Delivery is. 

Sector Signal - Debt & Capital Markets

Money is expensive and visibility is short. With interest and inflation still hard to call, lenders are cautious, and borrowers are shopping around with multiple offers on the table and slow to commit. Debt advisory is genuinely busy, with many of the firms trying to raise, but processes are dragging as everyone hesitates over the final leap. None of this has dented underlying appetite; it's repriced the patience needed to deploy. For talent, that's created a clear split: a real premium for experienced hires with three to nine years behind them, while juniors face a tougher, more client-led market with entry level roles being absorbed.  

From the Desk

We are delighted to welcome Tim Worrell, who has joined the Real Estate Accounting & Finance desk and Sam Cormack, the Residential Development desk.  We had the team on the ground in Leeds for all three days, so if you want to compare notes on the market, or understand hiring trends - reach out to Maria Sinclair, Kate Peers Queen, Louis Nwosu-Hope, Sam Peers, Bronte Madley, Cynthia Kung. 

Worth a Look

View the 45 second UK REiiF debrief from our UK Managing Director here

We're hiring across the real estate, property and construction sectors, meaning we’re connected to the biggest opportunities with the best businesses within the space, see our open roles here

The Skills Shortage 'Map the Gap' Campaign 

Coming soon - We've partnered with BE News on the Built Environment Job Opportunities Survey, a major study capturing what's really happening in the built environment jobs market -  from skills shortages and shifting candidate confidence to the impact of AI on how teams hire and grow.  

Thanks to our contributors for our inaugural edition Louis Nwosu-Hope - Cobalt Recruitment  & Maria Sinclair - Cobalt Recruitment