W&A 2025
8th Jan 2025
The curtain has fallen on another year and while we gather breath to work out what happened, we look ahead with optimism to 2025 and all that may lie ahead.
Where to start. It is certainly fair to say that 2024 was an eventful year for us, and no doubt for all of you.
Elections, market changes, global unrest and the retirement of our Founder Ian Wilkinson dominate global headlines! However, as we reflect, 2024 was ultimately a positive one, a year of progress and evolution, despite the choppy waters we have sailed in.
The recruitment markets have been something of a roller-coaster and from our discussions with those of you looking for roles, or hiring, we know it has been challenging and often frustrating.
Landmark political and fiscal events, not least the recent budget, have influenced the decision making of companies and affected confidence levels in the business community. What is clear however is that there remains a genuine desire from the business community to trade, expand and invest and with that, often comes an increasing feeling of frustration at times as many seek a stable economy in which they can do so. Is this constant uncertainty the ‘new normal’ I often find myself thinking.
So what have we noted in terms of trends last year?
Amongst others, retail, hospitality, manufacturing, and construction have found trading conditions to be more turbulent than most. Technology, software, digital, life sciences and various ‘disruptors’ continue to appear and evolve and some truly fantastic businesses across a broad range of sectors are flying the flag when it comes to scaling and innovating.
Consolidation in banking, accountancy firms and the legal sector continues, with many organisations/sectors looking to grow – with dental, funeral directors and other Financial Service offerings to name a few successful examples here. This theme seems increasingly prominent.
Financial Services has undoubtedly seen considerable change in the Scottish market with Virgin Money, Tesco Bank and Sainsburys Bank all changing ownership in 2024, but despite this, Scotland remains a relative stronghold in Financial Services. New names arrive while established FS organisations continue to grow their footprints here and so this remains a hugely important sector for the Scottish economy, offering some fantastic opportunities to those with backgrounds in finance and accountancy.
As industry sectors change, the role of finance and those within it continues to evolve too. ESG, data and business intelligence are no longer new concepts and are already reaping benefits for those who were early adopters. AI and its potential application is gathering huge momentum and it is important that those in the finance sector embrace and understand the diversity of opportunity and necessity all these topics can offer organisations.
These are exciting times with great opportunity, but we must be prepared to adapt and evolve in whatever areas we work in.
And what about W&A ?
Well, 4 years ago we began a new leg of our journey in undertaking an MBO - what better way to keep continuity in our business. Ian Wilkinson was looking to retire, which he formally announced in November 2024 and having founded the business in 2003, Ian heads off to enjoy his retirement - the comments and support Ian and the W&A team have received in that regard are hugely appreciated. Our aim was always to transition ownership without impacting the good work done so far and we really hope we have achieved that.
During this time we have established a base in Glasgow, expanded our offering across the whole of Central Scotland, developed new service lines and added some great team-mates to the W&A team sheet, all while staying true to the roots on which we were founded. A purpose led recruitment business specialising in accountancy and finance which puts relationship first. I am extremely proud of our progress over this time and of the team that has achieved this.
With an exciting new hire for W&A being announced in the coming weeks and our latest addition Ethan Galinitsas getting a flying start since joining, the team is assembled, and we are ready to help.
Looking ahead.
As we moved toward the Christmas period in 2024 we were very pleasantly surprised by an incredibly strong finish to the year with a real pick up in recruitment activity. It was great to see this increase in activity at a time when we can often find the opposite and we return hopeful that 2025 may just offer that period of slightly better stability and a more buoyant market for hiring firms and jobseekers alike.
Energy transition, a changing age demographic, technology, artificial intelligence and challenges around public spending will likely all continue to influence future patterns in business and the economy for the foreseeable. Perhaps the only thing certain is uncertainty but this could be exciting, challenging and evolutionary. The ability to adapt will be vital.
My estimation is that 2025 will be a busier year in recruitment terms than 2024, but how quickly this pattern emerges is harder to gauge. Nevertheless, we look ahead with optimism and on behalf of all of us at W&A I would like to pass on our best wishes for a successful and fun 2025.
We hope paths will cross soon.
Guy Gracie, Managing Director.