Events industry talent is expected to return to the UK from the Middle East in the coming months, following a turbulent first quarter marked by redundancies and resignations.
According to recruitment specialist Robert Kenward of Jigsaw Talent Solutions, early signs of this shift are already emerging. “We’re already seeing the first wave,” he said. “Some people went abroad during the boom years, but many are now returning due to the neighbouring conflict.”
The expected influx comes as the events and experiential agency sector adjusts to the after-effects of a busy period of mergers and acquisitions, which has led to widespread restructuring.
Redundancies & resignations follow M&A activity
A flurry of deal activity over the past year has resulted in duplicated roles across agencies, with many businesses now reducing headcount.
“In the last ten years, I’ve never seen so many redundancies in one quarter,” said Kenward. “This isn’t about performance – it’s simply the structural reality of consolidation.”
At the same time, agencies are seeing a rise in voluntary departures, particularly among mid-to-senior level professionals. Kenward said cultural changes following acquisitions are prompting some employees to reconsider their roles. “People suddenly realise the job isn’t the same anymore. The autonomy disappears and decision-making becomes more layered.”
Sales roles remain in demand
Demand for sales and client services professionals continues to dominate hiring, as agencies focus on revenue growth and client retention.
“Businesses are investing in both new business roles and client services positions,” said Kenward. “It’s often more effective to grow existing relationships than constantly chase new clients.”
Despite the headlines, Kenward said the overall market remains more stable than it may appear. While a portion of the market continues to struggle, many businesses are stable or growing steadily. “There’s less hype than there was a couple of years ago. But underneath that, a lot of agencies are actually in a solid place.”