Introduction

After a period of uncertainty driven by geopolitical tensions, inflation, and tighter credit conditions, the UK M&A landscape is cautiously rebounding in 2025. While overall deal volumes remain below pre-pandemic peaks, a healthy pipeline of mid-market transactions is driving renewed confidence. This blog explores the current state of the M&A market in the UK and how Circle Square is strategically positioned to support firms in sourcing top-tier M&A talent.

The Current Landscape The UK M&A market is witnessing a strategic pivot. Instead of large, high-leverage deals, companies are opting for value-accretive, synergistic acquisitions. Sectors like technology, energy transition, and healthcare are attracting strong interest, while distressed M&A and turnaround deals are also on the rise. Cross-border activity, especially from US and European acquirers, continues to play a pivotal role, spurred by favourable exchange rates and UK market maturity.

Mid-market deals (typically valued between £50-500m) are now the mainstay of M&A activity. These transactions offer manageable risk profiles and clear value creation pathways, appealing to both strategic acquirers and private equity players. As these deals become more complex, there's an increasing demand for seasoned M&A professionals who can navigate deal structuring, due diligence, and integration.

How Circle Square Can Help At Circle Square, our dedicated M&A recruitment team specialises in connecting firms with professionals who thrive in dynamic, fast-paced environments. We place candidates across the M&A lifecycle, from Analysts and Associates to VPs and MDs. Our network includes talent from top-tier investment banks, boutique advisors, and in-house corporate development teams.

Our boutique nature allows for bespoke search assignments, whether you're scaling a deal team or hiring a strategic Head of M&A. We combine traditional headhunting with data-driven market mapping, giving our clients access to both active and passive candidates. Our understanding of the cultural and technical requirements of M&A roles ensures long-term success and team cohesion.

Conclusion

The UK M&A market in 2025 is defined by resilience, strategic re-alignment, and an emphasis on sustainable growth. With deal complexity on the rise, having the right people in place is more important than ever. Circle Square's industry insight, extensive network, and tailored approach make us a trusted partner for M&A recruitment. Whether you're navigating a buy-side acquisition or expanding your advisory team, we can help you build the right team to deliver results.

Introduction

The tech sector is evolving from “growth at all costs” to “sustainable scale.” As capital becomes more selective, and IPOs are delayed, companies are investing in strategic hires—especially in finance, M&A, and corporate development.

• What’s changing: Finance teams are playing a bigger role in shaping pricing, expansion, and funding strategy.
• Demand profiles: Heads of M&A, Director of Corp Dev, FP&A with modelling and SaaS metrics, investor relations leads.
• Biggest challenge: Competition from Big Tech, PE-backed scaleups, and global funds—all vying for the same hybrid talent.
• Our advantage: We’ve placed CFOs into Series B–E firms, built corp dev teams for unicorns, and understand how to present opportunities that appeal to tech-savvy, growth-focused candidates.

Conclusion
Scaling tech firms need finance and M&A talent that bridges operational know-how with strategic vision. Let Circle Square introduce you to the candidates who can get you there.
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Introduction

The UAE continues to attract capital across infrastructure, fintech, energy transition, and sovereign fund-backed private equity. As deal activity grows, so does the need for talent that understands both the regional nuances and international investment standards.

Key hiring trends: The rise of sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and local PE/VC players hiring global talent to scale operations.

Unique challenges: Regulatory navigation, cultural expectations, relocation barriers, and tax/legal structuring.

Most in-demand roles: Investment analysts with Middle East experience, origination professionals for special situations, and fund managers familiar with Sharia-compliant investments.

Why Circle Square is well-placed: With a global database and recent placements in the GCC region, we help clients attract finance professionals who are both technically skilled and culturally aligned.

Conclusion
The UAE investment market offers exciting opportunities—but success depends on securing the right team. Circle Square bridges the global talent pool with regional understanding.
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Introduction
From institutional investment to private equity real estate, the sector is facing significant shifts—rising interest rates, changing urban demand, and a push for ESG-compliant portfolios. Amid this complexity, real estate firms need more than capital—they need talent that can strategise, structure, and scale.

The evolving talent need: It’s no longer just about deal-making; firms require professionals who can lead across asset management, development finance, and fund structuring.

Sought-after profiles: Development analysts, mezzanine debt specialists, and fundraisers with a sustainability track record.

Challenges in hiring: Passive candidate pool, high competition from infrastructure and private credit, and skills misalignment.

Circle Square’s solution: With a track record in placing talent into debt funds, family offices, and real estate investment trusts (REITs), we know how to reach, engage, and secure the right talent globally.

Conclusion
In real estate, strategy starts with people. Let Circle Square help you build your team with professionals who understand the landscape—and how to unlock value.
???? Speak to our real estate recruitment team at susan.ritchie@circlesquare.co.uk or visit www.circlesquare.co.uk.

Introduction

Healthcare remains one of the most active sectors for M&A and private equity investment. From diagnostics and digital health to biotech and services roll-ups, firms are racing to back innovation. But in such a regulated, high-stakes environment, experience matters—and talent is the bottleneck.

The rise of specialised healthcare funds and boutiques means demand for M&A bankers, corporate development leads, and portfolio operators with sector knowledge is soaring.

Challenges: Traditional investment professionals often lack healthcare nuance. Conversely, healthcare insiders may lack deal experience.

Ideal candidates: Hybrid profiles—think ex-MD of a healthcare company who’s since moved into private equity, or senior associates from healthcare-focused investment banks.

Our approach: We’ve delivered on assignments in diagnostics, HC tech, and services consolidation by blending M&A search expertise with sector depth.

Conclusion
Healthcare investing demands talent that can manage complexity, regulation, and rapid change. Circle Square is uniquely positioned to find those individuals—fast.
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Introduction

The world of high finance—spanning M&A, investment banking, private equity, and corporate development—is evolving at a breakneck pace. Market volatility, increased deal flow, digital transformation, and global competition are all shaping the demands placed on today’s financial professionals.

For firms operating in this space, the challenge is no longer just sourcing candidates with the right experience. It’s finding talent with the foresight, flexibility, and leadership to thrive in a fast-changing environment. At Circle Square, we specialise in identifying exactly those individuals—across the UK, Europe, and international markets.

Let’s explore what’s driving the shift and how organisations can stay ahead in the race for top-tier finance talent.

The New Deal Environment

Whether it’s PE firms sitting on record dry powder, corporates looking to scale via acquisition, or investment banks navigating more complex deal structures, the M&A landscape is more competitive than ever.

Key trends shaping the hiring market:

• Increased deal activity post-pandemic and in anticipation of regulatory shifts
• Cross-border complexity, requiring talent with international awareness and language skills
• Digitisation of deal processes, including data rooms, virtual due diligence, and AI-driven modelling
• Broader deal types, such as carve-outs, SPACs, and growth capital injections

This environment demands more than just technical competence—it requires strategic thinkers with the ability to lead deals from end to end, often with less structural support than in the past.

What the Best Candidates Look Like in 2025

The ideal candidate for your next M&A, PE, or corporate development role may not be the most obvious one on paper. At Circle Square, we evaluate candidates against a forward-looking skillset:

✅ End-to-end transaction experience—not just execution, but origination, structuring, and stakeholder management
✅ Sector specialism—especially in high-growth verticals like tech, healthcare, and infrastructure
✅ Commercial acumen—beyond models, they understand business drivers and value creation
✅ Agility—comfortable navigating both boutique and large institutional cultures
✅ Long-term view—especially important in PE and Corp Dev where value is realised over years

Many of the best people aren’t on the market. They’re embedded in teams, working on deals, and only open to roles if approached in the right way. That’s where targeted search is vital.

Why Traditional Recruitment Methods Fall Short

Standard recruitment channels like job boards or LinkedIn ads can’t reach this calibre of talent. These professionals are time-poor, risk-averse, and highly selective. To engage them, you need:

• Credibility in the market—a known name with deep networks
• A research-led approach—real mapping, not guesswork
• Discretion and diplomacy—especially when poaching from direct competitors
• Industry fluency—you must speak their language

Circle Square brings all of this and more to every assignment. Our consultants have placed candidates into leading investment banks, top-tier PE firms, and high-growth corporate development teams—with discretion and precision.

What Sets Circle Square Apart

At Circle Square, we live and breathe finance recruitment. Here’s why we consistently deliver where others can’t:

???? Search-first methodology – Our default isn’t a database; it’s the market. We map it, dissect it, and target the best people.
???? Global reach, boutique service – We combine international capability with the flexibility and speed of a small, senior-led team.
???? Real expertise – All of our consultants have years of domain-specific experience. We don’t learn on your time.
???? Relationship-led – We don’t just place people—we follow their careers, understand their motivations, and place them again.

From Analysts to MDs, from first-time hires to building full deal teams—we’ve helped clients scale intelligently and strategically.

Case Example: Delivering in a Tight Market

A recent retained search with a pan-European PE firm required us to find Associate-to-VP level hires with direct deal execution experience in healthcare and technology. The catch? The talent pool was both narrow and extremely passive.

We:

• Mapped over 300 relevant candidates across the UK and DACH
• Narrowed this to 45 direct approaches
• Presented 8 fully qualified, culturally aligned candidates
• Delivered 3 hires—1 from a rival PE fund, 1 from Big 4 Corporate Finance, and 1 from an M&A boutique

The entire project took less than 8 weeks.

Conclusion: Your Deals Deserve Better Talent—We’ll Help You Find It

Your business is only as strong as the people leading your deals. In M&A, investment banking, private equity, and corporate development, hiring isn’t just about speed—it’s about fit, performance, and long-term impact.

At Circle Square, we know how to source and secure the best financial minds in the market. Whether you're looking to fill a single key hire or build out an entire team, our tailored, high-touch service is built to deliver results that last.

???? Get in touch with our search specialists today at susan.ritchie@circlesquare.co.uk or visit www.circlesquare.co.uk to start a conversation about your next strategic hire.

Introduction

Cultural fit is more than a buzzword—especially in finance and investment. It determines whether a hire thrives or dives, and yet, it’s often overlooked in favour of CV checkboxes.

Why it matters: Teams that align on values and work styles perform better and retain longer.

What cultural fit looks like: It’s the synergy between company mission and individual drive, not hobbies or personality types.

The Circle Square approach: We don’t just “match skills”—we build long-term success by diving deep into organisational DNA and candidate ambitions.

Case example: A Principal Investments client needed a Head of M&A. We mapped not just talent—but temperament.

Conclusion
At Circle Square, we know culture drives performance. Let’s ensure your next hire isn’t just a fit on paper—but a force in your team.
???? Contact us today to discuss how our bespoke recruitment process can elevate your hiring success.

Introduction

Private equity firms are changing—and so are the candidates they need. Traditional hiring strategies can’t keep up with the complexity and competition of today’s deals.

What’s changed: More specialisation, tighter timelines, and a need for both technical brilliance and commercial instinct.

The hiring challenge: Everyone’s chasing the same small pool of high-performers.

Circle Square’s solution: Decades of networking, sector insight, and bespoke search methods that go far beyond LinkedIn.

Success story: How we helped a mezzanine fund hire 3 new Associates in 6 weeks.

Conclusion:
If you’re relying on old-school methods to hire in PE, you’re already behind. Let Circle Square be your competitive advantage in the talent market.
???? Speak to our search experts today and find the dealmakers your fund needs.

Introduction

Some of the best candidates don’t shout the loudest. They’re not spamming job boards—they’re making an impact quietly. So how do you find them?

The problem with CVs: They don’t capture ambition, adaptability, or future potential.

Our approach: Market mapping, headhunting, and deep industry referral networks.

Candidate profiling: Using psychometric tools, detailed interviews, and team-fit diagnostics.

Conclusion
Don’t settle for what’s visible. Let Circle Square uncover the hidden talent that can transform your business.
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Introduction

The UK finance sector is adapting to a new talent landscape post-Brexit. And the firms winning now? They’re not waiting—they’re proactively partnering to source global-ready talent.

What’s happening: Candidate shortages, visa challenges, and increased demand for cross-border experience.

What to do about it: Broaden your search beyond borders. Adapt roles to attract global talent.

How Circle Square helps: We have international search capabilities and a 30,000-strong database built across 20+ years.

Example: How we filled a Debt Advisory role with a London-based candidate relocating to London in under 5 weeks.

Conclusion
Don’t let borders block your growth. With Circle Square’s international network, the right candidate is always within reach.
???? Get in touch today to discuss global talent strategies tailored to your needs.