Investor Relations Market Update: UK Q1 2020

With the Brexit decision and election a thing of Q4 2019, we all leaped into Q1 2020 with excitement for the new year and optimism of more stability. Well, if events of the last few weeks are anything to go by, 2020 is looking more challenging and uncertain than 2019 from an economic and financial market perspective.

In March, the FTSE 100 experienced its biggest daily fall since the 2008 financial crisis, with the energy sector suffering the biggest losses. Fears have escalated around the economic cost of the coronavirus outbreak.

What have we seen in the IR & Communications recruitment market? Well undoubtedly the market has some challenges, however, we are delighted to say we are working with a business as usual approach, albeit remotely, and working closely with our clients to support them as always. Arguably, now is the time more than ever to focus on strong communications and investor relations in a unified message to all stakeholders – employees, customers and shareholders.

It’s great to see that some businesses are continuing with their plans to recruit permanent staff. Additionally, we are noticing an increasing number of clients hiring on an interim/contract basis and seeing the potential that an interim worker can bring to their business. There are some exceptionally strong candidates immediately available who can parachute in to a business and who are skilled at ‘hitting the ground running’.

One thing we are confident of is that businesses will navigate out of this current economic climate and we believe that once things return to a level of normality, the businesses that will benefit the most will be those who had a clear communications strategy and engaged with their stakeholders in a unified form over challenging times.