Atkins Search Quarter 2 Newsletter 2025-2026
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Employee of Q2 Social: Nottingham Christmas Markets
This quarter, we were delighted to recognise Olivia Hartley as our Q2 Employee of the Quarter, celebrating her outstanding performance and the consistently high standards she brings to her role. Olivia’s dedication, professionalism, and results-driven approach truly exemplify what it means to be an exceptional construction recruiter, and her contribution over the past year has been nothing short of fantastic. Following an incredible year, Olivia organised a festive evening at the Nottingham Christmas Market, getting everyone well and truly into the holiday spirit. The team enjoyed strolling through the beautifully lit-up stalls with hot chocolate and mulled wine in hand, before facing the all-important decision of where to eat. The evening concluded with sweet treats and a couple of drinks in the après-ski bar, making for a relaxed and memorable night. A huge thank you to Liv for organising such a fun and festive team event!
Christmas at Atkins Search
The festive season was in full swing at Atkins Search, with our annual Christmas party taking place on Friday 19th December, alongside several other team get-togethers throughout the month. Celebrations began with Secret Santa, where our team exchanged some brilliant gifts, all while showing off their best Christmas jumpers.
We rounded off the year in style with our long-awaited annual Christmas party at Cleaver & Wake. The evening featured a delicious three-course festive meal, followed by drinks at a selection of nearby bars, giving everyone the chance to reflect on the year and celebrate our collective achievements. It was a fantastic evening and the perfect way to bring an incredible year at Atkins Search to a close.
Fundraising with Clients
Atkins Search was proud to join Franklin Ellis Architects for their Park Steps Peak Challenge in support of BBC Children in Need. Nicole, Lily-Grace, Olivia and Laura represented Atkins Search, completing an impressive 49 repetitions of the Park Steps in Nottingham, matching the equivalent steepness of Scafell Pike! A huge thank you to Franklin Ellis Architects for the invitation, and congratulations to everyone who took part and helped to make the event such a success.
Atkins Search also attended Turner & Townsend’s Fundraiser Quiz Night, raising money for Action for Children. Nicole, Laura, Jess and Amy formed “Atkins Angels” and finished just four points off first place! It was a fantastic evening of friendly competition, with peers from across the construction industry. Thank you to Turner & Townsend for organising such a brilliant event!
The Atkins Search team also proudly participated in the Sherwood 5K and 10K in aid of Tough To Talk! Antony, Laura, Lily-Grace, and Olivia ran in support of men’s mental health during Men’s Mental Health Month. The event had a wonderfully festive atmosphere and was a great way to kick off the Christmas season at Atkins Search. We are incredibly grateful to everyone who supported us and donated, please continue to support us and help us raise life-saving funds – Please donate here
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Rachel Reeves’ Autumn Budget 2025: What it means for construction professionals
The latest Budget presents a mixed outlook for the construction sector. At midday, Rachel Reeves outlined plans that point to stronger project pipelines, alongside tighter margins and increased regulatory compliance requirements.
Significant infrastructure investment is set to drive construction demand through 2027–2029. Devolution funding and regeneration programmes will unlock new regional opportunities, while enhanced planning capacity should help ease long-standing development bottlenecks. Increased investment in skills will also support the industry in addressing critical talent shortages.
However, rising National Living Wage levels and frozen tax thresholds may put pressure on take-home pay, while changes to business rates will affect firms differently depending on their property footprint. HMRC is also increasing scrutiny around CIS compliance, bringing tighter record-keeping requirements and higher penalties for non-compliance.
Ultimately, while more work is coming, margins will remain under pressure. Businesses that invest early in robust systems, training, and compliant employment structures will be best placed to succeed.
New Team Member!
Atkins Search is pleased to introduce a new team member to the construction team!
We are delighted to welcome Emma Buttler to Atkins Search in November 2025 as a Resourcing Consultant within our Construction team. Emma will be working closely with Ashleigh Curwood, Emma Welsh and Antony Rowe supporting our Permanent Construction and Residential division. Emma’s appointment strengthens our ability to deliver high-quality recruitment solutions across construction roles throughout the East Midlands. With additional resource and expertise, we can continue to provide an exceptional service to both candidates and clients.
We wish Emma every success in her career at Atkins Search and look forward to seeing her grow with the business.
Click here to read more about Emma!
Celebrations
This quarter, the team had a very special celebration. At Diwali, we celebrated the memory of our late friend and colleague, Neesha Kanani. Last year, Neesha organised a fantastic Diwali celebration and to keep that tradition going, we wore our most colourful outfits, decorated the office and ate traditional Indian food. Every year, as we celebrate Diwali, we remember our friend and colleague, Neesha.
We also challenged our team to get creative with a Pumpkin-carving competition in celebration of Halloween. It was clear the team were fully embracing the challenge with some truly impressive designs. Congratulations to Jess White, who took first place with her fang-tastic Atkins Search pumpkin. It was a spook-tacular event and a great way to enjoy some light-hearted competition and creativity together as a team.
Nicole Broughton Employee of the Quarter!
We’re thrilled to announce that Nicole Broughton has been named our Employee of the Quarter for Q3. This is a well-deserved recognition of her dedication, drive and the consistently positive impact she has at Atkins Search.
Over the past quarter, Nic has played a key role in supporting the wider success of the business. She truly embodies our five core values, building strong partnerships with leading organisations across the Midlands while demonstrating the power of mentorship and a growth mindset in recruitment.
Congratulations, Nicole! This is a fantastic achievement and very well deserved.
Construction Hot Jobs
Custodian REIT Posts Strong Interim Results as Market Confidence Improves
Custodian Property Income REIT has delivered a positive set of interim results, reflecting growing confidence in the UK’s regional commercial property market as rents and valuations continue to rise. EPRA earnings per share increased by 3.3% to 3.1p for the six months to 30 September 2025, supporting a fully covered dividend of 6.0p per share and a yield of 7.4%.
The REIT benefited from active asset management, with its rent roll rising to £45.9m and estimated rental value up 3.4% to £51.9m, leaving significant scope for further income growth. Portfolio values increased for the fifth quarter in a row, lifting NAV per share by 2.9% and delivering a 6% NAV total return. Occupancy also improved to 92.2%, while selective asset sales generated £8.9m at a premium to valuations, with proceeds reinvested into refurbishments and share buybacks.
Further gains came from sustainability initiatives, including a sharp uplift in the value of solar assets, while net gearing remained conservative at 26.3%. During the period, Custodian also completed the all-share acquisition of the Merlin portfolio, adding 28 regional properties. Managing director Richard Shepherd-Cross said improving valuations and rental growth were highlighting the long-term appeal of real estate, particularly assets with the potential for income and capital growth in an inflationary environment.
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China’s Largest Car Maker Strengthens UK Expansion with Key East Midlands Gateway Deal
Changan, has taken a major step in its UK expansion by securing strategic logistics and finance partnerships to support its growing dealer and customer network.
Changan UK has signed a warehousing and logistics agreement with Kuehne + Nagel, taking 3,203 sq m of space at East Midlands Gateway. The highly connected logistics hub will enable next-day delivery of vehicle parts nationwide, helping to improve servicing efficiency and vehicle uptime as the brand launches in the UK. The facility has been designed to scale in line with Changan’s planned model rollout, including the recently introduced Deepal S07.
Alongside its logistics strategy, Changan has also partnered with BNP Paribas Personal Finance UK to provide wholesale funding for dealers and flexible finance options for customers. Managing director Nic Thomas said the two partnerships provide a strong operational platform, giving dealers and customers confidence and enabling the business to grow quickly and sustainably in the UK market
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East Midlands Airport Surge in Cargo Growth as Expansion Plans Take Effect
East Midlands Airport has reported strong growth in cargo activity, with volumes up 11.4% year on year following the launch of its long-term cargo development strategy in May. Between May and October, nearly 240,000 tonnes of freight moved through the airport, around 25,000 tonnes more than the same period last year.
As the UK’s largest dedicated air cargo hub, the airport plays a key role in supporting exporters across the Midlands and beyond. It is now heading into its busiest time of year, with cargo flight movements expected to rise by 63% in the run-up to Christmas, driven by Black Friday, Cyber Monday and festive demand.
The recent uplift follows plans to cater for a projected 54% increase in cargo demand over the next two decades, with annual volumes forecast to reach 583,000 tonnes by 2043. To support this growth, 50 hectares of land near the runway have been set aside for development, a move that could generate more than 21,000 jobs and contribute almost £4bn to the regional economy.
Since the plans were unveiled, six new cargo airlines have begun operating from East Midlands Airport, with further investment also coming from major operators expanding facilities, adding aircraft stands and relocating services from other UK airports. Commercial director Adam Andrews said the momentum reflects a wider transformation, reinforcing the airport’s strategic importance in global logistics and its growing contribution to regional and national economic growth.
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Q3 Testimonial
A testimonial from a recently placed Operations Director working with a nationally recognised Construction Main Contractor for Antony Rowe –
“I was really pleased I chose Atkins Search to help find my next role in the construction industry. After 40 years in the industry with a main contractor background, I found myself in a fortunate position where I was able to explore my options and to take some time to decide what I wanted to do next.
We arranged a face-to-face meeting and, importantly, Antony Rowe listened and helped me solidify my thought process. It was very clear from our initial conversations Antony, and the team, had lots of established contacts across the industry, enabling them to share good advice and point me in the right direction.
He was also able to suggest viable alternative job roles to develop a joint plan of action. Over a period of several months, Antony and Laura Belcher kept in regular contact with and kept me informed of any potential options and opportunities.
Throughout this time Atkins Search were attentive and responsive to my needs. As part of the interview process I had to submit a written strategy proposal and Antony took the time to review and help me improve its presentation. At each stage, Atkins Search kept the line of communication open. They would check in before the interviews, seek feedback immediately and keep me informed of any developments in moving the opportunity forward.
When I received a formal job offer, they were able to assist with the negotiations to help pave the way for a smooth and efficient end to their service.
Their support didn’t end with the signing of an employment contract; we had a catch-up before I started and they checked in after week.
I would highly recommend Atkins Search as their level of service and attention to detail exceeded my expectations in helping me find my new role as Operations Director.”
Atkins Search Releases 2026 Construction Salary Guidelines
Atkins Search Recruitment has published its 2026 Construction Salary Guidelines, highlighting how pay and benefits across the UK construction sector are continuing to evolve amid skills shortages, sustained project demand and changing workforce expectations.
Drawing on extensive placement data, employer insight and live market activity, the guidelines provide a clear view of current salary expectations and total reward trends across the industry. The analysis shows that construction remains a candidate-led market, with employers increasingly offering competitive packages to attract and retain talent.
The guidelines also reflect wider shifts influencing pay in 2026, including long-term labour constraints, continued investment in infrastructure and development, and growing demand for modern construction methods and sustainable practices. Together, these factors are placing upward pressure on salaries and benefits across regions.
Beyond base pay, the Atkins Search guidelines emphasise the growing importance of total compensation, including bonuses, pensions, flexible working and wider benefits, as employers compete in a tight labour market.
Designed to support informed career and hiring decisions, the 2026 Construction Salary Guidelines offer up-to-date, UK-specific insight, helping professionals and businesses benchmark salaries accurately and approach negotiations with confidence.
Download the Complete UK Construction Salary Guide 2026 – Free Access
Our charity partner for 2025/26 is Tough To Talk, a pioneering charity dedicated to breaking the silence around male suicide and promoting mental health awareness. Founded on the principle that every man should have access to support when he needs it most, we are committed to changing lives and making a difference.
Throughout this quarter, the Atkins Search team proudly completed the Sherwood 5K and 10K in aid of Tough To Talk. Antony Rowe, Laura Belcher, Lily-Grace Cooper and Olivia Hartley were proud to run in support of Tough To Talk, helping raise awareness around men’s mental health during men’s mental health month. This was a fantastic event and a great way to help Tough to Talk in their mission of breaking the silence around men’s mental health.
The construction industry faces unique mental health challenges. With high-pressure environments, physical demands and traditionally masculine workplace cultures, construction workers often struggle to discuss mental health openly. As a specialist construction recruitment agency, we understand the importance of reducing these pressures that affect our construction candidates and construction employers. As a consequence, Atkins Search continues to raise money throughout the next quarter, and our team will be partaking in more charity initiatives to support Tough To Talk.
Here’s how you can support Atkins Search and Tough to Talk:
Donate: Every contribution makes a difference. Support Tough to Talk directly here – https://gofund.me/f6d740fe
“Too often, men suffer in silence, afraid to share their struggles and seek help due to the stigma surrounding male mental health issues. The time for change is now. We must come together as a society to break down barriers, challenge gender bias, and create environments where men feel comfortable discussing their mental health.”
Tough To Talk compiled some tough facts to show how the work they do is vital and unfortunately necessary:
- The construction industry loses 4 men a day to suicide in England alone
- Suicide is the number one preventable cause of death for men in the UK under 50
- 10 men die by suicide every day in England and Wales (The statistics for Scotland are higher)
- Most men who die by suicide are not known to have problems by family, friends or mental health services
Atkins Search will be working closely with Tough To Talk and Steve Whittle over the rest of the year and we are so proud to be positively contributing towards this incredible charity.
If you, or someone you know, are struggling, have a look at Tough To Talk’s website for advice and guidance on managing mental health and getting the required level of support here – GET SUPPORT – TOUGH TO TALK
If you, or someone else, require immediate support call 999 or go straight to A&E if you can.
Alternatively, call the Crisis Response Service (Mental Health) on 111 (0845 4647 for Wales).
Atkins Search are actively fundraising to support this incredible charity and their cause, if you can, please consider interacting with our fundraising link – with your help, we can make a difference – Help fund life-saving support and training today!
