By Alice Hamp, Director – Commerce & Industry
Since April, the Commercial team at Oakleaf has started to see the longer term impact of the past two years reflected in the types of roles we are supporting. Echoing recent survey findings, there has been a clear rise in specialist employee relations roles, alongside increased demand in change management and talent management.
This suggests that, following significant transformation programmes, commercial organisations are now turning their attention inward. The focus is shifting to nurturing the talent they have retained, investing in progression, succession planning, and internal development pathways.
Generalist Roles Evolving
A noticeable trend since April has been the changing shape of generalist people roles. The traditional business facing HR Business Partner has taken a step back, with employers seeking individuals who can balance operational HR delivery with strategic partnering.
Salaries in this space have also adjusted to reflect the evolving demand. Most roles are now centred around the £70,000 to £80,000 range, particularly at middle management level, where the need for versatility and adaptability is highest.
Talent Acquisition Slowly Rebounding
It is no surprise that Talent Acquisition remains one of the most impacted areas. Since April, only around 3% of commercial roles have been TA focused. However, recent data suggests a cautious rebound. In the past six weeks alone, 26% of our job leads in the commercial division have been in TA. Notably, most of these are interim or fixed term contract roles, pointing to a continued appetite for flexibility before committing to permanent headcount.
Sector Insights
Within the commercial market, Charity and Retail have remained the most active sectors. During periods of economic flux, these sectors often demonstrate resilience, continuing to hire through steady, organic growth.
Looking ahead, three sectors are worth watching closely:
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Renewable Energy, London is positioning itself as a global leader in green energy. We are seeing significant investment in solar, wind, and electric vehicle infrastructure. Even traditional oil and gas companies are expanding their renewable divisions.
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E-commerce, despite ongoing cost of living pressures, digital first consumer businesses are continuing to grow and attract funding.
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Real Estate and PropTech, demand is growing for technology enabled solutions in commercial property, from smart building systems to flexible workspace innovation. Established firms are pivoting, and new players are entering the market at pace.
The Road Ahead
Encouragingly, the HR job market in London’s commercial sector is moving in a positive direction. We have seen an uptick in newly registered roles, an increase in job leads across the City, and stronger candidate confidence.
However, challenges remain. After such an extended period of uncertainty, clients are understandably cautious. We are seeing hesitancy around final hiring decisions, delayed processes, and in some cases, feedback not being provided or roles being paused without clear communication—often due to internal bandwidth issues.
Now more than ever, delivering a high quality candidate experience and a streamlined, consultative hiring process is critical. At Oakleaf, we remain committed to partnering with our clients to help them achieve this—ensuring they secure the talent they need while providing a smooth and positive journey for every candidate.
Click here to see the results from our HR Hiring Survey 2025
