Is the UK interim management market reaching its strongest point since May 2023?

Russam’s Managing Director, Jason Atkinson, has surveyed approximately 1,800 interim managers to capture insights into market sentiment, assignment activity, and emerging trends. With three years of data at hand, several key observations have emerged.

“Since November 2025, we’ve seen a dramatic lift in confidence: 63% of interim managers now feel positive or neutral about the climate for securing new assignments—the strongest position in nearly three years. Our Russam talent pool now includes around 28,500 interim professionals, with 65% on assignment at the end of 2025. This momentum is likely to continue rising.”

Client demand for interim solutions is accelerating. At the close of 2025, our clients projected a significant increase in interim appointments for 2026. Organisations are recognising the need for speed, focus, and impact—whether stabilising operations, driving rapid sales performance, unblocking stalled programmes, or leading transformational change. We’re also seeing growing innovation in interim-to-permanent roles and fractional talent solutions, particularly among SMEs.

Key Interim Management Trends in Early 2026

Russam has identified the top areas where clients are seeking interim support in the first two months of 2026:

• Go-to-Market (GTM) strategies for accelerated growth
• On-demand talent benches and blended workforce models
• Interim sales leaders and commercial MDs, including business development and bid-writing specialists
• AI strategists and technology specialists for short-term, high-impact projects
• C-suite interim leaders, including CEOs driving strategy for UK charities

As the interim management market strengthens, Russam continues to connect organisations with the right interim professionals to deliver results with speed, expertise, and measurable impact.