As we move through Q3 2025, procurement and supply chain functions are under immense pressure. Rising costs, sustainability imperatives, regulatory scrutiny, and digitalisation are shaping how organisations in Consultancies, Energy & Utilities, and Industry & Commerce think about leadership and workforce planning.

For mid- to senior-level professionals, the landscape offers both challenges and opportunities. In this post, we explore the latest hiring signals, sector-specific dynamics, and strategic recommendations for leaders navigating Q3.

Consultancies

Market trends

• Clients are demanding more from consultancy partners: cost optimisation, digital transformation, supplier risk management, and ESG credibility.
• Procurement is increasingly seen as a strategic consulting service line, not just a cost-cutting function.
• Advisory firms are expanding into areas such as carbon accounting, supplier diversity, and AI-driven sourcing.

Hiring trends & implications

• Senior roles (Partners, Practice Directors, Category Specialists) with procurement transformation expertise are in high demand.
• Interims and project-based consultants are being engaged for focused cost-reduction, system rollouts, or supplier risk projects.
• Candidates need to be adept in stakeholder management, sustainability, and digital procurement platforms.

What senior leaders should do

• Invest in talent who can combine procurement expertise with advisory skills.
• Strengthen consulting teams with specialists in ESG, risk, and analytics.
• Build flexible resourcing models to balance project surges and long-term growth.

Energy & Utilities

Market trends

• The sector is being reshaped by Net Zero commitments, renewable investment, smart infrastructure, and cost volatility.
• Infrastructure modernisation and regulatory compliance continue to drive procurement complexity.
• Skills shortages are emerging due to an ageing workforce and declining foreign investment into UK utilities.

Hiring Trends & Implications

• High demand for senior procurement leaders in renewables, infrastructure, and sustainability contracting.
• Need for procurement professionals fluent in data analytics, digital tools, and cyber security.
• Long-term contracts and public-private partnerships are creating new procurement leadership requirements.

What Senior Leaders Should Do

• Prioritise recruitment of leaders who can manage green supply chains and regulatory frameworks.
• Build strong internal talent pipelines to mitigate retirement risks.
• Align procurement strategy directly with organisational Net Zero goals.

Industry & commerce

Market trends

• Rising input costs (raw materials, logistics, energy) are pushing procurement to the top of the agenda.
• Consumer and B2B customers are demanding transparent, ethical and sustainable supply chains.
• Digitalisation and eCommerce growth mean procurement is now tightly linked with marketing, operations, and IT.

Hiring trends & implications

• Mid-to-senior appointments in category management, supply chain resilience, and sustainability are expanding.
• Digital skills are non-negotiable: ERP systems, supplier performance dashboards, data analytics.
• Organisations are increasingly seeking leaders who can bridge commercial and operational functions.

What senior leaders should do

• Hire procurement professionals with cross-functional agility (procurement + commercial + digital).
• Embed sustainability leadership into procurement appointments.
• Use interim talent strategically to accelerate system upgrades and cost-reduction programmes.

Conclusion

Q3 2025 is a defining moment for procurement hiring across Consultancies, Energy & Utilities, and Industry & Commerce. Organisations need leaders who can balance cost control with ESG commitments, manage regulatory complexity, and harness digital transformation.

At Procurement People, we help organisations secure mid-to-senior procurement professionals who deliver measurable value. If your business is navigating transformation or growth, we’d welcome a conversation about how the right procurement leadership can shape your success.