Channel deal levels are set to double as resellers look to M&A as a means to source talent, a recruitment boss has asserted.
Talking to IT Channel Oxygen, Robertson Sumner CEO Marc Sumner said M&A will “go mad” from Q4 onwards.
“Acquisitions will double in the next six-12 months, as VARs can’t attract talent to organically grow in 2025/26,” Sumner said.
“We’re getting involved more with teams of people, rather than just spot hiring. Companies are realising they won’t scale fast enough by drip feeding talent and losing some in attrition.”
Although M&A levels in the UK channel took a noticeable dip in the first-half, boxxe’s July acquisition of CAE are a sign of things to come, Sumner predicted.
Softcat also made the first acquisition in its 32-year history in April as it grabbed Leeds-based data and AI consultancy Oakland.
“Getting talent out of rivals normally only happens when the pay/commission structure changes, the leadership changes or there are relocation opportunities, but that’s only opportunistic hiring,” Sumner said.
“We are now seeing bigger VAR’ looking to sweep up boutique players in the next 12 months to bolster specialism, but more importantly add talent at scale.”
“I’m getting more and more calls about who I’m seeing who would consider PE money or to be bought.”
