Business
FY25 Full Year Trading Update
SThree plc expects its full-year 2025 profit before tax to be in line with guidance of approximately £25 million, despite a 12% year-on-year decline in net fees to £322.7 million, with contract net fees down 12% and permanent net fees down 9%. The company successfully completed its Technology Improvement Programme across all 11 markets on time and within budget, positioning the business for scalable growth. The contractor order book stands at £157 million, representing approximately five months of net fees, and the company ended the year with net cash of £68 million. Encouragingly, new placement activity improved in the final quarter, and the US market returned to growth, underpinning the reiteration of FY26 profit before tax guidance. Disclaimer*
About this update from Sthree Plc
[{"type":"text","content":"\n\n16 December 2025\n \nSThree plc\n \nFY 2025 Trading Update\n \nFY25 performance in line, TIP rollout complete\nEncouraging new business activity\n \nSThree plc (\"SThree\" or the \"Group\"), the global STEM workforce consultancy, today issues a trading update for the financial year ended 30 November 2025.\n \nFull Year Highlights \n \n\n\n\n\n· \n\n\nPerformance for FY25 expected to be in line with previously announced £25 million PBT guidance(1).\n\n\n\n\n· \n\n\nGroup net fees down 12% YoY(2) reflecting a sequential quarter-on-quarter improvement in the rate of decline throughout the year, underpinned by the US returning to growth.\n\n\n\n\n· \n\n\nContract (84% of net fees) down 12% YoY, whilst Permanent down 9% YoY.\n\n\n\n\n· \n\n\nTechnology Improvement Programme (TIP) successfully delivered across all 11 markets, on time and within budget, providing a single platform that drives efficiency and positions the business for scalable growth.\n\n\n\n\n· \n\n\nContractor order book(3) down 2% YoY to £157 million, continuing to represent sector-leading visibility with the equivalent of circa five months' net fees.\n\n\n\n\n· \n\n\nStrong balance sheet with net cash of £68 million at 30 November 2025 (30 November 2024: £70 million) after taking account of the £20 million share buyback completed earlier in the year.\n\n\n\n\n· \n\n\nFY25 efficiencies programme delivered net savings in line with plan.\n\n\n\n\n· \n\n\nImproved final quarter of new placement activity underpins reiteration of FY26 PBT guidance(4).\n\n\n\n\n \nTimo Lehne, Chief Executive, commented:\n \n\"We are pleased to report a positive close to FY25, which is expected to be in line with guidance. As anticipated, we have not yet seen a widespread market recovery, however we have exited the year with a period of improving new placement activity, complemented by continued resilient extensions. Whilst navigating ...