Norman Broadbent plc

("Norman Broadbent")

Q1 2026 TRADING UPDATE

Solid performance, investment in growth and FY26 expectations reiterated

Norman Broadbent (AIM: NBB), a leading Executive Search and Interim Management firm, announces a trading update for the first quarter ended 31 March 2026 ("Q1").

Headlines

·      NFI of £2.2m for Q1 26 (Q1 25: £3.0m), reflects a solid trading performance against a strong comparative period in 2025

·      Secured four net new fee earners through organic recruitment, consistent with the objective to invest in growth by increasing fee-earning capacity

·      Completed the acquisition of Society Limited in February 2026, adding five additional full-time staff and broadening the Group's platform capability

Kevin Davidson, CEO of Norman Broadbent, said:

"We started 2026 on the back of a record 2025 and with Q4 our strongest quarter in over a decade. Q4 was bolstered by a very strong end to the year with a material element of NFI we anticipated securing in January 2026 pulled forward into December 2025. The monthly run-rate during Q1 markedly improved after January. Together with our current visibility, this encouraging performance underpins our confidence in a further year of NFI growth in FY26, in line with our expectations. We remain of the view that progress this year from one quarter to the next is likely to be non-linear and we obviously continue to monitor events in the Middle East carefully.

Our strategic goals for 2026 are clear: investing in headcount growth and developing the team to drive our fee-earner capacity; exploring options to accelerate growth through M&A where it makes strategic and financial sense to do so; and remaining laser focused on short term performance, exceptional client delivery and leveraging our winning culture. The Society acquisition in the quarter is consistent with our disciplined approach and complements our organic recruitment in the quarter as we add capability, sector depth and diversification.  We are making good progress in building a stronger business and with our track record of navigating uncertainty we expect to make continued progress in the year and years ahead."

Contacts: 

About Norman Broadbent:

Norman Broadbent (AIM: NBB) is a professional services firm focused on executive search, senior interim management solutions and bespoke leadership advisory services working across the UK and internationally.

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Established as the first UK-headquartered search firm in 1979, the firm has a 40+ year track record of shaping leadership across industries including Consumer, Financial Services, Industrials, Life Sciences, Investor and TMT.

www.normanbroadbent.com