iCIMS Returns as Headline Sponsor at RecFest UK, Teaming Up with AXA to Share Global Talent Acquisition Transformation Journey

Leading talent acquisition technology provider publishes new EMEA hiring trends report on employer and candidate behaviour

LONDON [22 May 2025] – iCIMS, the leading talent acquisition software company trusted by the world’s best brands, will return as headline sponsor at RecFest UK on 10 July in Knebworth Park, Stevenage. iCIMS will showcase its latest product innovations and award-winning enterprise hiring platform, deeply embedded with AI across the hiring journey, at booth #49.

RecFest UK attendees can attend iCIMS’ session at 12:30 p.m. on the Inspire Stage. AXA—a global leader in insurance with 154,000 employees across 51 countries – will join iCIMS for a behind-the-scenes look at how the company evolved its talent acquisition approach with iCIMS to meet shifting macroeconomic realities, align with business goals and deliver hiring outcomes at scale.

“At RecFest, we won’t just be talking about the future of hiring – we’re showing it,” said Matt Sharp, SVP of EMEA, iCIMS. “iCIMS is proud to stand alongside this amazing community of TA, leaders, practitioners and innovators and connect with our customers and partners in an iconic location. RecFest is a great opportunity to share how we’re building proven AI technology that delivers on the most ambitious hiring goals of organisations across UK and Europe.”

Attendees can also visit the iCIMS booth to get the latest EMEA labour market data. Today, the company released new data in the iCIMS Insights May Workforce Report: EMEA Spotlight. Informed by iCIMS’ proprietary platform, the report signals that employers in the EMEA region are caught in a whirlwind of economic, financial and political uncertainty:

• EMEA job openings are up (+12%) since last year, but hires have declined (-10%), indicating employers are seeding talent pipelines for when market conditions improve.
• EMEA applications surged 52% since April 2024, but job seekers may be applying to hedge against uncertainty, not to make an immediate move.
• The UK talent pool is shrinking as candidates abandon the job hunt, leaving recruiters with fewer prospects.
• Hires in the UK are up 5% since January 2025.
• With much fewer applications to sift through, recruiters in the UK are speeding through hiring. In April, time to fill averaged 44 days, 9 days quicker than the broader EMEA region last month and nearly a week ahead of UK’s time to fill in January.

For more insights on the key workforce trends and a closer look at job seeker and recruiter activity around the globe, download the iCIMS Insights May Workforce Report: EMEA Spotlight.

Learn more about iCIMS at RecFest on 10 July 2025 in Knebworth Park at booth #49 and attend the session at the Inspire Stage to see how a global leader in insurance uses iCIMS’ enterprise hiring platform to build great teams.