Insights

If you’ve read our latest Q2 Market & Talent Review, you’ll know we’ve doubled down on a central idea: momentum is a strategy.

In today’s market, time isn’t just money, it’s movement, opportunity, and competitive edge. And in cleantech, where policy shifts and macro pressures are colliding with the urgency of the climate crisis and geopolitics, momentum can be the difference between seizing the moment or missing it entirely.

This isn’t just theory. We’ve seen and heard about it from companies again and again over the last quarter. Great candidates are being lost, not to competitors with deeper pockets, but to companies with faster clocks. The ones that move with clarity and conviction. The ones that know what good looks like, and act decisively when they see it. We are expert at hiring processes that maintain momentum, and deliver the talent needed.

And that’s what this edition of our review is all about: clarity, conviction, and the very real value of pace.

A Quarter of Contrasts - And Convergence

From a market perspective, Q2 was nothing if not layered. In the U.S., the cleantech narrative was rocked by the passing of the so-called One Big Beautiful Bill, with solar incentives stripped back and timelines compressed. Meanwhile, Europe held firm. From battery storage deployments in Germany and the UK to continued EV momentum and solar build-out across the continent, there’s real investment confidence in the air.

The European Commission’s Clean Industrial Deal and Industrial Decarbonisation Accelerator are gaining traction. And while the path hasn’t been without friction; think bottlenecks, permitting delays, and ongoing geopolitical tension, the trend is clear: Europe is serious about scale.

That’s translating directly into hiring demand. In Q2 we saw strong activity in grid flexibility, BESS, and solar project development. Senior commercial and regulatory profiles remain in short supply, and as the report outlines, cross-sector skills and change-management experience are increasingly critical.

But the biggest hiring trend? Not volume. Velocity; not haste but momentum

It’s Not About Hiring More. It’s About Hiring Right—and Fast.

We’ve said this before, but it’s worth repeating: hiring may have slowed, but it hasn’t softened. The appetite for truly high-impact talent is as strong as ever, perhaps even more so. With capital being deployed more cautiously, every hire matters more. The bar is higher. Expectations sharper. Timelines shorter.

And that’s where momentum comes in.

Because in times like these, the cost of hesitation is talent lost. We’ve heard the stories from multiple companies—often those with outstanding missions and strong market positioning—who have missed out on exceptional candidates simply because they didn’t move fast enough, and then ask us to help and fix the problem. At Hyperion we don't rush anything, but we do move quickly and know what keeps momentum in a hiring process.

Building Momentum Ourselves

At Hyperion, we don’t just advise on momentum, we operate by it. And we’re taking our own advice.

I’m delighted to share that we’ll soon be welcoming a highly experienced renewables headhunter to our team. Someone with deep solar and wind expertise, and a network that spans the US and Europe. We’ll announce the full details soon, but let’s just say—we’re getting this one over the line before the Transfer window closes. It's a Wirtz of a transfer!

This is a real boost to our capabilities in solar and wind senior and leadership hiring, and aligns perfectly with where we see demand intensifying in Q3 and beyond. Our Energy Storage and Grid team is also set to be expanding (any great headhunters you know in this space let me know!!)

Market Pressure, Meet Leadership Precision

Across the review, you’ll see themes that repeat: grid strain, regulatory complexity, market volatility. But you’ll also see signs of resilience: rapid innovation, capital movement, and above all, leadership ambition.

Cleantech isn’t short on challenges. But nor is it short on visionary founders, committed investors, and operators who are in this for the long haul.

What they need now is support. Precision. The right person in the right seat, at the right time.

That’s where we come in.

So, if you haven’t already, I invite you to read the Q2 edition of our Market & Talent Review. We’ve packed it with sector-specific hiring insights, people moves, and commentary from the Hyperion team on what’s shaping up as one of the most dynamic years in cleantech hiring yet.

Whether you're building a leadership team, expanding into new territories, thinking about board evolution, or just want a view on where the talent winds are blowing - we're here to help.

Because in 2025, standing still isn't an option.

The companies that will lead the energy transition are the ones that move, not just with purpose, but with pace.

And if you’re planning your next strategic hire, or your next career move, maybe don’t wait for Transfer Deadline Day!