Key Takeaways
- • Grant Thornton UK said it had hired 121 new partners so far in 2026, putting it on track to reach 160 new partners by March 2027, a year ahead of its original schedule, according to Bloomberg Tax.
- • The UK's sixth-biggest firm by revenue, with nearly 300 partners and 5,000 staff, is using private equity investment to fund its expansion.
- • The firm plans to announce a new partner-hiring target once it reaches the 160-partner mark.
- • Publisher reporting indicates revenues rose 4% to £787.1 million in the prior year, while the private equity takeover has added costs to profits.
Summary
Grant Thornton UK said on Thursday, October 15, 2026, that it had hired more than 120 new partners so far this year as it pursues expansion following private equity investment, according to Bloomberg Tax. The firm said it had appointed 121 partners in 2026 and is on track to bring on 160 new partners by March 2027, a year ahead of the staffing level it had originally hoped to reach.
The UK's sixth-biggest firm by revenue has nearly 300 partners and 5,000 staff. Grant Thornton said it would set a fresh partner-hiring target next year once it hits the 160 mark. The company's quoted remarks on the appointments were truncated in the source material.
Publisher coverage in the broader database provides additional context on the firm's recent trajectory. Grant Thornton reported 84 new equity partner appointments in the first six months of 2026, and other reports describe 100 equity partner appointments so far this year. Newly filed accounts cited in publisher coverage show revenues at the firm rose 4% to £787.1 million last year, up from £759 million, while profits were hit by costs associated with the private equity takeover. Coverage also notes that 250 partners took an average of £682,000 each in April 2025. Other reporting has named Carlyle and Blackstone among private equity firms circling the UK business.
The hiring push highlights how private equity backing is reshaping mid-tier professional services partnerships in the UK, with capital being deployed to accelerate growth in partner headcount and client capacity.
The UK's sixth-biggest firm by revenue has nearly 300 partners and 5,000 staff. Grant Thornton said it would set a fresh partner-hiring target next year once it hits the 160 mark. The company's quoted remarks on the appointments were truncated in the source material.
Publisher coverage in the broader database provides additional context on the firm's recent trajectory. Grant Thornton reported 84 new equity partner appointments in the first six months of 2026, and other reports describe 100 equity partner appointments so far this year. Newly filed accounts cited in publisher coverage show revenues at the firm rose 4% to £787.1 million last year, up from £759 million, while profits were hit by costs associated with the private equity takeover. Coverage also notes that 250 partners took an average of £682,000 each in April 2025. Other reporting has named Carlyle and Blackstone among private equity firms circling the UK business.
The hiring push highlights how private equity backing is reshaping mid-tier professional services partnerships in the UK, with capital being deployed to accelerate growth in partner headcount and client capacity.
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