ACQUISITION SERVICES SUPPLIER OF THE YEAR
As we step into a new year, it feels like the right moment to pause and reflect.
2025 was not just busy for Atomic Consultancy. It was meaningful. It was emotional. And in many ways, it was defining.
We supported business owners through some of the biggest decisions of their professional lives. We saw the industry shift, adapt and challenge itself. And as a team, we grew in experience, confidence and capability.
This is not about ticking off achievements for the sake of it. It is about recognising the people, relationships and shared journeys that shaped the year just gone.
As Lucy Noonan, Founder of Atomic Consultancy, puts it:
“2025 wasn’t about chasing volume. It was about doing the right deals, in the right way, for the right people. That’s what we’ve always stood for, and last year really reinforced that.”
2025 by the Numbers
When you look at the year in figures alone, 2025 was a standout.
Over the course of the year, Atomic Consultancy successfully completed £39,738,257 worth of transactions, supporting agency owners through some of the most important decisions of their professional lives.
Behind that number sits months, and often years, of preparation, honest conversations, realistic pricing and disciplined execution.
By the end of the year, Atomic was advising on the sale of 9,709 fully managed properties. In a market influenced by legislative reform, rising costs and shifting landlord behaviour, maintaining that level of managed stock speaks volumes about the quality of the businesses brought to market and the continued appetite from buyers for well-run lettings portfolios.
Perhaps most telling of all, Atomic achieved an average of 98% of the guide price across completed deals in 2025.
That figure reflects realistic valuations, strong buyer engagement and deals that held together through due diligence. Not inflated expectations, but outcomes that stood up under scrutiny.
“Those results don’t come from pushing prices or forcing deals through,”
says Lucy.
“They come from preparation, transparency and understanding what buyers are really looking for. That’s what builds confidence on both sides.”
A Year Defined by Trust and Recognition
One of the clearest signals of 2025 was the continued trust placed in Atomic by both clients and the wider industry.
Winning ESTAS Acquisition Services Supplier of the Year for the third consecutive year was a proud moment for the entire team. To be recognised in 2023, 2024 and again in 2025 reinforced something we care deeply about: consistency.
Doing the right thing once matters. Doing it year after year matters more.
2025 also brought recognition for innovation, with Atomic receiving the EA Masters Bronze Award for Innovation for our Estate Agency Valuation Tool.
This award was particularly special because it recognised something we built to help owners gain clarity, without pressure, sales tactics or obligation.
Lucy Noonan:
“Awards are never the goal, but they are an important reminder that doing things properly, transparently and with care still matters in this industry.”
Supporting Owners Through Landmark Sales
Behind every transaction that Atomic completes is a story. And 2025 was filled with them.
Some sales were the culmination of years of work.
Others marked the start of a new chapter for founders ready to step back. Many were deeply emotional, involving long-standing staff, loyal clients and businesses built on personal reputation.
From high profile multi million pound transactions to carefully managed regional sales, one theme ran through every deal: owners wanted guidance they could trust.
We worked with sellers for months and sometimes years before going to market. We helped them prepare their figures, understand buyer expectations and navigate confidentiality. And when the time came, we managed competitive processes that balanced value with fit.
Laura Cooper, Acquisitions Director:
“2025 reinforced that selling a business is never just about price. Owners want confidence, clarity and to feel understood. Our role is to bring structure and calm to what can otherwise be an overwhelming process.”
Growth That Was Built, Not Rushed
2025 also marked a year of growth for Atomic itself.
As deal flow increased, so did the need to invest in our people. We welcomed new team members, strengthened our internal processes and moved into a larger office space to support the next phase of the business.
These changes were not about expansion for expansion’s sake. They were about protecting the quality of service clients expect, even as demand grows.
Every hire and every investment was made with the same question in mind: does this help us support clients better?
Innovation with Purpose
The Estate Agency Valuation Tool became an important part of Atomic’s story in 2025.
Created to give owners a starting point, not a sales pitch, the tool allowed agency principals to understand the potential value of their business in minutes.
It opened conversations that might otherwise never have started and helped many owners take their first step towards planning properly.
Innovation, for us, is only worthwhile if it genuinely helps people make better decisions.
Sharing Stories Through the Boom Podcast
Another highlight of 2025 was the launch of the Boom Podcast.
Through honest conversations with business owners who have built, grown and sold estate and letting agencies, the podcast gave listeners insight rarely shared publicly.
Episodes with Will Linley, Kye Wheatley and Richard Palfreeman explored everything from growth and lettings strategy to life after exit.
The response confirmed something we strongly believe: agency owners value real stories over theory.
Lucy Noonan:
“The Boom Podcast came from a simple idea. Let people hear directly from those who have been there. The challenges, the mistakes and the wins. That honesty is what builds confidence.”
Navigating Change Together
2025 was not without its challenges. Regulatory reform, economic uncertainty and shifting buyer behaviour all shaped the landscape.
But if the year proved anything, it is that well-prepared businesses still attract strong interest.
Calm, informed decision-making continues to outperform reactive moves. And expert advice matters most when the market feels noisy.
Atomic spent much of 2025 helping clients cut through that noise.
Looking Ahead to 2026
As we move into a new year, our focus remains the same.
We will continue to work closely with business owners who want honest advice, clear planning and a partner who understands both the commercial and emotional realities of selling a business.
If 2025 was about momentum, 2026 is about building on it carefully and responsibly.
Thank You
To every client who trusted us with their business, thank you.
To every advisor, buyer and partner we worked alongside, thank you.
And to the Atomic team, whose dedication underpins everything we do, thank you.
If you are considering your next chapter, whether that is in 2026 or further ahead, we are always happy to have a confidential, no obligation conversation.
Sometimes, the most important step is simply starting the discussion.