We typically acquire domains in one of two ways:

Negotiating to purchase the domain form the existing registrant. Most (good) domains are actvely in use serving up a web site for a business or organisation but there are a surprising number that were registered at some point in the past and are not doing anything useful. We can atempt to locate the registrant with a  view to acquiring the domain and have done this successfully on many occations both for ourselves and for clients. It is usually easy to tell that a domain will not be achievable but when it is not obvious that a domain is valued by the registrant there is the chance that it can be acquired. The journey is often not a smooth, quick or cheap one but for the right domain it can be worth it.

Catching a domain that is deleted through non-renewal. When a UK domain is not renewed it will go through a period where it is suspended and ultimately it will be deleted. At that point the domain is free to register and all good domains (and many poor ones!) are snapped up in a fraction of a second by individuals and organisations like ourselves. Domains have become commodities and the competition to catch domains that drop is fierce.