Strategic clarity and sustainability keys to success in 2026

AS WE step into 2026, businesses across Wales find themselves navigating an economic environment that is as complex as it is full of possibility.

- ROBERT LLOYD GRIFFITHS

The past year (or more) has tested the resilience of organisations of every size, and the year ahead will demand the same blend of adaptability, strategic clarity and long-term thinking. From my vantage point at ICAEW Wales, it is clear that Welsh businesses are entering a period where informed decision making and forward looking leadership will matter more than ever.

ICAEW's Prepare for 2026 insights have brought together expert voices from across the profession, and their perspectives offer a valuable lens through which to consider the challenges and opportunities ahead.

What emerges is a picture of a business landscape shaped by regulatory change, technological acceleration, sustainability imperatives and a shifting economic backdrop. For Wales, these themes intersect with our own regional strengths and vulnerabilities, creating a distinctive set of priorities for the year to come - especially given the Senedd election on May 7.

Indeed, I will be starting the year by attending a series of events hosted by the Enterprise Forum. Representatives from Welsh Labour, Plaid Cymru, Welsh Liberal Democrats, Welsh Conservatives and Reform UK will be discussing their manifestos for 2026. I hope that this programme will provide a constructive opportunity to align policies with business needs as the economic context cannot be ignored.

As ICAEW's director of economies, Suren Thiru, observed in his recent analysis, the UK ended 2025 on a subdued note, with official figures showing a 0.1% contraction in both September and October and no growth recorded since June.

This stagnation sets a cautious tone for the early months of 2026, and Welsh businesses will be watching several key indicators closely.