Adaptability and purpose: Looking ahead to 2026 and beyond

As 2025 draws to a close, many business leaders and individuals are taking a much needed pause to reflect on another turbulent year.

It has been a period defined by economic pressure, global disruption due to tariffs, continued political uncertainty and a pace of change that can feel relentless. Business owners, and indeed many individuals, struggle with planning when the world keeps shifting under their feet.

And yet, despite this turbulence, there is much, we believe, to cheer.

Over the past year, we have seen extraordinary ingenuity, strength and resilience from the organisations and individuals we work with. Businesses have continued to adapt, proving their capacity to weather storms and their determination to emerge stronger. People have shown remarkable clarity in reassessing what they want their wealth, careers and futures to achieve.

Adaptability and resilience have become the defining characteristics of purpose and sustainable success. As we look ahead to 2026, these qualities will matter more than ever.

Adaptability: The lifeline for growth

If there is one theme that stands out this year, it is adaptability. The ability to change direction when circumstances demand it, and to do so with speed and clarity, has become essential.

Many business leaders have been balancing long-term ambitions against very real short-term pressures. Supply chain disruptions, softening demand in some sectors, the rising cost of capital, and evolving regulation have all placed pressure on day-to-day decision-making. And yet, the businesses that have fared best are those that have thought differently, found new paths and embraced the opportunity to re-shape their approach.

For those struggling to pivot, support is available. Advisers, peers, networks and specialist teams have never been more accessible, bringing broad depth of experience. We have seen businesses and people increasingly sharing their knowledge both locally and globally to help support others.

As we have highlighted in our ‘The sustainable business’ series of articles, the challenge today is not choosing between short- or long-term thinking, but ensuring both are in place, and rethinking how they work together.

In 2026, adaptability will be seen as strategic strength. Established and new businesses will need to think differently or find new paths.

Rediscovering your purpose

Constant adaptation, however, has a cost. Many business owners and leaders are, understandably, asking, ‘Is there light at the end of the tunnel?’ Corporate exhaustion is real. So too is the risk of losing sight of what sparked the business journey in the first place.

This is why purpose matters.

Your purpose needs to be the anchor that steadies the ship. It is the reason your business exists, the impact you want to make, and the legacy you want to build. When reconnecting with that purpose, roadblocks stop feeling like dead ends and instead become detours towards innovation. Frustration gives way to creativity. Exhaustion transforms into energy.

Looking to 2026, purpose will be one of the most powerful antidotes to uncertainty.

Balancing today and tomorrow

Every business faces daily challenges. The key lies in knowing which needs attention now and what can be tackled with a longer-term lens.

That balance between day-to-day pressures and future ambitions is not easy. Strong and sustainable organisations build structures that let daily operations run effectively, freeing leaders to think strategically and future-proof their organisations.

For many clients, Kreston Reeves is that sounding board. Our fantastic colleagues help clients navigate challenges, refine priorities and ensure that short-term tactics remain aligned to long-term goals.

The productivity challenge

UK productivity remains a pressing national issue. Businesses want to improve it, but government must set the right conditions to support that ambition. Restrictions on Business Property Relief and Agricultural Property Relief, for example, have caused significant challenges for family-owned businesses.

Meanwhile, technology – and AI in particular – offers one of the clearest routes to unlocking productivity gains. This is not hype. Nor is it a future concept. AI is here now, capacity is expanding, costs are falling, and adoption is accelerating.

We have reached the point where the question is no longer whether businesses should adopt AI, but how and how fast. Integrated thoughtfully, AI will reshape how businesses operate, lifting efficiency, supporting better decision-making and freeing people to deliver more value to their business and customers or clients. Whilst it can seem daunting, do it in a thoughtful, focused and strategic way for today and tomorrow.

But for many, this requires ‘unlearning’ habits formed over decades and embracing new ways of working. They need not do it alone. Be brave and challenge the way you operate in all areas.

Private clients: Acting earlier and planning ahead

For our private clients, adaptability remains just as important. Economic performance and tax policy are increasingly intertwined, and the tax reforms introduced in recent Budgets mean proactive planning is now essential.

We are seeing more clients act earlier, whether by passing assets to the next generation, restructuring shareholdings or reviewing how family wealth is held and protected. The assumption that wealth will flow seamlessly is no longer safe. Timing matters, and reviewing wills, structures and succession plans can safeguard tomorrow’s ambitions.

Early action brings clarity, control and confidence.

Looking ahead with confidence

Recent business confidence surveys, such as the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales’ (ICAEW) Business Confidence Monitor, make grim reading. But we believe optimism is justified when adaptability and purpose guide decisions.

Interest rates are falling. Demand for quality products and services remains strong. AI is delivering genuine value at an ever-accessible cost. The UK remains a great place to start and grow a business. Younger businesses, especially those created in the last five years, have adaptability ingrained in their DNA. Others are learning fast. We are encouraged for the years ahead.

Our advice for 2026 is simple: 

• Stay agile. Align long-term vision with short-term flexibility. 
• Reconnect with purpose. Let it guide decisions and sustain motivation. 
• Use AI where it actually helps. It is a tool for transformation. 
• Challenge everything. Old ways may not be the right ways for the future. 

No businesses were created to last just one or two years. With adaptability as your compass and purpose as your guide, and Kreston Reeves at your side, your destination remains firmly within reach. 

As we approach the festive season, we thank our clients, colleagues and friends for their continued trust and partnership. We look forward to supporting you in the year ahead. 

Season’s greetings, and a prosperous, resilient New Year to you all. 

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If you would benefit from some additional advice or guidance, our team are here to help. Please get in touch with your usual Kreston Reeves contact or contact us here.

Useful links for planning ahead: 

• Autumn Budget articles and guidance  

• Inheritance tax planning