Growth in 2026: The year of beating the cost squeeze, culture focus and AI growing up

If 2026 is going to be “a year”, it won’t be because of one big moment. It’ll be because of the slow drip effect: rising costs, slower buying cycles, hiring getting harder – and, of course, a tech landscape that’s moving faster than most internal capability can keep up. That’s according to leaders of ambitious and fast growing businesses from across the East Midlands. Which is exactly who Tank and TheBusinessDesk.com brought together for this roundtable.