BLOGS

Salaries will always matter — especially at senior level, where responsibility, risk and delivery pressure are non-negotiable. But across the built environment, we’re seeing something shift: benefits are increasingly the deciding factor. Not the generic stuff. The meaningful, life-improving benefits that change how people feel about a role — and whether they stay.

After years of volatility, many teams are hoping for a “normal” year. 2026 may be more stable — but it won’t be simpler. The most credible forecasts still point to continued upward pressure on costs and tender prices over the medium term, even if the pace varies by sector and region.

If you’ve felt planning moving from “critical path” to “programme risk”, you’re not imagining it. Government is consulting on proposed reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and related changes — with a closing date of 11:45pm on 10 March 2026.

Let’s face it, writing your CV isn’t the most enthralling use of time, however, the temptation to use AI can reduce your success rate.

I recently interviewed a Project Director. After 7 months of searching, countless interview and CV submissions, she finally found the role she’d been working towards.

As we look ahead to 2026, the UK built environment presents a familiar but evolving picture: opportunity remains strong in key sectors, but success will increasingly favour those organisations that are strategic, people-focused, and resilient. The theme I keep coming back to in conversations with clients and candidates alike is cautious optimism. Growth is there — but it is not evenly distributed, and it is not guaranteed.