Economic Outlook Roundtable: What Yorkshire’s Finance Leaders Are Saying About Growth, Hiring and the Road Ahead

Senior finance professionals from across Yorkshire recently joined Sharp Consultancy for an exclusive roundtable discussion featuring an economic update from Paul Mount, Economist and Deputy Agent at the Bank of England. The session provided a timely, in-depth look at the UK’s economic landscape — followed by a candid conversation about what businesses are experiencing on the ground.The picture that emerged was one of cautious realism. While official forecasts point to easing inflation and a gradual return to stability, many organisations across the region continue to navigate weak demand, rising labour costs, tightening legislation and stalled investment projects. Yet despite these pressures, there remains a strong sense of resilience and adaptability — qualities that have long defined the Yorkshire business community. At Sharp Consultancy, our specialist finance and accountancy teams speak daily to employers and professionals across commerce, industry, public practice and the not-for-profit sector. What we heard in this session closely aligns with the insight we gather from clients and candidates across the region. Below, we explore the key themes shaping business confidence, recruitment activity and the outlook for 2026. Inflation Is Easing, but Confidence Has Yet to Follow The Bank of England outlined its latest central forecast: Inflation expected to gradually return toward the 2% target. GDP growth set to remain modest but stable through 2026. Interest rates anticipated to settle around 3.5% based on market expectations. Unemployment projected to hold near 5%. However, the sentiment in the room was clear: despite improving headline numbers, confidence across most sectors remains fragile. Many organisations described the environment as “flat” — not contracting, but unable to capitalise fully on opportunities due to economic uncertainty. Sharp Consultancy continues to see this play out: businesses are stabilising rather than expanding, focusing on cash management, operational efficiency and carefully controlled hiring. Labour Costs Continue to Reshape Workforce Strategies Wage pressures were a recurring theme throughout the discussion. Employers highlighted: Significant increases to the National Living Wage. Higher employer National Insurance contributions. Expected future changes to minimum wage equalisation for younger workers. Rising cost and complexity associated with apprenticeships. These factors are pushing up costs at every level of the workforce and reshaping recruitment behaviours. Across Sharp Consultancy’s accountancy and finance divisions, we are seeing: Strong demand for replacement hires where roles are business critical. Lower volumes of growth hires, particularly in commercial and project-focused appointments. Clients increasingly prioritising candidates who bring breadth, adaptability and long-term value. Construction & Infrastructure: Capacity Under Pressure Leaders from the construction sector painted a challenging picture — one mirrored by many Sharp Consultancy clients operating across the wider built environment. Key themes included: Planning delays of 9–10 months, particularly related to the Building Safety Act. Businesses holding on to workforce capacity despite reduced margins — a strategy that may not be sustainable in 2026. Difficulty justifying new capital expenditure under IFRS when future cashflows are uncertain. Concerns that smaller subcontractors may not withstand prolonged delays or reduced demand.Yet, attendees also highlighted that construction could become a catalyst for economic recovery — provided policy reform and planning improvements unlock stalled projects. Manufacturing: Rising Costs and Shifting OperationsLeaders representing manufacturing shared concerns around: Rising energy and operational costs. Increased frequency of site closures and offshoring. Significant challenges in attracting engineering and technical talent. Early signs of contraction in several sub-sectors, with aerospace a notable exception. These pressures reinforce the growing importance of finance leaders who can model scenarios, manage volatility and guide long-term planning — roles Sharp Consultancy continues to support across the manufacturing landscape. Charity & Public Sector Organisations Facing Acute Strain For organisations reliant on local authority funding, the challenges are particularly stark. Attendees reported: Government and council funding caps. Rising NI, wage costs and VAT changes adding millions to annual budgets. Increasingly complex consultation requirements under forthcoming employment legislation. The likelihood of significant cuts to the frontline services in the months ahead.Sharp Consultancy’s continues to work closely with organisations navigating these pressures, supporting clients through restructuring, recruitment challenges and financial planning needs. Recruitment Outlook: Stability Over Expansion Across sectors, the message was consistent: 2026 is expected to be cautious, steady and focused on maintaining capability rather than expanding headcount. Attendees forecast: Workforce levels remaining broadly flat. Hiring driven by essential replacement roles. Transformation, M&A and large-scale project hiring likely to remain subdued. Improved recruitment confidence only once interest rates and policy direction stabilise. For employers, this means sharper competition for high-quality finance talent — an area where Sharp Consultancy’s specialist teams continue to provide targeted, market-led support. What Comes Next? A Slow but Steady Rebuild Despite the challenges discussed, the roundtable ended on a constructive note. Many leaders believe that once interest rates settle and stalled investment begins to move, the region could see a more meaningful upturn — potentially from 2026 onwards. Yorkshire businesses have proven time and again that they are resourceful, resilient and ready to adapt. Sharp Consultancy remains committed to supporting them through every stage — whether stabilising teams, recruiting future leaders, or navigating the next phase of growth. If you’d like to understand what these economic trends mean for your business or team, speak to our specialist consultants for a confidential market discussion. Contacts Us

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Working with Sharps has been a fantastic experience. Liam C, in particular took the time to understand the needs of my team, our culture, and the specific skill sets we were looking for. Every candidate Liam put forward was not only top talent but also a strong cultural fit. Thanks to Liam’s support we’ve been able to fill a couple of key roles with excellent individuals who have made a real impact on my team. The entire process was seamless, efficient, and well communicated from start to finish. I would highly recommend Sharps to any business looking for a recruitment agency that genuinely cares about finding the right people for your team.

Lauren Strawbridge - Credit Manager
NG Bailey Group Ltd
I have used Sharp Consultancy for over twenty years now, both in my professional career and when recruiting candidates for job roles within my team. I find them to be friendly and honest. They put forward candidates that are not only a good fit for the role but also for me and my team, as getting the correct personality is just as important as competency when recruiting candidates. Follow-ups are also actioned in a relaxed and friendly way.

Jodi Lockwood - Credit Control Team Leader
Arriva Group
We recently engaged Sharp Consultancy and the experience has been exceptional. From the outset they took time to understand our specific requirements and their team’s tailored approach, professionalism and proactive communication ensured we found a high-calibre candidate perfectly suited to our organisation.

Chris Gay - CFO
National Floor Coverings
The communication from Sharp is great, they are always helpful and always follow up on all CVs sent through ensuring all our needs are met as a business. We have been very lucky to be able to place two of the candidates Sharp assisted with and the whole process has been seamless. We look forward to a long standing relationship with Sharp Consultancy.

Amanda Sibert - Office Manager
Putzmeister
In my capacity of recruiting and growing our team, Lee and his team have been involved in a number of pivotal senior appointments as well as a steady flow of very credible candidates at all levels both in response to recruitment need, but often out of courtesy in respect of strong candidates who they think would be a good fit for our teams. I think the trust in the relationship is both ways given 2 of the Sharp senior team have encouraged their children to join Azets to begin their accountancy careers!

Chris Butt - National Head of Audit
Azets
Adam was great at understanding what the business needs were and my needs as line manager. He found us candidates that fit the role and the team perfectly. Communication was excellent and Adam went the extra mile to meet myself and also provided the candidate chosen with support to ensure a smooth onboarding process.

Louise Nelson - Financial Controller
Graphic Packaging
I have known Aaron for over a decade and he has shown great personal integrity throughout. He demonstrates this when enabling honest conversations regarding skills, achievements and expectations of candidates and roles. Aaron uses his vast industry knowledge to question and understand what makes a candidate and the recruiting business “tick”. His passion for understanding both candidate and client ensures a tailored service and an advantageous match

Dey Wilson - Group Financial Controller
Fluid One
From start to finish, the service was second to none. Adam took the time to get to know our business and what was needed, provided a shortlist of excellent candidates, each of whom he had clearly taken the time to get to know. His communication was fantastic, providing useful feedback, interview tips and advice. A pleasure to deal with!

Paul Snaith - Finance Director
Centurion
We have worked with Sharp Consultancy and Lee Sweeney for over 20 years. Whenever we have a role available at Park Place, Lee is our first port of call. He knows the types of candidates that are most suitable for us and, given his unmatched coverage of the Yorkshire market, does a great job of filtering the list down to the best candidates based on our specific criteria. He is also extremely proactive, bringing us exceptional candidates even when we are not necessarily in the market, but still keen to be introduced to great people.

Ben Peacock - Partner
Park Place Corporate Finance Limited
Tom has gone above and beyond to make sure the perfect candidate was found for our role. The service Sharp has provided has been exceptional, with communication and professionalism at their highest. I would 100%recommend Sharp consultancy; they will certainly be the first recruiter I contact if needed in the future.

Samantha Shirley - Assistant Finance Manager
United Rental Group
I have used Sharp Consultancy for recruitment and also been placed by them myself, I know that they are approachable and professional. I can always count on my main contacts to be reliable, responsive and committed to finding us the best candidates. I recommend Sharp Consultancy to provide a great service.

Stephanie Bashforth - Group Finance Manager
Choices Homecare
Sharp Consultancy's transparency and communication throughout made the entire experience simple and stress free. We would highly recommend their services.

Hayley Berrisford - Finance Manager
Peak Pipe Systems
I have worked with Sharp for many years. There is always a deep understanding of the position and the requirements of the role, some of which can be demanding. Furthermore, beyond the technicalities of the role, consideration of broader skill sets and personalities has helped to find the right people for my team, many of whom have I have now worked with for many years. I look forward to many more years working with Lee and Sharp Consultancy to help maintain a high performing and successful team.

Mark Thornton - Partner, Business Restructuring
BDO
Beyond just filling positions, Sharp Consultancy helped us ensure that our hiring process was efficient, cost-effective, and aligned with our long-term goals. They truly became a trusted extension of our HR team, and their support allowed us to focus on what we do best—growing our business.

Donna Hardman - Managing Director
Velocity
I have used the services of Sharp Consultancy for a while now, and I cannot speak highly enough of their exceptional services. Their professionalism, dedication, and personalised approach made all the difference. Thanks to their expertise, I was able to find the perfect candidate for our company.

Wolfgang Suessenberger - Head of Accounting
Primetals Technologies
We have been working with Sharp Consultancy now for several years and in that time, they have successfully recruited multiple members of our senior management team. The personable and professional approach ensures the recruitment process runs smoothly and efficiently every time.

Stephen Woollen - Sales Director
Advanced Engineering Techniques
The Sharp Consultancy team has built a really good understanding of our Business and culture, so can quickly identify where a candidate’s talent and aspirations match our approach. Lee’s relationship-based approach has always given us great confidence in his judgement – from an honest assessment about a candidate at the outset, Lee is straightforward to deal with and always takes the time to keep in touch, even when we’re not discussing a vacancy or specific candidate.

Andrew Barlow - Partner
Sentio Partners
Having worked with Aaron on a difficult assignment, I found his tenacity, integrity and overall quality of work to be second to none. I would not hesitate in using his services for future work.

Adam Sumner - Group FD
Bostonair
As usual Sharp Consultancy has provided exactly the candidate we were looking for. Aaron knows he is the first person I pick the phone up to on recruitment needs and hands down it is down to Aaron that as a candidate or hiring manager, Sharp Consultancy are first port of call.

John Kemp - Head of Finance
DB Cargo
Aaron placed me in my current position. Aaron is extremely professional and personable but most importantly listened to what I was looking for, as a result he only contacted me with the right opportunities which is extremely refreshing. I have subsequently used him for recruitment opportunities and have been delighted with the results and will continue to utilise his skills in the future where the need arises.

Ross Flanagan - Finance Director
eBECS
I have had the pleasure to work with Lee over the years from both the perspectives of an employer looking for professional staff and as a candidate. He is great to work with not only because of his personable, sensible and professional approach and advice but also because of his fantastic connections across the professional and business community in the region (and beyond). His wide experience means there is very little that phases Lee (and his colleagues) and unlike some of his professional competitors, he consistently delivers on what he promises.

Tony Chapman - Partner
BHP Chartered Accountants