Prepare Your Business for an Exceptional 2026: The Essential Hiring & Workforce Strategy Guide for Clients
As we approach the end of 2025, many businesses are already shifting their focus to 2026 — a year set to bring renewed growth, investment, and competition for top talent. The companies that succeed next year won’t be the ones who simply react to market changes; they’ll be the ones who plan early, build strong teams, and partner with experts who understand the landscape.
Here’s how your organisation can prepare for an outstanding year of growth in 2026.
1. Start Workforce Planning Earlier Than Ever
The demand for strong talent in 2026 will be high across construction, cost consultancy, engineering, development and project delivery.
Creating a workforce plan now will give you a serious competitive advantage.
Your plan should include:
· Predicted growth areas
· Key skills you’ll need to hire
· Senior hires or strategic appointments
· Succession planning for critical roles
· Potential freelance or interim support
Companies that map this out early hire faster, spend less, and secure higher-quality people.
2. Review & Strengthen Your Employer Brand
Candidates are increasingly selective. They want clarityaround culture, flexibility, progression and values. If your employer brandisn’t compelling, you risk losing great candidates to competitors. To stand out in 2026, focus on:
· A clear EVP (employee value proposition)
· Competitive benefits and salary structures
· Defined hybrid or flexible working expectations
· Career progression frameworks
· Strong onboarding and retention processes
· A powerful employer brand doesn’t just attract talent — itkeeps it.
3. Streamline Your Hiring Process
Top candidates will not wait weeks for decisions.
Audit your current hiring process and look for ways to:
· Remove unnecessary steps
· Improve interview structure
· Provide clearer timelines
· Increase communication with candidates
· Train leaders to interview effectively
Fast, consistent processes will win you the best people.
4. Invest in Leadership Development
Growth is driven by people — but sustained growth is driven by great leaders.
In 2026, the most successful companies will invest in:
· Leadership training
· Communication and management skills
· Coaching-based management styles
· Performance and motivation strategies
· Change management capabilities
Strong leadership reduces turnover, increases productivity and ensures teams actually deliver on strategic goals.
5. Build a Talent Pipeline Before You Need It
The best talent is rarely “on the market” — they’re identified and nurtured long before a vacancy opens.
We support clients by:
· Mapping upcoming talent shortages
· Building tailored talent pools
· Pre-qualifying candidates’ months in advance
· Creating proactive sourcing strategies
· Advising on salary and market trends
This eliminates the panic of last-minute hiring and dramatically improves long-term success.
6. Partner With Recruiters Who Understand Your Sector
2026 will reward businesses that work strategically with their recruitment partners.
At Aldwych Consulting we:
· Know the construction, property and engineering market inside out
· Build relationships with passive top performers
· Help refine job specs to attract the right people
· Support with onboarding and retention guidance
· Represent your brand professionally to candidates
A recruitment partner should feel like an extension of your business — not a transactional supplier.
7. Prepare for Growth with the Right People in the Right Roles
Growth doesn’t happen by accident — it happens through deliberate hiring, strong leadership and a proactive strategy.
Whether you’re planning:
· New project wins
· Expansion into new regions
· Senior leadership hires
· Team restructures
· Increased turnover targets
… your people strategy must lead the way.
Let’s Make 2026 Your Strongest Year Yet
If you’re ready to prepare for a high-growth year, we’re here to help you build the team that will make it happen.
Get in touch with Aldwych Consulting today to start planning your 2026 workforce strategy.