Deltek, an intelligent platform for project-based businesses, has unveiled a new framework to help UK small and mid-sized firms strengthen their confidence and build sustainable growth in 2026.
As business leaders shift their focus from short-term recovery to long-term stability, new Deltek research reveals that confidence among UK SMEs is being tested by operational and technological pressures. The findings show that 73% of UK SMEs are extremely concerned about coping with sustainable growth, while 47% of financial leaders cite managing that growth as their top challenge over the next three years. In addition, 70% of firms worry about being unable to automate processes that need it and 81% fear competitors are implementing new technologies faster than they can.
In response to these challenges, Deltek has developed its Growth Formula, a new framework designed to help small and mid-sized firms overcome these barriers and scale smarter. Centred on five key principles, the formula distils insights from Deltek’s latest Growth Blueprint whitepaper into a practical model for sustainable success. The framework helps firms focus on:
- Clarity – Building visibility into business performance and project progress, so leaders can make informed decisions with confidence
- Control – Strengthening operational discipline through better management of resources, costs and workflows
- Cash – Enhancing financial resilience with stronger forecasting and smarter cash flow management
- Clients – Prioritising the right opportunities to drive profitability, not just volume
- Connection – Integrating people, processes and technology to improve efficiency and collaboration across the business.
