South East businesses will be focusing on investments in staff training in 2026 (36%), according to new research from Lloyds’ Business Barometer.
This compares to the just over a quarter (26%) who said they would be making training investments last year.
Another three in 10 (34%) South East firms plan to invest in AI in 2026, while just over a quarter (26%) plan to invest in hiring more staff.
Reflecting their investment priorities, South East firms will be focused on boosting their productivity (47%), enhancing their technology (35%) and upskilling their staff (35%) over the year ahead.
Enhancing productivity (31%) is the area where the most South East businesses say they need extra support to achieve their 2026 goals.
The Business Barometer, which surveys 1,200 businesses monthly and has been running since 2002, provides early signals about UK economic trends both regionally and nationwide.
Amanda Dorel, regional director for the South East at Lloyds, said: “Prioritising investments in team training and technology reflects South East firms’ focus on productivity and will also help build a strong foundation for long-term growth. We’ll be with the region’s firms every step of the way in 2026, providing our support to help them achieve their goals.”
