During 2025 I have been impressed by the resilience of our business at ChangeNet Solutions. I speak regularly to our colleagues at clients and competitors and have been given the sense that the market is very tough, so it is encouraging to see our number of consultants on active assignment has remained steady and our profitability has increased, so this all points towards our business being extremely healthy over the last 12 months.

The political scene has also thrown up some additional challenges for small business with increases in Employer NI biting hard but again we have weathered this change and with the help of our brilliant clients helped shoulder the burden the extra costs have added to our bottom line.

My own personal experience from our clients is that operating costs have come under even more scrutiny in the last year, and whilst our bread and butter business is transformation initiatives, we have seen a real doubling down on cost cutting. This is a double edged sword for us because on the one hand it creates work opportunities but on the other puts real pressure on the rates we can achieve for our consultants. Our members will recognise that they are not earning the types of rates they may have expected 1-2 years ago, but have been pragmatic to accept this and work with us to balance the clients rate expectations with their own.

I think the next 12 months will see more focus on costs and rates will again be under pressure but hopefully our demonstrable resilience will allow us to increase our market share and move ChangeNet Solutions to the next level. I wish you all a Happy and prosperous new year.