Confidence among UK business leaders is edging back, even as they remain cautious about the wider economy, according to new quarterly data from CEO coaching and peer advisory organisation Vistage.
Key takeaways
- Leaders are more confident in their own organisations than in the wider economy.
- Hiring and investment plans are recovering, although caution has not disappeared.
- Business leaders want fiscal clarity before committing fully to growth.
“A rise in CEO confidence is welcome, but this is a recovery built on resilience rather than external factors.”
Professor Joe Nellis, Economic Adviser to Vistage
Vistage’s CEO Confidence Index rose 4.3 points to 95.7 in Q3 2026, up from 91.4 in Q2. The research, based on 142 responses collected in September, found that more than half of CEOs (52%) believe economic conditions have worsened over the past year, while a third (33%) expect further deterioration during the next 12 months.
Only 17% expect the wider economy to improve, yet leaders are markedly more positive about their own businesses. Some 58% expect sales revenue to rise over the next year, while 46% expect higher profits. Just 9% anticipate sales to decrease.
Hiring and investment plans recover
The share of leaders who have slowed, paused or reduced hiring because of the tax and regulatory environment has fallen from 51% in Q2 to 39%. The proportion holding back or cancelling planned investment has declined from 26% to 17%.
Looking ahead, 42% expect to increase headcount and 40% plan to raise fixed investment. That compares with 13% and 11% respectively who expect to cut.
Despite economic pressure, 83% say they are very unlikely to relocate outside the UK in the next two years, with only 6% saying a move is likely.
Growing strain at the top
The study also points to the pressure being carried by business leaders. Four in ten (42%) say they are making more significant business decisions each week than a year ago, yet 55% do not have a credible succession plan in place.
Emma van Rooyen, Managing Director of Vistage UK & Ireland, said business leaders are making more decisions with more at stake, often without a safety net. “Leading a business was never meant to be a solo job,” she said.
Vistage is the world’s largest CEO coaching and peer advisory organisation, with more than 45,000 members across 40 countries.
