Firms require agility to navigate uncertain times

Later this year my business celebrates 10 years. In the last decade, we’ve lived through more uncertainty than we have clarity.

A common pattern I’ve seen, especially recently, is how uncertainty, not necessarily difficulty, can paralyse businesses. Take last year’s Budget; the speculation in the lead up to the announcement was in some ways more problematic than the announcement itself.

We see similar behaviour now; the unknown impact of the current conflict between America and Iran is causing a similar paralysis for some. In my recent article I explored how purpose-led businesses, ones that are primarily guided by ethical intent or clear values over profit, make decisions, even small ones, to increase resilience during such times.

In my case, my drive to be a sustainable business leader makes me more intentional about my decisions. Today I’ll take that a step further and look at how all Yorkshire businesses can use these times to thrive. During the decade Business Owl has existed, the word ‘pivot’, which became a buzz word during covid, has become far more than a fad. Agility has become an art.

We’ve already seen the shift from fixed office working to hybrid working, which came out of incredibly difficult times, and though the pendulum has swung back slightly, hybrid working is here to stay. According to ONS data, 40% of adults work a hybrid model. It’s not a stretch to think there could be yet more change to the traditional employee model.

Let’s take the increasing shift from relying on static workforces to smart outsourcing – we are already seeing this with around 70% of organisations globally using outsourcing for at least one business function, according to Deloitte research. Outsourcing isn’t new, but our reliance on less conventional resourcing models could be.

Fractional support, where a senior professional works for a company part-time or on a shared basis, rather than being employed full-time, enables businesses to draw on specific support from a wider pool of professionals, which could increase impact and results for a reduced investment. Data suggests fractional workers have doubled in the past five years.

Either way, sustained challenging economic times are likely to push us to increasingly agile ways of working. The business model perhaps becomes less fixed and more intentionally responsive: if costs go up, we go in a slightly adapted direction; if not, we carry on with the existing plan.

There’s a difference between reacting to an unforeseen situation and responding when the unknown has been planned for. It was apparently a Greek philosopher who famously said: ‘the only constant in life is change’, so the evolving landscape calls for smart, flexible approaches.

For organisations seeking to build resilience and momentum, having access to the right expertise without incurring associated staffing costs, can make all the difference. If you’re considering how to adapt your operations or bring in targeted support, now may be the perfect time to explore new ways of working. With a decade of experience helping businesses evolve, I’m here to provide reliable partnership and practical solutions, so you can move forward with confidence.

This article was first published in the Business Section of the Yorkshire Post on 6th May 2026.