Our 2026 Salary Survey

It is fair to say that as we enter 2026, the UK technology market is characterised by cautious momentum rather than outright confidence. While demand for technology talent and investment has not rebounded aggressively, our latest survey of senior UK technology leaders suggests that organisations are continuing to invest selectively, with a sharper focus on efficiency, resilience and long term value.

Leaders are still navigating complex transformation agendas against a backdrop of cost pressure, legacy technology and heightened scrutiny on return on investment. Unlike previous years, innovation is not being deprioritised, but it is being more tightly governed. In fact, 23% of survey respondents said recent market sentiment has led to initiatives being delayed or reduced in scope, while 32.7% reported no material change to their technology plans, highlighting a market that is neither frozen nor accelerating indiscriminately.

At the same time, we are observing structural shifts within the hiring landscape. Contractor demand has risen sharply, with a 45% increase in contract requirements compared to this time last year. This appears to be driven in part by recent HR legislation and increases in Employer National Insurance contributions, which have narrowed the cost differential between permanent and contract hiring. In parallel, programme demand particularly in AI and transformation initiatives has accelerated, creating demand for flexible delivery capability.

The report below brings together findings from our 2026 survey of UK technology leaders alongside insight drawn from thousands of market conversations over the past year.