As we step into 2026, Manchester Digital is proud to launch Picturing 2026 - a new series of essays from our members exploring the tech trends, opportunities and challenges shaping the year ahead.
In this piece, SF Technology reflects on a renewed sense of confidence across Greater Manchester’s digital economy, driven by real investment, decisive leadership and a focus on value creation.
Now that we are in 2026, the mood across Greater Manchester’s digital community feels markedly more positive. Confidence seems to have returned to the market already.
Investment is flowing, organisations are making decisions, and there is a renewed sense that technology can actively support growth rather than simply maintain stability.
From our perspective at SF Technology, this optimism is grounded. Activity is picking up across several key sectors, driven by real commercial and operational needs rather than speculation.
Leadership and transformation set the pace
The defining theme of 2026 is leadership. Technology no longer sits alongside the business. It sits at the centre of change, transformation and performance.
Sectors experiencing the strongest momentum are those facing structural change. Professional services continue to grow as firms invest in efficiency, client insight and scalable operating models. Education and healthcare are seeing sustained demand driven by regulation, funding reform and the need to deliver better outcomes. Logistics and supply chain businesses remain active as resilience, visibility and automation stay high on the agenda.
Across these sectors, transformation is continuous rather than episodic. That places a premium on leadership.
Russell Livesey, Divisional Director at SF Technology, sees this clearly.
“In 2026, leadership and transformation are inseparable. The organisations making real progress are the ones where leaders take genuine ownership of change, make clear decisions and align people around outcomes, not initiatives. We are also seeing continued demand for interim, fractional and highly targeted expertise, particularly during periods of transformation, integration or growth. That flexibility allows organisations to move at pace while maintaining control. Technology enables change, but leadership determines whether it delivers lasting impact.”
Private equity sharpens the value creation lens
Another strong driver of confidence in 2026 is private equity backed investment. Capital is flowing into sectors where technology can directly support scale, margin improvement and exit readiness.
Healthcare, education, financial services and industrial services are attracting sustained interest because they combine recurring demand with opportunities for operational improvement. In these environments, technology underpins integration, standardisation and visibility across growing portfolios.
Vicki Smith, Origination Director at SF Technology, works closely with investors and leadership teams and sees this influence daily.
“In 2026, private equity expectations are very clear. Technology has to support value creation. Investors want confidence in leadership, delivery and risk management, and they want to understand how technology underpins growth, efficiency and future exits. Organisations that can articulate that clearly, often with data are moving faster and attracting the right investment.”
Data, AI and CRM move from ambition to expectation
As growth returns, expectations around data and AI have increased. In 2026, organisations are under pressure to get more value from the systems they already have.
Sectors such as professional services, retail, logistics and membership based organisations are investing in data and CRM because customer insight, retention and operational visibility directly impact performance.
Tommy Parkes, Data and AI Specialist at SF Technology, sees a clear shift.
“In 2026, the conversation around data and AI has moved on. It is no longer about implementing new platforms or experimenting. Businesses are focused on getting real value from the systems they already have, particularly CRM. Clean data, clear ownership and strong adoption are what allow organisations to use AI sensibly and at scale.”
Interest in agentic AI is growing, but adoption is pragmatic, focused on removing friction from processes rather than chasing novelty.
Engineering, delivery and people movement
Engineering and product capability remain critical as organisations scale platforms, services and propositions. Strong delivery disciplines, supported by transformation leaders, Programme Leaders, Business Analysts and Project Managers, continue to underpin successful change.
As confidence improves, we are also seeing increased movement. Resignations are rising, interim demand remains strong, and organisations are being challenged to retain key leaders while attracting new capability.
Looking ahead through the rest of 2026, our view at SF Technology is clear. Growth is being driven by sectors with real demand, strong investment backing and clear value creation agendas. The organisations that succeed will be those that align leadership, transformation, data and engineering around outcomes that stand up to scrutiny.
That is how confidence in 2026 is being turned into sustained progress.
To find out more about SF Technology, click here.
