Insights from over 60 Midlands business leaders at Thrive 2026

Written by Sandy Gaggini from EBS

More than 60 business leaders from across Birmingham and the West Midlands came together at Thrive 2026 to discuss the opportunities and challenges shaping today's organisations.

Hosted by EBS (Electronic Business Systems), Thrive is an annual business growth event that brings together senior decision-makers to hear from expert speakers, share experiences and explore the issues that matter most to growing businesses.

Throughout the day, attendees took part in a series of live surveys, giving us a fascinating insight into what's really on the minds of Midlands businesses.

The biggest challenge? Economic uncertainty

When asked about the biggest challenge facing their organisation, economic uncertainty emerged as the clear number one concern. Rising costs and limited time and resources were also high on the agenda, reinforcing the pressure many organisations continue to face as they plan for growth.

Despite these challenges, there was a clear sense of optimism in the room, with businesses actively looking for practical ideas, new technologies and stronger partnerships to help them move forward.

Process is becoming a competitive advantage

One of the strongest themes throughout the day was the role that effective business processes play in driving productivity and sustainable growth.

From AI adoption to automation and operational efficiency, delegates recognised that improving processes isn't simply about reducing costs. It's about creating businesses that are more agile, scalable and better equipped for future growth.

We've explored this topic further in our article, How business process improvement drives productivity growth, which looks at why process improvement is becoming a strategic priority for growing organisations.

Trust still matters more than ever

Another interesting finding from our live survey centred on what businesses value most in a trusted partner.

While technical expertise remains important, delegates consistently highlighted qualities such as honesty, proactive communication, reliability and a genuine understanding of their business as the characteristics they value most.

It's a timely reminder that successful business relationships are built on trust just as much as technical capability.

You can read more about these findings in our article, Beyond products and price: Building a successful business partnership.

Watch the highlights

If you couldn't join us this year, we've captured some of the best moments from the day in our Thrive 2026 highlights video. It offers a flavour of the keynote sessions, networking opportunities and conversations that made this year's event such a success.

Looking ahead to Thrive 2027

Planning is already underway for Thrive 2027, taking place in June next year.

If you're looking for practical business insight, inspiring speakers and the opportunity to connect with fellow business leaders from across the Midlands, we'd love you to join us.

Register your interest today to be among the first to hear when registration opens and secure your place at Thrive 2027.