Why Yorkshire business leaders should embrace their inner Ted Lasso: Matt Travis
January is a time when many of us will have been taking stock of our achievements over the past 12 months and thinking about the year ahead.
Although 2025 presented more than its fair share of challenges for businesses of all sizes, could 2026 offer some much-needed optimism for Yorkshire’s business community?
It may seem a strange sentiment to express, particularly in light of the latest gloomy business confidence figures, published by the British Chamber of Commerce, but one of my greatest fears for the year ahead is that we could easily find ourselves sleepwalking into recession.
Entrepreneurs, by their very nature, are a resilient group of people. They are the ones who typically seize opportunity in adversity, quick to adapt to changing demands, as well as being the first to identify and bring new and innovative products and services to market.
2026 is already shaping up to be a challenging year. The Employment Rights Bill is likely to make employers think carefully about future recruitment decisions and if the Chancellor continues to saddle businesses with more red tape and even greater taxation during the year ahead when she returns to deliver her budget later this year, I suspect that once again businesses will be squarely in her sights.
Against a backdrop of rising costs, inflation, and of course not forgetting even greater levels of taxation and legislative burdens it can be easy for even the most seasoned business owner to batten down the hatches and simply wait for better days ahead.
However, business success isn’t determined by murmurings from the corridors of Whitehall but the boardroom decisions made every day.
Rather than point to the failings of Government policy, perhaps we should all embrace our collective inner Ted Lasso – the fictitious American football coach who found himself thrust into the world of the English Premier League, successfully winning over his critics by building a strong community, forged through kindness, motivation and self-belief.
During my presidency I’ve seen just how powerful it can when businesses come together to connect and collaborate. Of course, there are many factors that can drive business success, but arguably one of the most important elements is a stable economy.
Inflation appears to be easing, and with further, albeit slower interest rate cuts likely to take place in 2026, there may yet be reasons to feel optimistic about what the next 12 months will bring. I am hopeful that the lessons from the November Budget will be learned – after all, the pre-budget speculation only resulted in spending decisions being placed on hold.
There are reasons to feel optimistic. The re-opening of Doncaster Sheffield Airport is likely to bring about many benefits for the local and regional economy, not least in terms of bolstering international trade. At the same time, the planning and infrastructure bill is likely to receive Royal Assent, bringing with it the potential to boost the construction sector.
Many businesses are responding to the challenges they are facing by doing what they have always done best: seizing new opportunities by the scruff of the neck, adapting, improving and innovating.
In the words of Ted Lasso: “It may not work out how you think it will or how you hope it does, but believe me, it will all work out.” Perhaps we all need to believe a little more!
Matt Travis is Managing Director of Enzygo and President of Barnsley & Rotherham Chamber.