Flexible working, professional training and structured career progression dominate planned benefits for 2026, reflecting a shift toward holistic employee value propositions.

In our view, compensation alone is no longer sufficient. Professional services firms embedding hybrid working alongside mentoring programmes have reduced mid-level attrition, while finance teams in retail and pharmaceuticals combine flexibility with funded development to retain ERP and data-skilled professionals.

We believe employers that integrate flexibility, development and wellbeing will remain most competitive.