It’s that time of year, when Business Link Magazine invites the region’s business leaders to offer up their predictions for the year ahead.  It has become something of a tradition, given that we’ve been doing this now for over 30 years. Here we speak to James Pinchbeck, founder and director of Pinchbeck Marketing and Advisory. Every year, marketers and creative agencies look forward to Pantone’s Colour of the Year. Although Pantone began in print, its influence now extends across digital design through HEX and RGB, shaping the visual direction of brands and campaigns. Cloud Dancer, the choice for 2026, is a soft and airy white that represents clarity, a sense of reset and a quiet optimism. It feels well suited to the year ahead for businesses and the wider marketing profession. For owner managed businesses, scale ups and professional firms, 2026 is likely to encourage a return to clear thinking. Many SMEs still operate without a coherent plan or meaningful measures of success and rely on bursts of activity rather than long term direction. The year ahead should bring a stronger focus on revisiting strategy, refining value propositions and selecting performance indicators that genuinely reflect impact rather than simple vanity metrics. AI will continue to progress from curiosity to everyday capability. It will support content creation, enhance customer insight and help with decision making. Just as importantly, organisations will need to understand how AI is influencing customer behaviour, prompting fresh thinking about messaging, brand experience and the allocation of marketing investment. The rise of fractional marketers is also expected to continue during 2026. As businesses recognise gaps in senior in house marketing capability and as AI reshapes required skills, many will seek part time strategic leaders who can provide clarity and accountability without the cost of a full time appointment. This development will also influence agencies, who will be expected to work alongside fractional marketing leaders and offer deeper strategic input. Cloud Dancer captures the essence of the year. It signals a moment for clearer thinking, purposeful resets and a gentle but confident sense of optimism.

Derby City Council has released a balanced budget proposal that sets out planned investment of close to £60 million from 2026 to 2029. The financial plan, due for Cabinet review later this month, positions the authority to maintain essential services while rebuilding resilience after years of rising costs.

The Medium-Term Financial Plan details £26 million of investment for 2026/27 with a further £33 million earmarked for the two years that follow. The council reports sustained pressure on local services over the past decade, with adult social care driving much of a £101 million rise in demand-led spending. Savings of £112.5 million have already been delivered since 2016/17 to keep core services operating.

The Government’s Fair Funding Reforms are expected to reshape how local authorities receive financial allocations. Final details have not yet been confirmed. Any uplift could enable Derby to channel new funds into priority services after years of constrained budgets.

The 2026/27 plan includes £7.76 million in savings through tighter spending controls and operational efficiencies. Projects underway include an artificial intelligence programme forecast to reduce costs by nearly £1 million. The council states there are no proposals for staffing reductions and expects future investment to create new roles in areas with sustained demand.

Council Tax is expected to rise by 4.99% in line with Government assumptions, with 2% allocated to social care. Proposed changes to the Council Tax Support Scheme, designed to extend help to low-income households, could provide an additional £1.4 million in relief.

Planned investment aligns with the Council Plan for 2025 to 2028, which prioritises community safety, poverty reduction partnerships and strengthened support for vulnerable residents. The financial strategy places renewed focus on rebuilding reserves to help the authority manage ongoing pressures facing local government.

WTR Group has completed the acquisition of UK-based Hydromarque, adding one of Europe’s most established industrial pump distributors to its expanding water and wastewater portfolio. The deal brings together two specialists operating in critical infrastructure markets as the UK enters a significant period of capital investment.

Hydromarque supplies self-priming centrifugal, submersible, and gear pumps used across sewage transfer, wastewater handling, and aircraft refuelling. It also distributes pumps for the transport of hot oil and vegetable products, positioning it as a key equipment partner for food manufacturers. Since receiving investment from BCF Equity Partners in 2021, the business has expanded its role within the UK water sector and strengthened ties with major utilities.

The acquisition comes ahead of AMP8, the £104 billion investment cycle driving widespread upgrades across the UK water network. Hydromarque’s established position as a distributor of Gorman-Rupp pumps positions it well to support deliveries during this programme.

Simon Stephenson – BCF Equity Partners, said, “It has been a pleasure working with the Hydromarque team, led by the MD Rob Newcombe and we wish them well in their next chapter of growth. We would like to thank the lead advisors Ed Wesson and Cameron Rothwell of Bishopsgate Corporate Finance, John Heaphy and Grace Hill of Freeths for legal advice and Peter Hully of Claritas for tax support.”

WTR Group, backed by Aspira Partners, operates across Northern Europe with a focus on water and wastewater technology. The addition of Hydromarque enhances its technical capability and broadens its reach within a market facing sustained regulatory and investment pressure.