Presently, it appears that the only thing of which we can be truly certain is uncertainty itself, which makes forward-planning significantly more difficult for business leaders. In that vein, the year has begun with further geopolitical manoeuverings overseas, the economic and social ripple-effects of which are yet to be seen, while closer to home there remains lingering doubt and scepticism towards government policy and politics in general.

Despite this, at Liverpool Chamber we still have plenty to be excited about in 2026. Firstly, we have a strong base of member organisations that continue to thrive despite the challenges facing them, and I know many have ambitious, deliverable plans for the next 12 months for long-term investment, client growth and expansion into new markets.

This year will see Liverpool Chamber take a step into the future by supporting members and the wider city region to understand and use AI. Through the launch of the AI Academy, we want to help organisations of all sizes to build confidence around new technology, with bespoke training shaped around real roles and sectors to illustrate how AI can fit into their daily work and decision-making.

Simultaneously, we will launch Navigate, a new community partnership designed to support Liverpool’s creative, tech and entrepreneurial communities. Building upon the existing ecosystem, we will aim to connect creatives and technologists with trusted professional services to help their business to grow on strong foundations.

We also recognise that training and skills will continue to be a subject of major focus for business owners throughout 2026. With labour costs rising and the advent of new employment rights legislation, finding the right people remains both difficult and expensive, especially if it doesn’t work out. Acute skills shortages in sectors such as construction and engineering further exacerbate the challenge.

Liverpool Chamber oversees the Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP) and a growing thread of feedback from employers is the need for candidates entering the labour market with greater ‘soft’ employability skills, as well as digital literacy to maximise the future opportunities of AI and other technologies, and evidence of more real-world learning experience.

We will be working increasingly with local employers over the next 12 months to understand their labour needs and translate those into meaningful recommendations for further education providers and policymakers. Any organisations wishing to get involved should get in touch with our LSIP team here.

International trade will remain a key focus; supporting local businesses through the export broker project, meeting demand for documentation and carnet services and connecting members to export and investment opportunities. Our global perspective includes forging stronger ties with partners in Germany, China and the Isle of Man, while working with the US Embassy to celebrate the country’s 250th anniversary of independence.

Once again, we have a packed schedule of events for members to attend throughout the year, with highlights including our annual race day at Aintree in April and the Innovation in Business Awards in October. Our first Well Connected of 2026 takes place next Friday at The Spine and will be a chance to learn more about Navigate and the AI Academy. In addition, we will again host a series of Executive Events for our Patrons and Strategic Partners during the year, connecting the city region’s business community at the highest levels.

As we have for the past 175 years, Liverpool Chamber will continue to be here to support and champion the interests of businesses in the Liverpool City Region. If you would like to join our community or find out more about what we do, we would love to hear from you.