The Ostrich’s Guide to Business recovery post C19 with Jonathan Walton, Whitley Stimpson

That is the overriding message from the Thames Valley Chamber of Commerce’s Q1 2026 Quarterly Economic Survey (QES), which reveals a business community continuing to operate, adapt and trade – but with confidence still fragile. The Quarterly Economic Survey (QES) is a comprehensive study conducted every three months by the Chamber of Commerce, gathering feedback from businesses across the Thames Valley region. It tracks key indicators such as sales, orders, employment strategy, investment plans and overall business sentiment, providing a snapshot of the regional economic climate and highlighting challenges and opportunities faced by firms.

For many business owners, exit planning only becomes a priority when a buyer appears. By that stage, pressure is high, options are limited, and value can easily be left on the table.

The government’s 2025 industrial strategy (IS-8) sets out a clear ambition to drive productivity, innovation, and globally competitive growth across eight priority sectors. The Thames Valley and Solent, spanning Berkshire, Oxfordshire and Hampshire, is already delivering strongly against these goals, underpinned by an innovation-led, IP-rich, and service-focused economy.