Deltek unveils new SME ‘Growth Formula’ for 2026
Deltek has launched a new five-pillar ‘Growth Formula’ – Clarity, Control, Cash, Clients and Connection. The formula is designed specifically to give UK small and mid-sized firm leaders practical steps to strengthen visibility, build resilience and secure sustainable long-term growth.
The professional services sector continues to face a difficult set of prospects. With growth having slowed, amid clients freezing projects due to economic uncertainty and rising costs, consultants need to find new ways to allay those concerns, and demonstrate value – if they are to buck the trend.
Deltek – a leading organisation supporting project based firms through services including ERP, accounting, project bidding, planning, delivery, and analysis – has conducted new research underlining precisely this. As small and mid-sized businesses look to build sustainable growth in 2026, the study shows that they are still chiefly being tested by operational and technological pressures.
Among Deltek’s findings, 73% of all UK SMEs said they were extremely concerned about coping with sustainable growth, while 47% of financial leaders cited managing that growth as their top challenge over the next three years. In addition, 70% of firms worry about being unable to automate processes that need it, and 81% fear competitors are implementing new technologies faster than they can.
Consulting firms are no exception to these concerns – and if they are to persuade clients to invest more heavily in their services in the future, they will first need to reckon with operational factors of their own. Deltek found that when asked about the top challenges facing the sector, consultants were most worried about managing growth, and maintaining organic topline growth – cited by 38% and 36% of respondents respectively – in an unpredictable spending environment, and with succession issues amid talent shortages (both pointed to by 30%).
In response to these challenges, Deltek has developed a new ‘Growth Formula’; a new framework designed to help small and mid-sized firms overcome these barriers and scale smarter. Centred on five key principles, the formula distils insights from Deltek’s whitepaper into a practical model for sustainable success.
“The Growth Formula brings together the priorities every growing firm needs to master,” commented Neil Davidson, group VP of professional services sector at Deltek. “Our research shows that while small and mid-sized firms are optimistic, it’s imperative they are equipped with the right tools and guidance to thrive in a future where adoption of AI is a competitive necessity. By combining clarity, control and connection across their business, they can strengthen confidence and achieve sustainable growth with optimal productivity.”
The framework helps firms focus on:
1. Clarity – Building visibility into business performance and project progress, so leaders can make informed decisions with confidence.
2. Control – Strengthening operational discipline through better management of resources, costs and workflows.
3. Cash – Enhancing financial resilience with stronger forecasting and smarter cash flow management.
4. Clients – Prioritising the right opportunities to drive profitability, not just volume.
5. Connection – Integrating people, processes and technology to improve efficiency and collaboration across the business.
"Having everything connected in one system has completely changed how we work," added Jon Anderson, director at Cameron + Ross. "We can access the latest project information instantly and make decisions with far more confidence. The visibility and efficiency we’ve gained with Deltek have helped us deliver a more professional level of service as we continue to grow."
