As festivities approach, many technology teams find themselves in a familiar in-between period: still delivering at pace, while starting to assess what the year ahead will demand of their capability, resilience and leadership.

This week’s stories explore the skills tech leaders need as AI shifts from experimentation to expectation, why 2026 will be pivotal for building more representative leadership pipelines, and how organisations are managing the real-world impact of cyber risk while investment in applied AI continues despite a tighter funding climate.

These conversations will continue into the new year. With Tech Show London 2026 now open for registration, next March offers a chance for teams to step back from delivery mode, compare approaches and explore how these challenges are being addressed across the industry.

We’ll be back with one more edition before the new year, but for now, we wish you a thoughtful and steady run-up to the festive break.

All the best,

Rebecca Uffindell

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SKILLS FOR 2026

A TURNING POINT FOR WOMEN

Why experimentation is no longer enough.

As AI moves from pilots to production, the skills tech leaders need are shifting fast.

This feature explores why 2026 marks a move from optional capability-building to obligation, and what leaders must prioritise to stay relevant and resilient.

Why 2026 must deliver real progress.

As organisations plan their next phase of growth, this piece argues that leadership pipelines, representation and inclusion can no longer lag behind technological ambition.

For the industry to build resilient teams and sustainable innovation, change needs to be structural - not symbolic.

JLR DATA BREACH

POLYAI FUNDING

Payroll data was stolen in a major cyberattack.

Jaguar Land Rover has confirmed that employee payroll information was accessed and exfiltrated during a cyber incident affecting internal systems.

While the company said production was not disrupted, the breach highlights the growing exposure of HR and identity data,  often softer targets than core operational platforms,  and the ongoing risk to large, distributed enterprises.

AI startup raises £64.4m with UK backing.

Conversational AI firm PolyAI has secured £64.4m in new funding, with backing linked to UK Government support, as it looks to expand deployment of voice AI across customer service operations.

The raise reflects continued investor confidence in applied, revenue-generating AI — even as funding tightens for more speculative models.