IBR and Growth IQ

After leaping back strongly from the darkest days of the pandemic, the global mid-market could only manage a small additional step forward in the second half of 2021.

Mid-market businesses around the world want to accelerate their ESG and sustainability journey. But they’re going to need support to do so. Peter Bodin, CEO at Grant Thornton International Ltd, outlines his point of view on what governments, policymakers and standard-setters need to do to enable the mid-market segment to play its part in achieving the COP26 goals.

The mid-market’s real prioritisation of sustainability not only reflects the growing expectation of stakeholders but the forward-thinking nature of this entrepreneurial segment. But few companies have made significant progress and many still face significant barriers. Understanding how you can overcome these barriers and integrate sustainability into your strategy and business operating model will create competitive advantage in the years ahead.

‘Uneven’ is how we described the impact of COVID-19 on different mid-market industries – both when assessing initial destruction in H1 2020 and the early recovery in H2 2020. Midway through 2021, it is really encouraging to see some of that unevenness disappear and more industries participating in the overall recovery.

Foster a culture of communication where everyone is able to contribute, leaders can create organizations robust enough to thrive in 2021 and beyond.

How can you develop greater resilience in your business?

What does COVID-19 mean for exports and international supply chains? Shutdowns have caused major disruptions internationally, so how can mid-market business leaders respond?

In this new normal, where volatility has become business as usual, how do mid-market businesses succeed?

Uncertainty remains but optimism improves in the North American mid-market.