If you're hiring across 10+ countries with two or three employees each, a global EOR platform (Deel, Remote.com, Oyster) makes sense — you're paying for breadth. If you're hiring more than two employees in a single country and you actually care about local labour law nuance, you'll get better outcomes from a local in-country EOR.

Scaling a business in 2026 is all about strategic foresight. With domestic talent shortages, rising wages, and increased competition for skilled professionals, UK businesses are looking offshore, particularly to South Africa, not just for cost savings but for talent resilience and growth.

UK businesses in 2026 are facing an unprecedented challenge: a widening skills gap that threatens growth, productivity, and competitive advantage. Roles in tech, fintech, digital transformation, and specialised finance positions are increasingly hard to fill. Wage pressures, limited domestic talent, and reduced migration compound the problem.