Our AI lead, Setinaz, represented SHB at London Tech Week, one of Europe’s premier gatherings for technology leaders, founders and innovators. The event delivered several days packed with strategic insights, global perspectives and future-focused ideas.
Here’s what we found most compelling, and why it matters for the progressive businesses we partner with.
Shift from ‘AI is coming’ to ‘AI is here’
London Tech Week 2026 was defined not by AI hype, but by AI accountability.
Applied AI and Responsible AGI took centre stage, with sessions reflecting a new level of maturity in the sector. Panel discussions, which formed the backbone of the programme, consistently focused on trust, security, and the infrastructure required to scale AI intelligently at enterprise level.
For ambitious occupiers and growth-driven businesses, these shifts translate directly into strategic real estate decisions: how much space is required, where it should be located, and what infrastructure is essential when headcount, team structures and operating models are evolving rapidly.
Scale-ups & enterprise are rethinking footprints
A dedicated theme explored lessons from unicorn-scale businesses – organisations that have navigated rapid growth and the challenges that come with it. The recurring challenge was clear: how to move at pace without making commitments that limit future agility.
Our team handles this challenge first-hand every day. Whether supporting a tech occupier outgrowing serviced offices or guiding an established business through site consolidation, we know workspace decisions are complex and always closely tied to wider commercial strategy.
Startups are pioneering solutions to critical problems
The Tech Nation stage stood out as a showcase for businesses solving real-world challenges. One standout example: an insurance company connecting customer premiums to activity data from wearables. The concept is straightforward, but delivering it demands a complete rethink of data infrastructure, customer engagement and operating models.
Startups that are redefining their industries were given the spotlight at the event, and rightly so. Many of our SHB clients began with a clear vision, a focused team and a need for workspace that empowers rather than restricts their growth.
Quantum, deep tech, and the longer view
London Tech Week was not solely focused on immediate deployment. Quantum Futures was a dedicated theme, with discussions offering fascinating insights, especially for compute-intensive industries. Deep tech breakthroughs in robotics, defence and life sciences also took centre stage.
For commercial property, the implications are long-term. The facilities, locations and technical specifications that tomorrow’s leading R&D businesses will require are set to look very different from today’s standard office environments.
The human dimension hasn’t been lost
Amidst the technology, some of the most impactful conversations centred on people. The Women in Tech stage ran throughout the week, with speakers sharing honest accounts of their journeys in the industry. A strong focus on human impact and societal challenges provided a vital balance to the infrastructure-led discussions.
That balance matters. The businesses we advise are not only making decisions about data centres and AI investment; they are shaping where their people work, how collaboration thrives, and what environments attract and retain top talent.
What we took away for businesses adapting working ways
London Tech Week reinforced what we see every week in our conversations with occupiers: the pace of change in business operations is accelerating, and workspace strategy must stay ahead of the curve. Flexible, well-located space with robust infrastructure is not a luxury – it is essential for the agility that tech-driven businesses demand.
If you are navigating growth, consolidation or a shift in how your team works, we always welcome a conversation and to share our learnings.
