Halfway Through 2026: Grit, Goals, and Unprecedented Growth
Who can believe we are already six months into 2026?
It feels like we’ve blinked and the first part of the year has flown by—and my, hasn’t it’s been action-packed!
As I look back over the last quarter, I must say how proud I am and also blown away by the success at SQN. The volume of work that the team has moved, the challenges we’ve overcome, and the results that we’ve delivered for our clients have set a massive new benchmark.
These sorts of quarters, though, don’t just happen. They are built out of planning and dedication. Our team has demonstrated incredible resilience in such a challenging time. This record-breaking quarter is the direct result of all your hard work, long hours, and dedication—not only to our clients and their needs, but also to each other.
The team has been delivering this on a number of levels:
In the Field: Executing vital field work, some of which has been incredibly remote.
Under Pressure: Turning around complex field work and high-quality reporting under exceptionally tight deadlines.
Behind the Scenes: Keeping our daily operations running smoothly without missing a beat.
As a Community: Just showing up every day and genuinely looking after each other.
I really want to thank you all for holding the line and supporting each other in such a challenging environment.
Celebrating Our Diversity: The World Cup Buzz
Speaking of the team, it would be impossible to ignore the incredible energy in our office at the moment with the Football World Cup currently in full swing! There has been plenty of back-and-forth debate and plenty of alarm clocks set, highlighting the immense passion for football across the SQN offices.
With such a diverse workforce featuring people from all around the world, that global spirit is on full display. It has been especially funny to see people drawing out specific countries from our office sweepstake pool—the banter has been top-tier, and it’s a fantastic reminder of how lucky we are to work with such a vibrant, multicultural group of people.
Key Milestones From the Last Three Months
1. Diving Into Complex Projects
What’s been really exciting is not just the volume of work that SQN is currently undertaking, but the nature of the work that we are winning and delivering. We are operating heavily across both the government and private sectors. Whether it is delivering on numerous residential housing projects, or stepping up to manage high-stakes compliance for hospitals, schools, and other major government entities, the team has really enjoyed the challenge. Despite the difficulty of these intricate environments, it has been great to see our senior consultants and technical staff truly deliver with their sharp consultancy and analytical abilities.
2. Exceptional Client Feedback (NPS Score)
Our latest Net Promoter Score (NPS) data has come back averaging an impressive 8+ — an exceptionally high result by industry benchmark standards. It's proof that despite the frantic pace, our clients are feeling the value of our expertise and dedication.
3. The 17020 Accreditation Milestone
The ISO/IEC 17020 accreditation work that we’ve been doing behind the scenes has been another monumental task. Over the last eight months, we have poured countless hours into submitting our accreditation, as well as rolling out the framework and the required training. This is no small feat for a company with over 50 staff! We are very much looking forward to officially adopting these new guidelines by the end of this year.
4. Strategic Growth in the Wellington Region
Our growth strategy is moving forward at pace. We are continuing to make great strides with our expansion within the Wellington region, deepening our local footprint and bringing SQN's standard of consulting and compliance excellence to a broader client base in the area.
Looking Forward: Our Strategy for the Rest of 2026
As we look ahead to the remainder of the calendar year, our strategy is simple: we want to continue to prioritise balance and team satisfaction.
Culture is a massive driver for us at SQN. With everyone working so hard to achieve a record-breaking first half of the year, we want to make it our primary focus to improve work-life balance and boost overall team satisfaction. We want SQN to continue to be a place where you thrive, and not just a place where you work hard.
From a commercial perspective, our focus will be on deepening our existing client relationships rather than just chasing new ones. A major piece of this will be providing more services to the current client base who already know and trust us, bringing the full strength of SQN’s multidisciplinary approach to their projects.
Thank you, everyone, for an unforgettable quarter. It’s now head down to close out the rest of the calendar year on a high note!
Partner With SQN on Your Next Project
Looking for a trusted partner to navigate complex compliance, infrastructure, or residential development projects in 2026? Let’s discuss how SQN’s multidisciplinary team can deliver exceptional results for your organisation. Get in touch with us today!