Six in 10 UK businesses look to adapt operations in response to extreme heat
- 37 per cent have increased heat-related investment, with 23 per cent considering it
- Cooling equipment, including air conditioning and ventilation, is the most common investment priority (28 per cent)
- Barclays anonymised client data shows that air conditioning suppliers saw cash inflows increase by 4.3 per cent year-on-year into Barclays accounts
- Consumers claim 25.1°C is their maximum temperature for shopping, as 20 per cent bought cooler clothing during the July heatwave
According to the Q2 Barclays Business Prosperity Index, six in 10 businesses surveyed (60 per cent) have either increased investment to adapt to extreme heat (37 per cent) or are considering doing so (23 per cent).
The most common investment from firms is upgrading cooling equipment including air conditioning and ventilation (28 per cent). Close to a quarter (23 per cent) are adopting energy efficiency measures to manage the higher energy use.
Barclays anonymised client data also points to rising demand for cooling infrastructure, with air conditioning supplier businesses seeing cash inflows into Barclays accounts increase by 4.3 per cent year-on-year in Q2 2026.
Meanwhile, businesses are also adapting how their teams work during hotter periods, with 28 per cent introducing employee wellbeing measures such as additional breaks, 23 per cent offering flexible or remote working, and 21 per cent adjusting working hours.
The findings come as over a quarter (27 per cent) of small and micro businesses report that hot weather has had a negative impact on productivity. However larger businesses have proved more resilient, with almost half (47 per cent) citing a positive impact on productivity from the warmer weather.
Hot weather changes consumer demand and trading conditions
The effect of hotter weather is not limited to business operations. Consumer data suggests it is also changing demand and trading conditions for customer-facing businesses, particularly in retail.
According to the Barclays Consumer Spend report2, which combines hundreds of millions of customer transactions with consumer research, consumer card spending grew by 2.0 per cent year-on-year in July, following a 1.9 per cent uplift in June, although this remained below the latest CPIH inflation rate of 2.8 per cent.
Within retail, July’s heat was reflected in higher spending at garden centres and on clothing, which both rose 2.4 per cent, while electronic stores were up 1.5 per cent. The shift in clothing spend comes as one in five consumers (20 per cent) said they bought light and cool summer clothes in response to the heatwave.
When asked, UK adults chose 24.6°C as their ideal summer temperature, 13.1°C lower than 2026’s record high. This drops further when considering different activities, with consumers claiming 25.1°C is their maximum temperature for shopping.
| Thinking about the recent heat – how hot would be too hot for each of the following? | |||||
| Shopping | Commuting | WFH | Sleeping | Cooking | Exercising |
| 25.1°C | 24.2°C | 23.7°C | 22.0°C | 24.7°C | 23.7°C |
Jason Constable, Head of Real Estate at Barclays UK Corporate Bank, said:
“As extreme heat becomes a more regular operational challenge, UK firms are investing in practical measures to stay resilient, from cooling systems and workplace upgrades to energy efficiency to manage higher energy use and employee wellbeing. For consumer-facing businesses, cooler and more comfortable premises can also help protect footfall, dwell time and day-to-day trading during hotter periods.
“That presents a clear opportunity for heating and cooling, retrofitting, facilities management, and wider sustainability providers. As demand grows across both business and consumer markets, these sectors can play an important role in helping firms adapt, protect productivity and build long-term resilience.”
Gavin Parker, Head of Property Services, Barclays UK Corporate Bank, said:
“As businesses invest in cooling, ventilation, energy efficiency and wider workplace upgrades, facilities management providers are well placed to help organisations adapt to the challenges of extreme heat.
“From retrofit projects to improving building performance, the sector has a key role to play in helping businesses protect productivity and employee wellbeing. As demand for these services grows, access to finance to support expansion and investment will be critical. Through initiatives such as the Barclays Business Prosperity Fund, we’re helping businesses invest in projects that strengthen resilience and support long-term growth.”
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