There were around *** million private sector businesses operating in the United Kingdom in 2024, with ******* of these being construction businesses and a further ******* professional, scientific, and technical businesses. The overall number of businesses in the UK reached a peak of **** million in 2020, but fell quite sharply to **** million following the COVID-19 pandemic. UK business confidence muted in 2025 Several metrics suggest UK businesses are operating in a tough environment in 2025. Business confidence has generally declined since 2022, with many firms pointing to an increased tax burden as one of their main challenges. Inflation remains a major concern too, with elevated prices remaining in place from the inflation crisis, and expected to rise further in 2025. This challenging environment may also cause firms to think twice when it comes to hiring, with the UK labor market starting to show signs of this happening already. Labor market cooldown well underway A survey from Spring 2025 that asked businesses about their employment intentions revealed that ** percent of firms intended to reduce their staff levels, the highest share in that survey since 2020. The number of job vacancies in the UK has also continued to fall, with just ******* in June 2025. This was the fewest number of vacancies since April 2021, and outside the pandemic, the lowest since May 2015. The number of employees on UK payrolls has also declined recently, with the pace of this reduction accelerating since the start of the year.

In 2024, agriculture contributed around 0.56 percent to the United Kingdom’s GDP, 16.74 percent came from the manufacturing industry, and 72.79 percent from the services sector. The UK is not a farmer’s marketThe vast majority of the UK’s GDP is generated by the services sector, and tourism in particular keeps the economy going. In 2017, almost 214 billion British Pounds were contributed to the GDP through travel and tourism – about 277 billion U.S. dollars – and the forecasts see an upwards trend. For comparison, only an estimated 10.3 billion GBP were generated by the agriculture sector in the same year. But is it a tourist’s destination still? Though forecasts are not in yet, it is unclear whether travel and tourism can keep the UK’s economy afloat in the future, especially after Brexit and all its consequences. Higher travel costs, having to wait for visas, and overall more complicated travel arrangements are just some of the concerns tourists have when considering vacationing in the UK after Brexit. Consequences of the referendum are already observable in the domestic travel industry: In 2017, about 37 percent of British travelers said Brexit caused them to cut their holidays short by a few days, and about 14 percent said they did not leave the UK for their holidays because of it.

Numbers of enterprises and local units produced from a snapshot of the Inter-Departmental Business Register (IDBR) taken on 8 March 2024.

Compass Group had by far the highest number of global employees among companies based in the United Kingdom as of 2025, at approximately 500,000 employees. Tesco had the second-highest number of employees at around 336,400, followed by HSBC Holdings which had 211,000 employees. In the same year, HSBC Holdings had an annual revenue of 142.3 billion U.S. dollars, the third-highest among UK-based companies. The oil and gas giant Shell had the highest annual revenue at over 283 billion dollars, ahead of BP at 189 billion dollars. How many businesses are there in the UK? In 2024, there were approximately 5.5 million business enterprises in the UK, down from a peak of 5.98 million in 2020. Although there were just 1,930 large firms that employed 1,000 people or more, these firms employed more than a quarter of the UK's private sector workforce, and made a combined turnover of approximately 1.69 trillion British pounds. As of this year, the construction industry had the highest number of enterprises by sector, at over 870,000. The sector with the most workers was that of wholesale and retail, which collectively employed just under 4.9 million people in 2024, and also had the highest turnover compared to other sectors, at over 1.8 trillion pounds. Current UK economic climate Although the UK economy is expected to grow in 2025, growth has been downgraded from earlier forecasts, while inflation and unemployment are expected to be higher than initially thought. According to the business confidence index, sentiment among businesses at the end of 2024 was lower than it has been since early 2021. Furthermore, since the start of 2025, businesses have been shedding jobs at an accelerating rate, possibly due to recent tax rises, which was seen as the main external concern of businesses in early 2025. The precarious state of the UK's government finances, and potential tax rises in the next budget, are also likely feeding into this pessimistic mood.

Annual employee and employment estimates for Great Britain and UK split by two, three and five-digit Standard Industrial Classification: SIC 2007. Results given by full-time or part-time and public or private splits.

In 2024, there were approximately 870,040 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the construction sector in the United Kingdom, the most of any sector in that year. The sector with the second-highest number of SMEs was the Professional, Scientific and Technical activities sector, at 754,520 SMEs.

Size and growth within UK non-financial business sectors, as measured by the Annual Business Survey, by four-digit Standard Industrial Classification 2007.

United Kingdom UK: Number of Listed Domestic Companies: Total data was reported at 1,858.000 Unit in 2014. This records an increase from the previous number of 1,857.000 Unit for 2013. United Kingdom UK: Number of Listed Domestic Companies: Total data is updated yearly, averaging 2,198.000 Unit from Dec 1975 (Median) to 2014, with 40 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 2,913.000 Unit in 2006 and a record low of 1,747.000 Unit in 1994. United Kingdom UK: Number of Listed Domestic Companies: Total data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United Kingdom – Table UK.World Bank.WDI: Financial Sector. Listed domestic companies, including foreign companies which are exclusively listed, are those which have shares listed on an exchange at the end of the year. Investment funds, unit trusts, and companies whose only business goal is to hold shares of other listed companies, such as holding companies and investment companies, regardless of their legal status, are excluded. A company with several classes of shares is counted once. Only companies admitted to listing on the exchange are included.; ; World Federation of Exchanges database.; Sum; Stock market data were previously sourced from Standard & Poor's until they discontinued their 'Global Stock Markets Factbook' and database in April 2013. Time series have been replaced in December 2015 with data from the World Federation of Exchanges and may differ from the previous S&P definitions and methodology.

Employment by industry and sex, UK, published quarterly, non-seasonally adjusted. Labour Force Survey. These are official statistics in development.

In 2024, large businesses in the United Kingdom that individually employed 1,000 or more workers collectively employed around 8.2 million people.

In 2024, the leading business sector in the United Kingdom (UK) was infocomms, with a total number of deals amounting to almost *****. Following closely behind infocomms, professional services and manufacturing came second and third on the list, with ***** and ***** deals, respectively.

Success.ai’s Company Data Solutions provide businesses with powerful, enterprise-ready B2B company datasets, enabling you to unlock insights on over 28 million verified company profiles. Our solution is ideal for organizations seeking accurate and detailed B2B contact data, whether you’re targeting large enterprises, mid-sized businesses, or small business contact data.

Success.ai offers B2B marketing data across industries and geographies, tailored to fit your specific business needs. With our white-glove service, you’ll receive curated, ready-to-use company datasets without the hassle of managing data platforms yourself. Whether you’re looking for UK B2B data or global datasets, Success.ai ensures a seamless experience with the most accurate and up-to-date information in the market.

Why Choose Success.ai’s Company Data Solution? At Success.ai, we prioritize quality and relevancy. Every company profile is AI-validated for a 99% accuracy rate and manually reviewed to ensure you're accessing actionable and GDPR-compliant data. Our price match guarantee ensures you receive the best deal on the market, while our white-glove service provides personalized assistance in sourcing and delivering the data you need.

Why Choose Success.ai?

• Best Price Guarantee: We offer industry-leading pricing and beat any competitor.
• Global Reach: Access over 28 million verified company profiles across 195 countries.
• Comprehensive Data: Over 15 data points, including company size, industry, funding, and technologies used.
• Accurate & Verified: AI-validated with a 99% accuracy rate, ensuring high-quality data.
• Real-Time Updates: Stay ahead with continuously updated company information.
• Ethically Sourced Data: Our B2B data is compliant with global privacy laws, ensuring responsible use.
• Dedicated Service: Receive personalized, curated data without the hassle of managing platforms.
• Tailored Solutions: Custom datasets are built to fit your unique business needs and industries.

Our database spans 195 countries and covers 28 million public and private company profiles, with detailed insights into each company’s structure, size, funding history, and key technologies. We provide B2B company data for businesses of all sizes, from small business contact data to large corporations, with extensive coverage in regions such as North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Latin America.

Comprehensive Data Points: Success.ai delivers in-depth information on each company, with over 15 data points, including:

Company Name: Get the full legal name of the company. LinkedIn URL: Direct link to the company's LinkedIn profile. Company Domain: Website URL for more detailed research. Company Description: Overview of the company’s services and products. Company Location: Geographic location down to the city, state, and country. Company Industry: The sector or industry the company operates in. Employee Count: Number of employees to help identify company size. Technologies Used: Insights into key technologies employed by the company, valuable for tech-based outreach. Funding Information: Track total funding and the most recent funding dates for investment opportunities. Maximize Your Sales Potential: With Success.ai’s B2B contact data and company datasets, sales teams can build tailored lists of target accounts, identify decision-makers, and access real-time company intelligence. Our curated datasets ensure you’re always focused on high-value leads—those who are most likely to convert into clients. Whether you’re conducting account-based marketing (ABM), expanding your sales pipeline, or looking to improve your lead generation strategies, Success.ai offers the resources you need to scale your business efficiently.

Tailored for Your Industry: Success.ai serves multiple industries, including technology, healthcare, finance, manufacturing, and more. Our B2B marketing data solutions are particularly valuable for businesses looking to reach professionals in key sectors. You’ll also have access to small business contact data, perfect for reaching new markets or uncovering high-growth startups.

From UK B2B data to contacts across Europe and Asia, our datasets provide global coverage to expand your business reach and identify new markets. With continuous data updates, Success.ai ensures you’re always working with the freshest information.

Key Use Cases:

• Targeted Lead Generation: Build accurate lead lists by filtering data by company size, industry, or location. Target decision-makers in key industries to streamline your B2B sales outreach.
• Account-Based Marketing (ABM): Use B2B company data to personalize marketing campaigns, focusing on high-value accounts and improving conversion rates.
• Investment Research: Track company growth, funding rounds, and employee trends to identify investment opportunities or potential M&A targets.
• Market Research: Enrich your market intelligence initiatives by gain...

United Kingdom UK: Stocks Traded: Total Value: % of GDP data was reported at 77.974 % in 2014. This records an increase from the previous number of 61.137 % for 2013. United Kingdom UK: Stocks Traded: Total Value: % of GDP data is updated yearly, averaging 41.678 % from Dec 1975 (Median) to 2014, with 40 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 131.624 % in 2010 and a record low of 5.825 % in 1979. United Kingdom UK: Stocks Traded: Total Value: % of GDP data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United Kingdom – Table UK.World Bank.WDI: Financial Sector. The value of shares traded is the total number of shares traded, both domestic and foreign, multiplied by their respective matching prices. Figures are single counted (only one side of the transaction is considered). Companies admitted to listing and admitted to trading are included in the data. Data are end of year values.; ; World Federation of Exchanges database.; Weighted average; Stock market data were previously sourced from Standard & Poor's until they discontinued their 'Global Stock Markets Factbook' and database in April 2013. Time series have been replaced in December 2015 with data from the World Federation of Exchanges and may differ from the previous S&P definitions and methodology.

As of February 2025, Rolls-Royce Holdings Plc was the leading company in the industrial goods and services sector on the London Stock Exchange (LSE), with a market capitalization of ** billion British pounds. Second on the list was CRH Plc, with a value of **** billion British pounds.