The median profit made by SMEs in the UK in 2024 was approximately 13,000 British pounds, with SMEs in property or business services and construction sectors having the highest average profit, at 14,000 pounds.

Profitability, markups and market power of businesses. Official statistics in development.

Rates of return and revision tables of UK private non-financial corporations by quarter.

This statistic looks at the leading outdoor retailers ranked by gross profit margin in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2015 to 2017. Among the leading retailers, Rohan saw the highest gross profit margin with ***** million British pounds in 2017.

Home insurance provides protection against risks to property such as water and leakage damage, fire and explosion, theft and other. Having property insurance in the UK is optional but it is often contractually required in case of a mortgage. Operating profit margin indicates the profitability of a company or a sector and is calculated as the ratio of the operating profit to the total revenue. From 2013 to 2016, the operating profit margin of home insurers in the United Kingdom (UK) fluctuated between ** and ** percent, after which it fell to *** percent in 2018. In 2018, the companies with highest operating profit margin on the general insurance market in the UK were home insurance price comparison websites.

Gross-Profit-Margin Time Series for Morgan Advanced Materials plc. Morgan Advanced Materials plc manufactures and sells various carbon and ceramic products. The company operates through Thermal Products, Performance Carbon, and Technical Ceramics segments. The Thermal Products segment manufactures products, systems, and solutions, such as crucibles, foundry products, furnace industries furnace range products, insulating fibre and microporous products, firebricks and mortars, and heat shields used in industrial metal processing, petrochemicals, cement, ceramics, and glass, as well as by manufacturers of equipment for aerospace, automotive, marine, and domestic applications. The Performance Carbon segment develops and manufactures carbon, graphite, and carbide products, including semiconductor consumables, collector strips and carbon brushes, graphite powders, face seals, sliding bearings, shafts, and rotary vane pump components for charging and driving EVs, wind turbines, and power generation, as well as for the security and defense sector. The Technical Ceramics segment designs and manufactures ceramic components comprising structural ceramic components, engineered coatings, ceramic cores, ceramic-to-metal assemblies, braze alloys, ceramic tubes and rollers, extruded products, laser products, semiconductor products, and machinable glass ceramic products. The company serves semiconductors, healthcare, clean energy and transportation, industrial, conventional transportation, petrochemical and chemical, and security and defense markets. It operates in the United States, rest of North America, South America, Germany, the United Kingdom, rest of Europe, China, rest of Asia, Australasia, the Middle East, and Africa. The company was formerly known as The Morgan Crucible Company plc and changed its name to Morgan Advanced Materials plc in March 2013. Morgan Advanced Materials plc was founded in 1856 and is headquartered in Windsor, the United Kingdom.

Net-Profit-Margin Time Series for Porvair plc. Porvair plc engages in the filtration, laboratory, and environmental technology business. It operates through three segments: Aerospace & Industrial, Laboratory, and Metal Melt Quality. The Aerospace & Industrial segment designs and manufactures a range of specialist filtration equipment for aerospace, energy, and industrial applications. The Laboratory segment is involved in the design and manufacture of instruments and consumables for use in environmental and bioscience laboratories with a focus on water analysis instruments, diagnostics, and sample preparation equipment. This segment also produces a range of laboratory microplates, filters, tubing, pipette tips, and associated consumables for use in diagnostics, sample preparation and chromatography applications. The Metal Melt Quality segment designs and manufactures porous ceramic filters for the filtration of molten metals. This segment also provides patent protected filters for the aluminum cast house industry; and the filtration of gray and ductile iron, as well as filtration of superalloys used in the manufacture of turbine blades. The company is also involved in trading activities. It operates in the United Kingdom, Continental Europe, South America, the United States, Asia, and Africa, as well as other North American Free Trade Agreement countries. The company was incorporated in 1982 and is based in King's Lynn, the United Kingdom.

Motor insurance provides financial protection in case of property or persons damage caused by the owner or driver of the vehicle. There are three main types of motor insurance in the United Kingdom - third party, third party, fire and theft, and comprehensive. Operating profit margin indicates the profitability of a company or a sector and is calculated as the ratio of the operating profit to the total revenue.

Profit of the motor insurance sector

From 2013 to 2018, the operating profit margin of motor insurers in the United Kingdom (UK) fluctuated between seven and 16 percent. After a several-year-period of the industry registering net annual underwriting losses, 2017 and 2018 ended with a net underwriting profit.

The motor insurance sector in the UK is a competitive one

The UK has the highest number of motor insurance companies operating on the domestic market in Europe, with as many as France, Germany and Italy combined. There are multiple channels for obtaining motor insurance and many different products to choose from. In 2018, the companies with the highest operating profit margin on the motor insurance market in the UK were motor insurance price comparison websites. More in-depth information on the topic can be found in the Statista dossier on motor insurance in the UK.

Net-Profit-Margin Time Series for Intertek Group PLC. Intertek Group plc provides quality assurance solutions to various industries in the United Kingdom, the United States, China, Australia, and internationally. The company operates through five segments: Consumer Products, Corporate Assurance, Health and Safety, Industry and Infrastructure, and World of Energy. It offers quality assurance, testing, inspection, and certification services, including laboratory safety, quality and performance testing, accredited third-party management systems auditing and certification, technical inspection, second-party supplier auditing and supply chain solutions, sustainability data verification, process performance analysis and training, food safety testing, hygiene and safety audits, advisory and consulting, and validation services, as well as hardware, software, and cyber security solutions. The company also provides asset performance management, analytical testing, non-destructive and materials testing, engineering, cargo and inventory inspection, analytical assessment, calibration, supply-chain traceability, and related research and technical services, as well as support services in product development, regulatory authorization, chemical testing, and production. It serves a range of industries, including textiles, footwear, toys, hardlines, home appliances, consumer electronics, information and communication technology, automotive, aerospace, lighting, building products, industrial and renewable energy products, oil and gas, petrochemical, minerals, exploration, ore and mining, building and construction, solar energy, energy storage, green hydrogen, petroleum and biofuels, agricultural supply chain, food, transportation, chemicals and pharma, and healthcare, as well as governments, regulatory bodies, and exporters and importers to support trade compliance. The company was founded in 1885 and is based in London, the United Kingdom.

The UK glue and adhesive manufacturing industry has navigated a turbulent landscape over the past five years, shaped by input cost volatility, shifting downstream markets and heightened import competition. A surge in global energy prices in 2021-22 squeezed profit margins, as raw material costs rose to levels that producers could not readily pass on to customers. While sectors such as construction, repairs, and packaging have provided steady demand, allowing manufacturers to maintain stable output, more cyclical areas, particularly automotive adhesives, faced headwinds from falling UK vehicle production. Meanwhile, import penetration has soared as buyers have sought out lower-cost adhesives from producers in countries like Germany, where economies of scale have yielded significant price advantages. Larger domestic manufacturers have responded by ramping up investment in automation, scale, and speciality products, seeking to offset price pressure with operational efficiencies and by broadening their product portfolios. Profitability has remained resilient despite these pressures, as feedstock and energy prices eased from earlier highs in 2022-23. Still, the sector’s average profit margin lags behind that of the broader UK manufacturing landscape, reflecting its heavy reliance on raw materials and intense international competition. Ongoing innovations in key areas (including electric vehicles (EVs) adhesives, high throughput packaging, and repair and maintenance construction) have served as a buffer, supporting higher-margin sales in select niches. Revenue is expected to contract at a compound annual rate of 2.6% over the five years through 2025-26 to £644.3 million, including a dip of 8.9% in 2025-26. Looking ahead, industry growth is set to be influenced by several key drivers. Over the five years through 2030-31, revenue is forecast to rise at a compound annual rate of 1.6% to £696 million by 2030-31. Demand for EV-related adhesives and new applications in healthcare and electronics is forecast to climb, giving producers with agile R&D capabilities an edge. Packaging adhesive sales will be supported by the resilience of e-commerce, even as the sector grapples with higher costs and falling disposable incomes, hurting performance. A subdued macroeconomic outlook, evolving regulatory requirements surrounding environmental performance and ongoing uncertainty around global oil prices are likely to make future growth uneven. The industry’s forward trajectory will rest on its ability to innovate while managing exposure to volatile input costs and international trade dynamics. Manufacturers able to balance cost control, product innovation, and geographic market shifts will be best placed to capture pockets of growth.

Over the five years through 2025-26, industry revenue is forecast to expand at a compound annual rate of 20.3% to reach £12.5 billion. Social media platforms are integral to people's lives, offering ways to communicate, create and view content and share information. According to Ofcom, approximately 89% of UK internet users in 2023 used social media apps or sites. Teenagers and young adults are the biggest users. Advertising is the primary revenue source for social media platforms, although subscription-based services are gaining momentum as platforms seek to diversify their incomes. TikTok is the success story of the past five years, becoming the most downloaded app between 2020 and 2022, according to Apptopia. The short-form video platform has over 30 million monthly users in the UK in 2025. After Musk's takeover, X, formerly known as Twitter, adjusted its content moderation and allowed previously banned accounts to return. As a result, over 600 advertisers pulled their ads from the site because of fears their brand may be associated with malcontent. In response to falling ad revenue, X has introduced a subscription-based service which enables users to verify themselves and boosts the number of people who view their tweets. Meta-owned Facebook and Instagram have responded by introducing a similar service. In 2025, more social media platforms are using AI to boost user engagement. This improves click-through rates and drives higher advertising revenue. Industry revenue is expected to grow by 6.3% in 2025-26. Over the five years through 2030-31, social media platforms' revenue is projected to climb at an estimated 9.2% to reach £19.4 billion. Regulations relating to how data is collected, stored, and shared will force advertisers and platforms to rethink how they can target their desired demographics. The tightening of regulations will raise industry compliance costs, weighing on profit margin. Older age groups present a new revenue opportunity for social media platforms if they can bridge the gap between passive TV consumption and interactive digital engagement. Augmented Reality (AR) technology will move beyond filters to become standard for immersive product trials, interactive ads, and virtual meetups

Operating-Profit-Margin Time Series for Shell plc. Shell plc operates as an energy and petrochemical company Europe, Asia, Oceania, Africa, the United States, and other Americas. It operates through Integrated Gas; Upstream; Marketing; Chemicals and Products; and Renewables and Energy Solutions segments. The company explores for and extracts natural gas to produce liquefied natural gas or convert into gas-to-liquids products; explores for and extracts crude oil and natural gas liquids; and operates upstream and midstream infrastructure to deliver gas to market. It is also involved in marketing supplies fuels and lubricants for transport, manufacturing, mining, power generation, agriculture, and construction industries; operates electric vehicle charging and convenience retail; turn crude oil and other feedstocks into products for households, industry, and transport; trades crude oil, oil products, and petrochemicals; and oil sand activities. In addition, the company generates, markets, and trades power from wind, solar and pipeline gas; hydrogen production and marketing; commercial carbon capture and storage hubs; carbon credits and nature-based solutions; and provides heavy-duty LNG-fuelled trucks. Further, it offers base chemicals, including ethylene, propylene, and aromatics, as well as intermediate chemicals, such as styrene monomer, propylene oxide, solvents, linear alpha olefins, detergent alcohols, ethylene oxide, ethylene glycol, and polyethylene. The company was formerly known as Royal Dutch Shell plc and changed its name to Shell plc in January 2022. Shell plc was founded in 1897 and is headquartered in London, the United Kingdom.

The leading road hauliers in the United Kingdom (UK) have enjoyed a run of profitable years since 2008, achieving profit margins of between *** and **** percent during that time. The leading 100 road hauliers in the UK achieved a profit margin of *** percent during 2018.

Importance of road freight to the UK

Road freight is particularly important to transport in the United Kingdom. In 2017, transport volume in the road freight sector amounted to approximately ***** billion tonne-kilometres, significantly more than the ***** billion net tonne-kilometers moved by rail. This is in part due to the fact that the United Kingdom has one of the highest population densities in Europe. France, for example, has a population density of ****** people per square kilometer as of 2017, Spain had a density of **** people per square kilometer in the same year, and the Italian population density came in at ****** people per square kilometer.

Road freight to the EU

Transport of goods via road haulage is among the many areas the Brexit-watchers are likely to be observing keenly in the coming years. Although there has been a steady reduction in the amount of road freight transported to the EU-15 since the year 2000, the amount of freight transport since 2015 has increased slightly. **** million tonnes were transported to the EU-15 by UK goods vehicles in 2018, ******* tonnes more than the amount moved in 2015.

The provided dataset contains financial and operational metrics spanning from January to September 2020 for a company operating in the UK. It reflects key aspects like revenue, expenses, profit, customer count, transactions, stock price, market sentiment, loan approval rate, employee count, and marketing spend.

London, as a part of the UK, likely shares these trends but could have its specific nuances due to being a distinct economic hub within the country. In this period:

1. Financial Performance: The company's revenue fluctuates throughout the months, peaking at £65,090 in June and dipping to £35,184 in July. Despite varying expenses, profits generally stay positive, showcasing resilience in managing costs against revenue. London, being a financial center, might witness higher revenue or fluctuations due to specific industries concentrated there.

2. Customer Engagement: Customer metrics show variation. Customer count ranges from 131 to 426, with transactions varying from 57 to 188. This indicates fluctuations in customer activity, potentially influenced by market trends, seasonal patterns, or even regional events.

3. Stock Performance: Stock prices show fluctuation, hitting a high of 138.53 and a low of 78.79. Market sentiment, indicating public confidence, also fluctuates, potentially influencing stock prices. London's stock market might reflect similar volatility but could be influenced by the performance of prominent companies headquartered there.

4. Business Operations: Loan approval rates stay relatively stable between 70% to 97%, indicating a consistent approach to risk management. Employee count remains somewhat constant, which could signify stable operations without significant expansion or downsizing.

5. Marketing and Growth: The company's marketing spend varies, suggesting a willingness to adapt strategies based on performance or seasonal demands. London might have higher marketing expenditures due to the competitive market and the need to stand out amidst numerous businesses.

6. Economic Impact: Economic factors affecting the UK market—Brexit discussions, global economic shifts, or even local policies—might influence these metrics. London, as a financial center, could be more sensitive to global economic changes, impacting revenue, market sentiment, and stock prices more profoundly.

7. Covid-19 Influence: Given the timeframe (2020), the dataset might reflect the initial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The varying metrics could illustrate the company's adaptation strategies in response to changing consumer behaviors and economic uncertainties.

In London specifically, these trends might amplify due to its prominence in finance, trade, and services. The city's diverse industries and international connections might lead to more pronounced fluctuations in financial indicators like stock prices and market sentiment. Moreover, its position as a global economic hub might expose businesses to unique challenges and opportunities, potentially reflected in the provided dataset.

Understanding London's specific dynamics within the UK would require deeper analysis, considering sector-specific influences, competitive landscape, and regional economic factors. Nevertheless, this dataset offers insights into the company's adaptability and performance within the broader context of the UK's economic landscape.

The rapid growth of digital content has sharply reduced demand for traditional print advertising, driving businesses to prioritise digital campaigns. This shift has significantly cut printing industry revenue. In newspaper printing, the migration of readers to online platforms has led to a steep decline in revenue and demand for print editions. While digital printing lowers operational costs, profit margin remains thin because consumers often expect free access to news. Most printing services try to offset print losses by introducing subscriptions and online-only features, but these strategies rarely recover lost income. Major international tech companies, like Google and Meta, now dominate news distribution, further weakening the position of local printers. Additionally, readers now have greater choice and access to free or low-cost news, increasing buyer power and intensifying competition among printers for audience and revenue. Printing services are adapting to falling newspaper sales by focusing on digital platforms and reducing print editions to a weekly schedule. Revenue is forecast to decrease at a compound annual rate of 1.1% over the five years through 2025 to €78.4 billion, including an estimated drop of 3.3% in 2025, while the average profit margin is expected to be 12.2%. However, there are still opportunities for the industry despite digital expansion. E-commerce growth is boosting demand for printed packaging and labelling, as 72% of EU residents shopped online in 2024, a significant rise since 2019, according to Eurostat. Ireland, the Netherlands and Denmark lead in online buying, making them strong targets for investment in packaging print services. Also, printed books hold their place, with 14.7% of Europeans buying physical publications online, compared with only 6.8% downloading digital formats, according to the European Commission. Due to perceived reliability, print remains preferred for business, legal and medical materials. Sales of these print products are slowing the revenue decline in traditional print services caused by digital transformation. Revenue is forecast to climb at a compound annual rate of 0.5% over the five years through 2030 to €80.5 billion. Surging e-commerce activity and online shopping, especially in Ireland, Denmark and the Netherlands, present growth opportunities. Market trends highlight a modest hike in manufacturing growth in Poland and Spain, increasing demand for printing services, especially in product packaging and labelling. Despite this, other print services will continue to decline as paper products shift to digital formats. In response, printing companies, including major companies like Bertelsmann, will continue embracing digitalisation, meeting trends for on-demand solutions.

The accounting and auditing industry benefits from the wide range of businesses it serves and because many UK businesses need to have their financial accounts audited. During periods of economic growth, demand for accounting and auditing services picks up. During adverse economic conditions, revenue remains fairly stable thanks to demand for countercyclical services, like restructuring and cost-cutting advice. Although the Big Four accounting firms – PwC, Deloitte, EY and KPMG – have a strong market presence, competition is intensifying. Meanwhile, the industry is experienced significant merger and acquisition activity, fuelled by private equity investment. Despite economic hardships in recent years, higher audit fees have driven revenue growth. Industry revenue is expected to climb at a compound annual rate of 5.8% to £39.8 billion over the five years through 2025-26, including a projected growth of 1.6% in 2025-26. Following a solid recovery from the dip caused by the pandemic in 2021-22, revenue has been on an upward trajectory, driven by rising fees to combat swelling costs as auditors contend with the inflationary environment, regulatory pressures and skill shortages. Alongside technology integration, rising consolidation activity and private equity investment are key trends affecting firms, particularly over recent years. The average industry profit margin has benefitted from soaring audit fees but has been constrained as the Financial Reporting Committee ratchets fines and clamps down on poor audit work alongside climbing wage costs. Over the five years through 2030-31, industry revenue is forecast to swell at a compound annual rate of 4.1% to £48.6 billion. Increasingly stringent regulations and severe skill shortages are here to stay, keeping audit fees high and supporting revenue growth. Subsiding inflation and improving business confidence will encourage business expenditure and M&A activity, boosting demand for accounting and audit services. Technological advances and growth ambitions will drive consolidation activity, with many firms seeking external funding to boost competitiveness. Considering the continued controversy surrounding poor audit quality from some of the larger firms, the proposed new Audit, Reporting and Governance Authority will implement more stringent regulation in addition to potential audit reforms by the UK government. Higher regulation could help improve competition and reduce market share concentration, though it may also hoist firms’ costs, constraining profit growth.

Shell had the highest annual revenue of all companies based in the United Kingdom in 2025, at approximately 284 billion U.S. dollars. BP had the second-highest annual revenue at over 189 billion dollars, followed by HSBC Holdings, which had a revenue of around 142 billion U.S. dollars. In terms of global employee numbers, however, Compass Group had the highest number among UK-based businesses, at approximately half a million in 2024, followed by Tesco at 336,400 and HSBC at almost 211,000. Big Oil, a banking giant, and Britain's top supermarket chain The two companies listed as having the most revenue in the UK this year are also two of the biggest oil and gas companies in the world, alongside Chevron, Eni, ExxonMobil, and TotalEnergies. After a huge surge in energy prices in 2022, these companies saw their profits recede slightly in 2023, but clearly remain in strong financial positions as of 2024. HSBC Holdings, meanwhile, was the largest bank in Europe in terms of market capitalization, and was estimated to have the second-highest number of UK-based customers in 2024. The company with the fourth-highest revenue in this year, Tesco has by some distance the largest grocery-market share in Great Britain, a position it has maintained despite growing competition from discounters like Lidl and Aldi. UK economy health check In the first quarter of 2025, the UK economy grew by 0.7 percent, emerging from a brief slowdown in growth towards the end of 2024. Consumer Price inflation, has, however, started to increase, with the inflation rate reaching 3.5 percent in April, the highest rate since January 2024. Furthermore, the UK labor market is showing signs of weakness, with quite a high number of job losses since the start of the year. Alongside these generally negative signs, business confidence in the UK has been falling, with the main concern of UK firms being that of taxation, as of early 2025.

From 2013 to 2018, the operating profit margin of home insurance price comparison websites in the United Kingdom (UK) fluctuated between 45 and 55 percent.

Home insurance provides protection against risks to property such as water and leakage damage, fire and explosion, theft and other. Having property insurance in the UK is optional but it is often contractually required in case of a mortgage. Operating profit margin indicates the profitability of a company or a sector and is calculated as the ratio of the operating profit to the total revenue.

In 2018, the companies with the highest operating profit margin on the general insurance market in the UKwere home insurance price comparison websites.

Dental and pharmacy practices in the UK operate within tight financial and regulatory environments. Measuring performance with the right financial KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) helps practice owners understand profitability, optimise cash flow, and ensure long-term sustainability.

This article outlines essential financial KPIs tailored to both dental clinics and pharmacy businesses. It also highlights how working with a locum pharmacist accountant ensures these KPIs are tracked and interpreted correctly.

Why Are KPIs Important for Dental and Pharmacy Practices?

Key Performance Indicators provide a measurable framework for evaluating financial health, operational efficiency, and profitability. Without KPIs, practice owners rely on guesswork instead of data-driven decisions.

Benefits of tracking KPIs:

• Identify profit leaks and overspending
• Optimise pricing and service mix
• Improve staff productivity
• Forecast cash flow accurately
• Support informed business growth

Both dental and pharmacy practices face sector-specific financial nuances—making KPI tracking essential to strategic planning.

Core KPI Categories to Track

Top KPIs for Dental Practices

1. Gross Profit Margin (GPM) Formula: (Revenue – Cost of Goods Sold) / Revenue × 100 A healthy GPM for dental practices ranges between 60–75%.

2. Chair Utilisation Rate Tracks how efficiently clinical hours are being used. Low rates signal missed revenue opportunities.

3. Average Revenue per Appointment Monitors profitability per patient. Helps identify high- and low-yield treatments.

4. UDA Value and Delivery Rate Essential for NHS dental practices. Monitor Units of Dental Activity (UDA) targets vs achieved.

5. Overheads as a % of Revenue Non-clinical costs (admin, rent, insurance) should ideally stay below 50% of revenue.

How Specialist Dental Accountants Support KPI Tracking

Specialist dental accountants understand clinical performance metrics, NHS contract tracking, and tax-efficient structuring. They offer tools and reports that help owners:

• Benchmark against similar practices
• Forecast seasonal cash flow dips
• Optimise associate pay structures
• Claim all relevant capital allowances

Explore services from MMBA’s dental accountant specialists to see how KPI-driven strategies can enhance practice performance.

Top KPIs for Pharmacy Practices

1. Gross Profit Margin (Rx vs OTC) Segmented tracking between prescription items and over-the-counter (OTC) sales is critical. Typical Rx margins = 25–35%; OTC = 40–60%.

2. NHS Reimbursement Accuracy Compares expected vs received NHS payments. Incorrect claims or clawbacks affect profitability.

3. Inventory Turnover Rate Formula: Cost of Goods Sold / Average Inventory Measures how efficiently stock is sold and replaced. A low turnover ties up cash.

4. Staff Cost to Income Ratio Ideal range: 15–25%. Helps maintain staffing efficiency across busy and quiet periods.

5. Average Script Volume per Day Tracking scripts dispensed daily identifies trends, staff productivity, and business growth.

Why a Locum Pharmacist Accountant Is Crucial

Locum pharmacists face IR35 rules, multi-site income, and complex VAT classifications. A locum pharmacist accountant ensures:

• Proper classification of contract income
• Efficient expense tracking (e.g. mileage, CPD)
• Monthly income statements for multi-site work
• VAT compliance on mixed sales (prescription vs retail)
• Timely MTD submissions and pension advice

For pharmacy owners and locums, tailored advice is essential. Explore MMBA's accounting services for pharmacists for sector-specific financial support.

How to Implement KPI Tracking in Your Practice

Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Define Your Practice Goals Are you aiming for growth, stability, or sale? Your KPIs must align.

2. Select the Right Software Use platforms like Xero, QuickBooks, or pharmacy POS-integrated accounting tools.

3. Outsource to Sector-Specific Accountants Generalists mi...

The pharmaceutical industry is under increasing pressures with rising R&D costs, patent expiries, greater competition, and pricing challenges all eroding profit margins. Companies must invest in the right areas of drug development to maximize profitability and minimize risk. Read More