Data last verified: 13 November 2026. Figures re-checked against their primary sources under the Whito rolling re-verification programme.
Finding
The number of UK architecture businesses rose 46.6% between 2010 and 2026, from 9,650 to 14,150.
Source: Whito, whito.co.uk/architects/uk-architecture-industry, 2026-11-13. Free to quote with a link to this page.
Last Updated on November 13, 2026
Read a short summary
General summary
The UK had 14,150 architecture businesses registered for VAT or PAYE in March 2026, according to the Office for National Statistics. That is 46.6% up on 2010 (9,650) and 4.8% down on 2021 (14,865). 91.6% employ fewer than ten people. London has the most per head, 43.7 per 100,000 residents. North East has the fewest, 9.6.
Bullet points
- 14,150 UK architecture businesses in March 2026 (ONS).
- Compared with 2010: 46.6% up on 2010 (9,650).
- Compared with 2021: 4.8% down on 2021 (14,865).
- 91.6% employ fewer than ten people.
- Most per head: London, 43.7 per 100,000 residents. Fewest: North East, 9.6.
Basic explainer
This page counts architecture businesses in the UK, using official figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). It shows how the number has changed since 2010, how big the businesses are and where they are based. It also gives the number of architects on the register kept by the Architects Registration Board (ARB). One business can employ many architects, so the two numbers are different.
These summaries were written with AI from this page only. The full page below is the record.
Short answer: the UK had 14,150 architecture businesses registered for VAT or PAYE in March 2026, according to the Office for National Statistics. That is 46.6% up on 2010 (9,650) and 4.8% down on 2021 (14,865). 91.6% employ fewer than ten people. London has the most per head, 43.7 per 100,000 residents; North East has the fewest, 9.6.
This page uses official counts you can rerun yourself, the rules that apply, and Whito’s published research. The regional and change figures are Whito’s calculations. This is a count of architecture businesses, not of architects. One practice can employ many architects.
The key figures
| Figure | Value | Source and date |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture businesses (UK, SIC 71111) | 14,150 | ONS UK Business Counts, March 2026 (official statistic) |
| Change since 2010 | +46.6% (from 9,650) | Same dataset (Whito calculation) |
| Change since 2021 | -4.8% (from 14,865) | Same dataset (Whito calculation) |
| Fewer than 10 employees | 12,955 (91.6%) | Same dataset |
| 250 or more employees | 15 | Same dataset |
| Most per head | London, 43.7 per 100,000 residents | Whito calculation, ONS data |
| Fewest per head | North East, 9.6 per 100,000 residents | Whito calculation, ONS data |
| Architects on the ARB Register | 38,981 at the end of 2024 | Architects Registration Board, 2025 year in review |
| New title cases opened by ARB | 586 in 2024 | Same ARB page |
The ARB page gives its 2025 figures in a form we could not read, so the table shows the 2024 figures printed beside them.
The count year by year
| Year | Businesses (UK) |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 9,650 |
| 2011 | 9,580 |
| 2012 | 10,455 |
| 2013 | 11,095 |
| 2014 | 11,935 |
| 2015 | 12,760 |
| 2016 | 13,520 |
| 2017 | 14,240 |
| 2018 | 14,375 |
| 2019 | 14,605 |
| 2020 | 14,810 |
| 2021 | 14,865 |
| 2022 | 14,880 |
| 2023 | 14,555 |
| 2024 | 14,400 |
| 2025 | 14,130 |
| 2026 | 14,150 |
The highest count in this period was 14,880 in 2022. The lowest was 9,580 in 2011. Each count is a snapshot taken in March of that year.
How big are architecture businesses?
| Employees | Businesses | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 0 to 9 | 12,955 | 91.6% |
| 10 to 49 | 1,025 | 7.2% |
| 50 to 249 | 155 | 1.1% |
| 250 or more | 15 | 0.1% |
| Total | 14,150 |
Source: ONS UK Business Counts, enterprises, SIC 2007 code 71111 “Architectural activities”, 2026, via Nomis (dataset NM_142_1). Counts are rounded to the nearest 5, so bands may not add exactly to the total.
Where architecture businesses are based
| Region or nation | 2010 | 2021 | 2026 | Per 100,000 residents | Change 2010 to 2026 | Change 2021 to 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| London | 2,280 | 4,120 | 3,990 | 43.7 | +75.0% | -3.2% |
| South East | 1,505 | 2,330 | 2,190 | 22.6 | +45.5% | -6.0% |
| South West | 835 | 1,275 | 1,260 | 21.3 | +50.9% | -1.2% |
| East of England | 855 | 1,415 | 1,325 | 20.0 | +55.0% | -6.4% |
| Northern Ireland | 375 | 345 | 385 | 20.0 | +2.7% | +11.6% |
| Scotland | 845 | 950 | 915 | 16.5 | +8.3% | -3.7% |
| Yorkshire and The Humber | 555 | 925 | 825 | 14.5 | +48.6% | -10.8% |
| East Midlands | 515 | 765 | 725 | 14.3 | +40.8% | -5.2% |
| North West | 765 | 1,140 | 1,075 | 13.8 | +40.5% | -5.7% |
| West Midlands | 620 | 890 | 830 | 13.4 | +33.9% | -6.7% |
| Wales | 290 | 400 | 370 | 11.7 | +27.6% | -7.5% |
| North East | 215 | 310 | 265 | 9.6 | +23.3% | -14.5% |
| United Kingdom | 9,650 | 14,865 | 14,150 | 20.4 | +46.6% | -4.8% |
Population: ONS mid-2025 estimates. Per-head and change figures are Whito calculations. A business is counted once, where it is registered, which is not always where it works.
What stands out
- London has about 4.6 times as many per head as North East (43.7 against 9.6 per 100,000 residents).
- Fastest growth since 2010: London (+75.0%). Slowest: Northern Ireland (+2.7%).
- 1 of the 12 regions and nations have more businesses than in 2021. 11 have fewer.
- The data cannot say why counts rise or fall. New firms, firms crossing the VAT threshold, mergers, closures and businesses registering elsewhere all move the count.
Rules that apply
The Architects Registration Board (ARB) keeps the Register of Architects. There were 38,981 architects on it at the end of 2024. Source: ARB, 2025 year in review.
Whito’s guide explains the register and the title: ARB registration and the protected title.
What Whito’s research adds
Whito’s other architect pages: We asked AI for a trustworthy architect in 20 towns. 39 of the 92 names it gave cannot be found on the Architects Register., The Protected Title, and How a Practice Should Use It, Architect Fees: Nobody Publishes a Scale. What to Publish Instead.. This page adds the official business counts, by size, by region and by year.
What we do not know yet
- How many people work in the industry. This page counts businesses, not workers.
- The smallest sole traders. Businesses that are neither VAT registered nor employers are not in the ONS count.
- Turnover. We only publish figures we can check at source.
Method and limits
- Business counts: ONS UK Business Counts, enterprises, SIC 2007 code 71111, all legal statuses, March snapshots for 2010 to 2026, via the Nomis API (dataset NM_142_1), read 13 November 2026.
- Population: ONS mid-2025 estimates via Nomis (NM_2002_1).
- Counts are rounded to the nearest 5 by ONS. Business counts are March 2026; population is mid-2025.
Compare with other industries: see UK trade businesses in 2026: ten industries compared, one table with each count, its date and the change since 2010 and 2021.
Compare with other industries: see how architects compare with eleven other UK industries by number of businesses, growth since 2010 and business size, in one table: UK industries compared 2026.
Common questions
How many architecture businesses are there in the UK?
14,150 registered for VAT or PAYE in March 2026, according to the ONS (SIC 71111). This is not a count of individual architects.
Is the number of architecture businesses growing?
It fell 4.8% between 2021 and 2026 and rose 46.6% since 2010 (Whito calculation from ONS data).
Which part of the UK has the most architecture businesses?
By number, London (3,990). Per head, London, with 43.7 per 100,000 residents.
Are most architecture businesses small?
Yes. 12,955 of 14,150 (91.6%) employ fewer than ten people.
Sources (opened 13 November 2026)
- ONS UK Business Counts via Nomis, NM_142_1: https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/api/v01/dataset/NM_142_1
- ONS mid-2025 population estimates via Nomis, NM_2002_1
- Architects Registration Board, 2025 year in review: arb.org.uk
