Whito Rankings put UK industries, regions and brands in order, using public data and Whito research. Every ranking shows its source, its date and how it was worked out. Nobody can pay to appear or to move up.
- 6 rankings
- 22 industries counted
- 61 marketing leaderboards
- 12 regions and nations
- £0 paid to rank higher
Featured UK business rankings
UK industries ranked by number of businesses22 UK industries ranked by how many businesses each one has, using Office for National Statistics counts for March 2026.Number one: Domestic building, 59,685 businessesUpdated 14 November 2026. Source: Office for National Statistics.Fastest-growing UK industries since 201022 UK industries ranked by the change in their number of businesses between March 2010 and March 2026.Number one: Employment placement agencies, +240.7% since 2010Updated 14 November 2026. Source: Office for National Statistics.UK regions ranked by businesses per headThe 12 UK regions and nations ranked by businesses per 100,000 residents, for each of 12 industries.12 industries, 12 regions and nationsUpdated 14 November 2026. Source: Office for National Statistics.UK industries ranked by marketing score61 UK industries ranked by the average score of the brands on each Whito marketing leaderboard.Number one: Ecommerce Brands, 6.23 out of 10Updated 14 November 2026. Source: Whito leaderboard research.Longest-established UK companies on WhitoThe 100 oldest active companies in the Whito directory, ranked by their incorporation date on the Companies House register.Number one: Simplicity, incorporated 1894Updated 14 November 2026. Source: Companies House.Emergency plumbers AI assistants name most often33 firms ranked by how many answers named them when Google AI Mode and ChatGPT were asked for an emergency plumber in London and Carmarthen, in October and November 2026.Carmarthen number one: Pengelly Plumbing, 12 of 16 answersUpdated 14 November 2026. Source: Whito answer log.
Industry rankings
- UK industries ranked by number of businesses: 22 industries, largest first.
- UK industries compared 2026: twelve industries side by side, with the share that have fewer than ten staff.
- UK trade businesses in 2026: ten trade and professional industries compared.
Business growth rankings
- Fastest-growing UK industries since 2010: which industries have gained the most businesses, and which have lost them.
- UK Company Register Monitor: new companies registered, month by month.
Regional rankings
- UK regions ranked by businesses per head: the 12 regions and nations in order, for each of these industries:
Garages Pubs and bars Nurseries and childcare Pharmacies Vets Funeral directors Cafes Takeaways Driving schools Opticians Travel agents Architects
Marketing rankings
- UK industries ranked by marketing score: 61 industries, by the average score of their leading brands.
- UK marketing leaderboards: the brands in each industry, scored out of 10 on seven channels.
- Brand profiles A to Z.
All 61 industry leaderboards and their top brands
- Accountancy Firms: Countingup, 6.6
- Aesthetic Clinics: Thérapie Clinic, 7.1
- Architects: Resi, 5.7
- Asbestos Surveying & Removal: Envirochem, 4.1
- Automotive & Garages: Halfords Autocentres, 7.1
- Beauty Salons: Treatwell, 7.4
- Boiler Repair & Installation: iHeat, 7.7
- Care Homes & Home Care: Anchor, 6.1
- Childcare & Nurseries: Busy Bees, 6.7
- Cleaning Companies: Housekeep, 6.7
- Construction & Property: Knight Frank and Selco Builders Warehouse, 6.7
- Dental Practices: Bupa Dental Care, 7.0
- Drainage: Metro Rod, 6.1
- Driving Schools: Bill Plant, 7.3
- Ecommerce Brands: Huel and Myprotein, 6.7
- Electricians: Hypervolt, 6.4
- Energy Installers: Sunsave, 7.1
- Estate & Letting Agents: Purplebricks, 6.7
- Financial Advisers: Unbiased, 7.3
- Fitness & personal training: PureGym, 7.6
- Food & Hospitality: Côte and Nando's, 5.6
- Funeral Directors: Co-op Funeralcare, 6.9
- Hairdressers & Barbers: Rush Hair, 6.7
- Home Security & Alarms: SimpliSafe, 6.9
- Hotels & Guest Houses: Travelodge, 6.4
- IT Support & Managed Services: Intercity, 4.7
- Immigration Advisers: A Y & J Solicitors, 6.6
- Insurance Brokers: Simply Business, 6.9
- Interior Designers: Neptune, 6.1
- Kitchens & Bathrooms: Wren Kitchens, 6.7
- Landscaping & Garden Services: Greensleeves, 6.1
- Law firms & financial advisers: Irwin Mitchell, 6.1
- Locksmiths: Fantastic Services, 7.1
- Logistics & Couriers: Parcel2Go, 7.3
- Mortgage Brokers: Mojo Mortgages, 6.4
- Motor Finance: CarFinance 247, 7.6
- Opticians & Eye Care: Feel Good Contacts, 7.1
- Painting & Decorating: MyBuilder, 6.9
- Pest Control: Fantastic Pest Control, 6.6
- Pharmacies & Health Retail: Superdrug, 7.3
- Physio & Clinics: Nuffield Health, 5.7
- Plumbing & Heating: British Gas, 6.7
- Property Surveyors: e.surv, 6.0
- Pubs, Cafes & Takeaways: Domino's, 5.6
- Recruitment Agencies: Pertemps, 5.7
- Removals & Storage: Big Yellow and Safestore, 6.3
- Roofing: Aspect, 6.0
- SME Business Consultancies: Entrepreneurs Circle, 6.6
- Scaffolding: Brandon Hire Station, 5.4
- Skip Hire & Waste Removal: HIPPO, 7.6
- Taxi & Private Hire: Blacklane, 7.1
- Trades & home services: HomeServe, 6.4
- Training Providers: Open Study College, 6.6
- Travel Agents & Tour Operators: Hays Travel, 7.4
- Tree Surgery & Arboriculture: Fantastic Services, 6.3
- Utility Connections & Network Infrastructure: Vital Energi, 4.4
- Vets & Pet Care: Medivet, 6.6
- Weddings & Events: Bridebook, 6.9
- Will Writers: Make a Will Online, 6.1
- Window Cleaning: Airtasker, 6.0
- Windows & Doors: CR Smith, 6.3
Business rankings
- Longest-established UK companies on Whito: the 100 oldest companies in the directory, by Companies House incorporation date.
- How the biggest UK contractors pay their suppliers: firms ranked by average days to pay, from their own payment reports.
- UK marketing leaderboards: brands ranked in each industry by marketing score.
- Business Finder: search and filter every business listed on Whito.
Technology and AI visibility rankings
- Best AI visibility tools for UK businesses: AI visibility tools compared and ranked.
- All Whito software comparisons and free tools.
- Free website check: 17 checks on your own homepage, with a score out of 100.
Emergency plumbers AI assistants name most often: the firms Google AI Mode and ChatGPT named for London and Carmarthen in October and November 2026, from the Emergency plumbers monthly record. More trades and places will be added as the record grows.
Recently updated rankings
| Ranking | Type | Source | Last updated |
|---|---|---|---|
| UK industries ranked by number of businesses | Industry rankings | Office for National Statistics | 14 November 2026 |
| Fastest-growing UK industries since 2010 | Business growth rankings | Office for National Statistics | 14 November 2026 |
| UK regions ranked by businesses per head | Regional rankings | Office for National Statistics | 14 November 2026 |
| UK industries ranked by marketing score | Marketing rankings | Whito leaderboard research | 14 November 2026 |
| Longest-established UK companies on Whito | Business rankings | Companies House | 14 November 2026 |
| Emergency plumbers AI assistants name most often | AI visibility rankings | Whito answer log | 14 November 2026 |
How Whito ranks
- Only real, checkable data. If Whito does not hold a figure, the table says so.
- Every ranking names its source and the date the data was collected.
- Every ranking explains how the order was worked out, what was left out and where it can mislead.
- Payment never changes a ranking. Listings, services and adverts have no effect.
- Mistakes are corrected free of charge.
Rankings Whito cannot publish yet
Rankings of single businesses by turnover or staff numbers need accounts figures for every business in an industry. Most small companies do not have to publish their turnover, so Whito does not hold it and will not estimate it. Whito does hold the type of accounts each listed company files, which is a guide to size. You can filter by it in the Business Finder.
Compare UK businesses
Put up to five UK businesses from the Whito directory side by side. Compare UK businesses