Of the 22 UK industries Whito has counted, the fastest-growing since 2010 is Employment placement agencies: its number of businesses changed by +240.7% between March 2010 and March 2026. Second is Cafes (+158.0%). 1 of the 22 has fewer businesses than in 2010: Pubs and bars (-17.1%).
Growth here means more businesses, not more sales or profit. An industry can gain businesses while each one earns less.
Select a column heading to sort.
| Rank | Industry | Change since 2010 | Businesses, 2010 | Businesses, March 2026 | Change since 2021 | Full report |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Employment placement agencies | +240.7% | 4,915 | 16,745 | +1.9% | Read report |
| 2 | Cafes | +158.0% | 11,225 | 28,955 | +16.7% | Read report |
| 3 | Domestic building | +100.2% | 29,810 | 59,685 | +14.0% | Read report |
| 4 | Roofing | +82.1% | 7,080 | 12,895 | +28.8% | Read report |
| 5 | Building cleaning | +82.0% | 9,020 | 16,420 | +30.9% | Read report |
| 6 | Driving schools | +73.5% | 1,265 | 2,195 | +16.1% | Read report |
| 7 | Takeaways | +69.1% | 27,555 | 46,590 | +14.8% | Read report |
| 8 | Estate and letting agencies | +63.3% | 16,050 | 26,210 | +18.4% | Read report |
| 9 | Funeral directors | +60.6% | 1,410 | 2,265 | +9.4% | Read report |
| 10 | Plumbing, heating and air-con | +58.5% | 30,230 | 47,910 | +17.8% | Read report |
| 11 | Architects | +46.6% | 9,650 | 14,150 | -4.8% | Read report |
| 12 | Pharmacies | +46.4% | 4,475 | 6,550 | +23.7% | Read report |
| 13 | Garages | +45.6% | Not in report | 50,935 | Not in report | Read report |
| 13 | Dental practices | +45.6% | 10,105 | 14,710 | +21.2% | Read report |
| 15 | Nurseries and childcare | +45.2% | 9,805 | 14,235 | +2.2% | Read report |
| 16 | Travel agents | +44.3% | 3,975 | 5,735 | +14.6% | Read report |
| 17 | Electrical installation | +30.9% | 38,975 | 51,010 | +7.2% | Read report |
| 18 | Vets | +19.5% | 3,175 | 3,795 | -2.6% | Read report |
| 19 | Accounting and auditing | +8.1% | 29,140 | 31,505 | -7.0% | Read report |
| 20 | Opticians | +7.6% | 4,755 | 5,115 | -0.5% | Read report |
| 21 | Solicitor firms | +2.3% | 12,885 | 13,185 | -0.5% | Read report |
| 22 | Pubs and bars | -17.1% | 36,110 | 29,925 | +0.2% | Read report |
How this ranking works
What is measured
The percentage change in the number of businesses in each industry between March 2010 and March 2026.
Where the data comes from
Office for National Statistics UK Business Counts, read through the official Nomis service. Each industry is one ONS industry code.
How the ranking is worked out
Industries are placed in order of their change since 2010, biggest rise first. The change is the one printed in each Whito industry report. Select "Change since 2021" to re-order the table by the more recent period.
When the data was collected
The counts are for March of each year. Whito read them between 6 and 13 November 2026.
What is included and left out
Included: the 22 industries with a published Whito industry report and a 2010 comparison. Left out: every other industry, until its report is published.
Limits
A big percentage rise from a small starting number can be a small number of businesses. ONS rounds counts to the nearest five. Changes in how businesses are coded can move a count without any real change. This ranking says nothing about sales, profit or jobs.
Corrections
If a figure here is wrong, email hello@whito.co.uk or use the corrections page. Whito checks it against the source and fixes it free of charge.
Nobody can pay to appear in a Whito ranking, and nobody can pay to move up one. Paid listings and services have no effect on any ranking. Read how Whito makes money and the full rankings method.
Data sources
- Office for National Statistics, UK Business Counts, enterprises by industry code, March 2010 to March 2026, read through the Nomis service.
- Whito industry reports, which carry each figure with its source and date: UK industries compared 2026 and UK trade businesses in 2026.
Editions
This is the first edition of this ranking, so there is no earlier edition to compare it with. When the next edition is published, this one will stay online and be linked from here.