Which industries in the UK are actually growing? Rather than relying on predictions or lists of fashionable business ideas, we looked at official UK government statistics to see where measurable growth is taking place.
The results are interesting because there is no single definition of a “fast-growing industry”. A sector might contain unusually large numbers of rapidly expanding businesses, attract lots of new business start-ups, or be increasing its economic output.
For Demand Hunt, that distinction matters. Growth in a sector can create demand beyond the businesses actually producing that growth. Expanding companies may need more staff, suppliers, equipment, premises, software, finance and specialist services.
We also wanted this information so you can overlay it on the opportunities Demand Hunt identifies and assess them against the backdrop of how related sectors are performing.
So where is that growth happening?
1. Information and communication has the highest proportion of high-growth businesses
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) measures what it calls high-growth businesses. These are businesses with at least 10 employees that achieve average annualised employment growth of more than 20% over a three-year period.
In 2024, the latest annual figures available, there were 14,330 high-growth businesses in the UK, representing 4.9% of businesses within the relevant population.
But some sectors were well above that national figure.
Information and communication stands out. Its 9.2% high-growth rate was almost twice the UK average. Finance and insurance was second at 7.3%.
This does not mean that 9.2% of every technology-related business in Britain is booming. The ONS measure has a specific definition and only includes businesses meeting its employee-size criteria. However, it provides useful evidence about where unusually rapid employment growth is concentrated.
Demand Hunt opportunity
Fast-growing information and communication businesses can generate secondary demand for skilled employees and contractors, cybersecurity, cloud and IT infrastructure, specialist software, sales and marketing services, office facilities, professional advice and business finance.
The opportunity may therefore be broader than starting another technology company. It can also mean selling to the companies that are growing.
2. Professional, scientific and technical businesses are increasing in number
Another government dataset gives us a different view.
The Department for Business and Trade’s Business Population Estimates found that between the start of 2024 and the start of 2025, Professional, Scientific and Technical Activities recorded the largest numerical increase in total UK business numbers, approximately 65,000 businesses.
Meanwhile, Human Health and Social Work Activities recorded the largest percentage increase, at 12%.
These figures measure something different from the ONS high-growth statistics. An increase in the number of businesses does not necessarily mean the individual businesses within the sector are rapidly increasing their turnover or employment.
But when different datasets point towards activity in related areas, they become more interesting as potential demand signals.
Demand Hunt opportunity
Increasing numbers of professional and technical businesses potentially create demand for websites, software, accounting, insurance, marketing, office services, recruitment, telecommunications and finance.
Growth in health and social work businesses can create quite different requirements, including staffing, training, transport, premises, specialist equipment, consumables and outsourced administrative services.
3. Newer 2026 figures show business creation is still increasing
Annual statistics inevitably arrive with a time lag, so we also checked the more recent ONS quarterly business demography figures.
In the second quarter of 2026, 79,325 businesses were added to the Inter-Departmental Business Register. That was 2.2% more than in the same quarter of 2025.
Business creations increased in 9 of the 16 main industrial groups.
The most significant increase came from business administration and support services, where business creations increased by 12.3% compared with the same quarter a year earlier.
There is an important caution here. During the same period there were 76,840 business closures, 2.0% more than a year earlier. Business creation is therefore evidence of activity and entrepreneurial movement, rather than proof that an entire industry is enjoying easy growth.
4. Some manufacturing niches are growing quickly too
Business numbers and employment are not the only measures worth watching. Actual economic output can reveal growth occurring within particular industries.
The latest ONS GDP figures available when this article was prepared show that manufacturing output increased by 0.5% in the three months to July 2026.
The headline figure hides some much stronger movements underneath it.
There were declines elsewhere in manufacturing, so these figures should not be interpreted as evidence of a universal manufacturing boom. Instead, they demonstrate why looking beneath broad sector headings can uncover more useful demand signals.
Demand Hunt opportunity
Growing manufacturing niches can create demand throughout their supply chains. Potential beneficiaries can include component suppliers, packaging companies, logistics providers, machinery suppliers, maintenance businesses, specialist recruiters, engineers and providers of working capital.
It is often the businesses supplying a growing industry, rather than the headline industry itself, where an accessible opportunity can be found.
5. A high number of new businesses doesn’t always mean a healthy market
There is another useful lesson in the government figures.
Transport and storage had the highest business birth rate in the ONS annual 2024 statistics, at 15.6%. At first glance that looks like an exceptionally attractive growth market.
However, it also had the highest business death rate, at 16.5%.
That completely changes the interpretation.
Lots of businesses entering a market can indicate strong demand, but it can also indicate low barriers to entry, intense competition or high business turnover.
This is why Demand Hunt does not treat one statistic in isolation as proof of an opportunity.
What do the figures tell us about UK growth sectors?
Taking the different official measures together, several areas deserve attention:
- Information and communication stands out for its unusually high concentration of high-growth businesses.
- Business administration and support services has an above-average high-growth rate and recorded the most significant increase in new business creation in the latest quarterly figures.
- Professional, scientific and technical activities combine a relatively high proportion of high-growth businesses with a substantial increase in the overall number of businesses.
- Health and social work recorded particularly strong growth in overall business numbers in the Department for Business and Trade figures.
- Specialist manufacturing niches, particularly computer, electronic and optical products, have recently recorded notable increases in output.
None of these statistics guarantees that starting a business in one of these sectors will succeed. They are better viewed as signals showing where economic activity and business growth may be creating additional demand.
The opportunity may be one step removed from the growth
This is perhaps the most useful lesson for anyone looking for business opportunities.
Suppose a particular industry starts expanding rapidly. Thousands of people may immediately think about entering that industry.
But growing businesses also need things.
They may recruit staff. They may require equipment. They might move into larger premises, use more packaging, employ contractors, buy software, outsource administrative work or need additional working capital.
Sometimes the more attractive opportunity is therefore not:
“How do I enter this fast-growing industry?”
but:
“What are the businesses in this fast-growing industry going to need more of?”
That second question is particularly relevant to Demand Hunt. We look for evidence that demand or supply is changing, then consider the products and services that could benefit.
If you are considering supplying products into a growing market, see our Sell Products opportunities. If the opportunity involves providing a service, see Sell Services opportunities. Growing businesses can also create recruitment opportunities and demand for business funding.
A useful way to investigate a growing sector
If a sector appears to be growing, don’t stop at the headline statistic. Ask what is driving the growth, what businesses in the sector purchase, whether there are supply constraints and whether the trend is sustained across several indicators.
Then look one or two steps along the supply chain.
A rise in technology businesses might create recruitment demand. Increased manufacturing could increase component or logistics requirements. More health and care businesses might increase demand for trained workers, equipment or transport.
Those secondary effects are exactly the sort of signals worth watching.
Sources and methodology
This analysis uses official UK statistics including Office for National Statistics Business Demography data, the Department for Business and Trade Business Population Estimates and ONS GDP/output statistics.
The datasets measure different things and should not be treated as directly interchangeable. Business creation, employment growth, changes in business population and economic output each provide a different indication of activity.
ONS content used in this analysis is available under the Open Government Licence where applicable. Figures have been selected and interpreted by Demand Hunt. Potential commercial opportunities discussed above are Demand Hunt analysis and are not recommendations or forecasts made by the ONS or UK Government.
Data checked: September 2026. Government statistics can subsequently be revised.
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