Data / Release calendar / UK business; activity, size and location 2026

UK business; activity, size and location 2026 Released

Released Thursday, 24 September 2026, 09:30 UK time.

• Office for National Statistics
• The publisher's release page
• Release calendar

Result

The VAT or PAYE registered businesses (UK Business Counts) in the United Kingdom rose to 2.79 million in 2026 from 2.73 million in 2025 (+1.9%), according to the Office for National Statistics (United Kingdom).

Source: Office for National Statistics, UK Business Counts, enterprises by industry and employment size band: all industries (ONS, Nomis NM_142_1). Retrieved 2026-10-12, published 2026-09-24. The figure as Invokely stored it on 2026-10-13.

Recent history

Against the previous release

Invokely has no earlier release of this series on record.

Revisions to earlier periods

This release did not change the figure of any earlier period of this series.

Follow this statistic

VAT or PAYE registered businesses (UK Business Counts) in United Kingdom: all figures

How to cite

Office for National Statistics. UK Business Counts, enterprises by industry and employment size band: all industries (ONS, Nomis NM_142_1). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/api/v01/dataset/NM_142_1.data.json?geography=2092957697,TYPE480,TYPE424&industry=37748736&employment_sizeband=0&legal_status=0&measures=20100&time=2010,latest. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Statistics this release updates

• VAT or PAYE registered businesses: accommodation and food services (SIC I)
• VAT or PAYE registered businesses: agriculture, forestry and fishing (SIC A)
• VAT or PAYE registered businesses: arts, entertainment, recreation and other services (SIC R, S, T and U)
• VAT or PAYE registered businesses: business administration and support services (SIC N)
• VAT or PAYE registered businesses: construction (SIC F)
• VAT or PAYE registered businesses: education (SIC P)
• VAT or PAYE registered businesses: financial and insurance activities (SIC K)
• VAT or PAYE registered businesses: health (SIC Q)
• VAT or PAYE registered businesses: information and communication (SIC J)
• VAT or PAYE registered businesses: manufacturing (SIC C)
• VAT or PAYE registered businesses: mining, quarrying and utilities (SIC B, D and E)
• VAT or PAYE registered businesses: motor trades (part of SIC G)
• VAT or PAYE registered businesses: professional, scientific and technical activities (SIC M)
• VAT or PAYE registered businesses: property (SIC L)
• VAT or PAYE registered businesses: public administration and defence (SIC O)
• VAT or PAYE registered businesses: retail (part of SIC G)
• VAT or PAYE registered businesses (UK Business Counts)
• VAT or PAYE registered businesses: transport and storage, including postal (SIC H)
• VAT or PAYE registered businesses: wholesale (part of SIC G)

Next release

UK Business Counts, enterprises by industry and employment size band: all industries (ONS, Nomis NM_142_1), Friday, 24 September 2027 Estimated, low confidence