http://www.techcelerate.venturesThere were 5.7 million private sector businesses at the start of 2018. • Compared with the previous year, the private sector business population fell by 0.5% (-27,000 businesses) whilst conversely private sector employment increased by 2% (+304,000). • This contrast is attributable to the number of smaller nonemploying businesses falling by 1% (-50,000) but the number of larger employing businesses rising by 2% (+23,000). • The decrease in the business population is the first fall in the series, which started in 2000. However, there were still 2.2 million (+63%) more businesses than in 2000.
99.3%
0.6%
0.1%
48%
13%
40%
36%
15%
48%
0%
50%
100%
Small
Medium
Large
Businesses
Employment
Turnover
STATISTICAL RELEASE
BUSINESS POPULATION ESTIMATES FOR THE UK AND REGIONS 2018
Publication date:
11 October 2018
Next Updated:
Autumn 2019
Coverage: UK
For further detail:
https://www.gov.uk/governm
ent/collections/business-
population-estimates
Lead Statistician:
Oliver Wright
business.statistics@beis.gov.uk
020 7215 8284
Department for Business,
Energy & Industrial Strategy
5
th
Floor Victoria
1 Victoria Street
London SW1H 0ET
Summary
There were 5.7 million private sector businesses at the
start of 2018.
Compared with the previous year, the private sector
business population fell by 0.5% (-27,000 businesses)
whilst conversely private sector employment increased by
2% (+304,000).
This contrast is attributable to the number of smaller non-
employing businesses falling by 1% (-50,000) but the
number of larger employing businesses rising by 2%
(+23,000).
The decrease in the business population is the first fall in
the series, which started in 2000. However, there were still
2.2 million (+63%) more businesses than in 2000.
SMEs and the Economy
Small businesses accounted for 99.3% of all private sector
businesses at the start of 2018 and 99.9% were small or
medium-sized (SMEs).
Total employment in SMEs was 16.3 million; 60% of all
private sector employment in the UK.
The combined annual turnover of SMEs was 2.0 trillion,
52% of all private sector turnover.
Figure 1: Contribution of different sized businesses to total
population, employment and turnover, at start of 2018
Page 1 of 16
Business Population Estimates 2018
Page 2 of 16
Composition of the business population
In 2018 there were 1.4 million employing businesses and 4.3 million non-
employing businesses. Therefore, 75% of businesses did not employ anyone aside
from the owner(s).
The overall business population inclu