These Are The Fastest Growing Businesses In The UK Right Now
## Business Trends: UK Self-Employment Growth
Business Trends: UK Self-Employment Growth
According to data from business insurance provider Protectivity, there has been a notable increase in the establishment of practical and creative businesses in the UK as of 2026. The data, collected from insurance applications between 2024 and 2025, highlights the types of work individuals are choosing when registering new businesses.
Significant Increases in Business Registrations
Reformer Pilates instructors saw the largest year-on-year increase, with applications rising by 948%. This growth is attributed to the demand for small group exercises led by qualified instructors, typically conducted in studios rather than large gyms.
Artists specializing in painting, prints, and drawings experienced a 238% increase. Many of these businesses operate online, at local markets, or through commissions, facilitating easier market entry with minimal initial costs.
Cleaning services also showed significant growth. Multi-purpose cleaning businesses increased by 201%, and carpet and upholstery cleaners rose by 170%, driven by regular bookings from households and small workplaces.
Other sectors within the top ten include cake making and home baking (198%), craft businesses (169%), martial arts (167%), kickboxing (159%), leatherwork (153%), and boxercise (135%). These businesses often leverage skills individuals already possess outside formal employment.
Reformer Pilates instructors saw the largest year-on-year increase, with applications rising by 948%.
The data from Protectivity aligns with official statistics indicating a rise in self-employment. Sole proprietorships constitute 56% of all UK businesses, according to government records. The Inter Departmental Business Register reported 73,450 new businesses in the third quarter of 2025 alone, demonstrating sustained interest in self-employment.
Professional, scientific, and technical services represent 15.3% of registered businesses, making it the largest category overall. However, insurance applications reveal rapid growth in service-based and creative businesses, often operating at a neighborhood level.
Cleaning businesses recorded a category-level growth of 185%, craft businesses 97%, and nail technicians and makeup artists 63%, as per Protectivity's findings.
Motivations for Choosing Certain Business Types
Research associated with Protectivity suggests that independence is a primary motivator for new business owners, with 66% of men and 62% of women valuing the ability to be their own boss. Flexible working hours are particularly important to women, with 63% prioritizing flexibility compared to 41% of men.
Many businesses start as side projects, with individuals transitioning to formal registration as their workload becomes consistent. Sectors like fitness classes, cleaning services, and creative trades often depend on repeat bookings and personal reputation, typically maintaining small advertising budgets and relying on local networks.
Start-up costs for these businesses are generally lower than for many office-based enterprises, with expenses for equipment, training, and insurance usually less than those for long leases or staff wages.
Based on reporting by techround.co.uk.