Least Risky Industries in the UK in 2021

1. General Secondary Education in the UK

2021 Overall Risk Score: 3.00

The General Secondary Education industry provides education to students between 11 and 18 years of age. Most schools are funded by the government or local education authorities (LEAs), although the industry also includes privately funded independent schools, which are likely to drive industry growth over the five years through 2020-21. The majority of secondary schools are either academies, which are state-funded but operate independently of LEAs, or maintained schools, which are controlled by LEAs. Both operate according to government guidelines and are therefore directly influenced by government policy.

Industry operators rely heavily on government funding, which has remained fairly safeguarded from... Learn More

2. App Development in the UK

2021 Overall Risk Score: 3.03

The App Development industry comprises companies that write, design and test mobile application software. Since the release of the first iPhone in 2008, and with it the launch of Apple's App Store, the App Development industry has gone from practically non-existent to an established segment of software development. The rapid penetration of smartphones equipped with internet connectivity and powerful processors has facilitated significant industry expansion. In the space of a decade, apps have integrated themselves into a variety of functions, becoming an indispensable feature of modern life. Industry revenue is expected to grow at a compound annual rate of 20.4%... Learn More

3. Cyber Security Software Development in the UK

2021 Overall Risk Score: 3.49

Operators in the Cyber Security Software Development industry create algorithms designed to be installed onto internet-connected networks to prevent unauthorised use. From undertaking businesses online to transferring financial information via online data packets, the Internet of Things has changed how society operates. However, the digital age has also allowed for cyber-attacks and the use malware to gain unauthorised access to computer networks for financial gain or personal data, threatening businesses and public resources. According to specialised global insurer, Hiscox, UK small businesses are the target of an estimated 65,000 cyber-attacks every day.

During the past five years, high-profile cyber breaches, including... Learn More

4. Primary Education in the UK

2021 Overall Risk Score: 3.51

The Primary Education industry consists of approximately 26,500 schools. Approximately 93% of primary school pupils attend state-funded schools and academies, with the remainder enrolled at independent schools. Industry revenue is mostly derived from government funding, either distributed directly to establishments or via local education authorities, with the remainder consisting of tuition fees and donations from children enrolled in privately funded independent schools. IBISWorld expects industry revenue to decrease at a compound annual rate of 1.2% over the five years through 2020-21 to £32.8 billion. This can be attributed to declines in government spending on education over some years of the... Learn More

5. Financial Technology in the UK

2021 Overall Risk Score: 3.56

Operators in the Financial Technology (FinTech) industry integrate finance and technology in ways that provide a variety of new services to businesses and consumers. Many of the services offered by FinTech companies had previously been delivered by traditional financial institutions such as banks. The UK FinTech industry is highly fragmented and expanding rapidly. Over the past five years, areas such as peer-to-peer lending, money transfer, and digital banks have performed well.

The industry relies heavily on third-party financing. Despite volatile economic conditions over the past five years, funding from both private and public sources to the industry has been formidable. Government... Learn More

6. Credit Bureaux & Rating Agencies in the UK

2021 Overall Risk Score: 3.69

Credit bureaux and rating agencies collect, store and manage data about consumers and businesses. The industry is responsible for mitigating risk, regulating activity and standardising information for its clients, which include investors, credit issuers, investment banks, broker-dealers, governments and the public. The industry can be divided into two segments: credit bureaux and credit rating agencies (CRAs). Credit bureaux help lenders assess the creditworthiness of prospective customers by collecting information on consumers' borrowing and repayment history. CRAs evaluate risk and assign ratings to various credit issuers and debt instruments.

Over the five years through 2020-2021, the industry is expected to grow at... Learn More

7. Software Publishing in the UK

2021 Overall Risk Score: 3.71

Businesses operating in the Software Publishing industry publish ready-made, non-customised computer software. Industry firms may also translate or adapt software for a particular downstream market or a slightly different application. Operators in the industry provide a wide range of software, such as operating systems, applications and middleware, to businesses across a range of industries as well as software for household use.

Over the past five years, industry growth has been driven by rising IT and telecommunications adoption and technological developments. The industry has been characterised by acquisitions, as larger operators have sought to remain on top of market trends and protect... Learn More

8. Beer Production in the UK

2021 Overall Risk Score: 3.77

Beer producers undertake the process of brewing, packaging and distributing lager, ale and stout. Demand for the industry's products is driven by per-capita alcohol consumption, income, price and consumer preferences. Over the five years through 2020-21, industry revenue is expected to decrease at a compound annual rate of 6.3%. However, this figure is distorted by the lockdown resultant of COVID-19 (coronavirus). The industry initially struggled due to the rising popularity of alternative beverages, growing health consciousness and heavy price discounting by supermarkets. However, the industry has benefited from increased alcohol consumption per capita, most likely attributable to the older population... Learn More

9. Online Greetings Card Retailers in the UK

2021 Overall Risk Score: 3.79

The industry has benefited from strong expansion in the wider online market as consumers have searched for cheaper deals and often preferred the convenience of the online platform. Demand for personalised cards has further supported growth. This has given operators an edge over traditional bricks-and-mortar retailers, as they are able to offer consumers cards for all occasions and allow consumers to design cards to their liking. Competition from physical stores is expected to have been significantly curbed from the beginning of 2020-21 as non-essential stores have been forced to close for weeks at a time as part of COVID-19 (coronavirus)... Learn More

10. Telehealth Services in the UK

2021 Overall Risk Score: 3.79

The Telehealth Services industry uses digital technology to deliver medical services - including the diagnosis, treatment, assessment and monitoring of health concerns - and health education by connecting multiple users in different locations. Telehealth services are often provided through electrical devices such as phones and video conference systems. Telehealth systems are often used to support people with long-term health conditions such as diabetes or cancer to self-manage their conditions, remain more independent. The industry's services are also used to reduce hospital stays, enable earlier hospital discharge, and reduce the population's dependency on primary health and GP services.

Industry revenue has expanded... Learn More