Most Profitable Industries in United Kingdom in 2026

• 1. Banks in the UK

  Total Profit for 2026: £53.2B

  Over the five years through 2024-25, UK banks' revenue is expected to climb at a compound annual rate of 1.7% to £128.6 billion, including an anticipated hike of 2% in 2024-25. After the financial crisis in 2007-08, low interest rates limited banks' interest in loans, hitting income. At the same time, a stricter regulatory environment, including increased capital requirements introduced under the Basel III banking reforms and ring-fencing regulations, constricted lending activity. To protect ...

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• 2. Construction Contractors in the UK

  Total Profit for 2026: £30.1B

  Construction contractors are active across building construction and civil engineering markets. Despite being remunerated for completing new building and infrastructure construction contracts or fulfilling maintenance, repair, renovation and remodelling contract obligations, the spectrum of services offered by civils and general building contractors in this industry is multifaceted. Some contractors focus on new dwellings construction, while civil engineering specialists afford clients servic...

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• 3. Computer Consultants in the UK

  Total Profit for 2026: £16.5B

  The Computer Consultants industry’s revenue has experienced continued positive growth as technological developments create high demand for their expertise and services. This growth was extreme as workplace operations shifted to become even more digital during the pandemic. In recent years, the industry has faced increasing obstacles due to a highly competitive market, talent shortages and low business confidence caused by an uncertain economic environment cited frequently by consultants as fe...

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• 4. Legal Activities in the UK

  Total Profit for 2026: £16.5B

  Revenue is projected to climb at a compound annual rate of 1.6% to £48.9 billion over the five years through 2024-25. Recent economic headwinds, including severe inflationary pressures and geopolitical tensions, have taken a hit on consumer spending and business activity, which has limited industry growth. However, the industry is countercyclical, meaning that demand for legal work in certain areas, including litigation and insolvency matters, grows in times of economic downturn. The largest ...

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• 5. Management Consultants in the UK

  Total Profit for 2026: £13.0B

  In recent years, management consultants have been reaping the rewards of swelling demand for IT consulting services. While expanding business activity and spending has fuelled management consultants’ revenue during upbeat economic conditions, the provision of countercyclical services has supported revenue during periods of economic instability. They’ve also benefitted from regulatory changes, as businesses have required help to fine-tune their strategies and operations following Brexit and re...

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• 6. Building Project Development in the UK

  Total Profit for 2026: £10.9B

  The financial and operational success of property development markets depends on a range of socio-economic factors, such as property values, market sentiment and credit conditions. Building project developers' revenue is forecast to slide at a compound annual rate of 3.2% to £35.8 billion over the five years through 2024-25. The economic shock caused by the pandemic had a devastating impact on property development market in 2020-21. Severe supply chain and market disruption caused sentiment t...

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• 7. New Car & Light Motor Vehicle Dealers in the UK

  Total Profit for 2026: £10.4B

  Revenue is anticipated to grow at a compound annual rate of 0.4% to £146.6 billion over the five years through 2024-25, inducing a projected revenue growth of 3.6% in 2024-25, when the average profit margin is set to sit at 7.1%. New car registrations inched downwards in 2021-22 due to skyrocketing fuel prices and customers delaying sales. New car sales have been rising since 2022-23, driven by electric sales and plug-in hybrids, despite squeezed household incomes. According to the SMMT, risi...

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• 8. Business Process Outsourcing Services in the UK

  Total Profit for 2026: £9.7B

  Business process outsourcing (BPO) companies provide services to clients in all sectors of the economy, with the financial services and public sectors being particularly important markets. Expanding IT adoption and government expenditure have incentivised businesses to invest more heavily in IT systems and upgrades, supporting demand for BPO services. Industry revenue is expected to contract at a compound annual rate of 3% over the five years through 2024-25 to £73.4 billion, including estima...

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• 9. Accounting & Auditing in the UK

  Total Profit for 2026: £8.0B

  The accounting and auditing industry benefits from the wide range of businesses it serves and because many UK businesses need to have their financial accounts audited. During periods of economic growth, demand for accounting and auditing services picks up. During adverse economic conditions, revenue remains fairly stable thanks to demand for countercyclical services, like restructuring and cost-cutting advice. Despite economic hardships in recent years, revenue is expected to climb at a compo...

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• 10. Temporary-Employment Placement Agencies in the UK

  Total Profit for 2026: £7.5B

  The Temporary-Employment Placement Agencies industry revenue is forecast to decline at a compound annual rate of 1%  to £56.7 billion over the five years through 2024-25. The COVID-19 outbreak meant key employers of temporary workers in the sports and music events spaces completely shut their doors and businesses froze hiring, reducing clients for agencies. Sign-ups for temporary employment declined, hitting revenue in 2020-21. Companies pressed play immediately on hiring as the economy reope...

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