Industry Statistics and Trends
Market size and recent performance (2015-2030)
Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 0.2 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated £3.6bn in 2025.
Trends and Insights
Repair and maintenance work sustains industrial cleaning demand as new construction weakens
- The UK construction sector is still growing, but barely – repair and maintenance work is doing all the heavy lifting. ONS data reveals that in 2023, total annual construction output grew by 2%, but this was driven by an 8.3% jump in repair and maintenance, while new-build volumes slipped by 2.1%. This pattern continued into 2024, with construction output up just 0.4% for the year, again entirely thanks to an 8.5% rise in repair and maintenance, as new construction work dropped by 5.3%.
- Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Source: IBISWorld
Industry outlook (2025-2030)
Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.
Trends and Insights
An ageing population and increased NHS funding are set to drive long-term growth
- The ONS projects that the proportion of UK residents aged over 65 will climb to almost 22% by 2030, up from 19% in 2022. In response to rising healthcare needs, the government plans to increase the NHS resource budget to £205.1 billion in 2025–26, a 14% rise on 2023–24. These demographic and funding trends are likely to raise the number of patients needing care, increase hospital admissions and create stricter infection-control and hygiene requirements across the health system.
Biggest companies in the Industrial Cleaning Activities in the UK
| Company | Market Share (%)
2026 | Revenue (£m)
2026 |
|---|---|---|
Mitie FM Ltd | 219.8 | |
OCS Group UK Ltd | 72.0 | |
TC Facilities Management Ltd | 32.6 |
To view the market share and analysis for all 3 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.
Products & Services Segmentation
Source: IBISWorld
Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Specialised cleaning , Industrial machinery cleaning and Window cleaning. Specialised cleaning is the largest segment of the Industrial Cleaning Activities in the UK.
Trends and Insights
Stricter standards and specialist demand are reshaping the specialised cleaning market
- Specialised cleaning covers deep cleans and decontamination across hospitals, industrial kitchens, food factories, public transport sites and any setting where biohazards or infection control are a risk.
- More insights available in the full report
Table of Contents
About this industry
Industry definition
Companies in this industry provide a number of cleaning services to clients in various sectors. Services include window cleaning for residential and non-residential buildings, specialist cleaning, industrial equipment and exterior cleaning for buildings.
What's included in this industry?
Products and services covered in the Industrial Cleaning Activities industry in the United Kingdom include Specialised cleaning , Window cleaning , Industrial machinery cleaning , Chimney and furnace cleaning and Exterior building cleaning.Companies
Companies covered in the Industrial Cleaning Activities industry in the United Kingdom include Mitie FM Ltd, OCS Group UK Ltd and TC Facilities Management Ltd.Purchase this report to view all 3 major companies in this industry.
Related Terms
Related terms covered in the Industrial Cleaning Activities industry in the United Kingdom include franchising, industrial kitchen, decontamination and food incident .Industry Code
SIC 81.22 - Industrial Cleaning Activities in the UK
Performance
Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.
Analyst insights
Repairs keep the industry steady. With new construction in decline, recurring repair and maintenance work is providing reliable revenue, allowing cleaning providers to lock i...
In this chapter (4)
- Current Performance
- Outlook
- Volatility
- Life Cycle
Key metrics
- Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
- Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
- Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
- Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business
Charts
- Revenue, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
- Employees, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
- Businesses, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
- Profit, including historical (2015-2025)
- Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
- Industry Life Cycle
Detailed analysis
- Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
- Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
- Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
- How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.
Products and Markets
Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.
Analyst insight
Compliance is driving demand. Stricter regulations in healthcare, manufacturing and building management are pushing clients to require more frequent, specialist cleaning, lea...
In this chapter
- Products & Services
- Major Markets
Key metrics
- Largest market segment and value in 2025
- Product innovation level
Charts
- Products & services segmentation in 2025
- Major market segmentation in 2025
Detailed analysis
- Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
- Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
- Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
- Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services
Geographic Breakdown
Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.
Analyst insights
The South East's large population and business market attract cleaners. Cleaning companies targeting residential and commercial buildings will do well in the South East.
In this chapter (1)
- Business Locations
Charts
- Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each region
- Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2025
Tables
- Number and share of establishments in each region in 2025
- Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2025
- Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2025
- Number and share of employees in each region in 2025
Detailed analysis
- Geographic spread of the industry across Europe, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
- Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage
Competitive Forces
Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.
Analyst insights
Cleaning companies compete fiercely on price to win business. Larger cleaning companies are more resilient to price competition, as smaller businesses lack the resources to t...
In this chapter (4)
- Concentration
- Barriers to Entry
- Substitutes
- Buyer & Supplier Analysis
Key metrics
- Industry concentration level
- Industry competition level and trend
- Barriers to entry level and trend
- Substitutes level and trend
- Buyer power level and trend
- Supplier power level and trend
Charts
- Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2020-2025
- Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart
Detailed analysis
- Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
- Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
- Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
- Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
- Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
- Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
- Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
- Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
- Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.
Companies
Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.
Analyst insights
The industry is mostly made up of small companies. Most companies have a regional or technical focus, limiting their market share. Only larger companies have the scale to off...
In this chapter
- Market Share Concentration
- Companies
- Company Spotlights
Charts
- Industry market share by company in 2021 through 2025
- Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2025
- Overview of Mitie FM Ltd's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2019 through 2025
- Overview of OCS Group UK Ltd's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2019 through 2025
- Overview of TC Facilities Management Ltd's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2019 through 2025
Detailed analysis
- Description and key data for Mitie FM Ltd, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description and key data for OCS Group UK Ltd, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description and key data for TC Facilities Management Ltd, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
External Environment
Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.
Analyst insights
The manufacturing sector is a significant market for industrial cleaners. Manufacturing output is rising, presenting an opportunity for the industry.
In this chapter
- External Drivers
- Regulation & Policy
- Assistance
Key metrics
- Regulation & policy level and trend
- Assistance level and trend
Charts
- Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2015-2030)
- Assistance historical data and forecast (2015-2030)
Detailed analysis
- Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
- Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
- Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.
Financial Benchmarks
View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time.
Analyst insights
Wages lead the cost burden. Labour is by far the largest expense for industrial cleaning businesses, with repeated National Living Wage hikes and staff shortages making it ev...
In this chapter
- Cost Structure
- Financial Ratios
- Key Ratios
Key metrics
- Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
- Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
- Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
- Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio
Charts
- Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2025
- Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2025
- Investment vs. share of economy
Data tables
- Liquidity Ratios (2019-2023)
- Coverage Ratios (2019-2023)
- Leverage Ratios (2019-2023)
- Operating Ratios (2019-2023)
- Assets (2019-2023)
- Liabilities (2019-2023)
- Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2015-2030)
- Revenue per Employee (2015-2030)
- Revenue per Enterprise (2015-2030)
- Employees per Establishment (2015-2030)
- Employees per Enterprise (2015-2030)
- Average Wage (2015-2030)
- Wages/Revenue (2015-2030)
- Establishments per Enterprise (2015-2030)
- IVA/Revenue (2015-2030)
- Imports/Demand (2015-2030)
- Exports/Revenue (2015-2030)
Detailed analysis
- Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability
Key Statistics
Industry Data
Data Tables
Including values and annual change:
- Revenue (2015-2030)
- IVA (2015-2030)
- Establishments (2015-2030)
- Enterprises (2015-2030)
- Employment (2015-2030)
- Exports (2015-2030)
- Imports (2015-2030)
- Wages (2015-2030)
Top Questions Answered
Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.
What is the market size of the Industrial Cleaning Activities industry in the United Kingdom in 2025?
The market size of the Industrial Cleaning Activities industry in the United Kingdom is £3.6bn in 2025.
How many businesses are there in the Industrial Cleaning Activities industry in the United Kingdom in 2025?
There are 10,400 businesses in the Industrial Cleaning Activities industry in the United Kingdom, which has grown at a CAGR of 1.2 % between 2020 and 2025.
How may import tariffs affect the Industrial Cleaning Activities industry in the United Kingdom?
The Industrial Cleaning Activities industry in the United Kingdom is unlikely to be materially impacted by import tariffs with imports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.
How may export tariffs affect the Industrial Cleaning Activities industry in the United Kingdom?
The Industrial Cleaning Activities industry in the United Kingdom is unlikely to be materially impacted by export tariffs with exports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.
Has the Industrial Cleaning Activities industry in the United Kingdom grown or declined over the past 5 years?
The market size of the Industrial Cleaning Activities industry in the United Kingdom has been growing at a CAGR of 0.2 % between 2020 and 2025.
What is the forecast growth of the Industrial Cleaning Activities industry in the United Kingdom over the next 5 years?
Over the next five years, the Industrial Cleaning Activities industry in the United Kingdom is expected to grow.
What are the biggest companies in the Industrial Cleaning Activities industry in the United Kingdom?
The biggest companies operating in the Industrial Cleaning Activities industry in the United Kingdom are Mitie FM Ltd, OCS Group UK Ltd and TC Facilities Management Ltd
What does the Industrial Cleaning Activities industry in the United Kingdom include?
Specialised cleaning and Window cleaning are part of the Industrial Cleaning Activities industry in the United Kingdom.
Which companies have the highest market share in the Industrial Cleaning Activities industry in the United Kingdom?
The company holding the most market share in the Industrial Cleaning Activities industry in the United Kingdom is Mitie FM Ltd.
How competitive is the Industrial Cleaning Activities industry in the United Kingdom?
The level of competition is high and increasing in the Industrial Cleaning Activities industry in the United Kingdom.
Methodology
How are IBISWorld reports created?
IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.
Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.
IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.
What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?
Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.
Key data sources in the UK include:
- Office for National Statistics
- Office for Budget Responsibility
- Bank of England
Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.
These sources include:
- Industry and trade associations
- Industry federations or regulators
- Major industry players annual or quarterly filings
Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.
How does IBISWorld forecast its data?
IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.
IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.
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