NatWest: UK active company base rises to record 5.66 million in H1 2026
NWG•NatWest says UK active company base hit record 5.66 million
NatWest market analysis showed 402,000 UK companies incorporated in H1 2026, down 5.7% year on year.
Active UK company base rose to a record 5.66 million, pointing to resilience despite slower formation.
Application software led startup activity with 28,100 incorporations, up 40% year on year.
Scotland posted the fastest regional startup growth at 3.73% versus H2 2025; London remained the largest hub with 136,000 incorporations.
Regulatory reforms may be lifting register quality by reducing low-intent or fraudulent filings.
