On 23rd June 2025, the UK Government published Invest 2035: The UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy, setting out a 10-year vision to accelerate productivity, strengthen innovation, and fuel long-term economic growth.
At the centre of this plan are the IS-8 sectors, eight industries identified as critical to the UK’s future competitiveness. These sectors are already attracting government funding, targeted interventions, and private investment, making them essential for businesses, local authorities, and economic developers to understand and track.
But there’s a challenge: there’s no single agreed-upon list of businesses that fall into these sectors. Sector definitions are vague, and SIC codes alone fail to capture emerging industries. That’s where DataGardener’s advanced company intelligence comes in.
What Are the IS-8 Sectors?
The government’s strategy identifies eight growth-driving industries:
- Advanced Manufacturing
- Clean Energy
- Creative Industries
- Defence
- Digital & Technologies
- Financial Services
- Life Sciences
- Professional & Business Services
Each of these sectors is already attracting increased government investment and policy interventions. For local authorities, lenders, researchers, and businesses, the ability to track activity within these industries is becoming increasingly important.
Why Do the IS-8 Sectors Matter?
The IS-8 industries are more than a government label. They represent:
- Future job creation – entire new industries (like hydrogen power) are expected to employ thousands.
- Innovation clusters – cities and regions will become hubs of specialist expertise.
- Attracting global investment – making the UK a magnet for private and foreign capital.
- Supply chain opportunities – SMEs can become vital suppliers to larger IS-8 firms.
In short, if you’re not tracking these sectors, you’re missing where the UK economy is heading.
But tracking them isn’t easy.
Think Data. Think DataGardener
DataGardener users double their leads and cut research time in half — with smarter data, faster insights, and better decisions.
The Challenge: Tracking IS-8 Sectors
While the government has published Sector Definitions Lists that map IS-8 industries against SIC codes, there’s a big problem:
- Many high-growth areas don’t fit neatly into SIC codes (e.g., heat pumps, nuclear fission, sustainable finance, AI-driven defence tech).
- Companies are often misclassified or spread across multiple codes.
- Local authorities, government agencies, and researchers are left building manual workarounds — combining SIC codes, keywords, and guesswork just to get a partial picture.
This leads to inconsistency, duplication, and confusion. Without a reliable way to map these sectors, different regions and departments risk making decisions on incomplete data.
The IS-8 Sectors: What Does This Mean for Local Places?
The Government has identified regional clusters and combined authorities as central to each IS-8 sector. These areas will receive priority for investment and policy interventions.
But growth isn’t limited to official clusters—supply chains and emerging hubs across the UK also play a critical role. With DataGardener, you can:
- Benchmark your region against national averages
- Spot untapped high-growth businesses in your area
- Plan future investment strategies based on reliable, forward-looking data
How DataGardener Helps You See Through the Fog
At DataGardener, we’ve tackled this issue directly by building tools that give you a clearer, more accurate picture of the IS-8 sectors.
Here’s how:
- Best Match SIC Code Technology
We go beyond what’s filed. Our system analyses multiple data sources to match businesses to the right sector — even if their official SIC is misleading. - Frontier Sector Mapping
From complex weapons to heat pumps, we capture businesses in areas that don’t fit neatly into SIC definitions. - Growth Potential Scoring
Using predictive analytics, we can identify businesses with the potential to achieve 20% or more growth in the next year, helping you focus on high-potential companies. - Regional Insights
Compare your local strengths against national averages and identify clusters of opportunity that matter for your strategy.
This means that whether you’re a local authority, policymaker, lender, or researcher, you can trust DataGardener to provide a reliable map of IS-8 opportunities.
One Industrial Strategy. One Shared Map.
The UK Government has identified eight key sectors that will shape the country’s economic future. However, defining, tracking, and understanding them is a challenge that traditional data sources cannot solve.
With DataGardener, you gain clarity and confidence:
- Consistent mapping of IS-8 businesses
- Insights into local strengths and growth potential
- Tools to support smarter decision-making across lending, procurement, and economic development
Ready to explore the IS-8 sectors in your region? Book a demo with DataGardener today.
Final Thoughts
The UK’s IS-8 sectors will define the country’s economic future. However, without clear and consistent data, tracking them remains a significant challenge. That’s where DataGardener steps in — providing clarity, accuracy, and actionable insights for government, lenders, and organisations working to shape the UK’s next decade of growth.
Want to see IS-8 insights for your area?
Book a demo with DataGardener and explore how our platform helps you track the businesses and growth opportunities that matter most.
Think Data. Think DataGardener
DataGardener users double their leads and cut research time in half — with smarter data, faster insights, and better decisions.
Other Resources:
- How to Verify UK Company Directors: Complete 2025 Guide
- Lead Generation Strategy in 2025: Why It’s All About Quality Over Quantity
- Write-Offs: Revealing Top 10 Affected Industries
- How to Find a UK Company Address Online: A Step-by-Step Guide
