As September begins, it’s the perfect moment to reflect on the signals August has sent about the UK business landscape. Far from being a “quiet summer month,” August delivered strong momentum, fresh activity, and early indicators of the trends likely to shape the rest of the financial year.
For professionals in sales, strategy, finance, or risk, understanding these shifts isn’t just valuable — it’s a competitive advantage. That’s why, instead of overwhelming you with data, we’ve distilled the highlights from DataGardener’s August 2025 Business Insights Report into clear, actionable takeaways designed to help you move with confidence.
August is generally a quieter month in terms of business activity.
August in the UK business calendar
However, it provides an important pause for reflection and strategic thinking:
- A slower pace allows business owners to assess the first half of the year and refine strategies.
- Networking events continue, though on a smaller scale, offering focused opportunities.
- Entrepreneurs often use this time to prepare for a busy period once the holiday slowdown ends.
The takeaway: August may not be the most active month, but it’s a valuable period for reflection, planning, and setting the stage for the months ahead.
These figures underscore just how fast-moving and competitive the UK business environment remains.
How many new companies were registered in August 2025?
👉 60K+ new companies were registered across the UK in August 2025.
There’s a 14.1% drop from July’s 70K+, but it still reflects strong and consistent entrepreneurial activity.
How many companies closed down?
In August 2025, 61K+ companies were dissolved, compared to nearly 91K+ in July 2025 — a 32% drop month-on-month.
Why the change?
- Post–year-end cleanups in July created a spike
- Dormant or non-compliant companies were struck off
- Market corrections are balancing out activity
👉 It’s a reminder that while many businesses are launched each month, survival is the real challenge.
Which Regions Had the Most New Businesses?
Businesses Were Incorporated in the UK
August 2025 vs July 2025
In August 2025, 60K+ new companies were incorporated, down from 70K+ in July 2025 — a 14.1% decrease month-on-month.
The regional distribution of new companies across the UK shows a mixed economic picture.
London leads the way with 20K+ new incorporations in August, keeping its place as the country’s commercial hub.
The North West and South East follow, each adding around 6K+ companies, showing they remain strong business regions outside of the capital.
At the other end of the scale, Wales (1.1K+) and Northern Ireland (745) recorded the fewest new incorporations, highlighting a smaller but still important contribution to the UK’s overall business activity.
👉 Overall, while London continues to dominate, there’s clear entrepreneurial activity happening across every region.
What industries were most active in August?
Top 10 Highest Registered Industries in August 2025
The analysis of the Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) reveals a broad mix of industries driving company registrations in August 2025.
The Wholesale and Retail Trade sector leads the way, accounting for 20.76% of all incorporations, highlighting its central role in the UK economy.
This is followed by Real Estate Activities (9.8%) and Professional, Scientific, and Technical Activities (9.47%), both showing strong and steady demand.
Information and Communication (8.41%) and Construction (7.05%) also maintain notable shares, reflecting their importance in supporting both infrastructure and digital growth.
Together, these figures suggest that sectors tied to consumer demand, property, and professional services are most active in forming new companies. This provides valuable insights for understanding growth hotspots, assessing risk, and identifying emerging opportunities across the business landscape.
What does the business risk profile look like?
The assessment of company risk profiles reveals a varied landscape within the region’s business sector.
In the business risk landscape, most companies are positioned in the moderate-risk category, with 98.6% demonstrating a balanced approach to risk management. This overwhelming proportion highlights a preference for stability and calculated risk-taking in business operations.
Very high-risk or not-scored entities make up 1.18%, while high-risk companies constitute 0.19%. These segments represent businesses exposed to elevated challenges, requiring more advanced risk mitigation strategies.
On the safer end of the spectrum, very low-risk companies account for just 0.03%, reflecting a highly cautious stance in the market.
The distribution of risk underscores the importance of tailored risk management practices to effectively navigate the complexities of today’s business environment.
Were there more company charges registered in July?
Yes — 11K+ company charges were registered in August, compared to 13K+ in July.
Regional Distribution
What does it mean?
In August, over 11K company charges were registered, a bit fewer than the 13K+ in July. This small drop shows that financial activity is stabilising rather than slowing down. It’s a reminder for businesses to keep an eye on credit and manage risk carefully as the market balances out.
How did County Court Judgments (CCJs) trend?
In August 2025, 7K CCJs were filed across the regions shown, compared to 9K CCJs in July 2025. This reflects a notable decrease month-over-month.
While the overall volume dropped, the consistently high levels still highlight the importance of maintaining strong credit checks and due diligence when entering into business relationships.
Regional Distribution
What’s happening with female-founded businesses?
In August 2025, 7K+ new companies were registered as female-owned, a significant decline from the 11K+ registered in July 2025.
Wholesale and retail trade, professional services, and real estate led the way, while London, the South East, and the North West were the top regions.
Female-Owned Businesses
Industrial Insights August 2025
Top 3 industries with female-owned businesses
Female-Owned Businesses
Regional Insights August 2025
Top 3 Regions with female-owned businesses
Why does this matter?
Tracking female entrepreneurship helps benchmark progress on inclusion and innovation. While the August dip is notable, female founders continue to play a vital role in the UK economy.
Conclusion: What Does This All Mean for You?
August 2025 showed that the UK business landscape is both resilient and fast-moving. Company formations remain strong, with female founders driving growth across key sectors, and risk levels underscore the importance of making smart, data-driven decisions. The message is clear: opportunity is everywhere — but only those who act with insight will stay ahead.
All insights are sourced from DataGardener’s August 2025 UK Business Insights Report. For deeper data, API access, or customised dashboards, visit DataGardener.com.
Other Resources:
IS-8: What the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy Means for You
How to Verify UK Company Directors: Complete 2025 Guide
Lead Generation Strategy in 2025: Why It’s All About Quality Over Quantity