Industries with Least Risky Business Environments in the UK in 2024

1. Online Household Furniture Retailers in the UK

Business Environment Risk for 2024: 1.91

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2. Renewable Electricity Generation in the UK

Business Environment Risk for 2024: 3.33

Increased awareness about the effects of climate change has driven an aggressive decarbonising strategy, spearheaded by renewables. Government targets and incentives spur major investment in renewable assets among UK energy giants, while technology developments boost potential generating capacity, particularly in offshore wind, which has grown the fastest of all renewable energy sources. Government data shows that the share of electricity generated from renewables surged from 29.2% in 2017 to 39.6% in 2021.

Renewable generators' revenue has increased at a compound annual rate of 6.9% over the five years through 2022-23, reaching £8.5 billion. Growth has been underpinned by the unrelenting expansion... Learn More

3. Medical & Orthopaedic Supplies Retailers in the UK

Business Environment Risk for 2024: 3.36

The Medical and Orthopaedic Supplies Retailers industry has endured tough operating conditions. The NHS is a significant opponent, offering free treatments and products to qualifying patients. Competitive threats from the private sector, pharmacy chains and dispensing chemists have persisted. Additionally, online-only operators have expanded their product offerings and captured market share from specialist retailers. Despite this, over the five years through 2023-24 revenue is expected to expand at an overall compound annual rate of 3.6%, reaching £1.4 billion.

While the NHS is the industry's biggest competitor, this threat has somewhat subsided due to long waiting times, limited product offerings and budgetary... Learn More

4. Waste-to-Energy Plant Operation in the UK

Business Environment Risk for 2024: 3.51

The Waste-to-Energy Plant Operation industry is growing. The industry focuses on the disposal and recovery of municipal waste and energy generation. This energy comes in the form of electricity exported to the national grid and consumers along private wires. The industry also exports its heat, usually in the form of steam that can be used in industrial processes or to heat homes. It also collects and sells recyclates from the waste, which is often metals recovered from sorting and bottom ash processing. Revenue is expected to expand at a compound annual rate of 4.6% to reach £1.5 billion over the... Learn More

5. Precision Agriculture Systems & Services in the UK

Business Environment Risk for 2024: 3.58

Revenue is forecast to climb at a compound annual rate of 2.2% over the five years through 2023-24 to £135.7 million. The primary driver of revenue growth is agricultural income, business capital expenditure and the depreciation of the pound. Despite the onset of economic uncertainty following the Brexit vote, the pound's depreciation increased the relative value of payments from the Common Agricultural Policy as it is paid to UK farmers in euros. This contributed to rising agricultural income, helping farmers afford pricey precision agricultural systems and services.

Significant inflationary pressures since the pandemic have actually aided farmers, as rising output prices... Learn More

6. Cyber Security Software Development in the UK

Business Environment Risk for 2024: 3.62

From undertaking businesses online to transferring financial information via online data packets, the Internet of Things has changed how society operates. However, the digital age has also allowed for cyber-attacks and the use malware to gain unauthorised access to computer networks for financial gain or personal data, threatening businesses and public resources. According to specialised global insurer Hiscox, small UK businesses are the target of an estimated 65,000 cyber-attacks every day.

High-profile cyber breaches have accelerated investment in intrusion prevention systems and given rise to innovation-led cyber start-ups that are pioneering a new era of security software. Over the five years... Learn More

7. Lithium Battery Manufacturing in the UK

Business Environment Risk for 2024: 3.69

Lithium battery manufacturing is ramping up in the UK following substantial support from government-backed R&D investment. Manufacturers are increasingly focused on producing high-quality, low-volume batteries – often to spec – for the defence, medical and automotive industries. Business confidence is a key driver of investment in lithium battery manufacturing, which is driven by the state of the economy. Exports are a key source of revenue; the sustained weakness of the pound has made UK-manufactured batteries more competitively priced, helping to raise export levels. Over the five years through 2023-24, lithium battery manufacturers' revenue is forecast to grow at a compound... Learn More

8. Technical & Vocational Education in the UK

Business Environment Risk for 2024: 3.69

Despite continuous government funding being pumped into the industry, revenue has been squeezed in recent years due to a fall in demand for apprenticeship starts, according to data from the DfE. Over the five years through 2022-23, industry revenue is estimated to rise at a compound annual rate of 0.4% to reach £967.2 million.

The launch of the Apprenticeship Levy in April 2017 was expected to fund three million apprenticeships by 2020, but apprenticeship starts have been declining since 2017-18. A dip in unemployment because of the vast availability of jobs reduced the need for people to re- or up-skill to... Learn More

9. Non-Alcoholic Beer Production in the UK

Business Environment Risk for 2024: 3.69

Per-capita alcohol consumption, income, price, health consciousness and consumer preferences drive non-alcoholic beer producers' performance. Over the five years through 2022-23, revenue is set to grow at a compound annual rate of 30% to £807.6 million, including growth of 34.2% in 2022-23, with the average industry profit margin hitting 19.7%.

Shrinking alcohol consumption per capita alongside growing health consciousness is paving the way for industry growth. Popular craft beer producers are rapidly introducing no-alcohol and sustainable beer varieties, driving growth in the non-alcoholic beer industry. During the COVID-19 pandemic, many consumers stuck at home cut out booze, dabbing into non-alcoholic beer... Learn More

10. Shipbuilding in the UK

Business Environment Risk for 2024: 3.70

Shipbuilding revenue is forecast to expand at a compound annual rate of 1.2% to £6.6 billion over the five years through 2023-24, including a projected growth of 1.3% in 2023-24. Shipbuilders produce military vessels for the Royal Navy and foreign governments, providing a steady revenue stream. Import competition in the passenger ship segment is intensifying due to lower production costs in Europe and Asia, leading to the demise of this segment. Despite this, exports account for a large share of revenue thanks to warships built for foreign militaries.

Contracts to build the Type 26 and Type 31e General Purpose Frigates awarded... Learn More