Analysis by the Global Payroll Alliance (GPA) has revealed that investment into UK businesses rose 3% between 2023 and 2024.
The statistics, which were based on the latest ONS business figures, highlight which sectors in the UK seem to be attracting the most investment…and the results may surprise you.
Production Sector Sees A Surge
One of the biggest sectors drawing in investment was the production sector, which saw a 24.6% rise overall.
Within this, green energy led the charge, with investment into Electricity, Water & Gas up by 31.9%, followed by Agriculture, Forestry & Fishing at 20.9% and Mining & Quarrying at 11%.
This could show huge opportunities for startups focused on sustainable energy or agritech, particularly those that are finding new ways to democratise renewable energy and boost eco-friendly farming.
Fashion and Food Are On The Up
Whilst manufacturing overall seems to have flatlined, some subsectors saw a significant boom.
Textiles, Clothing, Leather & Footwear companies saw investment jump by a huge 81.2%. Food, Drink & Tobacco also rose by 10.1%, showing a real demand for new products – especially those promoting sustainable, healthy and unique items.
Jobs Are Down But Investment Is Up
But whilst investment is up, worries about redundancies still persist. According to The Independent, in a piece from May 2025, one in four employers plan to make redundancies in the next three months.
However, Melanie Pizzey, CEO of the Global Payroll Alliance, believes these investment statistics may help those who are worried about their future at work.
Commenting on this, Pizzey said: “We’ve seen a 77% rise in online searches for ‘redundancy rights’ since October 2024, reflecting real anxiety among workers. But this new wave of investment – particularly into sectors that drive employment – should support new job creation and boost long-term confidence.” She adds “The hope is that money moving into businesses soon means more money moving into people’s pockets. That will depend, however, on a clear and committed growth strategy from the next government.”
What This Means For Startups
When it comes to UK startups and founders, this data should spark a wave of optimism. Particularly in sectors like clothing, food and transport, there could be plenty of potential for tech innovation and investment-driven growth.
In fact, many UK startups are already showing just how fast they can grow and disrupt markets. Let’s take a look at them:
Who Are the UK’s Fastest-Growing Startups?
According to Deloitte’s Fast 50 – which highlights the 50 fastest-growing tech companies in the UK – the fastest growing startups in the UK are:
1. Allica Bank – 13,411% Growth
Topping the list is Allica Bank, a digital-first bank offering financial services specially for SMEs. Its quick growth shows how much demand there is for business banking geared towards small and mid-sized firms.
2. ZOE – 9,533% Growth
Healthtech company ZOE has taken the food world by storm, by bringing together AI, personalised nutrition and science-backed food insights to transform how we eat.
ZOE has tapped into the huge health and wellness industry, completely changing how people view their food.
3. UrbanChain – 8,810% Growth
Cleantech company UrbanChain is a peer-to-peer renewable energy marketplace. Their model helps more people access green energy by bypassing wholesalers and allowing them to sell any excess energy they generate.
4. SourceWhale and Seat Unique – 8,209% and 7,921% Growth
Both startups are using their tech platforms to help businesses streamline different processes. SourceWhale automates recruiter outreach, while Seat Unique makes event ticketing easier for people and venues.
5. Zilch – 7,694% Growth
As the buy-now-pay-later space continues to grow, Zilch allows customers to pay now and earn rewards, credit, and cashback. The company currently has over 5 million customers and is growing fast.
Other major climbers include:
Secret Food Tours (6,778%): A food tourism platform that promises experiential travel based on food.
Summize (3,720%): Making contract management easier using AI.
Scan.com (2,769%): Imaging intelligence platform, helping people schedule scans, view reports and download images all in one place.
PolyAI (2,583%): Creating human-like voice AI to help businesses communicate with customers.
A Boost In UK Investment
As the UK continues to face economic uncertainty, it’s interesting to see which sectors are appealing most to investors, and which are falling to the wayside.
With investment on the up and startups driving growth, we are seeing a new economic era unfold – one driven by fintech, healthcare and AI.
