Businesses in the Greater West of England by broad industry groups

11 Mar 2026

This data insight gives a breakdown of businesses in the Greater West of England in 2025 by broad industry groups, with comparisons made to the rest of England (excluding London).

The Greater West of England is defined here as Bath and North East Somerset, Bristol, South Gloucestershire, Gloucestershire, North Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire.

The data are compiled from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) Inter Departmental Business Register (IDBR), which classifies businesses into 16 main industrial groups.

16.54%

Greater West of England businesses in professional, scientific and technical industries

12.8%

Increase in the total number of businesses in the Greater West of England, 2015-2025

3,245

Increase in number of construction businesses in the Greater West of England, 2015-2025

Private sector enterprises in the Greater West of England by industry group, 2025

The number of private sector enterprises in the Greater West of England in each broad industry group compared with England excluding London.

The proportions are broadly similar, with construction being the largest group in England excluding London and second largest in the Greater West of England. Professional, scientific and technical is the largest group in the Greater West of England and third largest in England excluding London.

The Greater West of England has proportionally fewer businesses than the national average in accommodation and food services, construction, manufacturing, motor trades, retail, transport and storage and wholesale, but only in retail is the difference more than a single percentage point.

Conversely, professional, scientific and technical, and information and communication are the only two groups where the Greater West of England exceeds the national average by more than one percentage point.

Private sector enterprises in the Greater West of England by industry group, 2015-2025 (percentage change)

Since 2015, there have been decreases in the number of private sector enterprises in five sectors in the Greater West of England, with the largest being information and communication (-19.9%). The largest increase was in electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply, with an increase of 137.7%.