What the evidence means
The rate is the share of eligible active businesses meeting the ONS high-growth definition based on employment growth over three years.
Rate among businesses eligible for the high-growth measure.
G&G verified business evidence
UK high-growth business rate in 2024
The UK high-growth business rate was 4.9% in 2024.
4.9
percent
Original source
Office for National Statistics
Business demography, UK: 2024
ONS reports a high-growth business rate of 4.9% for 2024.
View original evidence
Office for National Statistics. Business demography, UK: 2024. 20th of November, 2025. https://www.ons.gov.uk/businessindustryandtrade/business/activitysizeandlocation/bulletins/businessdemography/2024
Why this matters to UK SMEs
Only a minority of eligible employers met the official high-growth threshold, showing how demanding sustained employment expansion is. The rate is useful scale-up context but is not a target for firms whose best path is profitable, controlled growth.
Key breakdowns
The high-growth rate was 4.9% among 292,125 active businesses with at least 10 employees, representing 14,330 businesses. It rose by 0.2 percentage points from 2023 and was the highest since 2018. London recorded 6.6%, while Northern Ireland recorded 3.5%. Information and communication led industries at 9.2%.
How to interpret this evidence
The rate is the share of eligible businesses achieving average annualised employment growth above 20% over three years. It describes employment expansion, not turnover, productivity, cash generation or long-term survival.
Limitations
Businesses with fewer than 10 employees at the start of the period are excluded. Counts are rounded and based on the IDBR. Regional and industry comparisons reflect different business populations, and rapid employment growth may include acquisitions or recovery as well as organic expansion.
Practical considerations
G&G perspective: choose growth measures that fit the strategy and economics of the business. If rapid hiring is planned, test management capacity, role productivity, working capital, systems and demand under downside conditions, and monitor quality and cash alongside headcount.