Barclays map shows UK equity investment surges 26%

Barclays has launched its Regional Investment Map, which shows that UK businesses raised GBP £14.4 billion in equity investment in the first half of 2026, up 26 per cent from the second half of 2025.

Data compiled by Barclays Eagle Labs and Beauhurst also showed about 5.51 million active companies across the UK in the first six months of the year, 1.33 per cent more than at the end of 2025. More than 1.3 million were active across the Government's eight Industrial Strategy sectors.

Those sectors attracted most of the equity funding, drawing GBP £13.4 billion between them, or 93.2 per cent of the UK total.

Digital & Technologies remained the leading destination for investors, attracting GBP £11.6 billion, or 80.8 per cent of all UK equity investment. Professional and Business Services followed with GBP £4.57 billion, while Life Sciences secured GBP £2.76 billion.

London continued to account for the largest share of activity, attracting GBP £10.1 billion, equal to 70 per cent of total UK equity investment during the period.

Outside London, several regional markets grew more quickly. Wales recorded the strongest increase, with investment rising 530 per cent to GBP £159 million. The North West rose 89.4 per cent to GBP £1.19 billion, and the East Midlands increased 88.2 per cent to GBP £57.9 million.

Northern Ireland also posted a notable gain, with investment up 63.4 per cent to GBP £72.2 million. The East of England recorded a smaller but still positive rise of 19.6 per cent to GBP £728 million.

Regional picture

The North West's performance was helped by a GBP £814 million fundraising round for AI company Ineffable Intelligence. In Wales, a GBP £81 million round for semiconductor specialist IQE contributed to the jump in regional investment, while Northern Ireland's total was supported by a GBP £53.5 million fundraising round for software company Cloudsmith.

The sector breakdown showed how concentrated some parts of the market remain. London's technology businesses alone secured GBP £9.03 billion, accounting for most of the national Digital & Technologies total.

Elsewhere, there were signs of a broader geographic spread. The North West brought in GBP £1.01 billion in Digital & Technologies investment, the East of England attracted GBP £375 million in Life Sciences, and Northern Ireland secured GBP £61.2 million in Professional and Business Services.

Scotland also showed activity across the three largest sectors, with GBP £128 million in Digital & Technologies, GBP £86.2 million in Professional and Business Services, and GBP £93.1 million in Life Sciences. The South East recorded GBP £635 million in Digital & Technologies, while the South West attracted GBP £115 million in the same sector.

Every UK region saw an increase in the number of digital and technology businesses, according to the map. The figures reflect the spread of local innovation clusters beyond the capital, even as London remained the main centre for fundraising.

Industrial strategy

The findings also align with the Government's focus on eight priority sectors: Advanced Manufacturing, Clean Energy, Creative Industries, Digital & Technologies, Financial Services, Life Sciences, Professional and Business Services, and Defence. Because some businesses operate across more than one field, individual company and deal totals may appear in multiple sector categories.

Separate research cited alongside the map suggested growing corporate interest in defence. Barclays said 40 per cent of UK businesses surveyed across multiple sectors intended to increase their involvement in UK defence over the next year. It also found that 48 per cent expected the Government's Defence Investment Plan to have a positive effect on their region, while 38 per cent expected a positive effect on their own business.

"This is terrific news for UK businesses and shows how bringing business and innovation together through the Industrial Strategy can help drive economic growth and create jobs. My ambition does not stop here. I want to go further by bringing good growth to every postcode and provide investors with the stability and confidence they need to plan not just for the next year, but for the next 10 years and beyond," said Jonathan Reynolds, Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade.

"Businesses across the UK are continuing to attract investment, with strong tech-backed momentum in the Industrial Strategy sectors. From artificial intelligence and life sciences through to advanced manufacturing and defence, we're seeing strong evidence that investors are backing innovative British businesses with global ambitions," Abdul Qureshi, Head of Business Banking, Barclays, said.

"What's particularly encouraging is that investment opportunities are emerging right across the country. The North West, Wales, East Midlands and Northern Ireland all recorded significant growth in investment activity during the first half of the year, demonstrating the strength of local innovation ecosystems and specialist expertise across the UK. Ensuring businesses can access the finance, support and networks they need to grow will be critical to maintaining this momentum. By continuing to invest in innovation, technology and skills, firms across the UK can put themselves in a strong position to seize future growth opportunities," Qureshi added.