New research from Fair Fix, the boiler engineer experts, reveals that the number of plumbing and heating businesses operating in the UK has increased by 3% in 2023, which is good news for any homeowners and a result of increasing self-employment opportunities rising within the industry.
Growth in the industry
Fair Fix has analyzed the number of plumbing, heating, and air conditioning enterprises in the UK and how this number has changed over 2023, discovering that the industry is growing in size despite what has otherwise been a difficult year for the wider UK economy, small businesses, and households.
In 2022, there were 2.8 million operational businesses in the UK. In 2023, this number fell by -1.5% to sit closer to 2.7 million businesses. But the plumbing and heating industry has managed to buck this trend by increasing its number of businesses by 2.9% in 2023 so that total enterprises number 44,630.
regional growth
Wales has recorded an increase of 4.1%, followed by Yorkshire & Humber (3.9%), the East of England (3.5%)
The West Midlands has seen the largest regional growth with the number of businesses totalling 3,420 after increasing by 4.7% on the year.
Wales has recorded an increase of 4.1%, followed by Yorkshire & Humber (3.9%), the East of England (3.5%), and Scotland (3.4%).
Analysis findings
The rate of growth has been slowest in London where the number of businesses increased by just 1% on the year. It’s reasonable to expect that, despite such a small annual increase, London would still be home to the largest proportion of the UK’s plumbing and heating firms, but that is not the case.
Instead, it’s the South East that has the most businesses, with 8,095 accounting for 18.1% of the national total. This is followed by the East of England, home to 13.2% (5,870) of the UK’s firms, and London ranks third with 11% (4,890).
rise of self-employed, sole traders
Founder of Fair Fix, Tye Ekrem, commented, “It comes as no surprise to see that, despite difficult economic conditions, the number of plumbing and heating firms in the UK is on the rise."
Tye Ekrem adds, "That’s because we are seeing firsthand the rise of self-employed, sole traders operating around the country. The best engineers are increasingly seeing the benefit of going it alone once they have gathered the necessary experience and expertise. And with the likes of Fair Fix there to support their ambitions and send customers their way, they aren’t looking back.”