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In recent times, the UK economy has faced significant challenges. Growth has stalled, and forecasts suggest that the UK will experience the slowest growth among the G7 nations in 2025, with a projected GDP increase of just 1%.
This sluggish performance is attributed to many factors, such as the after-effects of successive interest rate rises and ongoing global economic uncertainties – not to mention the rapid introduction of a suite of new tariffs by the sitting US president – all of which has further stirred the pot.
Such a landscape presents considerable hurdles for businesses and employees across the country, and many businesses are accumulating far more debt than they might otherwise have foreseen.
With these current economic conditions in mind, Swoop sought to understand the current state of business debt in the UK by analysing internal data from 52,143 businesses.
Aiming to shed light on average debt per company, business age, leadership gender, industry sectors, and regional variations, we’ll examine where in the UK has the greatest level of business debt, as well as provide key insights into how to manage growing business debt while carving a path through these choppy waters.
UK company debt: A deeper look
In order to get a full picture of the state of UK business debt, our analysis covered industries as expansive as the technology and food sectors, as well as more traditional areas such as mining and aerospace.
It revealed that the average debt per company stands at £365,375 – a figure that really underscores the heavy financial pressures many businesses are currently experiencing.
Specific geographical analysis shows that London businesses have, unsurprisingly, the highest amount of debt in the UK (£4.94 billion), followed by Manchester (£370 million) and Birmingham (£346 million), with Leeds (£276 million) and Bristol (£249 million) rounding out the top five.
Which UK industries carry the most debt?
As you might expect, certain UK industries are shouldering more debt than others. The wholesale and retail trade is way ahead of the pack with a combined debt of over £2.7 billion, while the manufacturing trade sits at £2.6 billion behind, reflecting the capital-intensive nature of the industry.
There are also interesting patterns to be teased out between the size of debt and the age of the company. Are established firms taking on more debt than new businesses, or are startups struggling for cash?
Well, our research reveals a complex state of affairs. For example, businesses in their first five years have already amassed over £2.5 billion in debt, but by far the largest debt is held by those companies that are aged 21-25 years, with in excess of £1.5 billion.
The lowest debt? Businesses aged 46 to 50 years old.
Again, there are also wide regional differences among these. Unsurprisingly, startup-heavy London sits at the top, seeing young companies carrying £761 million in debt, while Tunbridge Wells is the location with the largest tally of old business debt – some £45 million.
This comparison further highlights that, while established businesses can carry significant levels of debt, newer enterprises are potentially amassing greater levels of debt at a faster rate.
Is gender a factor in business debt?
Examining the leadership of these businesses, we found that 45% of those asses were owned by men, compared to just 4% being owned by women, while 49.8% had joint male and female leaders.
But while the average debt of female-led businesses stood at £91,755, and the figure for those run by men stands at £315,246, it’s businesses with joint ownership that carry by far the most debt with an average of £698,502 – over double that of male-run businesses!
Tips for better-navigating business debt
Understanding the nuances of business debt is crucial in today’s economic climate, and our study illuminates the financial landscapes in which UK businesses are operating in. That’s why it’s essential for businesses to recognise that guidance and support are available to help manage and overcome challenging financial situations:
- Assess your financial position: Regularly review your financial statements to understand your debt levels and overall financial health.
- Prioritise clearing high-interest debt: Focus on paying off debts with the highest interest rates first to reduce overall financial burden.
- Explore refinancing options: Consider refinancing existing loans to secure better interest rates or more favourable terms. Our guide on how to refinance a business loan offers detailed insights.
- Seek professional advice: Engage with funding specialists to explore tailored solutions for your business. Our guide to small business loans provides valuable information.
- Develop a repayment plan: Create a structured plan to manage repayments, ensuring they align with your business’s cash flow and operational needs.
Navigating business debt can be daunting, but with informed strategies and the right support, it’s possible to manage and even leverage debt to foster growth. At Swoop, we’re committed to empowering businesses to make better and more informed financial decisions. Subscribe to the newsletter and join the 95,000+ businesses staying in the know.
Our methodology
Average debt by city and business
We analysed the number of businesses in each city and the total debt within that city to determine the average business debt. This approach ensures a fair comparison, preventing cities with more businesses from appearing to have disproportionately higher debt levels.
Industry debt
This data reflects the total debt across various industries for all businesses using Swoop Funding.
Industry debt by city
We compiled this data into a table to allow for easy filtering. By sorting from high to low, you can identify the top industries with the highest debt in specific cities. For example, “These are the top five industries in debt in London.”
We also have data on industries and how much debt companies have between years founded.
Debt by gender
This data examines total debt by gender, considering the number of male- and female-owned businesses among Swoop Funding clients. Since we have more male-led businesses in the dataset, we calculated an adjusted average to ensure a fair and balanced comparison.
City data
This dataset includes:
- Average business debt per city
- Debt levels adjusted for the number of businesses
- Debt trends over time
- Age of business
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