FOI reference: FOI-2025-3258
You asked
I am looking for some further detail from the ONS regarding VAT-registered Businesses and the operation sizes across the UK.
I was looking to separate by the 2 digit SIC code level (i.e., 01 for Growing) within the UK the number of businesses that operate within the various Turnover and Employment Bracket sizes on a more granular level. One of the more relatable reports published by ONS is: "Class by employment size and by turnover size" (Ref 2899, release 25 June 2025)" (for reference purposes).
I however am looking to separate to the Turnover brackets (approximately):
- 0-£10m
- £10-25m
- £25-50m
- £50-100m
- £100-250m
- £250m+
In addition, I would like to see this further broken up by the number of businesses within each of these brackets, but also incorporating employment size brackets, such as:
- Within £25-50m
- Number of Businesses employing less than 50 employees
- Number of Businesses employing 50-250 employees
- Number of Businesses employing 251+ employees
We said
Thank you for your request.
The Inter-Departmental Business Register (IDBR) contains all businesses registered for VAT and/or PAYE. We create several publications using that data and they may be of interest to you.
We have a publication called UK: Business, Activity, Size and Location and this is an annual snapshot of the IDBR taken in March. The latest data available are for 2025. In the publication we break down the number of UK businesses by geography, employment size-band, industry and legal status.
We do not hold a statistical output showing the data you require by specific turnover size bands and employee size bands. However, we can provide you with data as part of our bespoke data service using our UK business, activity, size and location publication.
Depending on the time needed to produce the request, the data could be chargeable. If you contact the data service team at IDBRDAS@ons.gov.uk they will be able to provide you with further information.
As this information is reasonably accessible via another route, even if only accessible on payment, Section 21(2)(a) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA) applies.