UK businesses raised £14.4 billion through equity investment in the first half of 2026, marking a 26 percent increase from the previous six months and signalling stronger investor interest in companies across key areas of the economy.
The figures come from the Barclays Regional Investment Map, compiled by Barclays Eagle Labs and Beauhurst. Companies operating across the eight sectors identified in the government’s Industrial Strategy attracted £13.4 billion, accounting for 93.2 percent of all UK equity fundraising during the period.
Digital and Technologies was the largest sector, raising £11.6 billion, or 80.8 percent of total UK equity investment. London accounted for £9.03 billion of the sector’s fundraising, while the number of digital and technology businesses increased in every UK region.
Professional and Business Services ranked second with £4.57 billion raised, followed by Life Sciences at £2.76 billion. The sector figures overlap because individual companies can operate across more than one Industrial Strategy sector.
The research identified more than 1.3 million businesses operating across the eight sectors covered by the government strategy. Overall, the number of active UK companies reached about 5.51 million in the first half of 2026, up 1.33 percent from the final quarter of 2025.
London remained the dominant destination for equity investment, attracting £10.1 billion, or 70 percent of the national total. Investment in the capital increased 48.5 percent compared with the second half of 2025.
Several regions recorded particularly strong growth. Investment in the North West rose 89.4 percent to £1.19 billion, helped by an £814 million fundraising round for artificial intelligence company Ineffable Intelligence.
Wales recorded the largest percentage increase among UK nations and regions, with investment rising 530 percent to £159 million. The increase was supported by an £81 million fundraising round for South Wales semiconductor company IQE.
Northern Ireland saw investment rise 63.4 percent to £72.2 million, helped by a £53.5 million funding round for software company Cloudsmith. Investment in the East Midlands increased 88.2 percent to £57.9 million, while the East of England attracted £728 million, up 19.6 percent.
Barclays also found growing interest in the defence sector. Its Business Prosperity research showed that 40 percent of businesses surveyed intend to increase their involvement in UK defence over the next year. Almost half expected the government’s Defence Investment Plan to benefit their region.
Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said the investment figures showed the Industrial Strategy was helping connect businesses and innovation to economic growth.
The findings follow separate data showing UK start-ups raised a record $17 billion during the first half of 2026, although only 16 percent of large funding rounds involved domestic investors.
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