• NatWest market analysis showed 402,000 UK companies incorporated in H1 2026, down 5.7% year on year.
• Active UK company base rose to a record 5.66 million, pointing to resilience despite slower formation.
• Application software led startup activity with 28,100 incorporations, up 40% year on year.
• Scotland posted the fastest regional startup growth at 3.73% versus H2 2025; London remained the largest hub with 136,000 incorporations.
• Regulatory reforms may be lifting register quality by reducing low-intent or fraudulent filings.

Disclaimer: This news brief was created by Public Technologies (PUBT) using generative artificial intelligence. While PUBT strives to provide accurate and timely information, this AI-generated content is for informational purposes only and should not be interpreted as financial, investment, or legal advice. Natwest Group plc published the original content used to generate this news brief on August 20, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained therein.