As part of the UK’s Industrial Strategy (Invest 2035), the UK Government has selected eight sectors in which it believes the UK is a specialist. These will be the focus of a more proactive industrial strategy going forward.
The sectors are:
Using a combination of advanced manual and automated processes, these eight high-growth sectors will be added to company profiles and search, enhancing our existing market-leading company classification research and technology.
You can find them in Advanced Search under the “Industries and Buzzwords” criteria.
How do we define Industrial Strategy 8 High Growth Sectors?
Advanced Manufacturing
Advanced Manufacturing refers to the integration of advanced science and technology into manufacturing processes. - Discover on Beauhurst
Definition:
This includes any company that develops, produces, supplies or uses advanced manufacturing technology, such as robotics, AI software, 3D printing hardware/software, VR/AR software, advanced material components, wearable hardware, CNC (Computer Numerical Control) machinery, and IoT devices for manufacturing.
Including:
Technology that carries out manufacturing processes directly, such as automation robotics, technology aiding humans carrying out manufacturing processes, such as AR smart glasses, and advanced materials for producing complete products, such as graphene components.
Smart manufacturing technology, a subset of advanced manufacturing focusing on automated data-driven processes.
Agricultural technology such as automated harvesting robots, automated livestock monitoring systems and vertical farms.
Precision engineering often needs to be included with advanced manufacturing, as it employs the use of advanced machinery, even if it is producing simple products like fixings.
NB: This does not include companies that produce, supply, maintain or use basic manufacturing machinery or hardware.
Clean Energy
Clean Energy refers to energy generated from low and zero-carbon sources and methods of reducing carbon output. - Discover on Beauhurst
Definition:
This includes any company which is developing technology to produce clean energy or is otherwise involved in supporting this specific industry.
Clean energy is energy which is produced without (or with net-zero) greenhouse gas emissions
Generally included in this category are renewable energy technologies such as solar, wind, tidal, hydroelectric, as well as nuclear energy (fission and potentially fusion in the future), which isn’t renewable but produces no greenhouse gas emissions.
This can potentially also be applied for battery storage systems which are specifically designed to store energy generated using clean energy technologies (e.g. home battery storage designed for use with solar photovoltaic systems)
NB: This is more specific than the existing CleanTech buzzword - CleanTech can include recycling, EVs and other areas which are not related to energy, whereas Clean Energy refers only to the energy sector.
Creative Industries
Creative Industries refers to services that heavily involve individual creativity, skill and talent. - Discover on Beauhurst
Definition:
This includes any company producing, supplying, selling or providing creative goods or services.
Products and services include arts and crafts materials, video game development courses, video editing software, graphic design software, advertising and music streaming platforms.
This should also be tagged to companies offering services specialising in creative industries, such as law firms focused on representing musical artists, insurance firms providing insurance for film productions or recruitment firms specialising in hiring for museums.
NB: This does not include generalist retailers or suppliers, such as supermarkets, that sell creative goods alongside a large range of other products.
Defence
Defence refers to products and services directly for national military operations. - Discover on Beauhurst
Definition:
This includes any company which is involved in military and defence.
This includes companies designing, manufacturing or distributing products or software aimed at the military and defence sector.
Examples may include military drones and surveillance, weapons development and testing, and military cybersecurity software.
This can also include non-weapons based products including clothing, food or medals.
Digital and Technologies
Digital and Technologies refers to software-driven tools and electronic hardware products and services, with automation, connectivity, data intelligence and integration as key attributes.- Discover on Beauhurst
Definition:
This includes any company producing, supplying, selling or servicing electronic hardware or software products and services.
This includes both professional and consumer hardware and software.
This also includes parts and components for electronic hardware.
NB: This does not include video game developers, publishers or retailers unless they also provide electronic hardware.
Financial Services
Financial Services refers to a range of monetary services, including banking, insurance, asset management and payment processing. - Discover on Beauhurst
Definition:
This includes any company providing financial services.
Financial services include banking, accountancy, tax services, financial advisory services, asset management, payment processing, currency exchange, and insurance. It also includes companies which give loans or provide brokerage services for financial products including mortgages and insurance.
This should also be tagged for any company which is tagged with FinTech, though it doesn’t have to be FinTech to qualify for this buzzword (it can be traditional non-tech based services).
NB: This does not include companies which develop or use blockchain technologies if they are not explicitly using it for financial purposes (e.g. cryptocurrency).
Life Sciences
Life Sciences refers to the research and application of biological science within healthcare. - Discover on Beauhurst
Definition:
This includes any company providing healthcare research or producing/supplying healthcare technology or instrumentation.
Includes software or hardware for clinical research and diagnostics.
Includes dental research and instrumentation.
NB: This does not include companies providing basic healthcare services, such as hospitals and dentists or those providing software designed for general healthcare management.
Professional & Business Services
Professional and business services covers the broad suite of knowledge‑intensive, advisory and administrative activities, and it’s enabling software, aimed at improving business performance and operations. - Discover on Beauhurst
Definition:
This includes any company that delivers professional or business support services or develops software and tools that enable those services.
Including:
Financial & compliance consultancy - such as accountancy, tax, audit, legal services, insurance and pensions advice
Strategy, management & head‑office functions - such as corporate advisory, market research, branding, advertising, and other growth‑focused consultancies.
People & workplace services - such as recruitment, HR, talent management, admin outsourcing, virtual assistants, and co‑working and office‑space providers.
Property & asset services - such as estate agencies, property management, facilities management, product rental, and plant‑machinery leasing.
Technical & scientific services - such as architecture, and clinical or physical research.