Shore thing
The future of the UK’s coastal economies
Coastal economies across England, Scotland, and Wales are evolving, and fast. In partnership with Ashfords, we examine the investment, business growth, and sector trends shaping these localities in 2025.
Combined equity and grant investment reached £1.35bn, with annual investment consistently above £1bn since 2019. Ports prove a powerful growth multiplier, with 42% of port localities classified as high-growth compared with just 19% of non-port areas.
Advanced Technology was the fastest-growing sector by business count, expanding 10.2% in high-growth areas between 2019 and 2025, outpacing traditional coastal industries such as Leisure and Hospitality.
Inside the report
FAQs
Coastal economies attracted £1.35bn in combined equity and grant investment in 2025, up fourfold from £329m in 2012.
Liverpool leads with 594 growth companies, followed by Cardiff (418) and Southend-on-Sea (279).
Advanced Technology was the fastest-growing sector by business count, expanding 10.2% in high-growth coastal areas between 2019 and 2025.
42% of coastal localities with a major port are classified as high-growth areas, compared with just 19% of non-port localities.
Smaller towns like Margate, Bagillt, Cove Bay, Lancing, and Sompting are all classified as high-growth areas, showing that coastal growth extends well beyond major cities.
About the authors
-
Henry WhorwoodHenry leads our Beauhurst Insights team, and is an expert on equity finance. He's worked on briefs for the likes of Barclays, SyndicateRoom, Innovate UK, Smith & Williamson and British Business Bank. He regularly gives presentations on market trends at events around the UK.
-
Callum NewtonCallum is the Public Sector Lead for Beauhurst Insights, responsible for leading on the team's public sector work. Before joining Beauhurst, Callum was a Senior Researcher at Westminster-based think-tank Onward focusing on ‘Levelling Up’ policy. He was also a Consultant in Portland Communication’s specialist Litigation & Disputes practice.
-
Hannah NichollsHannah produces graphic design and data visualisation for the Beauhurst Insights team, and has accumulated over 11 years of experience within the design industry. In the last 4+ years, she has specialised in data visualisation and report design, focusing on creating bespoke reports for strategy and thought leadership.
-
Miraj MistryMiraj handles project management and data analysis for Beauhurst Insights. His previous role was with an economic consultancy who specialise in providing socio-economic research and analysis to support infrastructure and transport projects. He holds an MSc in economics from the University of Bristol and a BSc from the University of Leeds.
-
Freya MortenFreya manages research projects and data analysis at Beauhurst Insights. She recently joined the team, having previously conducted and led research at Grant Thornton and Mishcon de Reya across multiple service lines, industries and geographies. She holds a BA in Theology from the University of Oxford.
-
Justin TsuiJustin handles data analysis and visualisation, as well as copywriting. Before joining, Justin graduated from Imperial College London, where he was awarded a MSc in Applied Biosciences and Biotechnology. He has also previously worked in consulting and academia.
-
Michael HurleyMichael uses advanced statistical and econometric methods to provide clients with more in-depth, impactful, and novel analyses. He also automates processes by developing and implementing new analytics tools. Before joining Beauhurst, Michael was a data analyst at a policy organisation, where he researched innovation policy.
-
Evie LuckhurstEvangeline produces graphic design and data visualisation in the Beauhurst Insights team. Prior to joining Beauhurst, Evangeline graduated from University for the Creative Arts, where she was awarded a BA (Hons) in Illustration and Animation.
-
tomsharpeTom performs data analysis and visualisation as well as copywriting for the team. Prior to joining Beauhurst Insights, he spent 2 years in the Data team, helping curate our dataset, with a specific focus on IPOs and Exits. Tom holds a BSc (Hons) in Sport and Exercise Science from Loughborough University and enjoys consulting on mental health research.
-
Ruth RimmerRuth worked as a Data Curator at Beauhurst for two years before joining the Beauhurst Insights team, where she now carries out data analysis, data visualisation and copywriting. She holds a BA in Anglo-Saxon, Norse and Celtic and an MA in Medieval Studies.
Get access to unrivalled data on all the companies you need to know about, so you can approach the right leads, at the right time.
Book a demo today to see all of the key features, as well as the depth and breadth of data available on the Beauhurst platform.
An associate will work with you to build a sophisticated search, returning a dynamic list of organisations matching your ideal client profile.