The number of active U.K. life sciences companies has risen by 22 percent from the end of 2019 to 15,436 at year-end 2025, according to Knight Frank, while a shifting balance between the supply and demand of high-quality lab space looks set to support the growth of new market entrants.
Knight Frank said the rising number of active life sciences companies domiciled in the United Kingdom underscores the sector’s growth in recent years. While the Golden Triangle between London, Oxford and Cambridge remains the United Kingdom’s central destination for new life sciences company formations, the Northwest has emerged as an attractive location for new market entrants. In 2025, the Northwest was second only to London for new company formations, surpassing the number of life sciences businesses launched in both the Southeast and East of England for the first time.
Company formations slowed throughout 2025, however, because of tougher market conditions. According to Knight Fr
