WHAT IS GEM UK?
The Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) is the world’s largest and longest-running study of entrepreneurial activity. GEM UK — based at the Enterprise Research Centre at Warwick Business School — has delivered annual survey data on entrepreneurship in the United Kingdom since 1999, providing a unique 26-year longitudinal evidence base.
GEM UK collects primary survey data directly from adult populations across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. It is the only study in the world to collect this data from individuals — rather than firms — enabling analysis of the full entrepreneurial pipeline from intention to exit.
The UK national report is published annually in partnership with NatWest Group. Devolved reports for Scotland (Universities of Glasgow and Edinburgh), Wales and Northern Ireland (Ulster University and Queen’s University Belfast) are published simultaneously.
KEY FINDINGS 2025/26
Starting a business |
Entrepreneurship surged in 2025 – and much of it is invisible to Companies House and ONS data.” |
Entrepreneurship support |
A dynamic market, a deteriorating support system – that combination risks squandering the opportunity.” |
Government policies |
Policy is geared to getting people started; the problem is keeping them going.” |
Young people |
“The same age group producing the NEET headline is the most entrepreneurial in the UK.” |
AI: Ambition |
“Entrepreneurs are adopting AI faster than they themselves predicted. |
WHAT GEM MEASURES
- Early-stage entrepreneurial activity (TEA) — share of working-age adults starting or running a new business
- Entrepreneurial intentions — adults planning to start within three years
- Established business ownership — businesses more than 3.5 years old
- Entrepreneurial employee activity — innovation within existing organisations
- Fear of failure — a key attitudinal barrier to business creation
- Opportunity vs necessity entrepreneurship — motivations behind creation
- Growth ambitions — job creation expectations among early-stage entrepreneurs
- Diversity — activity rates by gender, ethnicity, age and immigration status
- AI awareness and adoption — among entrepreneurs (introduced 2024)
POLICY RELEVANCE
GEM UK data is used by:
- UK Government (BIST) as a key indicator in small business and enterprise strategy
- Devolved governments in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland for enterprise benchmarking
- NatWest Group for targeting enterprise support programmes
- Academic researchers for longitudinal and cross-national analysis
- International policymakers via the GEM Global Consortium (53 economies in 2025)
