These are the 10 UK business opportunities set to thrive in 2026
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These are the 10 UK business opportunities set to thrive in 2026
"With over two decades of experience helping entrepreneurs navigate acquisitions and valuations, Markou understands what makes a business model work in challenging conditions. "The businesses performing well right now are focused on solving real problems," says Markou. "Whether it's parents needing childcare, homeowners cutting energy bills, or companies protecting their data, demand is steady because services like these have become necessities rather than luxuries.""
"The UK's childcare sector has changed dramatically since late 2025, when working parents of children aged nine months to school age gained access to up to 30 hours of funded childcare per week. This government-backed support has driven record demand, with waiting lists filling months in advance. "Nurseries benefit from consistent, policy-supported revenue streams," Markou explains. "Buying an established nursery means you acquire staff, reputation and regulatory approval in one package.""
Entrepreneurial opportunities are growing in the UK across green tech, childcare, digital security and infrastructure despite economic headwinds and inflation. Businesses that solve essential problems—childcare provision, household energy cost reduction and corporate data protection—show steady demand and strong profit potential. Two decades of acquisition and valuation experience inform which models perform in challenging conditions: scalable services with policy-backed revenue streams and clear regulatory approvals. Childcare demand surged after late 2025 when eligible parents received up to 30 funded hours per week, creating waiting lists. Nurseries with good Ofsted ratings, staff, regulatory approvals and expansion capacity are attractive acquisitions. Solar panels, heat pumps and home batteries are now mainstream and policy-supported.
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