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UK Company Formation Fell 5.7% in H1 2026 Even as Active
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UK company formation is slowing for a structural reason, not a cyclical one: 402,000 businesses incorporated in H1 2026, down 5.7% year-on-year and the second straight half-year decline, while the active business base still hit a record 5.66 million. NatWest and Beauhurst's index points to mandatory identity verification, not doubled filing fees, as the bigger drag.

Startups and founders building in MENA and the UK: fundraising and venture rounds, product and go-to-market mechanics, operator decisions, and original benchmark data - the evidence that a company is working, shown with the number before and after, not the press release.

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UK Company Formation Fell 5.7% in H1 2026 Even as Active