The North East has 74,495 registered businesses, the smallest count of any English region. Hospitality is 9.3% of them, the highest share of any UK nation or region. Construction, at 14.8%, is above the UK average.
We do not have an office, staff or events in the North East. We work with businesses here remotely.
The local business mix
Wholesale is the lowest share of any UK nation or region, at 2.8%, so our Linnworks wholesale tools fit fewer businesses here. We do not make hospitality software. For pubs, cafés and restaurants the useful thing we offer is the AI Tools Report: it will tell you honestly whether AI is worth anything to you yet.
| Sector | Businesses | Share | UK | vs UK · rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| All businesses | 74,495 | 100% | — | 12 of 12 by count |
| Fewer than 10 staff | 65,225 | 87.6% | 89.1% | |
| Construction and specialist trades | 11,020 | 14.8% | 14.1% | about the same · 4 of 12 |
| Cleaning, facilities and landscaping | 1,510 | 2.0% | 2.0% | about the same · 6 of 12 |
| Wholesale | 2,100 | 2.8% | 3.6% | below · 12 of 12 |
| Retail | 6,285 | 8.4% | 7.7% | about the same · 4 of 12 |
| Motor trade and repair | 2,665 | 3.6% | 3.0% | above · 6 of 12 |
| Hotels, pubs, cafés and restaurants | 6,905 | 9.3% | 6.5% | above · 1 of 12 |
| Professional services (legal, accounting, consultancy, architects, marketing) | 8,475 | 11.4% | 12.3% | about the same · 5 of 12 |
| Software and IT services | 2,135 | 2.9% | 4.4% | below · 10 of 12 |
Source: ONS UK Business Counts 2026, via Nomis, March 2026. About these figures.
What fits here, and why
Ordered by how many local businesses each is likely to suit.
For the 6,905 hospitality businesses and everyone else: a costed answer to “is AI worth it for us?”. Sometimes the answer is no.
Find out more →For the 11,020 construction and trade businesses.
Find out more →Quote follow-up for firms on Xero or QuickBooks.
Find out more →No. Grafto is run from Suffolk, where Green & Home Ltd has its warehouse in Mildenhall (registered office: Hertford). We work with businesses in the North East remotely: the AI Tools Report, the apps and support are all online or by email. Our only in-person events are in Bury St Edmunds.
It depends on what you do, but on the local mix we would usually start with AI Tools Report. Ten minutes of questions, then a costed nine-slide plan: which jobs AI can take off you, which tools, what they cost. £59.99 inc VAT.
From the Office for National Statistics’ UK Business Counts for 2026, published through Nomis. They count 74,495 enterprises registered for VAT and/or PAYE in the North East, so very small unregistered sole traders are not included.
Nearby
Neighbouring: Yorkshire and the Humber · North West · Scotland. Or see everywhere we work.
Ten minutes of questions, then a costed plan for your business, wherever in the UK it is. £59.99 inc VAT.
Get my AI Tools Report →Questions first? Email hello@grafto.co.uk.