The North West has 272,085 registered businesses, the fourth-largest count of any region. Retail is 9.3% of them, the highest share of any UK nation or region, and wholesale 4.2%, the second-highest share of any UK nation or region.
We do not have an office, staff or events in the North West. We work with businesses here remotely.
The local business mix
That is a lot of businesses moving stock. Some of those selling across several channels run an order management system such as Linnworks, which is what our tools plug into. Professional services are also strong, at 11.8% (the third-highest share of any UK nation or region), with Manchester well above that.
| Sector | Businesses | Share | UK | vs UK · rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| All businesses | 272,085 | 100% | — | 4 of 12 by count |
| Fewer than 10 staff | 240,595 | 88.4% | 89.1% | |
| Construction and specialist trades | 35,620 | 13.1% | 14.1% | about the same · 11 of 12 |
| Cleaning, facilities and landscaping | 5,405 | 2.0% | 2.0% | about the same · 8 of 12 |
| Wholesale | 11,540 | 4.2% | 3.6% | above · 2 of 12 |
| Retail | 25,230 | 9.3% | 7.7% | above · 1 of 12 |
| Motor trade and repair | 9,205 | 3.4% | 3.0% | above · 8 of 12 |
| Hotels, pubs, cafés and restaurants | 19,805 | 7.3% | 6.5% | above · 5 of 12 |
| Professional services (legal, accounting, consultancy, architects, marketing) | 32,165 | 11.8% | 12.3% | about the same · 3 of 12 |
| Software and IT services | 9,585 | 3.5% | 4.4% | below · 6 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.
25,230 retailers in the region. If you sell through Linnworks, you can ask Claude what is stuck, what is selling and what is running low.
Find out more →For the 11,540 wholesalers taking trade orders by phone or at a counter.
Find out more →Wholesale price tiers that sync to Linnworks.
Find out more →For the 32,165 professional-services firms, and anyone not on Linnworks.
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 West 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 Hosted Linnworks MCP by Grafto. Ask Claude about your live Linnworks orders, stock and returns, with nothing to host. Coming very soon; waiting list open.
From the Office for National Statistics’ UK Business Counts for 2026, published through Nomis. They count 272,085 enterprises registered for VAT and/or PAYE in the North West, so very small unregistered sole traders are not included.
Nearby
Also in the North West: Manchester.
Neighbouring: Yorkshire and the Humber · North East · West Midlands · Wales · 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.