Yorkshire and the Humber has 194,070 registered businesses. Retail is 8.7% of them, the second-highest share of any UK nation or region, and the motor trade 3.9%, the third-highest share of any UK nation or region. Hospitality, at 7.7%, is also above the UK average.
We do not have an office, staff or events in Yorkshire and the Humber. Everything is done online.
The local business mix
Professional services are below average across the region, at 10.2%, but Leeds runs well above it. So the right starting point depends on whether you are a shop, a garage or an office.
| Sector | Businesses | Share | UK | vs UK · rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| All businesses | 194,070 | 100% | — | 7 of 12 by count |
| Fewer than 10 staff | 171,240 | 88.2% | 89.1% | |
| Construction and specialist trades | 27,055 | 13.9% | 14.1% | about the same · 8 of 12 |
| Cleaning, facilities and landscaping | 3,660 | 1.9% | 2.0% | about the same · 10 of 12 |
| Wholesale | 7,555 | 3.9% | 3.6% | about the same · 5 of 12 |
| Retail | 16,920 | 8.7% | 7.7% | above · 2 of 12 |
| Motor trade and repair | 7,535 | 3.9% | 3.0% | above · 3 of 12 |
| Hotels, pubs, cafés and restaurants | 14,940 | 7.7% | 6.5% | above · 4 of 12 |
| Professional services (legal, accounting, consultancy, architects, marketing) | 19,870 | 10.2% | 12.3% | below · 10 of 12 |
| Software and IT services | 6,095 | 3.1% | 4.4% | below · 8 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 region’s 16,920 retailers that sell online through Linnworks.
Find out more →For the 7,535 motor-trade businesses and the trades, if estimates go out from Xero or QuickBooks.
Find out more →For hospitality and everyone else: a costed plan of where AI is worth the money and where it isn’t.
Find out more →For the 7,555 wholesalers 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 Yorkshire and the Humber 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 194,070 enterprises registered for VAT and/or PAYE in Yorkshire and the Humber, so very small unregistered sole traders are not included.
Nearby
Also in Yorkshire and the Humber: Leeds.
Neighbouring: North East · North West · East Midlands. 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.