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Web Design Services in the UK - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

Thomas Weale Thomas Weale London, United Kingdom Last Updated: July 2024 SIC SP0.031

Revenue

£640.6m

2024-25

£640.6m

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

£XX.Xm

Employees

4,809

Businesses

2,130

Wages

£XXX.Xm

Web Design Services in the UK industry analysis

Over the five years through 2024-25, web designers' revenue is set to dip at a compound annual rate of 0.8% to £640.6 million. The economic effects of the COVID-19 outbreak dampened business confidence and limited their spending at the height of the pandemic, holding web designers back. However, at the same time, COVID-19 accelerated the trend towards online shopping, which drove more businesses to get themselves set up online, especially when physical stores were forced to shut; this offset the pandemic-induced drop in revenue in 2020-21. Web design sales have been supported by the continued expansion in the number of people with internet access. Having a professionally developed, user-friendly website from which customers can buy products has become an essential revenue stream for many businesses, with VYE agency finding 71% of companies have a website in 2023-24. Widespread smartphone ownership has also propelled demand, driving companies to seek out web designers to develop mobile-friendly sites.

Trends and Insights

  • COVID-19 has had a mixed effect. The pandemic slashed business spending, initially leading to a dip in demand for web design services. However, the explosion in online shopping laid the foundation for future revenue as businesses sought to polish their online presence.
  • High costs put clients off from custom development. Weak economic conditions are putting businesses off from shelling out big money on custom web development services – they’re turning to cost-effective alternatives like WordPress instead.
  • London's dynamic economy attracts web designers. The city's high economic activity, abundance of businesses and rich talent pool make it an ideal place for web design companies to thrive.
  • Price and quality form the main bases of competition. Web designers vie for clients through competitive pricing, the range of services provided, using the latest technology, having high success rates from past projects and maintaining an excellent reputation.

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  • Market estimates from 2014-2029
  • Critical performance data and rankings
  • Detailed analysis of competitive forces and the external environment
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)

Industry revenue has declined at a CAGR of 0.4 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated £640.6m in 2024.

Trends and Insights

More businesses means more clients for web designers

  • Companies harness web design services for expert website setup and maintenance. These websites offer vital info to captivate people towards their services or goods. A well-designed, user-friendly website goes a long way in boosting a company's performance.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Web Design Services in the UK
Revenue (2014-2029)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

The continued growth of the online economy drives web designers forwards

  • The number of businesses in the UK will continue to edge upwards, spurred by anticipated recovery, increasing the potential client pool for web designers.

Biggest companies in the Web Design Services in the UK

Company
Market Share (%)
2025
Revenue (£m)
2025
Angry Creative (UK) Ltd
6.7
WebFX EMEA Ltd
2.9
Cyber-Duck Ltd
2.5

To view the market share and analysis for all 4 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Web Design Services in the UK
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Custom platform web development, WordPress web development and Other content platform web development. Custom platform web development is the largest segment of the Web Design Services in the UK.

Trends and Insights

Custom designs mean premium prices

  • Custom platform web development is about catering specifically to client needs and developing a website's front and back end. This needs coding and programming, databases, forms and other technical areas of the website that don't have a content management platform.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

Companies in this industry provide an assortment of web design activities, including web graphic design, user experience design, interface design, search engine optimisation, and related aspects of code writing. Web design services incorporate a variety of coding languages. While the industry’s services include those dedicated to mobile web design, it does not include companies that build native applications or manage a client’s online retail operations.

What's included in this industry?

Custom platform web development WordPress web development Other content platform web development

Companies

Angry Creative (UK) LtdWebFX EMEA LtdCyber-Duck Ltd

Purchase this report to view all 4 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

HTML5SEARCH ENGINE OPTIMISATION (SEO)CONTENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (CMS)

Industry Code

SIC 2007

SIC 62.01 - Web Design Services in the UK

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

COVID-19 has had a mixed effect. The pandemic slashed business spending, initially leading to a dip in demand for web design services. However, the explosion in online shoppi...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

High costs put clients off from custom development. Weak economic conditions are putting businesses off from shelling out big money on custom web development services – they’...

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2024
  • Product innovation level

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2024
  • Major market segmentation in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

London's dynamic economy attracts web designers. The city's high economic activity, abundance of businesses and rich talent pool make it an ideal place for web design compani...

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each region
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each region in 2024
  • Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of employees in each region in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across Europe, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

Price and quality form the main bases of competition. Web designers vie for clients through competitive pricing, the range of services provided, using the latest technology, ...

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

High fragmentation means there are no major players. A lack of sizeable labour requirements makes it possible for a huge number of sole proprietors and freelancers to offer t...

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
  • Overview of Angry Creative (UK) Ltd's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of WebFX EMEA Ltd's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Cyber-Duck Ltd's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of revenue, market share and profit margin trend for one additional company

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for Angry Creative (UK) Ltd, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for WebFX EMEA Ltd, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Cyber-Duck Ltd, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description, key data and performance trends for one additional company

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

Data protection laws are crucial for web designers. GDRP stipulates how they must handle personal information, which is vital for maintaining user trust and avoiding severe l...

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

Pricing pressures limit web designers' returns. Staunch competition, high wage costs and COVID-19 disruptions have negatively affected small web designers and sole proprietor...

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Liquidity Ratios (2018-2022)
  • Coverage Ratios (2018-2022)
  • Leverage Ratios  (2018-2022)
  • Operating Ratios (2018-2022)
  • Assets (2018-2022)
  • Liabilities (2018-2022)
  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Average Wage (2014-2029)
  • Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
  • Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2014-2029)
  • IVA (2014-2029)
  • Establishments (2014-2029)
  • Enterprises (2014-2029)
  • Employment (2014-2029)
  • Exports (2014-2029)
  • Imports (2014-2029)
  • Wages (2014-2029)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Web Design Services in the UK industry in United Kingdom in 2024?

The market size of the Web Design Services in the UK industry in United Kingdom is £640.6m in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the Web Design Services in the UK industry in 2024?

There are 2,130 businesses in the Web Design Services in the UK industry in United Kingdom, which has grown at a CAGR of 3.2 % between 2019 and 2024.

Has the Web Design Services in the UK industry in United Kingdom grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Web Design Services in the UK industry in United Kingdom has been declining at a CAGR of 0.4 % between 2019 and 2024.

What is the forecast growth of the Web Design Services in the UK industry in United Kingdom over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Web Design Services in the UK industry in United Kingdom is expected to grow.

What are the biggest companies in the Web Design Services in the UK market in United Kingdom?

The biggest companies operating in the Web Design Services market in United Kingdom are Angry Creative (UK) Ltd, WebFX EMEA Ltd and Cyber-Duck Ltd

What does the Web Design Services in the UK in United Kingdom include?

Custom platform web development and WordPress web development are part of the Web Design Services in the UK industry.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Web Design Services in the UK in United Kingdom?

The company holding the most market share in United Kingdom is Angry Creative (UK) Ltd.

How competitive is the Web Design Services in the UK industry in United Kingdom?

The level of competition is high and increasing in the Web Design Services in the UK industry in United Kingdom.

Related Industries

Widen your competitive advantage with related industries

View all industries in United Kingdom

Methodology

How are IBISWorld reports created?

IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.

Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in the UK include:

  • Office for National Statistics
  • Office for Budget Responsibility
  • Bank of England

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.

Learn more about our methodology and data sourcing on the Help Center.