At a macro level, economic growth stalled across the county between 2021 and 2023. Over the longer term, Buckinghamshire’s business population has grown more slowly than both regional and national averages – albeit from a high base.

Buckinghamshire’s high-value economy (e.g. tradable industries, knowledge-intensive sectors etc) has similarly experienced comparatively modest growth over the past decade. However, the county retains significant structural strengths. It has a strong presence in four of the eight growth-driving sectors (IS-8) identified by the UK Government and is home to three world-class clusters: high-performance engineering at Silverstone, film and high-end television production at Pinewood and surrounding areas, and space at Westcott. The trajectory and outlook for these clusters remains positive.

There are also encouraging signs at both ends of the business maturity spectrum. Over the past two years, Buckinghamshire has performed strongly in terms of business ‘births’ per resident, suggesting high levels of entrepreneurial activity. At the other end of the spectrum, the county is now home to 100 large employers (employing more than 250 people), up from 90 in 2024. This increase likely reflects a combination of existing firms expanding into a larger size bracket and the relocation of new large enterprises into the area.

See the Performance of the Buckinghamshire Economy 2026 report for details