Design businesses in Yorkshire and the Humber account for 8% of the UK’s design businesses. The number of designers working in the region has increased by more than 50% since 2003.
Design businesses in Yorkshire and the Humber are on average smaller than other UK design businesses and are also more likely to work in communications design. They are more likely to work for clients in manufacturing than the UK average and less likely to work for clients in the public sector. Financial performance is fairly strong, with above-average numbers of designers saying that budgets have increased in the past year – though 27% have seen budgets drop. Where employment is concerned, design businesses in Yorkshire and the Humber have kept their ships steadier than elsewhere, with recruitment and redundancies lower than the national average.
Download a PDF factsheet full of facts and stats on the design industry in Yorkshire and Humber
Number of designers and design businesses in Yorkshire and the Humber
How many designers are there in Yorkshire and the Humber?
There are 13,4351 designers in Yorkshire and the Humber. This is an increase of 56%2 on 2003.
How many design businesses are there in Yorkshire and the Humber?
There are 6,056 design businesses in Yorkshire and the Humber. Design businesses in the Yorkshire and the Humber account for 7% of design businesses in the UK.
- Design consultancies 756
- Freelance designers 4,613
- In-house design teams 585
Profile of design businesses in Yorkshire and the Humber
What disciplines do design businesses in Yorkshire and the Humber work in?
72% of design businesses in Yorkshire and the Humber work in communications design. This is 10% higher than the UK average.
How long have design businesses in Yorkshire and the Humber been operating?
35% of design businesses in Yorkshire and the Humber have been operating for less than four years, this compares to 25% who have been operating for more than 15 years.
How many designers do in-house design teams in Yorkshire and the Humber employ?
More than two-thirds of in-house teams in Yorkshire and the Humber employ fewer than five designers.
How many designers do design consultancies in Yorkshire and the Humber employ?
Design consultancies in Yorkshire and the Humber are smaller than the national average.
Financial performance of design businesses in Yorkshire and the Humber
What is the annual fee income/budget for design businesses in Yorkshire and the Humber?
There are more design businesses in Yorkshire and the Humber earning over £50k threshold than the average UK region.
How does the financial performance3 of design businesses in Yorkshire and the Humber for the last year compare with the year before?
41% of design businesses in Yorkshire and the Humber increased their fee income/budget over the last year.
Clients of design businesses in Yorkshire and the Humber
What industry sectors do design businesses in Yorkshire and the Humber work in?
Yorkshire and the Humber has a higher than average proportion of design businesses working in the manufacturing sector.
How big are the clients of Yorkshire and the Humber design businesses?
13% of design businesses in Yorkshire and the Humber work with large firms.
Job market for design businesses in Yorkshire and the Humber
What percentage of design businesses in Yorkshire and the Humber are recruiting?
28% of design businesses in Yorkshire and the Humber recruited at least one designer last year (UK average – 31%).
What percentage of design businesses in Yorkshire and the Humber made redundancies last year?
5% of design businesses in Yorkshire and the Humber made redundancies last year (UK average – 7%).