Mobile Menu

Intellectual Property Leasing in the UK - Market Research Report (2015-2030)

Jakir Ahmed Jakir Ahmed London, United Kingdom Last Updated: August 2025 SIC N77.400

Revenue

£18.4bn

2025-26

£18.4bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

£X.Xbn

Employees

34,272

Businesses

10,179

Wages

£X.Xbn

Intellectual Property Leasing in the UK industry analysis

Intellectual property leasing revenue is expected to edge up at a compound annual rate of 0.6% over the five years through 2025-26 to £18.4 billion. Despite only modest growth, the industry is benefitting from a sharp turnaround in market conditions. Easing inflation and a jump in business optimism are fuelling new demand for licensing services as companies revive branding campaigns and product launches that depend on access to licensed data, designs and trademarks. Meanwhile, the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology reported that private investment in UK artificial intelligence companies soared to £44 billion in the 12 months to March 2025, supporting strong demand for software, chip-design and algorithm licensing. As a result, revenue is anticipated to swell by 2.5% in 2025-26. Profit is also slated to climb as digital-first licensing models allow companies to capture more value from each licence and limit operating costs.

Trends and Insights

  • Confidence is reviving IP leasing demand. Businesses are reviving branding and innovation plans, leading to higher trademark and design registrations and a steady rebound in licensing activity across the UK market.
  • The surge in 5G networks boosts radio spectrum leasing. The increased need for wireless communication signals with the rollout of 5G networks is pushing up demand for radio spectrum leasing.
  • London’s business activity attracts IP establishments. With the highest economic activity rate and population density in the country, London is ideal for IP Leasing companies looking to expand.
  • Intellectual property licensing creates internal competition. Businesses can charge higher fees for more valuable assets and compete through marketing, brand recognition and uniqueness of their intellectual property.
Show more

Get more expert insights that help you cut through the noise.

Get fast answers to complex questions about your business or your client’s industry. Annual memberships include unlimited access to data and analysis for thousands of industries globally.

Get in Touch

Power confident decisions with data that connects the dots

  • Market estimates from 2015-2030
  • Critical performance data and rankings
  • Detailed analysis of competitive forces and the external environment
  • Flexible access in online database via PPT, XLS, Word downloads or AI Chat
  • 100% money back guarantee

How you can access insights on the Intellectual Property Leasing in the UK industry

The Intellectual Property Leasing in the UK Industry Report is available in multiple formats to fit seamlessly into your workflow.

Comprehensive PDF

Complete analysis, charts and statistic tables in a PDF.

IBISWorld Industry Report Download sample

Ask Phil AI

Generative AI answers driven exclusively by trusted in-house analysts.

IBISWorld Phil AI receiving a prompt
Learn More

My IBISWorld Platform

A web based platform covering thousands of industries and companies globally.

IBISWorld Phil AI receiving a prompt Book a Demo

Related Coverage

Understand the landscape with full access to an IBISWorld license

Competitors

  • There are no industries to display.

Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2015-2030)

Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 0.6 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated £18.4bn in 2025.

Trends and Insights

Easing inflation and rising confidence unlock demand for IP leasing

  • UK inflation has eased over recent years, with data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showing that inflation fell from a peak of 11.1% in October 2022 to 3.6% in June 2025. At the same time, business optimism is returning – Lloyds Bank’s Business Barometer jumped from a net 41% in June 2024 to 51% in June 2025, the most confident reading in a decade. As inflation comes down and businesses regain their footing, the stage is set for a recovery in demand for IP leasing.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Intellectual Property Leasing in the UK
Revenue (2015-2030)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2025-2030)

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

Trends and Insights

The UK’s AI playbook will reshape licensing terms

  • The UK government is on track to introduce the Artificial Intelligence (Regulation) Bill by the end of 2026, aiming to provide clearer legal guidance for the use, licensing and distribution of AI. The EU’s AI Act will also take effect from 2026 and will apply to all UK companies exporting AI-enabled products or services into the European Single Market. In addition, UK data-protection reform is set to expand lawful data-sharing for research and innovation from 2025.

Biggest companies in the Intellectual Property Leasing in the UK

Company
Market Share (%)
2026
Revenue (£m)
2026
Financial & Risk Organisation Ltd
2,587.3

To view the market share and analysis for all 1 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Intellectual Property Leasing in the UK
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Patent leasing , Trade mark leasing and Design leasing . Patent leasing is the largest segment of the Intellectual Property Leasing in the UK.

Trends and Insights

A surge in tech and pharmaceutical breakthroughs lift patent leasing activity

  • Patent leasing provides a client with the legal rights to exploit an idea or invention commercially.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

Companies in this industry allow others to use intellectual property products and similar products for which a royalty payment or licensing fee is paid to the owner of the product. The leasing of these products can take various forms, such as permission for reproduction and use in subsequent processes or products. The current owners may or may not have created these products. The industry doesn't include copyrighted works.

What's included in this industry?

Products and services covered in the Intellectual Property Leasing industry in the United Kingdom include Patent leasing, Trade mark leasing , Design leasing and Radio spectrum leasing .

Companies

Companies covered in the Intellectual Property Leasing industry in the United Kingdom include Financial & Risk Organisation Ltd.

Purchase this report to view all 1 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

Related terms covered in the Intellectual Property Leasing industry in the United Kingdom include intellectual property (ip), lessee, lessor and radio spectrum.

Industry Code

SIC 2007

SIC 77.40 - Intellectual Property Leasing 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

Confidence is reviving IP leasing demand. Businesses are reviving branding and innovation plans, leading to higher trademark and design registrations and a steady rebound in ...

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 (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
  • Employees, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
  • Businesses, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
  • Profit, including historical (2015-2025)
  • 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

The surge in 5G networks boosts radio spectrum leasing. The increased need for wireless communication signals with the rollout of 5G networks is pushing up demand for radio s...

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2025
  • Product innovation level

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2025
  • Major market segmentation in 2025

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 business activity attracts IP establishments. With the highest economic activity rate and population density in the country, London is ideal for IP Leasing companies...

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 2025

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each region in 2025
  • Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2025
  • Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2025
  • Number and share of employees in each region in 2025

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

Intellectual property licensing creates internal competition. Businesses can charge higher fees for more valuable assets and compete through marketing, brand recognition and ...

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 2020-2025
  • 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

The industry is highly fragmented due to the diverse nature of intellectual property. Companies apply to the Intellectual Property Office to protect product names, designs, i...

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2021 through 2025
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2025
  • Overview of Financial & Risk Organisation Ltd's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2019 through 2025

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for Financial & Risk Organisation Ltd, and factors influencing its performance in the industry

External Environment

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

Analyst insights

The Intellectual Property Office (IPO) promotes IP value. Through an audit scheme and encouragement of patent application best practices, it helps businesses protect their as...

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 (2015-2030) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2015-2030) 

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

Labour remains the largest cost for IP leasing businesses. Staff costs for legal, technical and administrative roles make up the highest share of expenses, reflecting the spe...

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 2025
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2025
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Liquidity Ratios (2019-2023)
  • Coverage Ratios (2019-2023)
  • Leverage Ratios  (2019-2023)
  • Operating Ratios (2019-2023)
  • Assets (2019-2023)
  • Liabilities (2019-2023)
  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2015-2030)
  • Revenue per Employee (2015-2030)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2015-2030)
  • Employees per Establishment (2015-2030)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2015-2030)
  • Average Wage (2015-2030)
  • Wages/Revenue (2015-2030)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2015-2030)
  • IVA/Revenue (2015-2030)
  • Imports/Demand (2015-2030)
  • Exports/Revenue (2015-2030)

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 (2015-2030)
  • IVA (2015-2030)
  • Establishments (2015-2030)
  • Enterprises (2015-2030)
  • Employment (2015-2030)
  • Exports (2015-2030)
  • Imports (2015-2030)
  • Wages (2015-2030)

Top Questions Answered

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

What is the market size of the Intellectual Property Leasing industry in the United Kingdom in 2025?

The market size of the Intellectual Property Leasing industry in the United Kingdom is £18.4bn in 2025.

How many businesses are there in the Intellectual Property Leasing industry in the United Kingdom in 2025?

There are 10,179 businesses in the Intellectual Property Leasing industry in the United Kingdom, which has grown at a CAGR of 2.4 % between 2020 and 2025.

How may import tariffs affect the Intellectual Property Leasing industry in the United Kingdom?

The Intellectual Property Leasing industry in the United Kingdom is unlikely to be materially impacted by import tariffs with imports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.

How may export tariffs affect the Intellectual Property Leasing industry in the United Kingdom?

The Intellectual Property Leasing industry in the United Kingdom is unlikely to be materially impacted by export tariffs with exports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.

Has the Intellectual Property Leasing industry in the United Kingdom grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Intellectual Property Leasing industry in the United Kingdom has been growing at a CAGR of 0.6 % between 2020 and 2025.

What is the forecast growth of the Intellectual Property Leasing industry in the United Kingdom over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Intellectual Property Leasing industry in the United Kingdom is expected to grow.

What are the biggest companies in the Intellectual Property Leasing industry in the United Kingdom?

The biggest company operating in the Intellectual Property Leasing industry in the United Kingdom is Financial & Risk Organisation Ltd

What does the Intellectual Property Leasing industry in the United Kingdom include?

Patent leasing and Trade mark leasing are part of the Intellectual Property Leasing industry in the United Kingdom.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Intellectual Property Leasing industry in the United Kingdom?

The company holding the most market share in the Intellectual Property Leasing industry in the United Kingdom is Financial & Risk Organisation Ltd.

How competitive is the Intellectual Property Leasing industry in the United Kingdom?

The level of competition is low and steady in the Intellectual Property Leasing industry in the 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.

feedback