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UK Business Risk Report 2026

What’s putting you at risk? Strategic insights for large corporates: navigating complex risks with confidence.

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The UK Business Risk Report provides comprehensive insights into the key risks facing businesses today.

Cybercrime, competition in the market, and service disruptions – the findings detailed in the UK Business Risk Report tell a story of the wide spectrum of risks business are facing.

In today’s dynamic global environment, large corporates face an array of evolving risks that can impact operations, reputation, and long-term success. The UK Business Risk Report 2026 delivers analysis and actionable insights tailored to senior risk leaders, helping you anticipate challenges and safeguard your organisation. This in-depth report draws on data from over 2,000 UK business leaders, with a focus on the unique pressures faced by large enterprises.

Use this report to:

  • Gain insight into risks that are on your radar, and those you may not be aware of.
  • Get practical advice on how to tackle some of the biggest business risks.
  • Realise the benefits that can flow from strategic risk assessment business risk management.

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Key insights for large corporates:

  • Socio- and geopolitical risks: Large corporates must monitor global unrest, climate change impacts, terrorism, and activism. These factors can disrupt supply chains and operations, requiring agile business risk management approaches.
  • Economic and financial risks: Inflation, interest rate volatility, and credit availability directly affect cash flow and investment capacity. This is especially critical for financial institutions managing systemic risk and regulatory scrutiny.
  • Cybersecurity threats: Sophisticated cyber threats such as ransomware, phishing, and supply chain attacks require significant investment in cybersecurity infrastructure. Regular audits of internal systems and third-party providers are critical to protect sensitive data and maintain operational integrity.
  • Regulatory compliance and government regulations: Navigating complex government regulations is essential to avoid penalties and reputational damage. Proactive compliance management must be integrated into risk frameworks.
  • Talent risks: Attracting and retaining top talent amid competitive labour markets and evolving workforce expectations demands strategic talent management and engagement initiatives aligned with government regulations.
  • Operational risks: Complex supply chains and regulatory compliance challenges necessitate agile operational risk management. Embedding risk assessments into daily processes helps large corporates anticipate and respond to disruptions effectively.
  • Employee safety and workforce stability: Protecting employee wellbeing is paramount. Large organisations must implement comprehensive health and safety protocols aligned with government regulations to ensure employee safety and operational continuity.
  • Supply chain and compliance: Large corporates operate within intricate supply chains that are vulnerable to geopolitical shifts, regulatory changes, and operational disruptions. Effective business risk management requires end-to-end visibility and collaboration with suppliers to identify risks early and implement mitigation strategies. Compliance with evolving government regulations across jurisdictions adds complexity, demanding rigorous oversight and adaptive policies.

Download the UK Business Risk Report 2026 now

To equip your organisation with the strategic insights needed to navigate tomorrow’s complex risk landscape effectively.

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Business owners and risk managers can use this report to understand external factors and the risks arising from them that could impact their businesses. Managing risk is part of the day-to-day work of running a business. You’re already aware of the internal risks you face. However, there may also be external risks you’re unaware of. You’ll need to address these in combination and build them into your business risk management strategy.

This report can help you understand and identify risks that could affect you. From major risks to smaller issues, this research can support your risk management strategies and even help you prevent a risk from occurring.

History of the UK Business Risk Report

The UK Business Risk Report started life as the UK SME Risk Report in 2021, produced by Marsh Commercial. This grew from recognising that Marsh’s Global Risk Report was an invaluable resource for organisations worldwide. Marsh Commercial wanted to provide a report and Risk Hub with similar useful, actionable insights for the businesses we service: UK small-to-midsize enterprises (SMEs). Because we wanted to extend these insights to all types and sizes of UK businesses, the survey and report evolved to include not only SMEs but also larger corporate businesses that Marsh and Mercer service. Today, the Marsh UK Business Risk Report provides an all-inclusive analysis of UK business risks and is an indispensable tool in any organisation’s risk management strategy.

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FAQs

The report examines the most pressing risks facing UK businesses, with a focus on large corporates, including economic, cyber, geopolitical, and regulatory challenges.

Senior risk leaders, compliance officers, and executives in large corporates and financial institutions will find the report invaluable for identifying risks and strengthening risk management frameworks.

The report outlines key regulatory trends and compliance imperatives, enabling organisations to anticipate changes and adapt policies accordingly.

The UK Business Risk Report 2026 is grounded in a robust survey of over 2,000 UK business leaders, supplemented by expert analysis of external risk factors and regulatory trends.