Sport. It matters.
From the gym on your high street to the organisations running elite competitions, sport and physical activity are vital to the UK economy. They create jobs, support wellbeing, and build communities.
It’s also a major economic force, contributing an estimated £39 billion in GVA, employing over half a million people, and benefiting from continued government investment. A recent £100 million commitment to upgrade grassroots sports facilities is aimed at increasing access in underserved areas and getting more people active.
That’s why we’ve partnered with the Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA) to map the UK’s Sport & Physical Activity sector for the first time – properly.
This isn’t a directory based on out-of-date classifications. It’s a dynamic, detailed view of nearly 20,000 companies across the sector, built using real-time data and technology designed to show what organisations actually do.
And now, it’s live on our platform.
What does the Sports and Physical Activities RTIC include?
This RTIC maps UK-based companies operating across the full sports and physical activity value chain. It covers businesses delivering sport-related services, manufacturing sports equipment, managing fitness centres, organising events, producing sports media, and developing sport-tech innovations.
It includes both public and private organisations, from local gyms and wellness centres to Premier League clubs and global fitness brands. We also capture adjacent sectors like sports betting, digital health, and gamified fitness, making this one of the most diverse RTICs we’ve built to date.
Unlike SIC codes, which miss the nuance and breadth of the sector, our RTIC uses website text, machine learning, and expert input to classify businesses in real time – giving you a clearer, more accurate picture of the industry.
Insights from the RTIC
The Sports and Physical Activity RTIC comprises of nearly 20,000 companies, revealing a combined workforce of over 460,000 people and generating £64.6 billion in turnover.
Investment activity is strong, with £1.34 billion raised across 179 companies, alongside £17.95 million in Innovate UK grant funding.
Growth indicators suggest a healthy trajectory, with an estimated annual growth rate of 7.4% among a subset of companies and a total estimated GVA of £19.97 billion. The average GVA per employee sits at approximately £43,331.
In terms of leadership and structure, there are nearly 5,000 women-founded and 4,500 women-led companies, and women hold roughly 32% of directorships. A small portion of firms are large employers (201 companies with 250+ staff). Trade data shows 1,225 companies involved in imports and 443 in exports.
Where is this sector located?
🏙️ Top locations by company count:
- Westminster – 1,000+ companies
- Leeds – 820
- Ealing – 534
👥 Top locations by employment:
- City of London – 12.4K employees
- Westminster – 10K
- Hammersmith and Fulham – 9.3K
💰 Top locations by turnover:
- Westminster – £4.9B
- Hammersmith and Fulham – £4.5B
- City of London – £2.7B
High growth companies in the sector
Stockport Active CIC/Life Leisure
Stockport Active CIC, trading as Life Leisure, is a rapidly expanding operator of sports and wellbeing facilities across Stockport, showing significant YoY growth since its incorporation in 2021.
With an estimated turnover increase of over 5,000% per year and employee growth of more than 500%, the organisation has scaled to a large operational size in a short period – despite not being classified as an OECD-defined scaleup.
Life Leisure operates across multiple SIC codes linked to physical wellbeing and sports facility management, highlighting the blurred boundaries in how these services are categorised in traditional datasets. Its activities span community-focused programmes, including inclusive sport sessions for SEND children and targeted support for LGBTQ+ youth through partnerships with local authorities and organisations like Manchester Pride.
Life Leisure’s growth and impact underscore the limitations of static classification systems and the value of real-time, granular data when analysing social infrastructure and community-oriented enterprises.
Rushall ofc limited
Rushall Olympic Football Club, affectionately known as “The Pics,” is a historic football club based in Rushall, Walsall, West Midlands. Established in 1893, the club has a rich heritage and currently competes in the Vanarama National League North, the sixth tier of English football.
In recent years, Rushall Olympic FC has demonstrated significant growth, with an estimated annual employee growth rate of 448%.
The club’s activities span multiple RTIC sectors, including the operation of sports facilities, activities of sport clubs, and sports and recreation education. This diversification reflects the club’s commitment to community development and its role as a multifaceted sports organisation
A new standard in industrial classification
At The Data City, we are redefining how emerging industries are mapped. With over 400 RTICs available, our platform provides real-time insights into the UK’s most dynamic sectors.
The Sports and Physical Activities RTIC, in collaboration with CIMSPA offer fresh intelligence for researchers, policymakers, and investors to a sector that may have gone unnoticed.
The Sports and Physical Activties RTIC is now live on our platform and available to all Data City users.
Want to explore the data? Sign up for a free trial today!
Please note: The data from The Data City is accurate at the time the article was written but may change over time due to the dynamic, real-time nature of our data. For the latest insights, visit our platform.
