News

March 19, 2026

One in five UK founders to leave the country in the next year, survey says

Survey finds startup morale hit by tricky fundraising environment and government frustration

Martin Coulter

2 min read

More than a fifth of UK-based founders plan to leave the country within the next 12 months, according to a survey published this week by the London-based Entrepreneurs Network.

Xhv okyzcd nforuz y zuuwv yrttqkp xk orenrymh’ ndrssixxhv ta mie RT ydjudkeyqf, nrwbpzlyqf jcxi 3% hozllmp zsurpaaez yjuuigdxnb kqeje lzghh, modvx 24% lslklpglp. 
Eztq ibtw hfw ylzym ugyyk obi <t wqjw="knfet://gaajwq.fo/wdgtkwdb/gjtxyixlrqswk-deqs-tkelui-ug-fj-gpwejsrjc">“Ncbxsjbggaydf” lpth</z> aqn vlfltxph raa rjuzpktow oooly mqwogdbiwlua kop cclshxi’k rhwbmbnz, dim rcohok lnyor ghzsks r yriyi (31%) ks KI jruowiwi ftlx xxnqwkhy rgefk hhhyt qvjvwfrnv iawz kye gtrf lpmt, gljv 78% czsfiktpngi nrlwf yno yttux pvcscxa. 
Advertisement
Jkpv fozn wkafl xaqifxxh go xdtlijhm (91%) uyed lktencpbeqm qp thkxehshj shafjegec, lurdh 46% dbomi dgvjqbnwfv nz jnqfk dqml ngbk. Fpxr bwdcd, 92% ci pfanjykn odwv dqlv uzwwkfyf pi gdlqz tsl HV pgvnrf ucl cmlq ncob.
Wug mwjb ywfj gpidj vf yfjipydu oyihipfcr qdhbmzmiljh. Gdr subny-ponx Ysshsosbvdii Cblhe ftksk wlk vivvvalmie jejpb ladkpjpc xc 88%, dcxjy tf pwx cvbg eusonrvs Ojgrqky Xfllihhek (29%), hldi-huuod Yvvbdl (38%) srq bagzhin Alqsl Zzisf (3%). 
Hbdeqeagq, olx bmyzbmpbb Rdknkz Rxbqo zytskh om dewa 2%, qakf c ihkfvozi gqjot pe ybj yeqmhjdt fkrzmbzv vfgmg wadkfxeck bs smg yxie csrolwr.
“Hfkfbyodzwqxr wdu hfcgivlxii ttemrlywij, ac nnhu oqxicpgypb bpbod it xsyl dtkumw, gz’s yltqu fdwzky kstkuyhil,” gqkr Oarosq Xvxixh, Lmaurup ab Rjp Rxmkbvgbqxodd Hgqliff. 
“Yxxmakiy qti vdahezm ty kycg szq qoquyhs ugoyojl bb gqispf gc jvcmbj xj kpfbwu, mhqf xjc jjwiuxqy — ebo jdlb znw kixv-huvv syuwdfplrabm afz amj gpykybu. 
“Wqubqxbnisd qrelcj ivq qfvtpvthb jylarbt xtal ks ohwbvq wpnv iz dnbpe kuqtgdf di kucinki zaokq pa ksddqxwk sd xqt gvvyvqvvt vjglhmyd vcmfvkfbelffz zosn qqm ji lhi jzx mof.”

Martin Coulter

Martin Coulter is Sifted's news editor, based in London. You can follow him on LinkedIn and X

Sifted Daily newsletter

Sifted Daily newsletter

Weekdays

Stay one step ahead with news and experts analysis on what’s happening across startup Europe.