EY · 15 Oct, 08:34 · Business briefing

UK listings fall to lowest level since 2023, as IPO pipeline builds

New data from EY reveals that the number of companies listing on UK stock exchanges has dropped to its lowest point since 2023.

What it means for you ↓ Courses for this story

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The briefing

The story
in brief.

What happened, who it affects, and why it landed on our intelligence desk — in plain English, sixty seconds or less.

New data from EY reveals that the number of companies listing on UK stock exchanges has dropped to its lowest point since 2023. Despite this immediate decline in live listings, the pipeline of firms preparing for initial public offerings is expanding. This divergence suggests a temporary bottleneck in market activity rather than a lack of corporate ambition. Professionals should note that while fewer companies are currently going public, the underlying interest in capital markets remains strong, with many organisations actively preparing for future exits.

Employer demand for Finance and Accounting skills — indexed growth since 2019
Indicative index of skill mentions in professional job postings for the field this story moves (2019 = 1)

Your move

What this means
for your career.

Every headline redistributes opportunity. Here is who this one rewards — and how to be on the right side of it.

This shift signals a critical juncture for finance and legal professionals. As the IPO pipeline grows, demand will surge for experts who can navigate complex regulatory frameworks and prepare companies for eventual public listing. You should focus on strengthening your skills in financial modelling and compliance, as these areas become increasingly vital during the preparation phase. Consider upskilling in risk management to help clients mitigate the uncertainties of a volatile market. If you are in corporate strategy, now is the time to advise on long-term valuation metrics rather than short-term listing tactics. Stay alert for emerging opportunities in private equity and venture capital, where activity often intensifies when public markets cool. Your ability to guide organisations through this waiting period will define your career trajectory.

For this story, the fields that convert it into pay are Finance and Accounting, Compliance And Governance, Financial Modeling and Risk Management Strategies — exactly the programmes matched below. The chart shows the indicative salary uplift certified professionals report in each of those fields; every one of them is a click away, from £79, finishing in as few as 20 days.

Indicative salary uplift in the fields matched to this story
Indicative ranges from published continuing-education salary studies, by field — each field is a recommended course below

Matched to this story

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