TikTok’s discovery engine for growth boosts the British economy by £10bn

TikTok’s economic impact in the UK has grown to a massive £10bn, according to the latest report from Public First. TikTok is turning online discovery into real-world growth and jobs and is unlocking entrepreneurialism in Britain. The report estimates that TikTok contributed at least £10 billion to the UK economy in 2025 and supported 153,000 jobs.

Led by Public First, the analysis examines how users, creators and businesses use the platform, and incorporates additional research from EY on TikTok’s direct spending in the UK.

£10 billion in GVA to the UK economy in 2025 91% of businesses using TikTok Shop say that it has allowed them to grow their sales and revenue 28% of businesses using TikTok say they have sold out of a product because of the effects of TikTok and TikTok Shop.

TikTok supporting 153,000 jobs 31,000 additional hires reported by businesses using the TikTok platform 8m casual creators active across the UK – 1 in 5 Casual creators have undertaken concrete planning to start a new business For small businesses in particular, the ease of engaging on TikTok is helping break down traditional barriers and allowing them to compete with established brands.

On TikTok a good idea can turn into a viable business proposition without necessarily needing a big advertising budget or a prime high street location. It’s worth noting that TikTok’s effect is particularly pronounced for small businesses. TikTok helped UK SMEs boost revenues by £3. 4bn in 2025.

84% of UK businesses using TikTok say it has helped them increase their sales and revenue, while almost one third (28%) say they have hired additional staff as a direct result of being on the platform. Economic impact on high street The research shows that TikTok is helping drive people back to local high streets. 6.

1 million people visited a café or restaurant in their local area, while 4. 3 million visited a local independent shop, after discovering them on TikTok. This trend spans generations, with as many as one in five people aged 45-64 saying they visited a local café or restaurant after seeing it featured on TikTok. The platform also drove 2.

3 million additional visits to towns, cities, and attractions across the UK in 2025, fueling domestic tourism. Digital platforms like TikTok are increasingly a discovery gateway to real world experiences, supporting local economies and helping revive local businesses and attractions.

The data also shows the binary digital vs bricks-and-mortar distinction no longer reflects reality.

Driving Culture, Sport and Learning TikTok is having a major impact on UK culture and learning, and helping people find real world connections and hobbies: 12 million people say they have learned something on the platform, collectively watching over 18 million hours of educational content each week.

This has also created a pathway for further real-world learning, with 1. 5 million people having enrolled in an in-person learning course after engaging with TikTok content on a relevant subject. TikTok is also helping people build practical skills they can use at work.

More than four in ten users (41%) say they have applied skills in their current job that they first developed by posting videos on TikTok, rising to 67% among casual creators who post more than once a week. Meanwhile, 1.

2 million people have taken up a hobby or class having found a passion on the platform, helping to get people into offline activities in their local communities. In arts and culture, TikTok generated £175 million in additional consumer spending on books. Nearly one in four 18–24-year-olds on TikTok (23%) bought a book after seeing it featured on #BookTok.

More than half of readers in this age group (55%) use TikTok to discover information about books, more than any other social platform. In music, TikTok helped generate £430 million through increased royalties, concert tickets and memorabilia. TikTok Shop Over 300,000 small businesses are also now selling on TikTok Shop.

TikTok’s LIVE shopping format has grown 55% year-on-year with over 6,000 live shopping sessions taking place every day in the UK, enabling businesses to reach new audiences and drive sales. Entrepreneurialism on TikTok Around 8 million people post regularly on TikTok without being full-time creators or businesses.

These ‘casual creators’ are more than twice as likely as the UK average to say they want to start a business in the next five years (54% vs 21%).

With a £10bn boost to the British economy, TikTok is turning online discovery into real-world growth and connection, with millions discovering local businesses, visiting high streets and joining local clubs and sports groups.

– Ali Law, Director, TikTok UK TikTok shows that anyone can be an entrepreneur – all you need is an idea, a product, and a smartphone, and you can potentially reach audiences around the world, no matter if you’re in a big city or a tiny village. It’s great news that video views can translate to real-world sales, in person