Third-Party Report: TikTok to Contribute at Least ￡10 Billion to UK Economy by 2025

According to a new report from UK research firm Public First, TikTok will contribute at least ￡10 billion to the UK's Gross Value Added and support 153,000 jobs by 2025. This analysis, led by Public First, incorporates EY's research on TikTok's direct spending in the UK and covers the full spectrum of platform usage by users, creators, and businesses.

The report states that 91% of businesses using TikTok Shop reported that the platform has driven sales growth, and 28% of sellers on the platform have experienced product sell-outs due to its effect. Collectively, all businesses using TikTok have created 31,000 new hires. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have particularly benefited; TikTok is projected to help UK SMEs generate an additional ￡3.4 billion in revenue by 2025, with 84% of SMEs stating the platform helped increase their sales, and 28% directly adding new staff positions after joining. Currently, over 300,000 UK SMEs have joined TikTok Shop. Live shopping on the platform has grown 55% year-over-year, with more than 6,000 live shopping sessions occurring daily.

The platform is also driving users back to local high streets. In 2025, 6.1 million people visited local cafes or restaurants after discovering businesses on TikTok, and 4.3 million visited local independent shops. This foot traffic spans all age groups; among those aged 45-64, one in five reported visiting a local food or drink establishment after seeing relevant content on the platform. TikTok is estimated to bring an additional 2.3 million visits to UK towns and attractions in 2025, boosting domestic tourism spending.

In the realm of education and skills, 12 million people in the UK reported learning practical knowledge on TikTok. Educational content on the platform accumulates over 18 million hours of watch time weekly, and 1.5 million people enrolled in offline learning courses after encountering related content. 41% of platform users stated they have applied skills learned while creating videos to their current jobs; among part-time creators who post at least weekly, this figure rises to 67%. A further 1.2 million people participated in offline hobby activities or courses after discovering interests on the platform.

Regarding cultural consumption, TikTok is projected to drive an additional ￡175 million in UK book sales in 2025. Among platform users aged 18-24, 23% purchased books influenced by BookTok content, and over 55% of readers in this age group discover book-related information through TikTok—a higher proportion than on any other social platform. In music, the platform contributed ￡430 million in revenue through royalties, concert tickets, and merchandise sales.

The report also indicates that the UK currently has 8 million part-time creators who are not business sellers, one-fifth of whom have concrete business plans. 54% of these 'everyday creators' intend to start a business within the next five years, more than double the UK average of 21%.

Ali Law, UK Director at TikTok, stated that the ￡10 billion economic contribution demonstrates the platform is translating online discovery into offline growth and connection, with millions of users discovering local businesses, visiting high streets, and participating in local clubs and sports groups through TikTok. Craig Beaumont, Chief of External Affairs at the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), commented that TikTok has lowered the barrier to entrepreneurship, allowing anyone with an idea, a product, and a smartphone the opportunity to reach a global audience. Whether in a big city or a small village, video traffic can be converted into actual sales, online or in-store, and the FSB will provide support for newly established micro-businesses.