3,000 New CICs in a Year — First Time, and a Sign of What's Coming

For the first time ever, the CIC register approved more than 3,000 new organisations in a single year. Three thousand two hundred and fifteen, to be precise. That’s a 13% increase on 2018. The cumulative total is now pushing 16,000. And the rate of growth is accelerating.

I’ve been watching these numbers for fifteen years, and I’ve learned not to get too excited about any single data point. But this one matters. Three thousand in a year is a threshold. It moves CICs from being a niche legal structure to a significant player in the UK’s enterprise landscape.

The breakdown is worth noting. The online incorporation system launched in March clearly contributed — the second half of the year was significantly stronger than the first. But there’s more going on than just a digital boost. CICs are becoming the default choice for a generation of social entrepreneurs who want the flexibility of a company structure without sacrificing their social mission.

Ten thousand seven hundred and eighty-nine CIC reports were filed this year. That’s a compliance rate that most regulators would envy. It suggests that CICs take their reporting obligations seriously — which is exactly the message we need to send to policymakers and investors.

But here’s the concern that keeps me up. Every new CIC is an organisation that needs support. It needs to know how to file its community interest report. It needs to understand its governance obligations. It needs access to finance, advice, and networks. And the infrastructure to provide that support hasn’t grown at the same rate as the register.

The CIC Association does what it can. The Regulator’s office provides guidance. But there’s no dedicated CIC support programme, no national network of CIC advisors, no government-backed scheme to help new CICs through their first years. Those 3,215 new CICs are largely on their own.

Three thousand in a year is a milestone to celebrate. But it’s also a warning. If we don’t build the support infrastructure to match the growth, we risk creating thousands of CICs that struggle to fulfil their potential. And that would be a waste that none of us can afford.