There are a high proportion of zombie companies in the UK. The COVID-19 pandemic has created the perfect environment to create more. The UK has had a zombie problem for some time now. Companies that simply exist, shambling onwards without ever turning a profit or contributing meaningfully to the economy. These ‘zombie companies’ have played a significant role in keeping UK productivity low and it’s only getting worse. According to a report by the conservative think tank Onward, between 1% and 4% of companies have been ‘zombified’ since the start of the pandemic, bringing the total number in the UK to more than 20%.