Turning standards
into impact
Over the past year, GS1 UK has helped members, industry and public services turn global standards into practical actions. We have strengthened the value we offer members, improved the digital services that support trusted data and brought our expertise to some of the most important issues facing UK businesses of all sizes.
From the transition to QR codes powered by GS1 to safer healthcare, more transparent construction and simpler digital trade, our work is helping organisations respond to change and prepare for what comes next.
From focus
to delivery
The environment in which our members operate is changing rapidly. Economic uncertainty, evolving regulation and rapid advances in technology are placing new demands on businesses of every size. Accurate and accessible data is becoming more important as information moves across a growing number of systems, organisations and markets.
Our focus throughout the year has been on turning strategy into practical progress. We have improved the services members use every day, invested in the infrastructure that will support their future needs and worked with industry and government on challenges that no organisation can solve alone.
The launch of the new and improved My GS1 and the introduction of QR functionality within My Numberbank made it easier for members to manage their relationship with us, create and share reliable data and prepare for emerging commercial and regulatory requirements. We significantly improved the quality of information shared through Verified by GS1, increasing the consistency and global visibility of our members’ product data.
We have changed the way we deliver membership services. Our proposition, pricing, products, communications and support are being brought together in a coordinated programme, allowing us to respond more thoughtfully to the needs of different businesses at different stages of their journey.
This matters because, while member satisfaction finished the year well above target at 89.8, total membership contracted by 377. The result has sharpened our focus on acquisition, retention and demonstrating the wider value of membership. Small businesses remain central to that work, accounting for 94 per cent of new joiners during the year.
Access to Global Trade Item Numbers (GTINs) and barcodes remains the main reason businesses join, but regulation, trading requirements and QR codes powered by GS1 are increasingly influencing the decision. Members still value the foundations GS1 UK has always provided, while looking to us for support with a broader range of services.
The transition to QR codes powered by GS1 is the clearest example of standards moving into action. Tesco’s decision to transition an entire own label range showed that the move from pilots to implementation has begun and gave other businesses greater confidence to take their next steps. More than 1,000 products are now in market carrying QR codes powered by GS1 were estimated to be in market by year end.
Our influence has grown beyond retail. We have used research, partnerships and policy engagement to bring stronger evidence into debates about digital trade, construction product data and healthcare.
Although the challenges differ, each depends on accurate identification, reliable information and organisations working to a common approach.
None of this would have been possible without the expertise and commitment of our people. Colleagues have adapted to new ways of working, deepened their understanding of our standards and collaborated across team boundaries.
More regular feedback, clearer objectives and practical learning have given us a stronger basis for developing the capabilities we will need in the future.
As we enter the final year of our current strategy, we will take a more targeted approach to growth, deepen our understanding of member needs and continue to invest where standards can make the greatest difference.
GS1 UK will always be recognised as the organisation behind the barcode and we should be proud of the value that foundation continues to provide. Our task now is to build on it, helping members use trusted product data to address new challenges and make the most of new opportunities.
Anne Godfrey
CEO
GS1 UK
Creating more value for members
Our members range from businesses bringing their first products to market to the world’s largest organisations. Their needs differ, but each relies on GS1 standards to identify products, meet trading requirements and share information with confidence.
Membership at a glance
59,964
members
12,480
businesses joined or rejoined
75%
renewal rate
94%
new joiners were small businesses
Overall membership contracted by 377 during the year, reinforcing the need to make our wider offer clear, relevant and accessible to businesses of every size.
Representing businesses
across the economy
Our members operate across a broad range of industries, from food, beauty, apparel and homeware to healthcare, construction, technology and professional services. Their needs differ, but each relies on GS1 standards to identify products, meet trading requirements and share information with confidence.
13%
Health, beauty and cosmetics
13%
Food and grocery
11%
Home and garden
9%
Apparel, footwear and accessories
6%
Drinks and beverages
Together, these five sectors accounted for just over half of total membership.
The remainder was spread across a diverse range of industries, reflecting the role GS1 standards play throughout the UK economy.
Why businesses joined
95%
Product identification and market access
13%
Legislation or trading requirements
12%
Next generation of barcodes
6%
Electronic orders and payments
6%
Identifying locations
Access to Global Trade Item Numbers (GTINs) and barcodes remained the main reason businesses joined. However, QR codes powered by GS1 became the third most common reason selected, showing that the transition to the next generation of barcodes is beginning to influence membership decisions.
Strengthening the
member experience
Member support
Members continued to receive practical support by phone, email and online. Satisfaction remained strong, with both the overall and support scores finishing above the corporate target.
89
overall
CSAT
90
Support
CSAT
17k+
Support tickets managed
99%
call capture rate
14
seconds average wait time
The insights gathered through these interactions is helping us identify where clearer guidance and simpler services can make membership easier to manage.
Practical guidance
Our knowledge hub continued to provide practical guidance, helping members understand GS1 standards, use GS1 UK services and prepare for changing requirements.
79,400+
views
75,300+
sessions
13%
of views focused on QR codes powered by GS1
The growing use of guidance on implementing QR codes powered by GS1 reflects the practical questions businesses are asking as they prepare for the next generation of barcodes.
Building digital foundations
We have continued to improve the digital services members use to manage their membership, create identifiers and share reliable data. The focus has been on making everyday tasks simpler while helping businesses prepare for changes in regulation, technology and the way product information is exchanged.
A simpler membership experience
Following a major upgrade, the improved My GS1 went live in February 2026. Membership information, insights, services and guidance are now brought together in one place, making it easier for members to manage their relationship with us.
Platform engagement
115,000+
active users in the first five months
10 minutes
average engagement time
90%
of new joiners chose auto renewal
Reliable data at scale
My Numberbank is central to how members create and manage the identifiers behind their products, packaging and locations. Improvements to validation and guidance have also made it easier to provide more complete product information and share it through Verified by GS1.
1.7m+
product and location identifiers created
100,000+
shared with Verified by GS1
395,000+
barcode images downloaded
73
Verifed by GS1 data quality score
Preparing members for the next generation of barcodes
We added QR functionality to My Numberbank to give members a simple way to start creating QR codes powered by GS1 alongside their existing identifiers and barcodes. This makes it easier for businesses to begin preparing for the next generation of barcodes through a service they already use.
The functionality is also helping us gain insights into the guidance and support members will need as the transition gathers pace.
Exploring new uses for product data
We have run pilots with members to explore new services that could make trusted product information based on GS1 standards more visible and easier to find and use.
This work is helping us understand how members could make product information easier for consumers, trading partners, digital services and AI systems to access, without having to create and maintain the same data in several places.
Turning evidence
into influence
Our role extends beyond providing GS1 standards. By bringing businesses, partners and policymakers together, we can support market adoption, bring stronger evidence into national debates and embed GS1 standards more deeply across UK PLC.
This year, our campaigns, research and policy engagement have played a vital role in accelerating adoption of GS1 standards, championing the needs of members and strengthening our influence across industry and public services.
A Quiet Revolution takes shape
QR codes powered by GS1 moved towards wider implementation as major brands scaled their use and more products reached the market. Tesco brought the transition to a national audience, while the QR Horizons Summit gave brands, retailers, partners and government a forum to share practical experience and prepare for adoption at greater scale.
Market adoption
1,000+
products in market with next-gen barcodes
300+
members using QR codes powered by GS1
40
approved GS1 UK partners supporting implementation
National visibility
350+
pieces of coverage generated
1.4 million
views
140
representatives at the QR Horizons Summit
Giving businesses a stronger voice
Our research with the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) examined the challenges facing UK exporters and highlighted how better data sharing, digital standards and more connected border systems could make trade simpler and more efficient.
The findings strengthened our engagement with government and helped bring practical business needs into discussions about the future of UK trade.
Making the case for better construction data
Our research with Barbour ABI highlighted the commercial, operational and safety consequences of fragmented product information across construction.
The findings strengthened the case for consistent identification and reliable product data as foundations for compliance, productivity and a safer built environment.
Embedding standards in healthcare
Two NHS information standards moved closer to wider adoption during the year. One covers the use of two dimensional barcodes for patient identification, while the other sets out how GS1 standards should be used to identify and capture information about patients, products, places and assets.
Both progressed through a formal review that could ultimately make their use mandatory for healthcare providers and technology suppliers. GS1 identifiers were also incorporated more deeply into national records standards and NHS data models, helping establish a more consistent approach to identification across healthcare.
Campaigns
In 2024/25, we launched a unified campaign to position QR codes powered by GS1 as a key enabler of digital transformation. It began with a strategic partnership with FT Longitude to elevate the conversation around smarter labelling, supply chain transparency and consumer engagement. Through thought leadership, targeted media and original research, the campaign established QR codes powered by GS1 as a trusted solution for future-ready product information.
Building on this momentum, we extended the narrative through a high-impact pilot with Tesco, showing how QR codes powered by GS1 improve data quality, in-store efficiency and supply chain visibility. Together, these campaigns drove strong awareness and engagement across industry and consumer audiences.
Standards
Technology systems
Implementation
in practice
The people behind our progress
Our people are central to the support we provide members and the impact we make across industry. By year end, GS1 UK had 96 colleagues, bringing together a broad range of skills, backgrounds and experience.
96
colleagues
19
ethnic groups represented
30%
of colleagues identified as being from other ethnic backgrounds
5.4%
median gender pay gap
The proportion of colleagues identifying as being from other ethnic backgrounds increased from 26 per cent in 2025 to 30 per cent this year. We also continued to strengthen the accuracy and consistency of our people reporting, giving us a clearer basis for monitoring progress.
Supporting Tourettes Action
We are entering the third year of our partnership with Tourettes Action, supporting the charity through fundraising, donations and volunteering.
Over
£3,000
raised this year
15
volunteering
days used
12
colleagues who used volunteering leave
Ready for
the next chapter
When I first joined the GS1 UK board more than 20 years ago, just as we were becoming one global organisation, I knew the barcode was one of the world’s great examples of industry collaboration.
I have seen its value throughout my career across factories, distribution centres, retail operations and supply chains, creating trust with consumers and shoppers everywhere. Working with the GS1 Global Office in the subsequent decade gave me the opportunity to see and influence just how much world trade depends on what we do and why we are so often described as the 'language of business'. It was a huge privilege to return to the UK and become chair of the board here. What I could not have predicted was how often we would be reminded of the importance of reliable information and a common way to share it.
The pandemic transformed consumer behaviour almost overnight and forced businesses and government to work together in ways that would previously have seemed impossible. Brexit placed new pressures on cross border trade. War in Ukraine and wider geopolitical disruption brought renewed uncertainty around the movement and availability of goods. The circumstances were different each time, but the same lesson kept returning: when events move quickly, organisations need reliable data, clear communication and relationships built before a crisis arrives.
During the pandemic, when I chaired the Food Resilience Industry Forum, I saw firsthand what could be achieved when government, retailers, manufacturers and logistics providers shared information openly and concentrated on the problem in front of them. The systems and standards that usually operate quietly in the background became essential to keeping food and other necessities moving.
That experience reinforced something I had learned many years earlier. Resilience does not come from a plan sitting in a drawer. It comes from people understanding their role, practising how they work together and having confidence in the information on which decisions are based.
That is why I believe so strongly in GS1 UK’s purpose. Standards can sound technical and, to most people, they are largely invisible. Yet they give businesses and public services a common language, allowing products, places, assets and people to be identified consistently as they move between organisations and systems.
Over my time as chair, I have watched GS1 UK become a larger, stronger and more confident organisation, offering more to members across a wider range of sectors. Membership has grown by 50 per cent during that period, from 40,000 to nearly 60,000 today. The financial reserves that are so important to a not-for-profit organisation have been significantly strengthened, giving us the resources to replace ageing core systems and invest in new digital services, data, people and partnerships.
We have also expanded beyond GS1's traditional heartlands of retail, consumer goods and healthcare by establishing a significant presence in construction. Events have highlighted just how much that sector needs the systems, skills and experience that GS1 can bring, and its growth has been rapid. The organisation is more ambitious than it was when I became chair, but it is also more disciplined about where it focuses its time, energy and resources.
I am particularly proud that this progress has connected the strengths of GS1 UK's heritage with the needs of the future. The challenges posed by global warming, combined with growing consumer expectations to know more about the products they buy and use, have made it clear that better data is needed, and needed more quickly, to support informed decision-making. The establishment of the QR codes powered by GS1 programme over the past few years will, I am sure, prove to be one of the most lasting legacies of this decade. It demonstrates that established standards can evolve to meet new challenges without losing the global consistency that made them successful in the first place.
There is still much to do. This year’s membership results have reinforced the need to ensure that smaller businesses understand and experience the wider value of membership. GS1 UK must continue to listen, make that value easier to understand and ensure its support remains practical and relevant. We must continue to expand our work with regulators, helping them understand the value of open standards and the vital role they play in delivering transparency, efficiency and trust. Equally important is demonstrating that collaboration across industry remains the most effective way to address the shared challenges we all face.
As I prepare to hand over the role of chair, I do so with confidence in GS1 UK and enormous gratitude to the people and members who have supported its progress. The supervisory board has provided challenge and guidance, our members and partners have shared their expertise generously and colleagues across the organisation have continued to deliver through a period of considerable change.
It has been a privilege to serve as chair. The world around GS1 UK will continue to change, but the need for reliable information, effective collaboration and standards that work across organisational boundaries will only become more important.
GS1 UK has strong foundations, a clear purpose and an experienced team. I look forward to seeing what they achieve next.
Chris Tyas OBE
Chair
GS1 UK
