There were several reasons industrialization in Britain took place earlier than in other European Countries. First, amounts of private capital in Britain were unprecedented, allowing the nation to build road and railway systems, canals, and steamships. Continental states could not adopt steam transport as fast as Britain since they did not have sufficient capital and civil engineering skills enough for steamships. That difference made the industrialization process in European countries significantly slower compared to Britain. Although early industrialization stages did not require massive capital investments, they were necessary for subsequent growth.
Moreover, Britain experienced rapid industrial expansion because the costs of engines and fuel became lower. With coal and wood powering steam engines, which, in turn, powered trains, carts, and steamships, Britain could manage to build factories almost anywhere using canal transportation. Usage of steam allowed young and low-skilled workers to perform simple yet crucial tasks. Everything mentioned above illustrates some of the reasons Britain was the first European state to industrialize.