Companies in Birmingham

United Kingdom|63.5% formed since 2020|13% inactive|Data updated 15 Sept 2026
85,762
Active

85,762 active companies are currently registered in Birmingham, a major UK business hub. Out of 113,798 companies ever registered here, 15,236 are no longer active — a 75% survival rate. The area has seen significant recent growth, with 63.5% of active businesses incorporated since 2020. Over half (83%) of active companies were formed since 2020, making this one of the UK's fastest-growing business locations. The most common industry sector is buying and selling of own real estate, with 5,937 companies. The area hosts 953 large enterprises, 827 small firms. Birmingham is home to 1,521 FCA-regulated firms and 936 registered charities. Companies here hold 3,791 government contracts worth £14.3B in total. The average company age is 6.8 years. The earliest company registration in Birmingham dates back to 1864.

Source: Companies House register via UVAGATRON, September 2026

85,762
Active Companies
113,798
Total Registered
1864
Oldest Company
63.5%
Growth (2020s)

Birmingham is a growth hotspot — over half of its active companies were formed since 2020.

Incorporation by Decade
26%
64%
Pre-1990: 2,458
1990s: 1,899
2000s: 6,963
2010s: 29,459
2020s: 71,410

Top Industries

Buying and selling of own real estate5,937→Other letting and operating of own or leased real estate4,363→Retail sale via mail order houses or via Internet3,599→Other business support service activities n.e.c.2,497→Take-away food shops and mobile food stands2,250→Management consultancy activities other than financial management2,205→Activities of other holding companies n.e.c.1,940→Other human health activities1,915→Freight transport by road1,643→Other service activities n.e.c.1,588→

Data Signals

Governance
255,0876 src
Financial
165,75812 src
Compliance
49,50019 src
Risk
44,06711 src
quality
7,9626 src
Trade
5,5652 src
growth
4,0092 src
innovation
3,9222 src
ESG
1,8506 src
operational
8141 src
corporate_structure
3731 src
regulatory
281 src

Top Companies in Birmingham

TARMAC TRADING LIMITED
Quarrying of ornamental and building stone, limestone, gypsum, chalk and slateEst. 1948386 signals
COLAS LIMITED
Construction of roads and motorwaysEst. 1991260 signals
NATIONAL EXPRESS LIMITED
Other urban, suburban or metropolitan passenger land transport (not underground, metro or similar)Est. 1928105 signals
SCRIVENS LIMITED
Retail sale of hearing aidsEst. 1942114 signals
SCHAEFFLER (UK) LIMITED
Manufacture of bearings, gears, gearing and driving elementsEst. 1955107 signals
AIR LIQUIDE UK LIMITED
Manufacture of industrial gasesEst. 192859 signals
QUEEN ALEXANDRA COLLEGE
Technical and vocational secondary educationEst. 199737 signals
EURO PACKAGING UK LIMITED
Manufacture of corrugated paper and paperboard, sacks and bagsEst. 200982 signals
BIRMINGHAM MUSEUMS TRUST
Museums activitiesEst. 201145 signals
SALTS HEALTHCARE LIMITED
Other manufacturing n.e.c.Est. 190238 signals

Business Landscape

The average active company in Birmingham is 6.8 years old. There are 1,521 <Link href="/glossary/fca-financial-conduct-authority">FCA-regulated firms</Link> in the area. 936 registered charities operate locally.

6.8 yrs
Avg company age
1,521
FCA regulated
936
Charities

Company Size Breakdown

Small: 827 (44%)Medium: 80 (4%)Large: 953 (51%)

Government Investment

Companies in Birmingham have been awarded 3,791 government contracts with a combined value of £14297.2M. See the Top Government Contractors report.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many companies are registered in Birmingham?

There are 85,762 active companies registered in Birmingham, out of 113,798 total. 15,236 (13%) are no longer active.

What are the main industries in Birmingham?

The top industries in Birmingham include Buying and selling of own real estate (5,937 companies), Other letting and operating of own or leased real estate (4,363 companies), Retail sale via mail order houses or via Internet (3,599 companies).

How fast is Birmingham growing as a business hub?

63.5% of currently active companies in Birmingham were incorporated since 2020, indicating strong recent growth.

What data signals are available for companies in Birmingham?

Our database contains 538,935 data signals across 12 categories for active companies in Birmingham. The largest category is Governance with 255,087 signals from 6 sources.

When was the first company registered in Birmingham?

The oldest company registration in Birmingham dates back to 1864, spanning over 162 years of business history.

Data is updated daily from official UK government sources including Companies House. Information is provided for reference only.