Companies in Bristol

United Kingdom|48.5% formed since 2020|7% inactive|Data updated 9 Sept 2026
54,404
Active

54,404 active companies are currently registered in Bristol, a major UK business hub. Out of 64,037 companies ever registered here, 4,615 are no longer active — a 85% survival rate. Business formation remains steady, with 48.5% of current companies established since 2020. Over half (58%) of active companies were formed since 2020, making this one of the UK's fastest-growing business locations. The most common industry sector is other letting and operating of own or leased real estate, with 3,453 companies. The area hosts 1,025 large enterprises, 807 small firms. Bristol is home to 992 FCA-regulated firms and 701 registered charities. Companies here hold 3,712 government contracts worth £6.2B in total. The average company age is 10.0 years. The earliest company registration in Bristol dates back to 1871.

Source: Companies House register via UVAGATRON, September 2026

54,404
Active Companies
64,037
Total Registered
1871
Oldest Company
48.5%
Growth (2020s)

A diverse local economy with no single sector accounting for more than 15% of businesses.

Incorporation by Decade
11%
32%
50%
Pre-1990: 2,558
1990s: 2,159
2000s: 7,241
2010s: 19,970
2020s: 31,353

Top Industries

Other letting and operating of own or leased real estate3,453→Residents property management2,973→Management consultancy activities other than financial management2,039→Buying and selling of own real estate2,029→Dormant Company1,474→Other business support service activities n.e.c.1,413→Information technology consultancy activities1,254→Development of building projects1,235→Business and domestic software development1,063→Activities of other holding companies n.e.c.1,057→

Data Signals

Governance
169,4396 src
Financial
120,93512 src
Compliance
38,19719 src
Risk
28,74011 src
quality
4,9646 src
growth
3,9502 src
Trade
3,7712 src
innovation
2,5922 src
ESG
1,5266 src
operational
5981 src
corporate_structure
2801 src
regulatory
201 src

Top Companies in Bristol

BRUNELCARE
Other accommodationEst. 1958130 signals
MILESTONES TRUST
Residential care activities for the elderly and disabledEst. 1986163 signals
NATIONAL GRID ELECTRICITY DISTRIBUTION (SOUTH WEST) PLC
Distribution of electricityEst. 1989131 signals
ST PETER'S HOSPICE
Post-graduate level higher educationEst. 197490 signals
JISC
Activities of other membership organizations n.e.c.Est. 2006173 signals
HOARE LEA LLP
Est. 2016157 signals
HF TRUST LIMITED
Residential care activities for learning difficulties, mental health and substance abuseEst. 1962148 signals
NISBETS LIMITED
Non-specialised wholesale tradeEst. 1983141 signals
THE BRANDON TRUST
Residential nursing care facilitiesEst. 198997 signals
CABOT LEARNING FEDERATION
Other education n.e.c.Est. 200778 signals

Business Landscape

The average active company in Bristol is 10 years old. There are 992 <Link href="/glossary/fca-financial-conduct-authority">FCA-regulated firms</Link> in the area. 701 registered charities operate locally.

10 yrs
Avg company age
992
FCA regulated
701
Charities

Company Size Breakdown

Small: 807 (43%)Medium: 66 (3%)Large: 1,025 (54%)

Government Investment

Companies in Bristol have been awarded 3,712 government contracts with a combined value of £6188.0M. See the Top Government Contractors report.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many companies are registered in Bristol?

There are 54,404 active companies registered in Bristol, out of 64,037 total. 4,615 (7%) are no longer active.

What are the main industries in Bristol?

The top industries in Bristol include Other letting and operating of own or leased real estate (3,453 companies), Residents property management (2,973 companies), Management consultancy activities other than financial management (2,039 companies).

How fast is Bristol growing as a business hub?

48.5% of currently active companies in Bristol were incorporated since 2020, indicating strong recent growth.

What data signals are available for companies in Bristol?

Our database contains 375,012 data signals across 12 categories for active companies in Bristol. The largest category is Governance with 169,439 signals from 6 sources.

When was the first company registered in Bristol?

The oldest company registration in Bristol dates back to 1871, spanning over 155 years of business history.

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