Companies in Chester

United Kingdom|50.3% formed since 2020|10% inactive|Data updated 19 Oct 2026
9,654
Active

9,654 active companies are based in Chester according to Companies House records. Out of 11,479 companies ever registered here, 1,112 are no longer active — a 84% survival rate. The area has seen significant recent growth, with 50.3% of active businesses incorporated since 2020. Over half (61%) 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 633 companies. The area hosts 111 large enterprises, 154 small firms. Chester is home to 232 FCA-regulated firms and 93 registered charities. Companies here hold 151 government contracts worth £346.6M in total. The average company age is 9.5 years. The earliest company registration in Chester dates back to 1874.

Source: Companies House register via UVAGATRON, October 2026

9,654
Active Companies
11,479
Total Registered
1874
Oldest Company
50.3%
Growth (2020s)

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

Incorporation by Decade
11%
31%
52%
Pre-1990: 277
1990s: 349
2000s: 1,303
2010s: 3,571
2020s: 5,861

Top Industries

Other letting and operating of own or leased real estate633→Management consultancy activities other than financial management527→Buying and selling of own real estate453→Residents property management342→Other business support service activities n.e.c.331→Activities of other holding companies n.e.c.291→Development of building projects257→Other service activities n.e.c.240→Retail sale via mail order houses or via Internet202→Information technology consultancy activities195→

Data Signals

Governance
40,5586 src
Financial
33,47712 src
Risk
6,2519 src
Compliance
4,32817 src
Trade
1,3692 src
quality
7165 src
innovation
3622 src
ESG
2616 src
growth
2372 src
operational
771 src
corporate_structure
341 src
regulatory
21 src

Top Companies in Chester

GB GROUP PLC
Information technology consultancy activitiesEst. 1989140 signals
FOREST HOLIDAYS LIMITED
Other reservation service activities n.e.c.Est. 2012100 signals
THE LEARNING TRUST
Primary educationEst. 201189 signals
MEADOW FOODS LIMITED
Liquid milk and cream productionEst. 199261 signals
THE VILLAGE BAKERY (WREXHAM) LIMITED
Manufacture of bread; manufacture of fresh pastry goods and cakesEst. 201031 signals
SAVE THE FAMILY LIMITED
Other accommodationEst. 198525 signals
UNIVERSITY OF CHESTER TRUST
First-degree level higher educationEst. 201195 signals
HOSPICE OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD
Other human health activitiesEst. 198429 signals
ABBEY SCHOOL LIMITED
Other human health activitiesEst. 201123 signals
MARKS AND SPENCER FINANCIAL SERVICES LIMITED
Financial intermediation not elsewhere classifiedEst. 198387 signals

Business Landscape

The average active company in Chester is 9.5 years old. There are 232 <Link href="/glossary/fca-financial-conduct-authority">FCA-regulated firms</Link> in the area. 93 registered charities operate locally.

9.5 yrs
Avg company age
232
FCA regulated
93
Charities

Company Size Breakdown

Small: 154 (56%)Medium: 10 (4%)Large: 111 (40%)

Government Investment

Companies in Chester have been awarded 151 government contracts with a combined value of £346.6M. See the Top Government Contractors report.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many companies are registered in Chester?

There are 9,654 active companies registered in Chester, out of 11,479 total. 1,112 (10%) are no longer active.

What are the main industries in Chester?

The top industries in Chester include Other letting and operating of own or leased real estate (633 companies), Management consultancy activities other than financial management (527 companies), Buying and selling of own real estate (453 companies).

How fast is Chester growing as a business hub?

50.3% of currently active companies in Chester were incorporated since 2020, indicating strong recent growth.

What data signals are available for companies in Chester?

Our database contains 87,672 data signals across 12 categories for active companies in Chester. The largest category is Governance with 40,558 signals from 6 sources.

When was the first company registered in Chester?

The oldest company registration in Chester dates back to 1874, spanning over 152 years of business history.

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