Companies in Leicester

United Kingdom|59% formed since 2020|9% inactive|Data updated 6 Sept 2026
42,401
Active

42,401 active companies are currently registered in Leicester, a major UK business hub. Out of 52,963 companies ever registered here, 4,837 are no longer active — a 80% survival rate. The area has seen significant recent growth, with 59% of active businesses incorporated since 2020. Over half (73%) 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 2,816 companies. The area hosts 285 large enterprises, 370 small firms. Leicester is home to 919 FCA-regulated firms and 364 registered charities. Companies here hold 1,837 government contracts worth £5.1B in total. The average company age is 7.4 years. The earliest company registration in Leicester dates back to 1885.

Source: Companies House register via UVAGATRON, September 2026

42,401
Active Companies
52,963
Total Registered
1885
Oldest Company
59%
Growth (2020s)

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

Incorporation by Decade
30%
59%
Pre-1990: 935
1990s: 1,004
2000s: 3,846
2010s: 15,425
2020s: 31,049

Top Industries

Buying and selling of own real estate2,816→Other letting and operating of own or leased real estate2,655→Retail sale via mail order houses or via Internet1,577→Activities of other holding companies n.e.c.1,277→Management consultancy activities other than financial management1,215→Freight transport by road1,124→Other business support service activities n.e.c.971→Other human health activities865→Information technology consultancy activities828→Development of building projects775→

Data Signals

Governance
127,4506 src
Financial
85,51611 src
Compliance
25,62918 src
Risk
21,31612 src
quality
5,3506 src
Trade
3,5592 src
growth
1,9832 src
ESG
6756 src
operational
5181 src
innovation
4492 src
corporate_structure
881 src
regulatory
131 src

Top Companies in Leicester

DUNELM (SOFT FURNISHINGS) LTD
Other manufacturing n.e.c.Est. 1987119 signals
FAT FACE LIMITED
Retail sale of clothing in specialised storesEst. 1994109 signals
PUKKA PIES LIMITED
Production of meat and poultry meat productsEst. 197196 signals
MATTIOLI WOODS LIMITED
Other business support service activities n.e.c.Est. 199595 signals
PRIME LIFE LIMITED
Other human health activitiesEst. 1993165 signals
FLOGAS BRITAIN LIMITED
Wholesale of petroleum and petroleum productsEst. 1970116 signals
SHOE ZONE RETAIL LIMITED
Retail sale of footwear in specialised storesEst. 191753 signals
NEXT PLC
Activities of head officesEst. 2002131 signals
CATERPILLAR (U.K.) LIMITED
Manufacture of other fabricated metal products n.e.c.Est. 1950107 signals
WATCHES OF SWITZERLAND COMPANY LIMITED
Retail sale of watches and jewellery in specialised storesEst. 191799 signals

Business Landscape

The average active company in Leicester is 7.4 years old. There are 919 <Link href="/glossary/fca-financial-conduct-authority">FCA-regulated firms</Link> in the area. 364 registered charities operate locally.

7.4 yrs
Avg company age
919
FCA regulated
364
Charities

Company Size Breakdown

Small: 370 (50%)Medium: 81 (11%)Large: 285 (39%)

Government Investment

Companies in Leicester have been awarded 1,837 government contracts with a combined value of £5120.8M. See the Top Government Contractors report.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many companies are registered in Leicester?

There are 42,401 active companies registered in Leicester, out of 52,963 total. 4,837 (9%) are no longer active.

What are the main industries in Leicester?

The top industries in Leicester include Buying and selling of own real estate (2,816 companies), Other letting and operating of own or leased real estate (2,655 companies), Retail sale via mail order houses or via Internet (1,577 companies).

How fast is Leicester growing as a business hub?

59% of currently active companies in Leicester were incorporated since 2020, indicating strong recent growth.

What data signals are available for companies in Leicester?

Our database contains 272,546 data signals across 12 categories for active companies in Leicester. The largest category is Governance with 127,450 signals from 6 sources.

When was the first company registered in Leicester?

The oldest company registration in Leicester dates back to 1885, spanning over 141 years of business history.

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