Companies in Manchester

United Kingdom|64.2% formed since 2020|10% inactive|Data updated 10 Sept 2026
98,239
Active

98,239 active companies are currently registered in Manchester, a major UK business hub. Out of 127,799 companies ever registered here, 13,334 are no longer active — a 77% survival rate. The area has seen significant recent growth, with 64.2% of active businesses incorporated since 2020. Over half (81%) 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 5,970 companies. The area hosts 1,098 large enterprises, 1,205 small firms. Manchester is home to 1,579 FCA-regulated firms and 976 registered charities. Companies here hold 3,318 government contracts worth £8.7B in total. The average company age is 6.6 years. The earliest company registration in Manchester dates back to 1871.

Source: Companies House register via UVAGATRON, September 2026

98,239
Active Companies
127,799
Total Registered
1871
Oldest Company
64.2%
Growth (2020s)

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

Incorporation by Decade
26%
64%
Pre-1990: 2,404
1990s: 2,128
2000s: 8,241
2010s: 33,044
2020s: 80,043

Top Industries

Buying and selling of own real estate5,970→Other letting and operating of own or leased real estate5,585→Retail sale via mail order houses or via Internet5,329→Dormant Company3,049→Management consultancy activities other than financial management2,820→Other business support service activities n.e.c.2,715→Other service activities n.e.c.2,606→Non-specialised wholesale trade2,307→Activities of other holding companies n.e.c.2,109→Other human health activities1,810→

Data Signals

Governance
292,0667 src
Financial
180,28211 src
Risk
58,96811 src
Compliance
55,34819 src
quality
7,9766 src
Trade
6,3492 src
growth
3,5542 src
ESG
1,9276 src
innovation
1,6562 src
operational
6301 src
corporate_structure
3751 src
regulatory
211 src

Top Companies in Manchester

BUILDING DESIGN PARTNERSHIP LIMITED
Architectural activitiesEst. 1987129 signals
LUCCHINI UNIPART RAIL LIMITED
Manufacture of railway locomotives and rolling stockEst. 1995106 signals
LWC DRINKS LIMITED
Wholesale of wine, beer, spirits and other alcoholic beveragesEst. 201148 signals
F. DUERR & SONS LIMITED
Other processing and preserving of fruit and vegetablesEst. 192495 signals
THE GROWTH COMPANY LIMITED
Other service activities n.e.c.Est. 198986 signals
DISABLED LIVING
Social work activities without accommodation for the elderly and disabledEst. 194335 signals
WHITECROSS DENTAL CARE LIMITED
Dental practice activitiesEst. 1929300 signals
DWF LLP
Est. 2007189 signals
QIAGEN LIMITED
Other human health activitiesEst. 1993173 signals
ROBERT MCBRIDE LTD
Manufacture of household and sanitary goods and of toilet requisitesEst. 1927109 signals

Business Landscape

The average active company in Manchester is 6.6 years old. There are 1,579 <Link href="/glossary/fca-financial-conduct-authority">FCA-regulated firms</Link> in the area. 976 registered charities operate locally.

6.6 yrs
Avg company age
1,579
FCA regulated
976
Charities

Company Size Breakdown

Small: 1,205 (50%)Medium: 97 (4%)Large: 1,098 (46%)

Government Investment

Companies in Manchester have been awarded 3,318 government contracts with a combined value of £8720.0M. See the Top Government Contractors report.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many companies are registered in Manchester?

There are 98,239 active companies registered in Manchester, out of 127,799 total. 13,334 (10%) are no longer active.

What are the main industries in Manchester?

The top industries in Manchester include Buying and selling of own real estate (5,970 companies), Other letting and operating of own or leased real estate (5,585 companies), Retail sale via mail order houses or via Internet (5,329 companies).

How fast is Manchester growing as a business hub?

64.2% of currently active companies in Manchester were incorporated since 2020, indicating strong recent growth.

What data signals are available for companies in Manchester?

Our database contains 609,152 data signals across 12 categories for active companies in Manchester. The largest category is Governance with 292,066 signals from 7 sources.

When was the first company registered in Manchester?

The oldest company registration in Manchester 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.