Companies in Bedford

United Kingdom|53.7% formed since 2020|Data updated 17 Apr 2026
14,417
Active

14,417 active companies are based in Bedford according to Companies House records. Out of 16,093 companies ever registered here, 31 are no longer active — a 90% survival rate. The area has seen significant recent growth, with 53.7% of active businesses incorporated since 2020. Over half (59%) 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 746 companies. 116 medium and large companies operate here, indicating a significant commercial presence. Bedford is home to 258 FCA-regulated firms and 167 registered charities. Companies here hold 699 government contracts worth £1.7B in total. The average company age is 8.3 years. The earliest company registration in Bedford dates back to 1891.

Source: Companies House register via UVAGATRON, April 2026

14,417
Active Companies
16,093
Total Registered
1891
Oldest Company
53.7%
Growth (2020s)

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

Incorporation by Decade
9%
33%
53%
Pre-1990: 402
1990s: 413
2000s: 1,512
2010s: 5,309
2020s: 8,457

Top Industries

Buying and selling of own real estate746→Other letting and operating of own or leased real estate713→Management consultancy activities other than financial management674→Other business support service activities n.e.c.399→Information technology consultancy activities377→Residents property management348→Other service activities n.e.c.301→Other human health activities300→Retail sale via mail order houses or via Internet277→Freight transport by road272→

Data Signals

Governance
44,4475 src
Financial
26,80811 src
Compliance
8,98916 src
Risk
5,0299 src
Trade
1,0982 src
growth
7232 src
quality
7176 src
ESG
1906 src
operational
1861 src
innovation
902 src
corporate_structure
81 src
regulatory
31 src

Top Companies in Bedford

CHARLES WELLS LIMITED
Manufacture of beerEst. 191084 signals
FUJIFILM UK LIMITED
Wholesale of radio, television goods & electrical household appliances (other than records, tapes, CD's & video tapes and the equipment used for playing them)Est. 197683 signals
BELRON UK LIMITED
Maintenance and repair of motor vehiclesEst. 195191 signals
STONBURY LIMITED
Other specialised construction activities n.e.c.Est. 198380 signals
TENPIN LIMITED
Other amusement and recreation activities n.e.c.Est. 200361 signals
DUNSTER HOUSE LIMITED
Other manufacturing n.e.c.Est. 199427 signals
RESTORE TECHNOLOGY LIMITED
Remediation activities and other waste management servicesEst. 200134 signals
VERIFILE LIMITED
Business and domestic software developmentEst. 200432 signals
LEIDOS SECURITY DETECTION & AUTOMATION U.K. LTD.
Other information technology service activitiesEst. 199732 signals
RADIO SOCIETY OF GREAT BRITAIN
Book publishingEst. 192627 signals

Business Landscape

The average active company in Bedford is 8.3 years old. There are 258 <Link href="/glossary/fca-financial-conduct-authority">FCA-regulated firms</Link> in the area. 167 registered charities operate locally.

8.3 yrs
Avg company age
258
FCA regulated
167
Charities

Company Size Breakdown

Small: 88 (43%)Medium: 22 (11%)Large: 94 (46%)

Government Investment

Companies in Bedford have been awarded 699 government contracts with a combined value of £1706.8M. See the Top Government Contractors report.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many companies are registered in Bedford?

There are 14,417 active companies registered in Bedford, out of 16,093 total. 31 (0%) are no longer active.

What are the main industries in Bedford?

The top industries in Bedford include Buying and selling of own real estate (746 companies), Other letting and operating of own or leased real estate (713 companies), Management consultancy activities other than financial management (674 companies).

How fast is Bedford growing as a business hub?

53.7% of currently active companies in Bedford were incorporated since 2020, indicating strong recent growth.

What data signals are available for companies in Bedford?

Our database contains 88,288 data signals across 12 categories for active companies in Bedford. The largest category is Governance with 44,447 signals from 5 sources.

When was the first company registered in Bedford?

The oldest company registration in Bedford dates back to 1891, spanning over 135 years of business history.

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