Companies in Birmingham

United Kingdom|63.7% formed since 2020|15% inactive|Data updated 19 Oct 2026
85,456
Active

85,456 active companies are currently registered in Birmingham, a major UK business hub. Out of 115,198 companies ever registered here, 16,867 are no longer active — a 74% survival rate. The area has seen significant recent growth, with 63.7% of active businesses incorporated since 2020. Over half (85%) 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 5,932 companies. The area hosts 947 large enterprises, 860 small firms. Birmingham is home to 1,534 FCA-regulated firms and 927 registered charities. Companies here hold 3,853 government contracts worth £14.5B in total. The average company age is 6.9 years. The earliest company registration in Birmingham dates back to 1864.

Source: Companies House register via UVAGATRON, October 2026

85,456
Active Companies
115,198
Total Registered
1864
Oldest Company
63.7%
Growth (2020s)

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

Incorporation by Decade
26%
64%
Pre-1990: 2,478
1990s: 1,899
2000s: 6,959
2010s: 29,426
2020s: 72,821

Top Industries

Buying and selling of own real estate5,932→Other letting and operating of own or leased real estate4,388→Retail sale via mail order houses or via Internet3,588→Other business support service activities n.e.c.2,467→Take-away food shops and mobile food stands2,218→Management consultancy activities other than financial management2,191→Activities of other holding companies n.e.c.1,976→Other human health activities1,896→Freight transport by road1,619→Other service activities n.e.c.1,563→

Data Signals

Governance
354,0906 src
Financial
255,86212 src
Risk
50,31011 src
Compliance
29,40019 src
Trade
9,5102 src
quality
8,4776 src
growth
4,2292 src
innovation
2,4032 src
ESG
1,8436 src
operational
8171 src
corporate_structure
3761 src
regulatory
291 src

Top Companies in Birmingham

COLAS LIMITED
Construction of roads and motorwaysEst. 1991265 signals
TARMAC TRADING LIMITED
Quarrying of ornamental and building stone, limestone, gypsum, chalk and slateEst. 1948406 signals
SPECIALIST COMPUTER CENTRES PLC
Information technology consultancy activitiesEst. 1979958 signals
SCRIVENS LIMITED
Retail sale of hearing aidsEst. 1942113 signals
NATIONAL EXPRESS LIMITED
Other urban, suburban or metropolitan passenger land transport (not underground, metro or similar)Est. 1928107 signals
EURO PACKAGING UK LIMITED
Manufacture of corrugated paper and paperboard, sacks and bagsEst. 200985 signals
QUEEN ALEXANDRA COLLEGE
Technical and vocational secondary educationEst. 199741 signals
SCHAEFFLER (UK) LIMITED
Manufacture of bearings, gears, gearing and driving elementsEst. 1955110 signals
TARMAC BUILDING PRODUCTS LIMITED
Manufacture of concrete products for construction purposesEst. 2000107 signals
UNIPER UK LIMITED
Production of electricityEst. 199395 signals

Business Landscape

The average active company in Birmingham is 6.9 years old. There are 1,534 <Link href="/glossary/fca-financial-conduct-authority">FCA-regulated firms</Link> in the area. 927 registered charities operate locally.

6.9 yrs
Avg company age
1,534
FCA regulated
927
Charities

Company Size Breakdown

Small: 860 (45%)Medium: 86 (5%)Large: 947 (50%)

Government Investment

Companies in Birmingham have been awarded 3,853 government contracts with a combined value of £14468.1M. See the Top Government Contractors report.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many companies are registered in Birmingham?

There are 85,456 active companies registered in Birmingham, out of 115,198 total. 16,867 (15%) are no longer active.

What are the main industries in Birmingham?

The top industries in Birmingham include Buying and selling of own real estate (5,932 companies), Other letting and operating of own or leased real estate (4,388 companies), Retail sale via mail order houses or via Internet (3,588 companies).

How fast is Birmingham growing as a business hub?

63.7% of currently active companies in Birmingham were incorporated since 2020, indicating strong recent growth.

What data signals are available for companies in Birmingham?

Our database contains 717,346 data signals across 12 categories for active companies in Birmingham. The largest category is Governance with 354,090 signals from 6 sources.

When was the first company registered in Birmingham?

The oldest company registration in Birmingham dates back to 1864, spanning over 162 years of business history.

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