Companies in Bradford

United Kingdom|67.9% formed since 2020|Data updated 17 Apr 2026
21,876
Active

21,876 active companies are currently registered in Bradford, a major UK business hub. Out of 25,733 companies ever registered here, 96 are no longer active — a 85% survival rate. The area has seen significant recent growth, with 67.9% of active businesses incorporated since 2020. Over half (77%) of active companies were formed since 2020, making this one of the UK's fastest-growing business locations. The most common industry sector is retail sale via mail order houses or via internet, with 1,159 companies. The area hosts 199 large enterprises, 120 small firms. Bradford is home to 419 FCA-regulated firms and 249 registered charities. Companies here hold 472 government contracts worth £5.8B in total. The average company age is 6.2 years. The earliest company registration in Bradford dates back to 1869.

Source: Companies House register via UVAGATRON, April 2026

21,876
Active Companies
25,733
Total Registered
1869
Oldest Company
67.9%
Growth (2020s)

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

Incorporation by Decade
26%
65%
Pre-1990: 471
1990s: 359
2000s: 1,409
2010s: 6,750
2020s: 16,744

Data Signals

Governance
65,3126 src
Financial
35,04311 src
Compliance
11,11915 src
Risk
7,14311 src
Trade
1,6092 src
quality
1,5026 src
growth
4952 src
ESG
4575 src
operational
2511 src
innovation
672 src
corporate_structure
261 src
regulatory
21 src

Business Landscape

The average active company in Bradford is 6.2 years old. There are 419 <Link href="/glossary/fca-financial-conduct-authority">FCA-regulated firms</Link> in the area. 249 registered charities operate locally.

6.2 yrs
Avg company age
419
FCA regulated
249
Charities

Company Size Breakdown

Small: 120 (36%)Medium: 16 (5%)Large: 199 (59%)

Government Investment

Companies in Bradford have been awarded 472 government contracts with a combined value of £5781.6M. See the Top Government Contractors report.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many companies are registered in Bradford?

There are 21,876 active companies registered in Bradford, out of 25,733 total. 96 (0%) are no longer active.

What are the main industries in Bradford?

The top industries in Bradford include Retail sale via mail order houses or via Internet (1,159 companies), Buying and selling of own real estate (1,008 companies), Other letting and operating of own or leased real estate (1,000 companies).

How fast is Bradford growing as a business hub?

67.9% of currently active companies in Bradford were incorporated since 2020, indicating strong recent growth.

What data signals are available for companies in Bradford?

Our database contains 123,026 data signals across 12 categories for active companies in Bradford. The largest category is Governance with 65,312 signals from 6 sources.

When was the first company registered in Bradford?

The oldest company registration in Bradford dates back to 1869, spanning over 157 years of business history.

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