Companies in Bristol

United Kingdom|48.5% formed since 2020|Data updated 17 Apr 2026
54,999
Active

54,999 active companies are currently registered in Bristol, a major UK business hub. Out of 60,778 companies ever registered here, 96 are no longer active — a 90% survival rate. Business formation remains steady, with 48.5% of current companies established since 2020. Over half (53%) of active companies were formed since 2020, making this one of the UK's fastest-growing business locations. The most common industry sector is other letting and operating of own or leased real estate, with 3,347 companies. The area hosts 939 large enterprises, 788 small firms. Bristol is home to 1,001 FCA-regulated firms and 732 registered charities. Companies here hold 3,607 government contracts worth £7.0B in total. The average company age is 9.8 years. The earliest company registration in Bristol dates back to 1871.

Source: Companies House register via UVAGATRON, April 2026

54,999
Active Companies
60,778
Total Registered
1871
Oldest Company
48.5%
Growth (2020s)

A diverse local economy with no single sector accounting for more than 15% of businesses.

Incorporation by Decade
12%
33%
48%
Pre-1990: 2,578
1990s: 2,165
2000s: 7,272
2010s: 19,885
2020s: 28,878

Top Industries

Other letting and operating of own or leased real estate3,347→Residents property management2,997→Management consultancy activities other than financial management2,076→Buying and selling of own real estate1,995→Dormant Company1,596→Other business support service activities n.e.c.1,488→Information technology consultancy activities1,288→Development of building projects1,242→Other service activities n.e.c.1,128→Activities of other holding companies n.e.c.1,005→

Data Signals

Governance
171,2806 src
Financial
112,11411 src
Compliance
36,64617 src
Risk
25,24811 src
Trade
3,8522 src
growth
3,7143 src
quality
2,7486 src
ESG
1,4906 src
innovation
9112 src
operational
5871 src
corporate_structure
1581 src
regulatory
201 src

Top Companies in Bristol

MILESTONES TRUST
Residential care activities for the elderly and disabledEst. 1986116 signals
BRUNELCARE
Other accommodationEst. 1958113 signals
NATIONAL GRID ELECTRICITY DISTRIBUTION (SOUTH WEST) PLC
Distribution of electricityEst. 1989105 signals
JISC
Activities of other membership organizations n.e.c.Est. 2006149 signals
HOARE LEA LLP
Est. 2016132 signals
NISBETS LIMITED
Non-specialised wholesale tradeEst. 1983107 signals
ST PETER'S HOSPICE
Post-graduate level higher educationEst. 197487 signals
THE BRANDON TRUST
Residential nursing care facilitiesEst. 198981 signals
CABOT LEARNING FEDERATION
Other education n.e.c.Est. 200778 signals
BURGES SALMON LLP
Est. 2004252 signals

Business Landscape

The average active company in Bristol is 9.8 years old. There are 1,001 <Link href="/glossary/fca-financial-conduct-authority">FCA-regulated firms</Link> in the area. 732 registered charities operate locally.

9.8 yrs
Avg company age
1,001
FCA regulated
732
Charities

Company Size Breakdown

Small: 788 (44%)Medium: 54 (3%)Large: 939 (53%)

Government Investment

Companies in Bristol have been awarded 3,607 government contracts with a combined value of £7013.1M. See the Top Government Contractors report.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many companies are registered in Bristol?

There are 54,999 active companies registered in Bristol, out of 60,778 total. 96 (0%) are no longer active.

What are the main industries in Bristol?

The top industries in Bristol include Other letting and operating of own or leased real estate (3,347 companies), Residents property management (2,997 companies), Management consultancy activities other than financial management (2,076 companies).

How fast is Bristol growing as a business hub?

48.5% of currently active companies in Bristol were incorporated since 2020, indicating strong recent growth.

What data signals are available for companies in Bristol?

Our database contains 358,768 data signals across 12 categories for active companies in Bristol. The largest category is Governance with 171,280 signals from 6 sources.

When was the first company registered in Bristol?

The oldest company registration in Bristol 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.