Companies in Manchester

United Kingdom|64.2% formed since 2020|Data updated 21 Aug 2026
98,153
Active

98,153 active companies are currently registered in Manchester, a major UK business hub. Out of 116,352 companies ever registered here, 463 are no longer active — a 84% survival rate. The area has seen significant recent growth, with 64.2% of active businesses incorporated since 2020. Over half (72%) 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 5,781 companies. The area hosts 1,087 large enterprises, 1,211 small firms. Manchester is home to 1,587 FCA-regulated firms and 1,002 registered charities. Companies here hold 3,329 government contracts worth £8.8B 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, August 2026

98,153
Active Companies
116,352
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
28%
61%
Pre-1990: 2,361
1990s: 2,106
2000s: 8,176
2010s: 32,829
2020s: 70,880

Top Industries

Buying and selling of own real estate5,781→Other letting and operating of own or leased real estate5,416→Retail sale via mail order houses or via Internet5,145→Dormant Company3,209→Other business support service activities n.e.c.2,884→Management consultancy activities other than financial management2,828→Other service activities n.e.c.2,416→Activities of other holding companies n.e.c.1,963→Other human health activities1,866→Information technology consultancy activities1,811→

Data Signals

Governance
298,9637 src
Financial
182,79811 src
Compliance
56,00419 src
Risk
47,86511 src
quality
7,9256 src
Trade
6,3942 src
growth
3,5752 src
ESG
1,9166 src
innovation
1,6392 src
operational
6321 src
corporate_structure
3671 src
regulatory
221 src

Top Companies in Manchester

BUILDING DESIGN PARTNERSHIP LIMITED
Architectural activitiesEst. 1987120 signals
LWC DRINKS LIMITED
Wholesale of wine, beer, spirits and other alcoholic beveragesEst. 201141 signals
LUCCHINI UNIPART RAIL LIMITED
Manufacture of railway locomotives and rolling stockEst. 199599 signals
THE GROWTH COMPANY LIMITED
Other service activities n.e.c.Est. 198968 signals
DWF LLP
Est. 2007177 signals
QIAGEN LIMITED
Other human health activitiesEst. 1993159 signals
ROBERT MCBRIDE LTD
Manufacture of household and sanitary goods and of toilet requisitesEst. 1927103 signals
MANCHESTER CITY FOOTBALL CLUB LIMITED
Activities of sport clubsEst. 1894100 signals
THE CO-OPERATIVE BANK P.L.C.
BanksEst. 197099 signals
WHITECROSS DENTAL CARE LIMITED
Dental practice activitiesEst. 192999 signals

Business Landscape

The average active company in Manchester is 6.6 years old. There are 1,587 <Link href="/glossary/fca-financial-conduct-authority">FCA-regulated firms</Link> in the area. 1,002 registered charities operate locally.

6.6 yrs
Avg company age
1,587
FCA regulated
1,002
Charities

Company Size Breakdown

Small: 1,211 (51%)Medium: 97 (4%)Large: 1,087 (45%)

Government Investment

Companies in Manchester have been awarded 3,329 government contracts with a combined value of £8774.6M. See the Top Government Contractors report.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many companies are registered in Manchester?

There are 98,153 active companies registered in Manchester, out of 116,352 total. 463 (0%) are no longer active.

What are the main industries in Manchester?

The top industries in Manchester include Buying and selling of own real estate (5,781 companies), Other letting and operating of own or leased real estate (5,416 companies), Retail sale via mail order houses or via Internet (5,145 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 608,100 data signals across 12 categories for active companies in Manchester. The largest category is Governance with 298,963 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.