Companies in Leicester

United Kingdom|58.9% formed since 2020|13% inactive|Data updated 19 Oct 2026
41,721
Active

41,721 active companies are currently registered in Leicester, a major UK business hub. Out of 53,449 companies ever registered here, 6,843 are no longer active — a 78% survival rate. The area has seen significant recent growth, with 58.9% of active businesses incorporated since 2020. Over half (76%) 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 2,810 companies. The area hosts 287 large enterprises, 367 small firms. Leicester is home to 934 FCA-regulated firms and 363 registered charities. Companies here hold 1,940 government contracts worth £5.1B in total. The average company age is 7.5 years. The earliest company registration in Leicester dates back to 1885.

Source: Companies House register via UVAGATRON, October 2026

41,721
Active Companies
53,449
Total Registered
1885
Oldest Company
58.9%
Growth (2020s)

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

Incorporation by Decade
29%
60%
Pre-1990: 934
1990s: 1,004
2000s: 3,843
2010s: 15,393
2020s: 31,571

Data Signals

Governance
173,1556 src
Financial
136,10911 src
Risk
23,67311 src
Compliance
15,35719 src
Trade
6,1242 src
quality
5,6526 src
growth
2,1862 src
ESG
6696 src
operational
5191 src
innovation
5022 src
corporate_structure
881 src
regulatory
131 src

Business Landscape

The average active company in Leicester is 7.5 years old. There are 934 <Link href="/glossary/fca-financial-conduct-authority">FCA-regulated firms</Link> in the area. 363 registered charities operate locally.

7.5 yrs
Avg company age
934
FCA regulated
363
Charities

Company Size Breakdown

Small: 367 (50%)Medium: 79 (11%)Large: 287 (39%)

Government Investment

Companies in Leicester have been awarded 1,940 government contracts with a combined value of £5124.8M. See the Top Government Contractors report.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many companies are registered in Leicester?

There are 41,721 active companies registered in Leicester, out of 53,449 total. 6,843 (13%) are no longer active.

What are the main industries in Leicester?

The top industries in Leicester include Buying and selling of own real estate (2,810 companies), Other letting and operating of own or leased real estate (2,638 companies), Retail sale via mail order houses or via Internet (1,544 companies).

How fast is Leicester growing as a business hub?

58.9% of currently active companies in Leicester were incorporated since 2020, indicating strong recent growth.

What data signals are available for companies in Leicester?

Our database contains 364,047 data signals across 12 categories for active companies in Leicester. The largest category is Governance with 173,155 signals from 6 sources.

When was the first company registered in Leicester?

The oldest company registration in Leicester dates back to 1885, spanning over 141 years of business history.

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