Companies in Manchester

United Kingdom|64.3% formed since 2020|14% inactive|Data updated 19 Oct 2026
97,213
Active

97,213 active companies are currently registered in Manchester, a major UK business hub. Out of 129,520 companies ever registered here, 17,680 are no longer active — a 75% survival rate. The area has seen significant recent growth, with 64.3% of active businesses incorporated since 2020. Over half (84%) 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 6,000 companies. The area hosts 1,122 large enterprises, 1,204 small firms. Manchester is home to 1,592 FCA-regulated firms and 960 registered charities. Companies here hold 3,387 government contracts worth £9.1B in total. The average company age is 6.7 years. The earliest company registration in Manchester dates back to 1871.

Source: Companies House register via UVAGATRON, October 2026

97,213
Active Companies
129,520
Total Registered
1871
Oldest Company
64.3%
Growth (2020s)

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

Incorporation by Decade
26%
64%
Pre-1990: 2,386
1990s: 2,120
2000s: 8,221
2010s: 33,066
2020s: 81,757

Top Industries

Buying and selling of own real estate6,000→Other letting and operating of own or leased real estate5,555→Retail sale via mail order houses or via Internet5,327→Dormant Company2,910→Management consultancy activities other than financial management2,815→Other business support service activities n.e.c.2,722→Other service activities n.e.c.2,551→Non-specialised wholesale trade2,293→Activities of other holding companies n.e.c.2,122→Business and domestic software development1,802→

Data Signals

Governance
403,2456 src
Financial
287,16211 src
Risk
68,71011 src
Compliance
32,75219 src
Trade
10,8552 src
quality
8,3286 src
growth
3,8782 src
ESG
1,9306 src
innovation
1,7842 src
operational
6401 src
corporate_structure
3681 src
regulatory
211 src

Top Companies in Manchester

BUILDING DESIGN PARTNERSHIP LIMITED
Architectural activitiesEst. 1987138 signals
LUCCHINI UNIPART RAIL LIMITED
Manufacture of railway locomotives and rolling stockEst. 1995109 signals
LWC DRINKS LIMITED
Wholesale of wine, beer, spirits and other alcoholic beveragesEst. 201154 signals
THE GROWTH COMPANY LIMITED
Other service activities n.e.c.Est. 198990 signals
DWF LLP
Est. 2007194 signals
QIAGEN LIMITED
Other human health activitiesEst. 1993183 signals
MAGNESIUM ELEKTRON LIMITED
Manufacture of other inorganic basic chemicalsEst. 1995110 signals
QIAGEN MANCHESTER LIMITED
Research and experimental development on biotechnologyEst. 2001104 signals
COMFY QUILTS LIMITED
manufacture of household textilesEst. 199194 signals
4NET TECHNOLOGIES LTD
Other telecommunications activitiesEst. 200561 signals

Business Landscape

The average active company in Manchester is 6.7 years old. There are 1,592 <Link href="/glossary/fca-financial-conduct-authority">FCA-regulated firms</Link> in the area. 960 registered charities operate locally.

6.7 yrs
Avg company age
1,592
FCA regulated
960
Charities

Company Size Breakdown

Small: 1,204 (50%)Medium: 100 (4%)Large: 1,122 (46%)

Government Investment

Companies in Manchester have been awarded 3,387 government contracts with a combined value of £9099.7M. See the Top Government Contractors report.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many companies are registered in Manchester?

There are 97,213 active companies registered in Manchester, out of 129,520 total. 17,680 (14%) are no longer active.

What are the main industries in Manchester?

The top industries in Manchester include Buying and selling of own real estate (6,000 companies), Other letting and operating of own or leased real estate (5,555 companies), Retail sale via mail order houses or via Internet (5,327 companies).

How fast is Manchester growing as a business hub?

64.3% 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 819,673 data signals across 12 categories for active companies in Manchester. The largest category is Governance with 403,245 signals from 6 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.