Companies in Leicester

United Kingdom|59.2% formed since 2020|1% inactive|Data updated 17 Apr 2026
42,383
Active

42,383 active companies are currently registered in Leicester, a major UK business hub. Out of 48,841 companies ever registered here, 341 are no longer active — a 87% survival rate. The area has seen significant recent growth, with 59.2% of active businesses incorporated since 2020. Over half (66%) 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 2,683 companies. The area hosts 290 large enterprises, 369 small firms. Leicester is home to 908 FCA-regulated firms and 380 registered charities. Companies here hold 1,795 government contracts worth £7.2B in total. The average company age is 7.2 years. The earliest company registration in Leicester dates back to 1885.

Source: Companies House register via UVAGATRON, April 2026

42,383
Active Companies
48,841
Total Registered
1885
Oldest Company
59.2%
Growth (2020s)

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

Incorporation by Decade
31%
57%
Pre-1990: 903
1990s: 983
2000s: 3,791
2010s: 15,235
2020s: 27,929

Top Industries

Buying and selling of own real estate2,683→Other letting and operating of own or leased real estate2,565→Retail sale via mail order houses or via Internet1,553→Management consultancy activities other than financial management1,218→Activities of other holding companies n.e.c.1,097→Freight transport by road1,062→Other business support service activities n.e.c.1,044→Other human health activities909→Information technology consultancy activities857→Other service activities n.e.c.755→

Data Signals

Governance
128,3616 src
Financial
77,97311 src
Compliance
24,40815 src
Risk
17,14411 src
Trade
3,6812 src
quality
3,0305 src
growth
1,9112 src
ESG
6706 src
operational
5021 src
innovation
2012 src
corporate_structure
461 src
regulatory
141 src

Top Companies in Leicester

DUNELM (SOFT FURNISHINGS) LTD
Other manufacturing n.e.c.Est. 1987109 signals
FAT FACE LIMITED
Retail sale of clothing in specialised storesEst. 1994104 signals
PUKKA PIES LIMITED
Production of meat and poultry meat productsEst. 197192 signals
MATTIOLI WOODS LIMITED
Other business support service activities n.e.c.Est. 199590 signals
PRIME LIFE LIMITED
Other human health activitiesEst. 1993145 signals
FLOGAS BRITAIN LIMITED
Wholesale of petroleum and petroleum productsEst. 1970111 signals
SHOE ZONE RETAIL LIMITED
Retail sale of footwear in specialised storesEst. 191752 signals
WATCHES OF SWITZERLAND COMPANY LIMITED
Retail sale of watches and jewellery in specialised storesEst. 191794 signals
CATERPILLAR (U.K.) LIMITED
Manufacture of other fabricated metal products n.e.c.Est. 195092 signals
CAMBRIDGE & COUNTIES BANK LIMITED
BanksEst. 201273 signals

Business Landscape

The average active company in Leicester is 7.2 years old. There are 908 <Link href="/glossary/fca-financial-conduct-authority">FCA-regulated firms</Link> in the area. 380 registered charities operate locally.

7.2 yrs
Avg company age
908
FCA regulated
380
Charities

Company Size Breakdown

Small: 369 (50%)Medium: 73 (10%)Large: 290 (40%)

Government Investment

Companies in Leicester have been awarded 1,795 government contracts with a combined value of £7206.9M. See the Top Government Contractors report.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many companies are registered in Leicester?

There are 42,383 active companies registered in Leicester, out of 48,841 total. 341 (1%) are no longer active.

What are the main industries in Leicester?

The top industries in Leicester include Buying and selling of own real estate (2,683 companies), Other letting and operating of own or leased real estate (2,565 companies), Retail sale via mail order houses or via Internet (1,553 companies).

How fast is Leicester growing as a business hub?

59.2% 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 257,941 data signals across 12 categories for active companies in Leicester. The largest category is Governance with 128,361 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.