UK Business Hotspots — Which Regions Have the Most Companies?
April 2026 · Data sourced from Companies House
Where are the UK's 2.6 million active companies concentrated? The answer is unsurprising at the top — London dominates — but the regional picture below reveals some interesting patterns.
Active Companies by Region
What Drives Regional Differences?
London's dominance reflects its role as the UK's financial, professional services, and technology hub. The city has more property companies alone (99,281) than Northern Ireland has total companies across all industries.
The North West — driven by Manchester and Liverpool — is the largest region outside London and the South East, with particular strength in construction, healthcare, and e-commerce.
The East Midlands punches above its weight in transport and logistics, reflecting its central location and major distribution hubs around Northampton, Leicester, and Nottingham.
Top Industry by Region
Explore by Region
About this data: All figures are sourced from Companies House bulk data, published under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Data reflects the latest available snapshot as of March 2026. Regional totals are approximate as some companies span multiple SIC codes.