Statistics of companies in UK

Companies population in West Midlands

Number of companies in region West Midlands is 915,090, which is 8.1% of all 11,315,337 companies in UK. West Midlands is ranked 5th among 12 regions in the number of companies. Last update of company data was on 31/05/2025.

Companies location and business activity breakdown in West Midlands

The region with the highest number of companies - 518,129 is West Midlands. Herefordshire has the lowest number of companies - 30,758. The top three most frequently registered business activities are Wholesale, retail - 15.7%, Administrative - 12.6% and Science - 11.2%.

Number of companies by county 915,090 companies with data in West Midlands

West Midlands
518,129
56.6%
Staffordshire
122,593
13.4%
Worcestershire
102,901
11.2%
Warwickshire
87,393
9.6%
Shropshire
53,316
5.8%
Herefordshire
30,758
3.4%

Business activity overview 880,065 companies with data in West Midlands

Wholesale, retail
143,960
15.7%
Administrative
115,419
12.6%
Science
102,610
11.2%
Construction
82,681
9.0%
Real Estate
65,552
7.2%
Service
61,156
6.7%
Transportation
60,840
6.6%
ICT
57,577
6.3%
Accommodation
55,261
6.0%
Manufacturing
47,824
5.2%
Health
46,178
5.0%
Dormant
28,073
3.1%
Financial
23,548
2.6%
Education
20,554
2.2%
Arts
20,480
2.2%
Home
10,105
1.1%
Agriculture
5,016
0.5%
Water
3,296
0.4%
Public
2,674
0.3%
Energy
1,750
0.2%
Mining
848
0.1%
Extraterritorial
209
0.0%

Industrial classification of companies in West Midlands

The Standard Industrial Classification code (SIC code) is a system of classifying industries in UK by business activities. Each company can operate under multiple SIC codes. The top three business activities for the whole of the UK are Other business support service - 6.5%, Other letting and operating of own or leased real estate - 4.7% and Other service activities n.e.c. - 4.5%.

Distribution of companies by SIC CODE 880,065 companies with data in West Midlands

Companies population incorporation and dissolution trend in West Midlands

The highest number of incorporated companies in any one month is 8,366 in in April 2024. There are usually fewer dissolved companies than incorporated, the highest number recorded being for January 2021 - 9,516 companies were dissolved.

Incorporation and dissolution of companies by month West Midlands

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Persons with significant control
in companies in West Midlands

Persons with Significant Control (PSC) have been registered in Companies House since April 2016. PSC have various functions, e.g. ownership of shares or voting rights. In this section we analyse companies with at least one Person with Significant Control from a foreign country.

Top countries with local PSCs in companies in West Midlands

The most popular country, as regards to PSC origin, is China. In May 2025, there were 5,378 companies with at least one PCS from China. Other popular countries are Germany, Pakistan and United States.

Top 10 countries with local PSCs West Midlands

Percentage of companies with foreign PSCs being incorporated each month in the West Midlands

The highest proportion of companies with a foreign PSC to be incorporated in one month was in April 2025 - 9.93%. Since 2017 the number of dissolutions has exceeded the number of new incorporations. The highest proportion to be dissolved in one month was 10.81% was in November 2016. The low number of dissolutions in 2016 is the result of only a small number of companies registering their PSC in Company House in that year.

Percentage of companies with foreign persons (PSC) incorporated and dissolved each month West Midlands