Statistics of companies in UK
Companies population in West Midlands
Number of companies in region West Midlands is 961,647, which is 8.1% of all 11,862,193 companies in UK. West Midlands is ranked 5th among 12 regions in the number of companies. Last update of company data was on 31/01/2026.
Companies location and business activity breakdown in West Midlands
The region with the highest number of companies - 544,594 is West Midlands. Herefordshire has the lowest number of companies - 35,860. The top three most frequently registered business activities are Wholesale, retail - 16.3%, Administrative - 12.5% and Science - 11.2%.
Number of companies by county 961,647 companies with data in West Midlands
Business activity overview 926,682 companies with data in West Midlands
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 - 6.3%, Other letting and operating of own or leased real estate - 5.0% and Other service activities n.e.c. - 4.4%.
Distribution of companies by SIC CODE 926,682 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 8,157 in in April 2024. There are usually fewer dissolved companies than incorporated, the highest number recorded being for January 2021 - 9,515 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 January 2026, there were 8,304 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 August 2025 - 10.24%. 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.
