Statistics of companies in UK

Companies population in West Midlands

Number of companies in region West Midlands is 863,797, which is 8.0% of all 10,770,643 companies in UK. West Midlands is ranked 5th among 12 regions in the number of companies. Last update of company data was on 30/09/2024.

Companies location and business activity breakdown in West Midlands

The region with the highest number of companies - 490,182 is West Midlands. Herefordshire has the lowest number of companies - 27,249. The top three most frequently registered business activities are Wholesale, retail - 15.3%, Administrative - 12.6% and Science - 11.3%.

Number of companies by county 863,797 companies with data in West Midlands

West Midlands
490,182
56.7%
Staffordshire
117,177
13.6%
Worcestershire
98,935
11.5%
Warwickshire
78,943
9.1%
Shropshire
51,311
5.9%
Herefordshire
27,249
3.2%

Business activity overview 829,108 companies with data in West Midlands

Wholesale, retail
132,306
15.3%
Administrative
109,204
12.6%
Science
97,511
11.3%
Construction
78,810
9.1%
Real Estate
59,516
6.9%
Service
58,684
6.8%
Transportation
57,188
6.6%
ICT
54,186
6.3%
Accommodation
51,187
5.9%
Manufacturing
45,116
5.2%
Health
43,644
5.1%
Dormant
25,068
2.9%
Financial
21,791
2.5%
Education
19,055
2.2%
Arts
19,013
2.2%
Home
9,566
1.1%
Agriculture
4,777
0.6%
Water
3,150
0.4%
Public
2,525
0.3%
Energy
1,696
0.2%
Mining
787
0.1%
Extraterritorial
196
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 - 6.6%, Other service activities n.e.c. - 4.7% and Other letting and operating of own or leased real estate - 4.5%.

Distribution of companies by SIC CODE 829,108 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 8,362 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 Germany. In September 2024, there were 4,134 companies with at least one PCS from Germany. Other popular countries are China, 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 2024 - 4.95%. 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