Activities of head offices: UK companies
27,216 live UK companies list activities of head offices as their main trade, or 0.5% of the register. It ranks 37th among the 60 trades we cover. 785 of those companies were formed in 2025, against 1,192 still live from 2015. 748 (2.7%) have a proposal to strike off on file, below the UK figure of 7.3%.
Where they're registered
Where this trade is unusually common
The town's share of this trade, compared with its share of all UK companies.
By year formed
Only companies still live are counted, so older years look smaller. 2026 stops on 1 November 2026.
20122026
See every year as a table
| Year | Live companies |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 822 |
| 2013 | 951 |
| 2014 | 1,136 |
| 2015 | 1,192 |
| 2016 | 986 |
| 2017 | 876 |
| 2018 | 752 |
| 2019 | 800 |
| 2020 | 703 |
| 2021 | 613 |
| 2022 | 623 |
| 2023 | 669 |
| 2024 | 692 |
| 2025 | 785 |
| 2026 | 789 |
Oldest active companies in this trade
- Oriental Gas CompanyFormed 1856
- British Indian Tea CompanyFormed 1863
- Staveley IndustriesFormed 1863
- Vinters EngineeringFormed 1867
- Pa Media GroupFormed 1868
Related by size
- Other engineering activities
- Real estate agencies
- Other activities of employment placement agencies
- Retail sale of clothing in specialised stores
- General medical practice activities
- Engineering related scientific and technical consulting activities
Trade means the first Standard Industrial Classification code (SIC 70100) a company declares. Companies choose their own codes. Figures come from Companies House on 1 November 2026.