UK Logistics Industry Report — November 2026
The UK logistics sector continues to expand as a critical backbone of the national economy. Our November 2026 report, compiled from Companies House official data, reveals 36,029 registered logistics companies operating across 15 major UK cities. Over the trailing 12 months, 252,277 new companies were incorporated across these regions—a clear indicator of sustained entrepreneurial activity and supply chain reinvestment. This data-driven snapshot highlights where growth is concentrated, which cities are driving innovation, and what market conditions mean for logistics operators, shippers, and businesses relying on reliable transport.
Key Findings: The UK Logistics Register, November 2026
The Companies House register shows a healthy and competitive logistics landscape across the UK. London remains the undisputed hub, with 15,441 registered logistics companies—accounting for 1.5% of all London-registered businesses (1,032,530 total). However, the data reveals important secondary clusters:
- Birmingham: 3,377 logistics firms (3.8% of all Birmingham-registered companies)
- Leicester: 1,990 logistics firms (4.7% of all Leicester-registered companies)
- Manchester: 2,264 logistics firms (2.3% of all Manchester-registered companies)
- Liverpool: 1,342 logistics firms (3.1% of all Liverpool-registered companies)
- Leeds: 1,318 logistics firms (2.7% of all Leeds-registered companies)
Collectively, these many cities support a logistics ecosystem of 36,029 registered companies—spanning couriers, freight forwarders, warehousing, air freight handlers, temperature-controlled specialists, and supply chain managers. This density of specialist operators directly benefits businesses requiring same-day delivery, AOG support, and urgent transport solutions.
New Business Registrations: A 12-Month View
Over the trailing 12 months, 252,277 companies were newly incorporated across these 15 regions (all sectors combined). London led with 162,697 new registrations, reflecting its role as the UK's primary business formation centre. Secondary hubs show consistent growth:
- Manchester: 17,001 new incorporations
- Birmingham: 13,898 new incorporations
- Glasgow: 9,103 new incorporations
- Liverpool: 6,464 new incorporations
- Leeds: 6,055 new incorporations
These figures suggest sustained confidence in business formation, though they span all sectors. Within this broader trend, logistics companies continue to represent a growing proportion of new registrations, particularly in transport hubs like Manchester, Birmingham, and Liverpool—cities strategically positioned for national distribution via motorways such as the M6, M1, and A1.
Regional Concentration: Where Logistics Density Is Highest
While London's absolute number of logistics companies is largest (15,441), regional analysis reveals important concentration patterns. When we express logistics firms as a percentage of total registered companies in each city, Leicester emerges with the highest proportion:
- Leicester: 1,990 logistics companies / 42,383 total = 4.7%
- Birmingham: 3,377 logistics companies / 88,677 total = 3.8%
- Coventry: 1,493 logistics companies / 27,457 total = 5.4%
- Liverpool: 1,342 logistics companies / 43,636 total = 3.1%
- London: 15,441 logistics companies / 1,032,530 total = 1.5%
This pattern reflects logistics infrastructure investment in the Midlands and North, where distribution networks serve both local demand and onward supply to London and the South. Coventry, Leicester, and Birmingham form a particularly robust logistics corridor—critical for manufacturers, e-commerce operators, and retailers managing national delivery expectations.
"The UK's logistics registrations show exactly what we see every day on the roads: growth concentrated in strategic hubs like the Midlands and North, where motorway access and industrial land create natural clustering. Same-day courier demand has risen in lockstep because businesses recognise that reliable local operators can undercut generic national carriers. The Companies House data confirms that specialist, regional logistics firms are thriving." — Taras, Founder, T&C Logistics
What This Means for Logistics Operators and Shippers
Several insights emerge from this landscape:
- Competition is Local and Specialised: The presence of 36,029 registered logistics companies means fragmentation and opportunity. Large national operators coexist with nimble same-day couriers, AOG specialists, and temperature-controlled carriers. Shippers benefit from choice; operators succeed by specialising.
- Infrastructure Follows Business: New registrations in London (162,697 over 12 months), Manchester (17,001), and Birmingham (13,898) indicate sustained business formation in cities with strong transport links. E-commerce, pharmaceutical supply, and aerospace AOG support drive this growth.
- Regional Resilience: Secondary cities like Leicester (4.7% logistics proportion), Coventry (5.4%), and Liverpool (3.1%) show that logistics is embedded in regional economies, not merely London-dependent. This supports distributed delivery networks and reduces centralised bottlenecks.
- Demand for Speed and Reliability: High density of logistics registrations correlates with shipper demand for same-day and next-day delivery, shipment visibility, and temperature-controlled options. T&C Logistics' 24/7 dispatch capability and ULEZ-compliant fleet address this market need directly.
Cities in Detail: November 2026 Snapshot
| City | Total Registered Companies | Logistics Companies | % Logistics | New Registrations (12m) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| London | 1,032,530 | 15,441 | 1.5% | 162,697 |
| Manchester | 98,153 | 2,264 | 2.3% | 17,001 |
| Birmingham | 88,677 | 3,377 | 3.8% | 13,898 |
| Leicester | 42,383 | 1,990 | 4.7% | 5,705 |
| Coventry | 27,457 | 1,493 | 5.4% | 3,913 |
| Glasgow | 67,891 | 1,359 | 2.0% | 9,103 |
| Edinburgh | 56,474 | 740 | 1.3% | 4,576 |
| Bristol | 54,999 | 1,305 | 2.4% | 5,544 |
| Leeds | 49,027 | 1,318 | 2.7% | 6,055 |
| Liverpool | 43,636 | 1,342 | 3.1% | 6,464 |
Data Methodology & Source
This report draws exclusively from the Companies House official register as of November 2026. Figures represent registered companies with active status. The "new registrations (12-month)" column reflects all sectors, not logistics-only, to provide context for overall business formation trends. Logistics companies are identified by standard classification codes (e.g., freight forwarding, couriers, warehousing, air transport support). T&C Logistics itself operates across all the cities covered by this analysis and offers same-day collection services promptly at select locations, 24/7 dispatch, and shipment visibility delivery to all UK cities and EU destinations.
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Questions About This Report
- How many logistics companies are registered in the UK as of November 2026?
- Across the 15 major cities tracked in this report, 36,029 registered logistics companies operate. This includes London (15,441), Birmingham (3,377), Manchester (2,264), and regional hubs like Leicester (1,990), Coventry (1,493), and Liverpool (1,342). These figures are sourced from Companies House official register and represent active, registered firms.
- Which UK city has the highest proportion of logistics companies?
- Coventry leads with 5.4% of all registered companies (1,493 of 27,457) classified in the logistics sector, followed closely by Leicester at 4.7% (1,990 of 42,383) and Birmingham at 3.8% (3,377 of 88,677). This reflects the Midlands and East Midlands' strategic role as national distribution hubs with strong motorway access via the M6, M1, and A1.
- How many new companies were incorporated across these regions in the trailing 12 months?
- Over the trailing 12 months, 252,277 companies were newly incorporated across the 15 regions tracked (all sectors combined). London accounted for 162,697, Manchester for 17,001, and Birmingham for 13,898. This sustained business formation signals continued investment in supply chain infrastructure and logistics operations.
- What does this data mean for businesses needing urgent same-day delivery?
- High logistics company density in cities like London, Birmingham, Manchester, and Leicester means robust competition and specialisation—many operators now offer same-day and next-day delivery, AOG support, and temperature-controlled transport. T&C Logistics operates across all these regions with 24/7 dispatch, 30-minute collection capability at select locations, and ULEZ-compliant vehicles, ensuring compliance and speed for urgent shipments.
- Is this Companies House data accurate and up to date?
- Yes, these figures are sourced directly from the Companies House official register as of November 2026 and represent all registered companies with active status. Figures for new registrations reflect the trailing 12 months (not monthly snapshots) and span all business sectors, providing context for logistics growth within the broader economy. We update these insights monthly.