The UK SIC Code List contains the Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) codes used to categorise businesses according to their primary economic activity. These classifications are widely used by Companies House, the Office for National Statistics (ONS), lenders, insurers and businesses seeking to identify companies within specific industries.
For marketing managers, sales teams and business owners, SIC codes provide a practical way to identify companies operating within particular industries. They are commonly used for market research, competitor analysis, prospecting and business segmentation and B2B data.
This guide explains how SIC codes work, how to find a company’s SIC code, how businesses use SIC classifications, and includes access to the complete UK SIC Code List.
For organisations using SIC codes for prospecting, SIC classifications are often combined with additional business information such as company size, turnover and decision-maker data to create more targeted B2B marketing campaigns.
- What is a UK SIC Code?
- Are SIC Codes Important?
- How to Find a Company’s SIC Code
- Most Common SIC Codes in the UK
- How to Identify the Right SIC Codes for Your Marketing
- SIC Codes vs NAICS Codes
- How Businesses Use SIC Codes
- The Limitations of SIC Codes
- How BDP Builds Industry-Targeted Prospect Lists
- How BDP Uses SIC Codes
- Using SIC Codes for B2B Prospecting
- Complete SIC Code List
- Companies House SIC Code List – Main Sections
- SIC Code List UK
- UK SIC 2026 – the new classification
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Conclusion
What is a UK SIC Code?
A SIC code, short for Standard Industrial Classification, is a five-digit code used to classify businesses by their primary economic activity.
In the UK, SIC codes are used by Companies House, government departments, and businesses to identify industry sectors.
When incorporating, businesses must select at least one SIC code from the Companies House SIC codes list that accurately reflects their activities. Companies operating in multiple sectors frequently choose more than one code. Selecting an inaccurate SIC code can lead to compliance issues, as the information provided to Companies House is used by HMRC and other government bodies for regulatory and statistical purposes.
Therefore, businesses should consistently verify and update their SIC codes as their activities change, in line with Companies House requirements, especially in light of new financial penalty regulations that came into effect in May 2024.
Business Data Prospects maintains one of the UK’s largest commercially available B2B company databases. In our experience, SIC codes are one of the most effective starting points for market segmentation, however they deliver significantly better results when combined with turnover, employee count and decision-maker data.
Are SIC Codes Important?
With the basics of business SIC codes covered, we will now review the official UK SIC Code List and its applications.
The UK SIC Code List is the official classification system maintained by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) and used by Companies House.
The current framework, UK SIC 2007, includes hundreds of classifications covering nearly every industry in the UK economy. The SIC framework is reviewed periodically, with major updates occurring to reflect changes in the UK economy and emerging sectors. UK SIC 2007 is the latest version in use, and users should check periodically to ensure they are referring to the most up-to-date classification.
These classifications span agriculture, manufacturing, professional services, technology, healthcare, and financial services.
Businesses regularly use SIC codes to:
- Identify companies operating within a specific sector.
- Build targeted B2B marketing campaigns.
- Analyse markets and industries.
- Conduct competitor research.
- Segment business databases.
- Support compliance and reporting requirements.
- Improve prospect targeting.
SIC codes are essential for market research, business intelligence, prospecting, risk assessment, and regulatory reporting.
How to Find a Company’s SIC Code
Identifying a company SIC code from the SIC code list below is a simple procedure.
Step 1: Search Companies House
Visit the Companies House website and search for the company name.
Step 2: Open the Company Record
Select the relevant company from the search results.
Step 3: Review SIC Activities
The company record will display one or more SIC codes together with descriptions of the business activities undertaken.
Step 4: Verify Current Activities
As businesses evolve, it is important to review the latest filings and company information to ensure the SIC code accurately reflects current operations. If your company’s activities change and you need to update your SIC code, you can do so through Companies House. Here is how to update your SIC code:
- Log in to your Companies House WebFiling account.
- Select your company and go to ‘File for this company.’
- Choose ‘Change of company details’ and select to update your SIC code.
- Enter the updated SIC code(s) that best describe your current business activities.
- Submit the changes online. According to Companies House, there is an online fee of £50 to update your SIC code, which can only be done by filing a confirmation statement. Changes appear on the register within 24 hours. It remains important to update your SIC code as soon as your business activities change to retain compliance with Companies House requirements.
Most Common SIC Codes in the UK
According to the Office for National Statistics, there are hundreds of Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) codes in use, but some codes from the SIC code list 2007 are especially prevalent among UK businesses. Examples of commonly used SIC codes include:
- 62012 for business and domestic software development
- 56101 for licensed restaurants
- 70229 for management consultancy activities (other than financial management).
- 71129 Other engineering activities (not including engineering design for industrial process and production)
- 86210 General medical practice activities
- 41202 Construction of domestic buildings
- 73110 Advertising agencies
- 47910 Retail sale via mail order houses or via Internet
- 82990 Other business support service activities n.e.c.
In comparison, across BDP’s UK company database, the most frequently selected SIC classifications are 70229, 62012 and sic 82990.
These examples cover key sectors such as technology, hospitality, professional services, healthcare, construction, marketing, and e-commerce. Including these codes can help you quickly identify relevant sectors for your business or research. These sectors account for a significant share of UK business activity and are frequent targets for B2B marketing.
For example, a software development company planning to apply for government funding might use SIC code 62012 when registering with Companies House to ensure it is correctly classified for eligibility purposes. Alternatively, a marketing agency launching a targeted campaign to private medical practices could use SIC code 86210 to compile a list of qualified prospects. Using the correct SIC code not only maintains regulatory compliance but also helps businesses reach the right audiences for their products and services.
How to Identify the Right SIC Codes for Your Marketing
One of the simplest ways to identify relevant SIC codes is to review your existing customer base.
Start by listing your best customers and looking up their SIC codes using Companies House. In many cases, a pattern will emerge, helping you identify the industries most closely aligned with your products or services.
For example, a software provider may discover that many of its existing clients share SIC codes relating to manufacturing, engineering or similar business services. These classifications can then be used as the starting point for prospecting and market segmentation.
This approach is often more effective than selecting SIC codes based on assumptions, as it uses your current customer base to identify sectors that already buy from businesses like yours.
SIC Codes vs NAICS Codes
Businesses with international operations often encounter both SIC and NAICS classifications.
While both SIC code lists in the UK and NAICS codes to represent international businesses, these are used to classify businesses by industry and support government and business activities, there are important differences UK and international organisations should be aware of. The SIC (Standard Industrial Classification) system is the traditional UK and European classification system, originally created in the 1930s and still in active use in the UK. The NAICS (North American Industry Classification System) was introduced in 1997 by the United States, Canada, and Mexico to create a shared business classification standard for North America.
Key differences between SIC and NAICS codes:
- Structure: SIC codes are typically 4 or 5 digits long, while NAICS codes use a more detailed 6-digit structure, permitting more specific industry categorisation.
- Geographic scope: SIC codes are used primarily in the UK and the European Union, whereas NAICS codes are standard in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
- Industry coverage: NAICS is updated more frequently to reflect new and emerging industries, while SIC has a more established focus. Some business activities may be classified differently depending on the system used.
- Compatibility: The two systems are not directly interchangeable, so companies operating internationally must reference the appropriate codes for each territory.
Knowing these differences helps secure accuracy in compliance, reporting, and international business operations. While the objectives are similar, the classifications are not interchangeable.
How Businesses Use SIC Codes
SIC codes are fundamental for organisations seeking to target specific industries.
Common uses include:
Market Segmentation
Businesses can group organisations by industry sector and adapt marketing campaigns to each segment.
Lead Generation
Sales teams use SIC codes to identify companies that match their ideal customer profiles.
Market Analysis
Researchers use SIC classifications to analyse trends, identify growth sectors, and assess economic performance.
Competitor Identification
Companies can quickly identify competitors within the same industry classifications.
Financial Risk Assessment
According to the UK government, Companies House applies a condensed version of the SIC codes from the Office for National Statistics to classify businesses, which can be used by banks, insurers, and lenders during underwriting and risk assessment.
The Limitations of SIC Codes
While SIC codes help categorise business activities, the UK government notes that Companies House uses a simplified list, so these codes should not be relied upon alone for complete risk assessment.
Analysis of over 4 million UK company records held by Business Data Prospects found that 18% of businesses are associated with more than one SIC classification.
When clients initially request prospect lists based solely on SIC codes, we typically recommend additional qualification criteria, such as company size, geography, and decision-maker role, or further market research. SIC codes identify industry sectors, but they rarely identify the businesses most likely to become customers.
Companies Self-Select Their SIC Codes
Businesses select their own classifications from the SIC code list during incorporation and may not always choose the most accurate option. To help ensure you select the most suitable SIC code, commence by reviewing the official descriptions of each code and selecting those that best capture your main business activities. Consider your core products or services, where the majority of your revenue comes from, and which code is most frequently used by similar businesses. For companies with complex or changing activities, it can be helpful to consult industry associations, use multiple codes where applicable, or obtain guidance from a professional advisor. Always update your SIC codes if your primary business focus moves to retain compliance.
Businesses Change Over Time
A company may retain its original SIC code even if its activities change significantly.
Broad Classifications Can Reduce Accuracy
Many organisations select broad codes, which provide limited insight into their products or services.
SIC Codes Alone Do Not Indicate Buying Intent
Knowing a company’s industry is helpful, but it does not reveal:
- Company size
- Employee numbers
- Turnover
- Development path
- Technology adoption
- Decision makers
- Purchasing requirements
Therefore, effective B2B targeting combines SIC codes with additional business intelligence.
How BDP Builds Industry-Targeted Prospect Lists
At Business Data Prospects, we go beyond basic SIC code selection by using a multi-criteria targeting process. We integrate SIC classifications with additional company data, including size, location, turnover, and information about decision-makers. This method is customised to each client’s needs, ensuring your prospect lists are highly relevant, precise, and aligned with your business objectives.
Our strategy combines:
- Relevant SIC classifications
- Company size filters
- Employee counts
- Turnover bands
- Geographic targeting
- Director and decision-maker identification
- Recent company activity
This specific, multi-layered methodology ensures segmentation is precise and closely aligned with business objectives, clearly distinguishing our approach from the limitations of SIC-only methods. By combining additional data points, such as company size, location, turnover, and key decision-maker details, we provide deeper insight and greater relevance.
This approach results in a more relevant and commercially valuable pool of prospects.
Looking for companies within a particular SIC classification? Browse our industry-specific business lists to explore UK business data segmented by sector, location, turnover and decision-maker type.
How BDP Uses SIC Codes
SIC codes form the foundation of many B2B targeting projects, but they are only one layer of the selection process. Our analysts combine SIC classifications with company size, turnover, location and key decision-maker information to create more precise prospect selections for clients.
Using SIC Codes for B2B Prospecting
SIC codes are often used as the starting point for B2B prospecting because they allow businesses to identify companies operating within specific industries.
However, SIC codes alone rarely provide enough information to build a highly targeted prospect list. Businesses typically combine SIC classifications with additional criteria such as employee numbers, turnover, location and decision-maker information.
For example, a company targeting UK software firms may begin with SIC code 62012 and then refine results by company size, geography or senior job title. This approach produces a more focused and commercially relevant prospect selection.
Complete SIC Code List
The complete UK SIC Code List includes hundreds of classifications organised into major divisions.
Instead of listing all codes on one page, users should refer to the full SIC code list below for detailed sector classifications. For the most current and comprehensive information, the official, up-to-date SIC code list is maintained by the Office for National Statistics and can be accessed directly from the ONS website (https://www.ons.gov.uk/methodology/classificationsandstandards/ukstandardindustrialclassificationofeconomicactivities). Professionals may also wish to cross-check SIC code information with other reputable sources, such as relevant trade associations, industry bodies, or business professional networks, which sometimes provide additional help or advice to ensure the most correct classification.
Companies House SIC Code List – Main Sections
- Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing
- Mining and Quarrying
- Manufacturing
- Electricity, Gas, Steam and Air Conditioning Supply
- Water Supply and Waste Management
- Construction
- Wholesale and Retail Trade
- Transportation and Storage
- Accommodation and Food Services
- Information and Communication
- Financial and Insurance Activities
- Real Estate Activities
- Professional, Scientific and Technical Activities
- Administrative and Support Service Activities
- Education
- Human Health and Social Work Activities
- Arts, Entertainment and Recreation
- Other Service Activities
SIC Code List UK
Section A Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing
1110 Growing of cereals (except rice), leguminous crops and oilseeds
1120 Growing of rice
1130 Growing of vegetables and melons, roots and tubers
1140 Growing of sugar cane
1150 Growing of tobacco
1160 Growing of fibre crops
1190 Growing of other non-perennial crops
1210 Growing of grapes
1220 Growing of tropical and subtropical fruits
1230 Growing of citrus fruits
1240 Growing of pome fruits and stone fruits
1250 Growing of other tree and bush fruits and nuts
1260 Growing of oleaginous fruits
1270 Growing of beverage crops
1280 Growing of spices, aromatic, drug and pharmaceutical crops
1290 Growing of other perennial crops
1300 Plant propagation
1410 Raising of dairy cattle
1420 Raising of other cattle and buffaloes
1430 Raising of horses and other equines
1440 Raising of camels and camelids
1450 Raising of sheep and goats
1460 Raising of swine/pigs
1470 Raising of poultry
1490 Raising of other animals
1500 Mixed farming
1610 Support activities for crop production
1621 Farm animal boarding and care
1629 Support activities for animal production (other than farm animal boarding and care) n.e.c.
1630 Post-harvest crop activities
1640 Seed processing for propagation
1700 Hunting, trapping and related service activities
2100 Silviculture and other forestry activities
2200 Logging
2300 Gathering of wild growing non-wood products
2400 Support services to forestry
3110 Marine fishing
3120 Freshwater fishing
3210 Marine aquaculture
3220 Freshwater aquaculture
Section B Mining and Quarrying
5101 Deep coal mines
5102 Open cast coal working
5200 Mining of lignite
6100 Extraction of crude petroleum
6200 Extraction of natural gas
7100 Mining of iron ores
7210 Mining of uranium and thorium ores
7290 Mining of other non-ferrous metal ores
8110 Quarrying of ornamental and building stone, limestone, gypsum, chalk and slate
8120 Operation of gravel and sand pits; mining of clays and kaolin
8910 Mining of chemical and fertilizer minerals
8920 Extraction of peat
8930 Extraction of salt
8990 Other mining and quarrying n.e.c.
9100 Support activities for petroleum and natural gas mining
9900 Support activities for other mining and quarrying
Section C Manufacturing
10110 Processing and preserving of meat
10120 Processing and preserving of poultry meat
10130 Production of meat and poultry meat products
10200 Processing and preserving of fish, crustaceans and molluscs
10310 Processing and preserving of potatoes
10320 Manufacture of fruit and vegetable juice
10390 Other processing and preserving of fruit and vegetables
10410 Manufacture of oils and fats
10420 Manufacture of margarine and similar edible fats
10511 Liquid milk and cream production
10512 Butter and cheese production
10519 Manufacture of other milk products
10520 Manufacture of ice cream
10611 Grain milling
10612 Manufacture of breakfast cereals and cereals-based food
10620 Manufacture of starches and starch products
10710 Manufacture of bread; manufacture of fresh pastry goods and cakes
10720 Manufacture of rusks and biscuits; manufacture of preserved pastry goods and cakes
10730 Manufacture of macaroni, noodles, couscous and similar farinaceous products
10810 Manufacture of sugar
10821 Manufacture of cocoa and chocolate confectionery
10822 Manufacture of sugar confectionery
10831 Tea processing
10832 Production of coffee and coffee substitutes
10840 Manufacture of condiments and seasonings
10850 Manufacture of prepared meals and dishes
10860 Manufacture of homogenized food preparations and dietetic food
10890 Manufacture of other food products n.e.c.
10910 Manufacture of prepared feeds for farm animals
10920 Manufacture of prepared pet foods
11010 Distilling, rectifying and blending of spirits
11020 Manufacture of wine from grape
11030 Manufacture of cider and other fruit wines
11040 Manufacture of other non-distilled fermented beverages
11050 Manufacture of beer
11060 Manufacture of malt
11070 Manufacture of soft drinks; production of mineral waters and other bottled waters
12000 Manufacture of tobacco products
13100 Preparation and spinning of textile fibres
13200 Weaving of textiles
13300 Finishing of textiles
13910 Manufacture of knitted and crocheted fabrics
13921 Manufacture of soft furnishings
13922 manufacture of canvas goods, sacks, etc.
13923 manufacture of household textiles
13931 Manufacture of woven or tufted carpets and rugs
13939 Manufacture of other carpets and rugs
13940 Manufacture of cordage, rope, twine and netting
13950 Manufacture of non-wovens and articles made from non-wovens, except apparel
13960 Manufacture of other technical and industrial textiles
13990 Manufacture of other textiles n.e.c.
14110 Manufacture of leather clothes
14120 Manufacture of workwear
14131 Manufacture of other men’s outerwear
14132 Manufacture of other women’s outerwear
14141 Manufacture of men’s underwear
14142 Manufacture of women’s underwear
14190 Manufacture of other wearing apparel and accessories n.e.c.
14200 Manufacture of articles of fur
14310 Manufacture of knitted and crocheted hosiery
14390 Manufacture of other knitted and crocheted apparel
15110 Tanning and dressing of leather; dressing and dyeing of fur
15120 Manufacture of luggage, handbags and the like, saddlery and harness
15200 Manufacture of footwear
16100 Sawmilling and planing of wood
16210 Manufacture of veneer sheets and wood-based panels
16220 Manufacture of assembled parquet floors
16230 Manufacture of other builders’ carpentry and joinery
16240 Manufacture of wooden containers
16290 Manufacture of other products of wood; manufacture of articles of cork, straw and plaiting materials
17110 Manufacture of pulp
17120 Manufacture of paper and paperboard
17211 Manufacture of corrugated paper and paperboard, sacks and bags
17219 Manufacture of other paper and paperboard containers
17220 Manufacture of household and sanitary goods and of toilet requisites
17230 Manufacture of paper stationery
17240 Manufacture of wallpaper
17290 Manufacture of other articles of paper and paperboard n.e.c.
18110 Printing of newspapers
18121 Manufacture of printed labels
18129 Printing n.e.c.
18130 Pre-press and pre-media services
18140 Binding and related services
18201 Reproduction of sound recording
18202 Reproduction of video recording
18203 Reproduction of computer media
19100 Manufacture of coke oven products
19201 Mineral oil refining
19209 Other treatment of petroleum products (excluding petrochemicals manufacture)
20110 Manufacture of industrial gases
20120 Manufacture of dyes and pigments
20130 Manufacture of other inorganic basic chemicals
20140 Manufacture of other organic basic chemicals
20150 Manufacture of fertilizers and nitrogen compounds
20160 Manufacture of plastics in primary forms
20170 Manufacture of synthetic rubber in primary forms
20200 Manufacture of pesticides and other agrochemical products
20301 Manufacture of paints, varnishes and similar coatings, mastics and sealants
20302 Manufacture of printing ink
20411 Manufacture of soap and detergents
20412 Manufacture of cleaning and polishing preparations
20420 Manufacture of perfumes and toilet preparations
20510 Manufacture of explosives
20520 Manufacture of glues
20530 Manufacture of essential oils
20590 Manufacture of other chemical products n.e.c.
20600 Manufacture of man-made fibres
21100 Manufacture of basic pharmaceutical products
21200 Manufacture of pharmaceutical preparations
22110 Manufacture of rubber tyres and tubes; retreading and rebuilding of rubber tyres
22190 Manufacture of other rubber products
22210 Manufacture of plastic plates, sheets, tubes and profiles
22220 Manufacture of plastic packing goods
22230 Manufacture of builders ware of plastic
22290 Manufacture of other plastic products
23110 Manufacture of flat glass
23120 Shaping and processing of flat glass
23130 Manufacture of hollow glass
23140 Manufacture of glass fibres
23190 Manufacture and processing of other glass, including technical glassware
23200 Manufacture of refractory products
23310 Manufacture of ceramic tiles and flags
23320 Manufacture of bricks, tiles and construction products in baked clay
23410 Manufacture of ceramic household and ornamental articles
23420 Manufacture of ceramic sanitary fixtures
23430 Manufacture of ceramic insulators and insulating fittings
23440 Manufacture of other technical ceramic products
23490 Manufacture of other ceramic products n.e.c.
23510 Manufacture of cement
23520 Manufacture of lime and plaster
23610 Manufacture of concrete products for construction purposes
23620 Manufacture of plaster products for construction purposes
23630 Manufacture of ready-mixed concrete
23640 Manufacture of mortars
23650 Manufacture of fibre cement
23690 Manufacture of other articles of concrete, plaster and cement
23700 Cutting, shaping and finishing of stone
23910 Production of abrasive products
23990 Manufacture of other non-metallic mineral products n.e.c.
24100 Manufacture of basic iron and steel and of ferro-alloys
24200 Manufacture of tubes, pipes, hollow profiles and related fittings, of steel
24310 Cold drawing of bars
24320 Cold rolling of narrow strip
24330 Cold forming or folding
24340 Cold drawing of wire
24410 Precious metals production
24420 Aluminium production
24430 Lead, zinc and tin production
24440 Copper production
24450 Other non-ferrous metal production
24460 Processing of nuclear fuel
24510 Casting of iron
24520 Casting of steel
24530 Casting of light metals
24540 Casting of other non-ferrous metals
25110 Manufacture of metal structures and parts of structures
25120 Manufacture of doors and windows of metal
25210 Manufacture of central heating radiators and boilers
25290 Manufacture of other tanks, reservoirs and containers of metal
25300 Manufacture of steam generators, except central heating hot water boilers
25400 Manufacture of weapons and ammunition
25500 Forging, pressing, stamping and roll-forming of metal; powder metallurgy
25610 Treatment and coating of metals
25620 Machining
25710 Manufacture of cutlery
25720 Manufacture of locks and hinges
25730 Manufacture of tools
25910 Manufacture of steel drums and similar containers
25920 Manufacture of light metal packaging
25930 Manufacture of wire products, chain and springs
25940 Manufacture of fasteners and screw machine products
25990 Manufacture of other fabricated metal products n.e.c.
26110 Manufacture of electronic components
26120 Manufacture of loaded electronic boards
26200 Manufacture of computers and peripheral equipment
26301 Manufacture of telegraph and telephone apparatus and equipment
26309 Manufacture of communication equipment other than telegraph, and telephone apparatus and equipment
26400 Manufacture of consumer electronics
26511 Manufacture of electronic measuring, testing etc. equipment, not for industrial process control
26512 Manufacture of electronic industrial process control equipment
26513 Manufacture of non-electronic measuring, testing etc. equipment, not for industrial process control
26514 Manufacture of non-electronic industrial process control equipment
26520 Manufacture of watches and clocks
26600 Manufacture of irradiation, electromedical and electrotherapeutic equipment
26701 Manufacture of optical precision instruments
26702 Manufacture of photographic and cinematographic equipment
26800 Manufacture of magnetic and optical media
27110 Manufacture of electric motors, generators and transformers
27120 Manufacture of electricity distribution and control apparatus
27200 Manufacture of batteries and accumulators
27310 Manufacture of fibre optic cables
27320 Manufacture of other electronic and electric wires and cables
27330 Manufacture of wiring devices
27400 Manufacture of electric lighting equipment
27510 Manufacture of electric domestic appliances
27520 Manufacture of non-electric domestic appliances
27900 Manufacture of other electrical equipment
28110 Manufacture of engines and turbines, except aircraft, vehicle and cycle engines
28120 Manufacture of fluid power equipment
28131 Manufacture of pumps
28132 Manufacture of compressors
28140 Manufacture of taps and valves
28150 Manufacture of bearings, gears, gearing and driving elements
28210 Manufacture of ovens, furnaces and furnace burners
28220 Manufacture of lifting and handling equipment
28230 Manufacture of office machinery and equipment (except computers and peripheral equipment)
28240 Manufacture of power-driven hand tools
28250 Manufacture of non-domestic cooling and ventilation equipment
28290 Manufacture of other general-purpose machinery n.e.c.
28301 Manufacture of agricultural tractors
28302 Manufacture of agricultural and forestry machinery other than tractors
28410 Manufacture of metal forming machinery
28490 Manufacture of other machine tools
28910 Manufacture of machinery for metallurgy
28921 Manufacture of machinery for mining
28922 Manufacture of earthmoving equipment
28923 Manufacture of equipment for concrete crushing and screening and roadworks
28930 Manufacture of machinery for food, beverage and tobacco processing
28940 Manufacture of machinery for textile, apparel and leather production
28950 Manufacture of machinery for paper and paperboard production
28960 Manufacture of plastics and rubber machinery
28990 Manufacture of other special-purpose machinery n.e.c.
29100 Manufacture of motor vehicles
29201 Manufacture of bodies (coachwork) for motor vehicles (except caravans)
29202 Manufacture of trailers and semi-trailers
29203 Manufacture of caravans
29310 Manufacture of electrical and electronic equipment for motor vehicles and their engines
29320 Manufacture of other parts and accessories for motor vehicles
30110 Building of ships and floating structures
30120 Building of pleasure and sporting boats
30200 Manufacture of railway locomotives and rolling stock
30300 Manufacture of air and spacecraft and related machinery
30400 Manufacture of military fighting vehicles
30910 Manufacture of motorcycles
30920 Manufacture of bicycles and invalid carriages
30990 Manufacture of other transport equipment n.e.c.
31010 Manufacture of office and shop furniture
31020 Manufacture of kitchen furniture
31030 Manufacture of mattresses
31090 Manufacture of other furniture
32110 Striking of coins
32120 Manufacture of jewellery and related articles
32130 Manufacture of imitation jewellery and related articles
32200 Manufacture of musical instruments
32300 Manufacture of sports goods
32401 Manufacture of professional and arcade games and toys
32409 Manufacture of other games and toys, n.e.c.
32500 Manufacture of medical and dental instruments and supplies
32910 Manufacture of brooms and brushes
32990 Other manufacturing n.e.c.
33110 Repair of fabricated metal products
33120 Repair of machinery
33130 Repair of electronic and optical equipment
33140 Repair of electrical equipment
33150 Repair and maintenance of ships and boats
33160 Repair and maintenance of aircraft and spacecraft
33170 Repair and maintenance of other transport equipment n.e.c.
33190 Repair of other equipment
33200 Installation of industrial machinery and equipment
Section D Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply
35110 Production of electricity
35120 Transmission of electricity
35130 Distribution of electricity
35140 Trade of electricity
35210 Manufacture of gas
35220 Distribution of gaseous fuels through mains
35230 Trade of gas through mains
35300 Steam and air conditioning supply
Section E Water supply, sewerage, waste management and remediation activities
36000 Water collection, treatment and supply
37000 Sewerage
38110 Collection of non-hazardous waste
38120 Collection of hazardous waste
38210 Treatment and disposal of non-hazardous waste
38220 Treatment and disposal of hazardous waste
38310 Dismantling of wrecks
38320 Recovery of sorted materials
39000 Remediation activities and other waste management services
Section F Construction
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41100 Development of building projects
41201 Construction of commercial buildings
41202 Construction of domestic buildings
42110 Construction of roads and motorways
42120 Construction of railways and underground railways
42130 Construction of bridges and tunnels
42210 Construction of utility projects for fluids
42220 Construction of utility projects for electricity and telecommunications
42910 Construction of water projects
42990 Construction of other civil engineering projects n.e.c.
43110 Demolition
43120 Site preparation
43130 Test drilling and boring
43210 Electrical installation
43220 Plumbing, heat and air-conditioning installation
43290 Other construction installation
43310 Plastering
43320 Joinery installation
43330 Floor and wall covering
43341 Painting
43342 Glazing
43390 Other building completion and finishing
43910 Roofing activities
43991 Scaffold erection
43999 Other specialised construction activities n.e.c.
Section G Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles
45111 Sale of new cars and light motor vehicles
45112 Sale of used cars and light motor vehicles
45190 Sale of other motor vehicles
45200 Maintenance and repair of motor vehicles
45310 Wholesale trade of motor vehicle parts and accessories
45320 Retail trade of motor vehicle parts and accessories
45400 Sale, maintenance and repair of motorcycles and related parts and accessories
46110 Agents selling agricultural raw materials, livestock, textile raw materials and semi-finished goods
46120 Agents involved in the sale of fuels, ores, metals and industrial chemicals
46130 Agents involved in the sale of timber and building materials
46140 Agents involved in the sale of machinery, industrial equipment, ships and aircraft
46150 Agents involved in the sale of furniture, household goods, hardware and ironmongery
46160 Agents involved in the sale of textiles, clothing, fur, footwear and leather goods
46170 Agents involved in the sale of food, beverages and tobacco
46180 Agents specialized in the sale of other particular products
46190 Agents involved in the sale of a variety of goods
46210 Wholesale of grain, unmanufactured tobacco, seeds and animal feeds
46220 Wholesale of flowers and plants
46230 Wholesale of live animals
46240 Wholesale of hides, skins and leather
46310 Wholesale of fruit and vegetables
46320 Wholesale of meat and meat products
46330 Wholesale of dairy products, eggs and edible oils and fats
46341 Wholesale of fruit and vegetable juices, mineral water and soft drinks
46342 Wholesale of wine, beer, spirits and other alcoholic beverages
46350 Wholesale of tobacco products
46360 Wholesale of sugar and chocolate and sugar confectionery
46370 Wholesale of coffee, tea, cocoa and spices
46380 Wholesale of other food, including fish, crustaceans and molluscs
46390 Non-specialised wholesale of food, beverages and tobacco
46410 Wholesale of textiles
46420 Wholesale of clothing and footwear
46431 Wholesale of audio tapes, records, CDs and video tapes and the equipment on which these are played
46439 Wholesale of radio, television goods & electrical household appliances (other than records, tapes, CD’s & video tapes and the equipment used for playing them)
46440 Wholesale of china and glassware and cleaning materials
46450 Wholesale of perfume and cosmetics
46460 Wholesale of pharmaceutical goods
46470 Wholesale of furniture, carpets and lighting equipment
46480 Wholesale of watches and jewellery
46491 Wholesale of musical instruments
46499 Wholesale of household goods (other than musical instruments) n.e.c
46510 Wholesale of computers, computer peripheral equipment and software
46520 Wholesale of electronic and telecommunications equipment and parts
46610 Wholesale of agricultural machinery, equipment and supplies
46620 Wholesale of machine tools
46630 Wholesale of mining, construction and civil engineering machinery
46640 Wholesale of machinery for the textile industry and of sewing and knitting machines
46650 Wholesale of office furniture
46660 Wholesale of other office machinery and equipment
46690 Wholesale of other machinery and equipment
46711 Wholesale of petroleum and petroleum products
46719 Wholesale of other fuels and related products
46720 Wholesale of metals and metal ores
46730 Wholesale of wood, construction materials and sanitary equipment
46740 Wholesale of hardware, plumbing and heating equipment and supplies
46750 Wholesale of chemical products
46760 Wholesale of other intermediate products
46770 Wholesale of waste and scrap
46900 Non-specialised wholesale trade
47110 Retail sale in non-specialised stores with food, beverages or tobacco predominating
47190 Other retail sale in non-specialised stores
47210 Retail sale of fruit and vegetables in specialised stores
47220 Retail sale of meat and meat products in specialised stores
47230 Retail sale of fish, crustaceans and molluscs in specialised stores
47240 Retail sale of bread, cakes, flour confectionery and sugar confectionery in specialised stores
47250 Retail sale of beverages in specialised stores
47260 Retail sale of tobacco products in specialised stores
47290 Other retail sale of food in specialised stores
47300 Retail sale of automotive fuel in specialised stores
47410 Retail sale of computers, peripheral units and software in specialised stores
47421 Retail sale of mobile telephones
47429 Retail sale of telecommunications equipment other than mobile telephones
47430 Retail sale of audio and video equipment in specialised stores
47510 Retail sale of textiles in specialised stores
47520 Retail sale of hardware, paints and glass in specialised stores
47530 Retail sale of carpets, rugs, wall and floor coverings in specialised stores
47540 Retail sale of electrical household appliances in specialised stores
47591 Retail sale of musical instruments and scores
47599 Retail of furniture, lighting, and similar (not musical instruments or scores) in specialised store
47610 Retail sale of books in specialised stores
47620 Retail sale of newspapers and stationery in specialised stores
47630 Retail sale of music and video recordings in specialised stores
47640 Retail sale of sports goods, fishing gear, camping goods, boats and bicycles
47650 Retail sale of games and toys in specialised stores
47710 Retail sale of clothing in specialised stores
47721 Retail sale of footwear in specialised stores
47722 Retail sale of leather goods in specialised stores
47730 Dispensing chemist in specialised stores
47741 Retail sale of hearing aids
47749 Retail sale of medical and orthopaedic goods in specialised stores (not incl. hearing aids) n.e.c.
47750 Retail sale of cosmetic and toilet articles in specialised stores
47760 Retail sale of flowers, plants, seeds, fertilizers, pet animals and pet food in specialised stores
47770 Retail sale of watches and jewellery in specialised stores
47781 Retail sale in commercial art galleries
47782 Retail sale by opticians
47789 Other retail sale of new goods in specialised stores (not commercial art galleries and opticians)
47791 Retail sale of antiques including antique books in stores
47799 Retail sale of other second-hand goods in stores (not incl. antiques)
47810 Retail sale via stalls and markets of food, beverages and tobacco products
47820 Retail sale via stalls and markets of textiles, clothing and footwear
47890 Retail sale via stalls and markets of other goods
47910 Retail sale via mail order houses or via Internet
47990 Other retail sale not in stores, stalls or markets
Section H Transportation and storage
49100 Passenger rail transport, interurban
49200 Freight rail transport
49311 Urban and suburban passenger railway transportation by underground, metro and similar systems
49319 Other urban, suburban or metropolitan passenger land transport (not underground, metro or similar)
49320 Taxi operation
49390 Other passenger land transport
49410 Freight transport by road
49420 Removal services
49500 Transport via pipeline
50100 Sea and coastal passenger water transport
50200 Sea and coastal freight water transport
50300 Inland passenger water transport
50400 Inland freight water transport
51101 Scheduled passenger air transport
51102 Non-scheduled passenger air transport
51210 Freight air transport
51220 Space transport
52101 Operation of warehousing and storage facilities for water transport activities
52102 Operation of warehousing and storage facilities for air transport activities
52103 Operation of warehousing and storage facilities for land transport activities
52211 Operation of rail freight terminals
52212 Operation of rail passenger facilities at railway stations
52213 Operation of bus and coach passenger facilities at bus and coach stations
52219 Other service activities incidental to land transportation, n.e.c.
52220 Service activities incidental to water transportation
52230 Service activities incidental to air transportation
52241 Cargo handling for water transport activities
52242 Cargo handling for air transport activities
52243 Cargo handling for land transport activities
52290 Other transportation support activities
53100 Postal activities under universal service obligation
53201 Licensed carriers
53202 Unlicensed carriers
Section I Accommodation and food service activities
55100 Hotels and similar accommodation
55201 Holiday centres and villages
55202 Youth hostels
55209 Other holiday and other collective accommodation
55300 Recreational vehicle parks, trailer parks and camping grounds
55900 Other accommodation
56101 Licenced restaurants
56102 Unlicenced restaurants and cafes
56103 Take-away food shops and mobile food stands
56210 Event catering activities
56290 Other food services
56301 Licenced clubs
56302 Public houses and bars
Section J Information and communication
58110 Book publishing
58120 Publishing of directories and mailing lists
58130 Publishing of newspapers
58141 Publishing of learned journals
58142 Publishing of consumer and business journals and periodicals
58190 Other publishing activities
58210 Publishing of computer games
58290 Other software publishing
59111 Motion picture production activities
59112 Video production activities
59113 Television programme production activities
59120 Motion picture, video and television programme post-production activities
59131 Motion picture distribution activities
59132 Video distribution activities
59133 Television programme distribution activities
59140 Motion picture projection activities
59200 Sound recording and music publishing activities
60100 Radio broadcasting
60200 Television programming and broadcasting activities
61100 Wired telecommunications activities
61200 Wireless telecommunications activities
61300 Satellite telecommunications activities
61900 Other telecommunications activities
62011 Ready-made interactive leisure and entertainment software development
62012 Business and domestic software development
62020 Information technology consultancy activities
62030 Computer facilities management activities
62090 Other information technology service activities
63110 Data processing, hosting and related activities
63120 Web portals
63910 News agency activities
63990 Other information service activities n.e.c.
Section K Financial and insurance activities
64110 Central banking
64191 Banks
64192 Building societies
64201 Activities of agricultural holding companies
64202 Activities of production holding companies
64203 Activities of construction holding companies
64204 Activities of distribution holding companies
64205 Activities of financial services holding companies
64209 Activities of other holding companies n.e.c.
64301 Activities of investment trusts
64302 Activities of unit trusts
64303 Activities of venture and development capital companies
64304 Activities of open-ended investment companies
64305 Activities of property unit trusts
64306 Activities of real estate investment trusts
64910 Financial leasing
64921 Credit granting by non-deposit taking finance houses and other specialist consumer credit grantors
64922 Activities of mortgage finance companies
64929 Other credit granting n.e.c.
64991 Security dealing on own account
64992 Factoring
64999 Financial intermediation not elsewhere classified
65110 Life insurance
65120 Non-life insurance
65201 Life reinsurance
65202 Non-life reinsurance
65300 Pension funding
66110 Administration of financial markets
66120 Security and commodity contracts dealing activities
66190 Activities auxiliary to financial intermediation n.e.c.
66210 Risk and damage evaluation
66220 Activities of insurance agents and brokers
66290 Other activities auxiliary to insurance and pension funding
66300 Fund management activities
Section L Real estate activities
68100 Buying and selling of own real estate
68201 Renting and operating of Housing Association real estate
68202 Letting and operating of conference and exhibition centres
68209 Other letting and operating of own or leased real estate
68310 Real estate agencies
68320 Management of real estate on a fee or contract basis
Section M Professional, scientific and technical activities
69101 Barristers at law
69102 Solicitors
69109 Activities of patent and copyright agents; other legal activities n.e.c.
69201 Accounting and auditing activities
69202 Bookkeeping activities
69203 Tax consultancy
70100 Activities of head offices
70210 Public relations and communications activities
70221 Financial management
70229 Management consultancy activities other than financial management
71111 Architectural activities
71112 Urban planning and landscape architectural activities
71121 Engineering design activities for industrial process and production
71122 Engineering related scientific and technical consulting activities
71129 Other engineering activities
71200 Technical testing and analysis
72110 Research and experimental development on biotechnology
72190 Other research and experimental development on natural sciences and engineering
72200 Research and experimental development on social sciences and humanities
73110 Advertising agencies
73120 Media representation services
73200 Market research and public opinion polling
74100 specialised design activities
74201 Portrait photographic activities
74202 Other specialist photography
74203 Film processing
74209 Photographic activities not elsewhere classified
74300 Translation and interpretation activities
74901 Environmental consulting activities
74902 Quantity surveying activities
74909 Other professional, scientific and technical activities n.e.c.
74990 Non-trading company / non-trading
75000 Veterinary activities
Section N Administrative and support service activities
77110 Renting and leasing of cars and light motor vehicles
77120 Renting and leasing of trucks and other heavy vehicles
77210 Renting and leasing of recreational and sports goods
77220 Renting of video tapes and disks
77291 Renting and leasing of media entertainment equipment
77299 Renting and leasing of other personal and household goods
77310 Renting and leasing of agricultural machinery and equipment
77320 Renting and leasing of construction and civil engineering machinery and equipment
77330 Renting and leasing of office machinery and equipment (including computers)
77341 Renting and leasing of passenger water transport equipment
77342 Renting and leasing of freight water transport equipment
77351 Renting and leasing of air passenger transport equipment
77352 Renting and leasing of freight air transport equipment
77390 Renting and leasing of other machinery, equipment and tangible goods n.e.c.
77400 Leasing of intellectual property and similar products, except copyright works
78101 Motion picture, television and other theatrical casting activities
78109 Other activities of employment placement agencies
78200 Temporary employment agency activities
78300 Human resources provision and management of human resources functions
79110 Travel agency activities
79120 Tour operator activities
79901 Activities of tourist guides
79909 Other reservation service activities n.e.c.
80100 Private security activities
80200 Security systems service activities
80300 Investigation activities
81100 Combined facilities support activities
81210 General cleaning of buildings
81221 Window cleaning services
81222 Specialised cleaning services
81223 Furnace and chimney cleaning services
81229 Other building and industrial cleaning activities
81291 Disinfecting and exterminating services
81299 Other cleaning services
81300 Landscape service activities
82110 Combined office administrative service activities
82190 Photocopying, document preparation and other specialised office support activities
82200 Activities of call centres
82301 Activities of exhibition and fair organisers
82302 Activities of conference organisers
82911 Activities of collection agencies
82912 Activities of credit bureaus
82920 Packaging activities
82990 Other business support service activities n.e.c.
Section O Public administration and defence; compulsory social security
84110 General public administration activities
84120 Regulation of health care, education, cultural and other social services, not incl. social security
84130 Regulation of and contribution to more efficient operation of businesses
84210 Foreign affairs
84220 Defence activities
84230 Justice and judicial activities
84240 Public order and safety activities
84250 Fire service activities
84300 Compulsory social security activities
Section P Education
85100 Pre-primary education
85200 Primary education
85310 General secondary education
85320 Technical and vocational secondary education
85410 Post-secondary non-tertiary education
85421 First-degree level higher education
85422 Post-graduate level higher education
85510 Sports and recreation education
85520 Cultural education
85530 Driving school activities
85590 Other education n.e.c.
85600 Educational support services
Section Q Human health and social work activities
86101 Hospital activities
86102 Medical nursing home activities
86210 General medical practice activities
86220 Specialists medical practice activities
86230 Dental practice activities
86900 Other human health activities
87100 Residential nursing care facilities
87200 Residential care activities for learning difficulties, mental health and substance abuse
87300 Residential care activities for the elderly and disabled
87900 Other residential care activities n.e.c.
88100 Social work activities without accommodation for the elderly and disabled
88910 Child day-care activities
88990 Other social work activities without accommodation n.e.c.
Section R Arts, entertainment and recreation
90010 Performing arts
90020 Support activities to performing arts
90030 Artistic creation
90040 Operation of arts facilities
91011 Library activities
91012 Archives activities
91020 Museums activities
91030 Operation of historical sites and buildings and similar visitor attractions
91040 Botanical and zoological gardens and nature reserves activities
92000 Gambling and betting activities
93110 Operation of sports facilities
93120 Activities of sport clubs
93130 Fitness facilities
93191 Activities of racehorse owners
93199 Other sports activities
93210 Activities of amusement parks and theme parks
93290 Other amusement and recreation activities n.e.c.
Section S Other service activities
94110 Activities of business and employers membership organisations
94120 Activities of professional membership organisations
94200 Activities of trade unions
94910 Activities of religious organisations
94920 Activities of political organisations
94990 Activities of other membership organisations n.e.c.
95110 Repair of computers and peripheral equipment
95120 Repair of communication equipment
95210 Repair of consumer electronics
95220 Repair of household appliances and home and garden equipment
95230 Repair of footwear and leather goods
95240 Repair of furniture and home furnishings
95250 Repair of watches, clocks and jewellery
95290 Repair of personal and household goods n.e.c.
96010 Washing and (dry-)cleaning of textile and fur products
96020 Hairdressing and other beauty treatment
96030 Funeral and related activities
96040 Physical well-being activities
96090 Other service activities n.e.c.
Section T Activities of households as employers; undifferentiated goods- and services-producing activities of households
97000 Activities of households as employers of domestic personnel
98000 Residents property management
98100 Undifferentiated goods-producing activities of private households for own use
98200 Undifferentiated service-producing activities of private households for own use
Section U Activities of extraterritorial organisations and bodies
99000 Activities of extraterritorial organisations and bodies
99999 Dormant Company
UK SIC 2026 – the new classification
The Office for National Statistics published UK SIC 2026 in April 2026, updating the SIC 2007 classification to better reflect the modern UK economy.
SIC 2026 will be introduced gradually and is not yet operational across all ONS systems. The earliest planned use within the UK National Accounts is the 2031 Blue Book.
For a detailed comparison of the two classifications, including examples of codes that have moved, revised descriptions and activities that have been divided into more specific classifications, see our UK SIC 2026: What Has Changed from SIC 2007? analysis.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does SIC stand for?
SIC stands for Standard Industrial Classification.
Are SIC codes mandatory?
Yes. Limited companies registered with Companies House must select at least one SIC code that describes their business activities.
Can a company have more than one SIC code?
Yes. Many businesses operate in more than one sector and may therefore be assigned multiple SIC codes by Companies House.
According to Companies House, the SIC codes listing was last updated on 17 November 2025.
According to Companies House, companies can update their SIC codes via the confirmation statement when their activities change. Even dormant or non-trading companies must supply a SIC code, and it is important that the code accurately reflects the company’s current activities.
According to Companies House, SIC codes serve as indicators of a company’s main business activity, but they do not always fully capture all aspects of a company’s operations.
Can SIC codes be used for B2B marketing?
Companies House uses a shortened list of SIC codes provided by the Office for National Statistics, which businesses and marketers can use to broadly identify potential customer industries, though the classification may not be exhaustive.
Yes. SIC codes are widely used for segmentation, lead generation and market analysis, although they are most effective when combined with additional company intelligence.
Conclusion
The UK SIC Code List provides a standardised system for classifying businesses according to their economic activities.
Whether you are conducting market research, building prospect lists, analysing industries or recognising potential customers, SIC code lists remain one of the most valuable business classification tools available.
By combining SIC codes with key company data such as size, location, turnover, and decision-maker information, businesses can develop highly targeted strategies. This comprehensive approach improves market segmentation, delivers deeper insights, and enables more informed business decisions and more effective prospecting.
