There are 1,326 active companies in the first-degree level higher education sector in the UK (SIC code 85421). This sector falls under Section P — Education — of the UK Standard Industrial Classification. The sector has a relatively low 4.9% dissolution rate — 1,326 of 1,539 registrations remain active. The sector is experiencing rapid growth, with 233.2% of active businesses incorporated since 2020 — indicating strong recent demand. 91% of companies were formed after 2010, marking this as a sector with predominantly recent entrants. The average company age in this sector is 10.7 years. 86 large companies, 3 medium-sized firms operate in this sector. The sector is heavily concentrated in London, which accounts for 37% of all companies. Companies in this sector hold 178 government contracts valued at £97.1M. The sector's longest-standing company was incorporated in 1878.
Source: Companies House register via UVAGATRON, September 2026
A rapidly growing sector with 233.2% of active companies formed since 2020.
The first-degree level higher education sector has a <Link href="/glossary/company-dissolution">4.9% dissolution rate</Link>. The average active company in this sector is 10.7 years old. Geographic concentration: 37% in LONDON.
Companies in the first-degree level higher education sector have been awarded 178 government contracts worth £97.1M in total.
There are 1,326 active companies classified under SIC code 85421 (First-degree level higher education) in the UK, out of 1,539 total registered.
SIC code 85421 stands for "First-degree level higher education". It belongs to Section P — Education of the UK Standard Industrial Classification.
The largest concentrations are in LONDON (485), BIRMINGHAM (29), MANCHESTER (21).
The average active first-degree level higher education company in the UK is 10.7 years old, with the oldest registration dating back to 1878.
Our database contains 13,814 data signals across 11 categories for active first-degree level higher education companies. The largest category is Governance with 4,155 signals from 6 government sources.
5.9M companies, 50M+ signals from 53 government sources. Risk scores, director networks, entity analysis.