Manufacture of basic pharmaceutical products Companies in the UK

SIC 21100Manufacturing|144% formed since 2020|Data updated 8 Sept 2026
1,080
Active

There are 1,080 active companies in the manufacture of basic pharmaceutical products sector in the UK (SIC code 21100). This sector falls under Section C — Manufacturing — of the UK Standard Industrial Classification. The sector has a relatively low 9.4% dissolution rate — 1,080 of 1,326 registrations remain active. The sector is experiencing rapid growth, with 144% 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 14.5 years. 140 large companies, 8 medium-sized firms operate in this sector. London leads with 26% of companies in this sector. Companies in this sector hold 231 government contracts valued at £6.1B. The sector's longest-standing company was incorporated in 1897.

Source: Companies House register via UVAGATRON, September 2026

1,080
Active Companies
C
SIC Section
1897
Oldest Company
144%
Growth (2020s)
14.5 yr
Avg Company Age

A rapidly growing sector with 144% of active companies formed since 2020.

Incorporation by Decade
9%
10%
31%
44%
Pre-1990: 115
1990s: 86
2000s: 130
2010s: 405
2020s: 583

Data Signals

Financial
4,38912 src
Governance
3,5566 src
Compliance
1,73510 src
innovation
1,4812 src
Risk
1,1907 src
Trade
7482 src
ESG
3625 src
growth
2342 src
quality
1164 src
corporate_structure
771 src
operational
191 src

Sector Overview

The manufacture of basic pharmaceutical products sector has a <Link href="/glossary/company-dissolution">9.4% dissolution rate</Link>. The average active company in this sector is 14.5 years old. Geographic concentration: 26% in LONDON.

9.4%
Dissolution rate
14.5 yrs
Avg company age

Company Size Breakdown

Small: 69 (32%)Medium: 8 (4%)Large: 140 (65%)

Government Activity

Companies in the manufacture of basic pharmaceutical products sector have been awarded 231 government contracts worth £6054.4M in total.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many manufacture of basic pharmaceutical products companies are there in the UK?

There are 1,080 active companies classified under SIC code 21100 (Manufacture of basic pharmaceutical products) in the UK, out of 1,326 total registered.

What is SIC code 21100?

SIC code 21100 stands for "Manufacture of basic pharmaceutical products". It belongs to Section C — Manufacturing of the UK Standard Industrial Classification.

Where are most manufacture of basic pharmaceutical products companies located?

The largest concentrations are in LONDON (283), MANCHESTER (22), BIRMINGHAM (20).

What is the average age of manufacture of basic pharmaceutical products companies?

The average active manufacture of basic pharmaceutical products company in the UK is 14.5 years old, with the oldest registration dating back to 1897.

What government data is available for manufacture of basic pharmaceutical products companies?

Our database contains 13,907 data signals across 11 categories for active manufacture of basic pharmaceutical products companies. The largest category is Financial with 4,389 signals from 12 government sources.

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Data is updated daily from official UK government sources including Companies House. Information is provided for reference only.