Non-specialised wholesale trade Companies in the UK

SIC 46900Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles|315.3% formed since 2020|Data updated 5 Jun 2026
29,999
Active

29,999 active companies in the UK are classified under non-specialised wholesale trade (SIC code 46900). This sector falls under Section G — Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles — of the UK Standard Industrial Classification. The sector has a relatively low 0.4% dissolution rate — 29,999 of 35,737 registrations remain active. The sector is experiencing rapid growth, with 315.3% of active businesses incorporated since 2020 — indicating strong recent demand. 100% of companies were formed after 2010, marking this as a sector with predominantly recent entrants. The average company age in this sector is 8.4 years. 510 large companies, 130 medium-sized firms operate in this sector. London leads with 24% of companies in this sector. Companies in this sector hold 1,084 government contracts valued at £4.3B. The sector's longest-standing company was incorporated in 1872.

Source: Companies House register via UVAGATRON, June 2026

29,999
Active Companies
G
SIC Section
1872
Oldest Company
315.3%
Growth (2020s)
8.4 yr
Avg Company Age

A rapidly growing sector with 315.3% of active companies formed since 2020.

Incorporation by Decade
20%
64%
Pre-1990: 1,726
1990s: 1,336
2000s: 2,563
2010s: 7,250
2020s: 22,862

Data Signals

Governance
95,8106 src
Financial
50,93811 src
Risk
17,40611 src
Compliance
16,27915 src
Trade
12,7222 src
growth
1,1512 src
quality
6994 src
operational
6151 src
ESG
6006 src
innovation
1642 src
corporate_structure
1271 src
regulatory
41 src

Sector Overview

The non-specialised wholesale trade sector has a <Link href="/glossary/company-dissolution">0.4% dissolution rate</Link>. The average active company in this sector is 8.4 years old. Geographic concentration: 24% in LONDON.

0.4%
Dissolution rate
8.4 yrs
Avg company age

Company Size Breakdown

Small: 446 (41%)Medium: 130 (12%)Large: 510 (47%)

Government Activity

Companies in the non-specialised wholesale trade sector have been awarded 1,084 government contracts worth £4317.2M in total.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many non-specialised wholesale trade companies are there in the UK?

There are 29,999 active companies classified under SIC code 46900 (Non-specialised wholesale trade) in the UK, out of 35,737 total registered.

What is SIC code 46900?

SIC code 46900 stands for "Non-specialised wholesale trade". It belongs to Section G — Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles of the UK Standard Industrial Classification.

Where are most non-specialised wholesale trade companies located?

The largest concentrations are in LONDON (7,300), MANCHESTER (1,691), BIRMINGHAM (707).

What is the average age of non-specialised wholesale trade companies?

The average active non-specialised wholesale trade company in the UK is 8.4 years old, with the oldest registration dating back to 1872.

What government data is available for non-specialised wholesale trade companies?

Our database contains 196,515 data signals across 12 categories for active non-specialised wholesale trade companies. The largest category is Governance with 95,810 signals from 6 government sources.

Research UK Companies with AI

5.9M companies, 50M+ signals from 53 government sources. Risk scores, director networks, entity analysis.

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