SIC code 74100 covers specialised design activities activities in the UK, with 30,888 active companies currently registered. This represents a significant segment of UK business activity. It falls under Section M (Professional, scientific and technical activities) of the UK SIC 2007 classification system, which is used by Companies House to categorise all registered businesses.
See the full industry analysis on the specialised design activities industry page.
With a 91% survival rate, this sector shows strong business longevity. Only 21 of 33,907 companies registered under this code have dissolved, well below the UK average. Companies in this sector average 7.2 years old, reflecting a balanced mix of established businesses and newer market participants. Growth has been exceptional recently: 53% of all active companies were formed since 2020, marking this as one of the fastest-expanding classifications. The 2010s contributed another 36%, meaning the vast majority of businesses are relatively new. The leading locations for this sector are LONDON (7,975), MANCHESTER (426), BRISTOL (425), which together account for 29% of active companies.
SIC code 74100 stands for "specialised design activities" under the UK Standard Industrial Classification (SIC 2007) system. It belongs to Section M — Professional, scientific and technical activities. Companies use this code when registering with Companies House to indicate their primary business activity. The code is required for annual confirmation statements and is used by HMRC, ONS, and other government bodies for statistical and regulatory purposes.
There are currently 30,888 active companies registered under SIC code 74100 in the UK, out of 33,907 total registrations. This gives a survival rate of 91%, meaning 9% of companies registered under this code have since dissolved. These figures are based on Companies House data and updated regularly.
The top locations for specialised design activities companies (SIC 74100) are: LONDON (7,975), MANCHESTER (426), BRISTOL (425), BIRMINGHAM (319), LEEDS (318). Geographic concentration can reflect local economic conditions, industry clusters, or proximity to key markets and supply chains.
The sector is growing: 53% of currently active SIC 74100 companies were formed since 2020, and 36% during the 2010s. This sustained formation rate indicates ongoing demand for specialised design activities services in the UK.
Companies classified under SIC 74100 have an average age of 7.2 years. This suggests a balanced sector with both established players and newer entrants. Notable companies include TECQUIPMENT LIMITED, IGNITION DG LIMITED, CITY I.D. LIMITED.
Related SIC codes within the same division include: 74909 (Other professional, scientific and technical activities n.e.c.), 74990 (Non-trading company), 74901 (Environmental consulting activities), 74902 (Quantity surveying activities). Companies may use multiple SIC codes if they operate across several of these related activities. When registering with Companies House, businesses should select the code that best represents their primary activity.
You can search for companies with SIC code 74100 (specialised design activities) using UVAGATRON's company explorer, which allows filtering by SIC code, location, and company status. Alternatively, Companies House offers a basic search on their website. Our platform adds risk intelligence, director networks, and signals from 50+ government databases to each company record.
Search, filter, and analyse 30,888 companies classified under this SIC code with AI-powered risk intelligence.
Data sourced from Companies House, HM Land Registry, FCA Register, and 50+ government databases. SIC classification follows the UK Standard Industrial Classification of Economic Activities 2007 (SIC 2007). Last updated: 2026-04-17.