Unlicensed carrier Companies in the UK

SIC 53202Transportation and storage|191.8% formed since 2020|Data updated 9 Jun 2026
6,696
Active

There are 6,696 active companies in the unlicensed carrier sector in the UK (SIC code 53202). This sector falls under Section H — Transportation and storage — of the UK Standard Industrial Classification. The sector has a relatively low 0.2% dissolution rate — 6,696 of 8,393 registrations remain active. The sector is experiencing rapid growth, with 191.8% of active businesses incorporated since 2020 — indicating strong recent demand. 119% of companies were formed after 2010, marking this as a sector with predominantly recent entrants. The average company age in this sector is 5.0 years. London leads with 9% of companies in this sector. Companies in this sector hold 60 government contracts valued at £102.6M.

Source: Companies House register via UVAGATRON, June 2026

6,696
Active Companies
H
SIC Section
1946
Oldest Company
191.8%
Growth (2020s)
5 yr
Avg Company Age

A rapidly growing sector with 191.8% of active companies formed since 2020.

Incorporation by Decade
33%
62%
Pre-1990: 27
1990s: 60
2000s: 338
2010s: 2,731
2020s: 5,237

Data Signals

Governance
20,5956 src
Financial
10,20610 src
Compliance
2,47410 src
Risk
1,1149 src
Trade
2781 src
operational
1651 src
growth
752 src
ESG
536 src
quality
362 src
innovation
72 src
regulatory
11 src

Sector Overview

The unlicensed carrier sector has a <Link href="/glossary/company-dissolution">0.2% dissolution rate</Link>. The average active company in this sector is 5 years old. Geographic concentration: 9% in LONDON.

0.2%
Dissolution rate
5 yrs
Avg company age

Company Size Breakdown

Small: 11 (37%)Medium: 1 (3%)Large: 18 (60%)

Government Activity

Companies in the unlicensed carrier sector have been awarded 60 government contracts worth £102.6M in total.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many unlicensed carrier companies are there in the UK?

There are 6,696 active companies classified under SIC code 53202 (Unlicensed carrier) in the UK, out of 8,393 total registered.

What is SIC code 53202?

SIC code 53202 stands for "Unlicensed carrier". It belongs to Section H — Transportation and storage of the UK Standard Industrial Classification.

Where are most unlicensed carrier companies located?

The largest concentrations are in LONDON (600), BIRMINGHAM (243), MANCHESTER (152).

What is the average age of unlicensed carrier companies?

The average active unlicensed carrier company in the UK is 5 years old, with the oldest registration dating back to 1946.

What government data is available for unlicensed carrier companies?

Our database contains 35,004 data signals across 11 categories for active unlicensed carrier companies. The largest category is Governance with 20,595 signals from 6 government sources.

Research UK Companies with AI

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