Wholesale of clothing and footwear Companies in the UK

SIC 46420Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles|347.8% formed since 2020|Data updated 2 Sept 2026
11,528
Active

11,528 active companies in the UK are classified under wholesale of clothing and footwear (SIC code 46420). 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 9.1% dissolution rate — 11,528 of 15,399 registrations remain active. The sector is experiencing rapid growth, with 347.8% of active businesses incorporated since 2020 — indicating strong recent demand. 118% of companies were formed after 2010, marking this as a sector with predominantly recent entrants. The average company age in this sector is 6.6 years. 154 large companies, 36 medium-sized firms operate in this sector. The sector is heavily concentrated in London, which accounts for 32% of all companies. Companies in this sector hold 189 government contracts valued at £559.6M. The sector's longest-standing company was incorporated in 1900.

Source: Companies House register via UVAGATRON, September 2026

11,528
Active Companies
G
SIC Section
1900
Oldest Company
347.8%
Growth (2020s)
6.6 yr
Avg Company Age

A rapidly growing sector with 347.8% of active companies formed since 2020.

Incorporation by Decade
20%
70%
Pre-1990: 329
1990s: 349
2000s: 891
2010s: 3,039
2020s: 10,569

Data Signals

Governance
34,9236 src
Financial
19,05510 src
Risk
7,02910 src
Compliance
6,19413 src
Trade
4,9912 src
ESG
2746 src
quality
2663 src
growth
2192 src
innovation
592 src
corporate_structure
321 src
operational
281 src

Sector Overview

The wholesale of clothing and footwear sector has a <Link href="/glossary/company-dissolution">9.1% dissolution rate</Link>. The average active company in this sector is 6.6 years old. Geographic concentration: 32% in LONDON.

9.1%
Dissolution rate
6.6 yrs
Avg company age

Company Size Breakdown

Small: 150 (44%)Medium: 36 (11%)Large: 154 (45%)

Government Activity

Companies in the wholesale of clothing and footwear sector have been awarded 189 government contracts worth £559.6M in total.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many wholesale of clothing and footwear companies are there in the UK?

There are 11,528 active companies classified under SIC code 46420 (Wholesale of clothing and footwear) in the UK, out of 15,399 total registered.

What is SIC code 46420?

SIC code 46420 stands for "Wholesale of clothing and footwear". It belongs to Section G — Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles of the UK Standard Industrial Classification.

Where are most wholesale of clothing and footwear companies located?

The largest concentrations are in LONDON (3,645), MANCHESTER (706), BIRMINGHAM (307).

What is the average age of wholesale of clothing and footwear companies?

The average active wholesale of clothing and footwear company in the UK is 6.6 years old, with the oldest registration dating back to 1900.

What government data is available for wholesale of clothing and footwear companies?

Our database contains 73,070 data signals across 11 categories for active wholesale of clothing and footwear companies. The largest category is Governance with 34,923 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.