11,868 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 0.3% dissolution rate — 11,868 of 14,324 registrations remain active. The sector is experiencing rapid growth, with 320.8% of active businesses incorporated since 2020 — indicating strong recent demand. 107% of companies were formed after 2010, marking this as a sector with predominantly recent entrants. The average company age in this sector is 6.5 years. 159 large companies, 31 medium-sized firms operate in this sector. The sector is heavily concentrated in London, which accounts for 31% of all companies. Companies in this sector hold 187 government contracts valued at £534.0M. The sector's longest-standing company was incorporated in 1900.
Source: Companies House register via UVAGATRON, June 2026
A rapidly growing sector with 320.8% of active companies formed since 2020.
The wholesale of clothing and footwear sector has a <Link href="/glossary/company-dissolution">0.3% dissolution rate</Link>. The average active company in this sector is 6.5 years old. Geographic concentration: 31% in LONDON.
Companies in the wholesale of clothing and footwear sector have been awarded 187 government contracts worth £534.0M in total.
There are 11,868 active companies classified under SIC code 46420 (Wholesale of clothing and footwear) in the UK, out of 14,324 total registered.
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.
The largest concentrations are in LONDON (3,645), MANCHESTER (706), BIRMINGHAM (307).
The average active wholesale of clothing and footwear company in the UK is 6.5 years old, with the oldest registration dating back to 1900.
Our database contains 73,709 data signals across 11 categories for active wholesale of clothing and footwear companies. The largest category is Governance with 37,603 signals from 6 government sources.
5.9M companies, 50M+ signals from 53 government sources. Risk scores, director networks, entity analysis.