There are 2,678 active companies in the wholesale of hardware, plumbing and heating equipment and supplies sector in the UK (SIC code 46740). 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 6.5% dissolution rate — 2,678 of 3,226 registrations remain active. The sector is experiencing rapid growth, with 166.4% of active businesses incorporated since 2020 — indicating strong recent demand. 86% of companies were formed after 2010, marking this as a sector with predominantly recent entrants. The average company age in this sector is 13.2 years. 91 large companies, 24 medium-sized firms operate in this sector. London leads with 9% of companies in this sector. Companies in this sector hold 48 government contracts valued at £1.2B. The sector's longest-standing company was incorporated in 1896.
Source: Companies House register via UVAGATRON, September 2026
A rapidly growing sector with 166.4% of active companies formed since 2020.
The wholesale of hardware, plumbing and heating equipment and supplies sector has a <Link href="/glossary/company-dissolution">6.5% dissolution rate</Link>. The average active company in this sector is 13.2 years old. Geographic concentration: 9% in LONDON.
Companies in the wholesale of hardware, plumbing and heating equipment and supplies sector have been awarded 48 government contracts worth £1218.2M in total.
There are 2,678 active companies classified under SIC code 46740 (Wholesale of hardware, plumbing and heating equipment and supplies) in the UK, out of 3,226 total registered.
SIC code 46740 stands for "Wholesale of hardware, plumbing and heating equipment and supplies". 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 (252), BIRMINGHAM (68), MANCHESTER (41).
The average active wholesale of hardware, plumbing and heating equipment and supplies company in the UK is 13.2 years old, with the oldest registration dating back to 1896.
Our database contains 21,848 data signals across 11 categories for active wholesale of hardware, plumbing and heating equipment and supplies companies. The largest category is Governance with 8,612 signals from 6 government sources.
5.9M companies, 50M+ signals from 53 government sources. Risk scores, director networks, entity analysis.