SIC code 84220 covers defence activities businesses. With 436 active companies, this is a specialised niche within the UK business landscape. It falls under Section O (Public administration and defence) 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 Defence activities industry page.
With a 89% survival rate, this sector shows strong business longevity. Only 1 of 488 companies registered under this code have dissolved, well below the UK average. Companies in this sector average 7.9 years old, reflecting a balanced mix of established businesses and newer market participants. Growth has been exceptional recently: 56% of all active companies were formed since 2020, marking this as one of the fastest-expanding classifications. The 2010s contributed another 29%, meaning the vast majority of businesses are relatively new. The leading locations for this sector are LONDON (101), WEYMOUTH (13), CAMBERLEY (11), which together account for 29% of active companies.
SIC code 84220 stands for "Defence activities" under the UK Standard Industrial Classification (SIC 2007) system. It belongs to Section O — Public administration and defence. 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 436 active companies registered under SIC code 84220 in the UK, out of 488 total registrations. This gives a survival rate of 89%, meaning 11% of companies registered under this code have since dissolved. These figures are based on Companies House data and updated regularly.
The top locations for defence activities companies (SIC 84220) are: LONDON (101), WEYMOUTH (13), CAMBERLEY (11), BRISTOL (11), SALISBURY (9). Geographic concentration can reflect local economic conditions, industry clusters, or proximity to key markets and supply chains.
The sector is growing: 56% of currently active SIC 84220 companies were formed since 2020, and 29% during the 2010s. This sustained formation rate indicates ongoing demand for defence activities services in the UK.
Companies classified under SIC 84220 have an average age of 7.9 years. This suggests a balanced sector with both established players and newer entrants. Notable companies include BOEING DEFENCE UK LIMITED, RAYTHEON SYSTEMS LIMITED, TKMS ATLAS UK LIMITED.
Related SIC codes within the same division include: 84120 (Regulation of health care, education, cultural and other social services, not incl. social security), 84250 (Fire service activities), 84110 (General public administration activities), 84240 (Public order and safety 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 84220 (Defence 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 436 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.