Manufacture of optical precision instruments Companies in the UK

SIC 26701Manufacturing|115% formed since 2020|Data updated 22 Aug 2026
285
Active

285 active UK companies are classified under manufacture of optical precision instruments (SIC code 26701), a specialised sector. This sector falls under Section C — Manufacturing — of the UK Standard Industrial Classification. The sector has a relatively low 4.5% dissolution rate — 285 of 310 registrations remain active. The sector is experiencing rapid growth, with 115% of active businesses incorporated since 2020 — indicating strong recent demand. 75% of companies were formed after 2010, marking this as a sector with predominantly recent entrants. The average company age in this sector is 14.2 years. London leads with 12% of companies in this sector. Companies in this sector hold 127 government contracts valued at £12.5M.

Source: Companies House register via UVAGATRON, August 2026

285
Active Companies
C
SIC Section
1924
Oldest Company
115%
Growth (2020s)
14.2 yr
Avg Company Age

A rapidly growing sector with 115% of active companies formed since 2020.

Incorporation by Decade
8%
15%
32%
37%
Pre-1990: 25
1990s: 23
2000s: 47
2010s: 100
2020s: 115

Data Signals

Governance
9685 src
Financial
8797 src
innovation
4722 src
Trade
3501 src
Compliance
3487 src
Risk
2496 src
growth
1362 src
ESG
383 src
corporate_structure
101 src
quality
32 src

Sector Overview

The manufacture of optical precision instruments sector has a <Link href="/glossary/company-dissolution">4.5% dissolution rate</Link>. The average active company in this sector is 14.2 years old. Geographic concentration: 12% in LONDON.

4.5%
Dissolution rate
14.2 yrs
Avg company age

Company Size Breakdown

Small: 21 (47%)Medium: 6 (13%)Large: 18 (40%)

Government Activity

Companies in the manufacture of optical precision instruments sector have been awarded 127 government contracts worth £12.5M in total.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many manufacture of optical precision instruments companies are there in the UK?

There are 285 active companies classified under SIC code 26701 (Manufacture of optical precision instruments) in the UK, out of 310 total registered.

What is SIC code 26701?

SIC code 26701 stands for "Manufacture of optical precision instruments". It belongs to Section C — Manufacturing of the UK Standard Industrial Classification.

Where are most manufacture of optical precision instruments companies located?

The largest concentrations are in LONDON (35), CAMBRIDGE (8), GLASGOW (8).

What is the average age of manufacture of optical precision instruments companies?

The average active manufacture of optical precision instruments company in the UK is 14.2 years old, with the oldest registration dating back to 1924.

What government data is available for manufacture of optical precision instruments companies?

Our database contains 3,453 data signals across 10 categories for active manufacture of optical precision instruments companies. The largest category is Governance with 968 signals from 5 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.