specialised design activities Companies in the UK

SIC 74100Professional, scientific and technical activities|155.4% formed since 2020|Data updated 19 Oct 2026
29,992
Active

29,992 active companies in the UK are classified under specialised design activities (SIC code 74100). This sector falls under Section M — Professional, scientific and technical activities — of the UK Standard Industrial Classification. The sector has a relatively low 10.9% dissolution rate — 29,992 of 36,108 registrations remain active. The sector is experiencing rapid growth, with 155.4% 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 7.5 years. London leads with 27% of companies in this sector. Companies in this sector hold 346 government contracts valued at £167.7M.

Source: Companies House register via UVAGATRON, October 2026

29,992
Active Companies
M
SIC Section
1935
Oldest Company
155.4%
Growth (2020s)
7.5 yr
Avg Company Age

A rapidly growing sector with 155.4% of active companies formed since 2020.

Incorporation by Decade
35%
55%
Pre-1990: 214
1990s: 603
2000s: 2,781
2010s: 12,583
2020s: 19,549

Data Signals

Governance
124,0276 src
Financial
96,62111 src
Compliance
9,96214 src
Risk
8,20510 src
Trade
5,8512 src
innovation
9462 src
growth
4562 src
quality
3424 src
ESG
1676 src
operational
171 src
corporate_structure
81 src
regulatory
41 src

Sector Overview

The specialised design activities sector has a <Link href="/glossary/company-dissolution">10.9% dissolution rate</Link>. The average active company in this sector is 7.5 years old. Geographic concentration: 27% in LONDON.

10.9%
Dissolution rate
7.5 yrs
Avg company age

Company Size Breakdown

Small: 76 (60%)Medium: 11 (9%)Large: 40 (31%)

Government Activity

Companies in the specialised design activities sector have been awarded 346 government contracts worth £167.7M in total.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many specialised design activities companies are there in the UK?

There are 29,992 active companies classified under SIC code 74100 (specialised design activities) in the UK, out of 36,108 total registered.

What is SIC code 74100?

SIC code 74100 stands for "specialised design activities". It belongs to Section M — Professional, scientific and technical activities of the UK Standard Industrial Classification.

Where are most specialised design activities companies located?

The largest concentrations are in LONDON (7,975), MANCHESTER (426), BRISTOL (425).

What is the average age of specialised design activities companies?

The average active specialised design activities company in the UK is 7.5 years old, with the oldest registration dating back to 1935.

What government data is available for specialised design activities companies?

Our database contains 246,606 data signals across 12 categories for active specialised design activities companies. The largest category is Governance with 124,027 signals from 6 government sources.

Research UK Companies with AI

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Data is updated daily from official UK government sources including Companies House. Information is provided for reference only.