SIC code 71200 classifies businesses engaged in technical testing and analysis. There are 4,481 active companies registered under this code in the UK, forming a substantial sector within the national economy. It falls under Section M (Professional, scientific and technical activities) 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 Technical testing and analysis industry page.
With a 88% survival rate, this sector shows strong business longevity. Only 7 of 5,087 companies registered under this code have dissolved, well below the UK average. Companies in this sector average 10.0 years old, reflecting a balanced mix of established businesses and newer market participants. Growth has been exceptional recently: 43% of all active companies were formed since 2020, marking this as one of the fastest-expanding classifications. The 2010s contributed another 33%, meaning the vast majority of businesses are relatively new. Companies are geographically dispersed across the UK, with no single location dominating. The top three locations — LONDON, GLASGOW, BIRMINGHAM — together account for just 13% of the sector.
SIC code 71200 stands for "Technical testing and analysis" under the UK Standard Industrial Classification (SIC 2007) system. It belongs to Section M — Professional, scientific and technical activities. 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 4,481 active companies registered under SIC code 71200 in the UK, out of 5,087 total registrations. This gives a survival rate of 88%, meaning 12% of companies registered under this code have since dissolved. These figures are based on Companies House data and updated regularly.
The top locations for technical testing and analysis companies (SIC 71200) are: LONDON (456), GLASGOW (76), BIRMINGHAM (66), MIDDLESBROUGH (62), MANCHESTER (59). Geographic concentration can reflect local economic conditions, industry clusters, or proximity to key markets and supply chains.
The sector is growing: 43% of currently active SIC 71200 companies were formed since 2020, and 33% during the 2010s. This sustained formation rate indicates ongoing demand for technical testing and analysis services in the UK.
Companies classified under SIC 71200 have an average age of 10.0 years. This suggests a balanced sector with both established players and newer entrants. Notable companies include SOCOTEC UK LIMITED, GENUS BREEDING LIMITED, UTAC UK LTD.
Related SIC codes within the same division include: 71129 (Other engineering activities), 71122 (Engineering related scientific and technical consulting activities), 71111 (Architectural activities), 71121 (Engineering design activities for industrial process and production). 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 71200 (Technical testing and analysis) 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 4,481 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.