SIC code 46740 classifies businesses engaged in wholesale of hardware, plumbing and heating equipment and supplies. There are 2,744 active companies registered under this code in the UK, forming a substantial sector within the national economy. It falls under Section G (Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles) 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 Wholesale of hardware, plumbing and heating equipment and supplies industry page.
With a 89% survival rate, this sector shows strong business longevity. Only 5 of 3,067 companies registered under this code have dissolved, well below the UK average. The average company age is 12.9 years, indicating an established sector with a mix of long-running businesses and newer entrants. Growth has been exceptional recently: 44% of all active companies were formed since 2020, marking this as one of the fastest-expanding classifications. The 2010s contributed another 26%, 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, BIRMINGHAM, MANCHESTER — together account for just 13% of the sector.
SIC code 46740 stands for "Wholesale of hardware, plumbing and heating equipment and supplies" under the UK Standard Industrial Classification (SIC 2007) system. It belongs to Section G — Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles. 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 2,744 active companies registered under SIC code 46740 in the UK, out of 3,067 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 wholesale of hardware, plumbing and heating equipment and supplies companies (SIC 46740) are: LONDON (252), BIRMINGHAM (68), MANCHESTER (41), LEEDS (32), LEICESTER (32). Geographic concentration can reflect local economic conditions, industry clusters, or proximity to key markets and supply chains.
The sector is growing: 44% of currently active SIC 46740 companies were formed since 2020, and 26% during the 2010s. This sustained formation rate indicates ongoing demand for wholesale of hardware, plumbing and heating equipment and supplies services in the UK.
Companies classified under SIC 46740 have an average age of 12.9 years. This suggests a balanced sector with both established players and newer entrants. Notable companies include CITY PLUMBING SUPPLIES HOLDINGS LIMITED, HEXSTONE LTD., FRIDGE SPARES WHOLESALE LTD.
Related SIC codes within the same division include: 46900 (Non-specialised wholesale trade), 46190 (Agents involved in the sale of a variety of goods), 46420 (Wholesale of clothing and footwear), 46160 (Agents involved in the sale of textiles, clothing, fur, footwear and leather goods). 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 46740 (Wholesale of hardware, plumbing and heating equipment and supplies) 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 2,744 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.