Wholesale of pharmaceutical goods Companies in the UK

SIC 46460Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles|222.3% formed since 2020|Data updated 17 Apr 2026
3,081
Active

There are 3,081 active companies in the wholesale of pharmaceutical goods sector in the UK (SIC code 46460). This sector falls under Section G — Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles — of the UK Standard Industrial Classification. The sector has a relatively low 0.3% dissolution rate — 3,081 of 3,710 registrations remain active. The sector is experiencing rapid growth, with 222.3% of active businesses incorporated since 2020 — indicating strong recent demand. 98% of companies were formed after 2010, marking this as a sector with predominantly recent entrants. The average company age in this sector is 10.1 years. 253 large companies, 18 medium-sized firms operate in this sector. London leads with 27% of companies in this sector. Companies in this sector hold 428 government contracts valued at £14.4B. The sector's longest-standing company was incorporated in 1882.

Source: Companies House register via UVAGATRON, April 2026

3,081
Active Companies
G
SIC Section
1882
Oldest Company
222.3%
Growth (2020s)
10.1 yr
Avg Company Age

A rapidly growing sector with 222.3% of active companies formed since 2020.

Incorporation by Decade
9%
25%
56%
Pre-1990: 169
1990s: 179
2000s: 352
2010s: 934
2020s: 2,076

Data Signals

Governance
9,7146 src
Financial
7,6889 src
Compliance
3,14111 src
Risk
2,4029 src
Trade
1,6881 src
growth
4402 src
ESG
2686 src
quality
1553 src
innovation
692 src
corporate_structure
591 src
operational
401 src

Sector Overview

The wholesale of pharmaceutical goods sector has a <Link href="/glossary/company-dissolution">0.3% dissolution rate</Link>. The average active company in this sector is 10.1 years old. Geographic concentration: 27% in LONDON.

0.3%
Dissolution rate
10.1 yrs
Avg company age

Company Size Breakdown

Small: 125 (32%)Medium: 18 (5%)Large: 253 (64%)

Government Activity

Companies in the wholesale of pharmaceutical goods sector have been awarded 428 government contracts worth £14429.3M in total.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many wholesale of pharmaceutical goods companies are there in the UK?

There are 3,081 active companies classified under SIC code 46460 (Wholesale of pharmaceutical goods) in the UK, out of 3,710 total registered.

What is SIC code 46460?

SIC code 46460 stands for "Wholesale of pharmaceutical goods". It belongs to Section G — Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles of the UK Standard Industrial Classification.

Where are most wholesale of pharmaceutical goods companies located?

The largest concentrations are in LONDON (820), MANCHESTER (72), BIRMINGHAM (61).

What is the average age of wholesale of pharmaceutical goods companies?

The average active wholesale of pharmaceutical goods company in the UK is 10.1 years old, with the oldest registration dating back to 1882.

What government data is available for wholesale of pharmaceutical goods companies?

Our database contains 25,664 data signals across 11 categories for active wholesale of pharmaceutical goods companies. The largest category is Governance with 9,714 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.