SIC code 18129 classifies businesses engaged in printing n.e.c.. There are 8,344 active companies registered under this code in the UK, forming a substantial sector within the national economy. It falls under Section C (Manufacturing) 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 Printing n.e.c. industry page.
With a 83% survival rate, this sector shows strong business longevity. Only 394 of 10,032 companies registered under this code have dissolved, well below the UK average. The average company age is 14.0 years, indicating an established sector with a mix of long-running businesses and newer entrants. Growth has been exceptional recently: 41% 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 16% of the sector.
SIC code 18129 stands for "Printing n.e.c." under the UK Standard Industrial Classification (SIC 2007) system. It belongs to Section C — Manufacturing. 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 8,344 active companies registered under SIC code 18129 in the UK, out of 10,032 total registrations. This gives a survival rate of 83%, meaning 17% of companies registered under this code have since dissolved. These figures are based on Companies House data and updated regularly.
The top locations for printing n.e.c. companies (SIC 18129) are: LONDON (1,035), BIRMINGHAM (183), MANCHESTER (148), LEICESTER (121), GLASGOW (113). Geographic concentration can reflect local economic conditions, industry clusters, or proximity to key markets and supply chains.
The sector is growing: 41% of currently active SIC 18129 companies were formed since 2020, and 26% during the 2010s. This sustained formation rate indicates ongoing demand for printing n.e.c. services in the UK.
Companies classified under SIC 18129 have an average age of 14.0 years. This suggests a balanced sector with both established players and newer entrants. Notable companies include W & J LINNEY LIMITED, CLAYS LTD., DE LA RUE LIMITED.
Related SIC codes within the same division include: 18130 (Pre-press and pre-media services), 18201 (Reproduction of sound recording), 18121 (Manufacture of printed labels), 18203 (Reproduction of computer media). 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 18129 (Printing n.e.c.) 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 8,344 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: 2026-08-22.