SIC code 21100 classifies businesses engaged in manufacture of basic pharmaceutical products. There are 1,164 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 Manufacture of basic pharmaceutical products industry page.
With a 89% survival rate, this sector shows strong business longevity. Only 2 of 1,305 companies registered under this code have dissolved, well below the UK average. The average company age is 13.6 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 30%, meaning the vast majority of businesses are relatively new. The leading locations for this sector are LONDON (283), MANCHESTER (22), BIRMINGHAM (20), which together account for 28% of active companies.
SIC code 21100 stands for "Manufacture of basic pharmaceutical products" 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 1,164 active companies registered under SIC code 21100 in the UK, out of 1,305 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 manufacture of basic pharmaceutical products companies (SIC 21100) are: LONDON (283), MANCHESTER (22), BIRMINGHAM (20), CARDIFF (16), LIVERPOOL (15). 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 21100 companies were formed since 2020, and 30% during the 2010s. This sustained formation rate indicates ongoing demand for manufacture of basic pharmaceutical products services in the UK.
Companies classified under SIC 21100 have an average age of 13.6 years. This suggests a balanced sector with both established players and newer entrants. Notable companies include BAXTER HEALTHCARE LIMITED, AAH PHARMACEUTICALS LIMITED, GE HEALTHCARE LIMITED.
Related SIC codes within the same division include: 21200 (Manufacture of pharmaceutical preparations), 2121 (Manufacture of corrugated paper and paperboard and of containers of paper and paperboard), 2123 (Manufacture of paper stationery), 2125 (Manufacture of other articles of paper and paperboard not elsewhere classified). 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 21100 (Manufacture of basic pharmaceutical products) 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 1,164 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.