SIC code 52243 classifies businesses engaged in cargo handling for land transport activities. There are 1,118 active companies registered under this code in the UK, forming a substantial sector within the national economy. It falls under Section H (Transportation and storage) 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 Cargo handling for land transport activities industry page.
With a 77% survival rate, this sector shows strong business longevity. Only 4 of 1,454 companies registered under this code have dissolved, well below the UK average. The average company age of 4.0 years suggests a relatively young and dynamic sector, with many businesses having been established in recent years. Growth has been exceptional recently: 78% of all active companies were formed since 2020, marking this as one of the fastest-expanding classifications. The 2010s contributed another 17%, meaning the vast majority of businesses are relatively new. The leading locations for this sector are LONDON (139), LEEDS (68), BIRMINGHAM (44), which together account for 22% of active companies.
SIC code 52243 stands for "Cargo handling for land transport activities" under the UK Standard Industrial Classification (SIC 2007) system. It belongs to Section H — Transportation and storage. 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 1,118 active companies registered under SIC code 52243 in the UK, out of 1,454 total registrations. This gives a survival rate of 77%, meaning 23% of companies registered under this code have since dissolved. These figures are based on Companies House data and updated regularly.
The top locations for cargo handling for land transport activities companies (SIC 52243) are: LONDON (139), LEEDS (68), BIRMINGHAM (44), MANCHESTER (39), BRADFORD (25). Geographic concentration can reflect local economic conditions, industry clusters, or proximity to key markets and supply chains.
The sector is growing: 78% of currently active SIC 52243 companies were formed since 2020, and 17% during the 2010s. This sustained formation rate indicates ongoing demand for cargo handling for land transport activities services in the UK.
Companies classified under SIC 52243 have an average age of 4.0 years. This young average age reflects a sector with many recent market entrants and rapid turnover.
Related SIC codes within the same division include: 52290 (Other transportation support activities), 52103 (Operation of warehousing and storage facilities for land transport activities), 52219 (Other service activities incidental to land transportation, n.e.c.), 52230 (Service activities incidental to air transportation). 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 52243 (Cargo handling for land transport activities) 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 1,118 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.