SIC code 58120 covers publishing of directories and mailing lists businesses. With 537 active companies, this is a specialised niche within the UK business landscape. It falls under Section J (Information and communication) 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 Publishing of directories and mailing lists industry page.
With a 86% survival rate, this sector shows strong business longevity. Only 1 of 621 companies registered under this code have dissolved, well below the UK average. The average company age of 6.5 years suggests a relatively young and dynamic sector, with many businesses having been established in recent years. Growth has been exceptional recently: 65% of all active companies were formed since 2020, marking this as one of the fastest-expanding classifications. The 2010s contributed another 23%, meaning the vast majority of businesses are relatively new. The leading locations for this sector are LONDON (150), BIRMINGHAM (12), BRISTOL (9), which together account for 32% of active companies.
SIC code 58120 stands for "Publishing of directories and mailing lists" under the UK Standard Industrial Classification (SIC 2007) system. It belongs to Section J — Information and communication. 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 537 active companies registered under SIC code 58120 in the UK, out of 621 total registrations. This gives a survival rate of 86%, meaning 14% of companies registered under this code have since dissolved. These figures are based on Companies House data and updated regularly.
The top locations for publishing of directories and mailing lists companies (SIC 58120) are: LONDON (150), BIRMINGHAM (12), BRISTOL (9), GLASGOW (7), SOLIHULL (7). Geographic concentration can reflect local economic conditions, industry clusters, or proximity to key markets and supply chains.
The sector is growing: 65% of currently active SIC 58120 companies were formed since 2020, and 23% during the 2010s. This sustained formation rate indicates ongoing demand for publishing of directories and mailing lists services in the UK.
Companies classified under SIC 58120 have an average age of 6.5 years. This suggests a balanced sector with both established players and newer entrants. Notable companies include WILLIAM REED LTD.
Related SIC codes within the same division include: 58290 (Other software publishing), 58190 (Other publishing activities), 58110 (Book publishing), 58210 (Publishing of computer games). 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 58120 (Publishing of directories and mailing lists) 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 537 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.