SIC code 08120 covers operation of gravel and sand pits; mining of clays and kaolin businesses. With 302 active companies, this is a specialised niche within the UK business landscape. It falls under Section B (Mining and quarrying) 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 Operation of gravel and sand pits; mining of clays and kaolin industry page.
With a 93% survival rate, this sector shows strong business longevity. Only 2 of 325 companies registered under this code have dissolved, well below the UK average. With an average age of 28.9 years, companies in this sector tend to be well-established. This maturity reflects high barriers to entry and strong business continuity among surviving firms. Company formation is spread across decades: 29% pre-1990, 12% in the 1990s, 15% in the 2000s, 27% in the 2010s, and 18% since 2020. Companies are geographically dispersed across the UK, with no single location dominating. The top three locations — LONDON, CANTERBURY, DONCASTER — together account for just 10% of the sector.
SIC code 08120 stands for "Operation of gravel and sand pits; mining of clays and kaolin" under the UK Standard Industrial Classification (SIC 2007) system. It belongs to Section B — Mining and quarrying. 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 302 active companies registered under SIC code 08120 in the UK, out of 325 total registrations. This gives a survival rate of 93%, meaning 7% of companies registered under this code have since dissolved. These figures are based on Companies House data and updated regularly.
The top locations for operation of gravel and sand pits; mining of clays and kaolin companies (SIC 08120) are: LONDON (11), CANTERBURY (10), DONCASTER (8), COOKSTOWN (7), OMAGH (7). Geographic concentration can reflect local economic conditions, industry clusters, or proximity to key markets and supply chains.
Formation rates for SIC 08120 have been moderate: 18% of active companies formed since 2020, compared to 27% in the 2010s. The sector appears stable, with a balanced mix of established and newer businesses.
Companies classified under SIC 08120 have an average age of 28.9 years. This indicates a mature sector where businesses tend to operate long-term. Notable companies include CEMEX UK OPERATIONS LIMITED, SIBELCO UK LIMITED, CREAGH CONCRETE PRODUCTS LIMITED.
Related SIC codes within the same division include: 08990 (Other mining and quarrying n.e.c.), 08910 (Mining of chemical and fertilizer minerals), 08110 (Quarrying of ornamental and building stone, limestone, gypsum, chalk and slate), 08930 (Extraction of salt). 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 08120 (Operation of gravel and sand pits; mining of clays and kaolin) 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 302 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.