Retail sale of mobile telephones

SIC 47421Section G: Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles|Data verified: 2026-04-17
3,819Active Companies
Section G: Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles
Division 47
SIC 47421

What is SIC Code 47421?

SIC code 47421 classifies businesses engaged in retail sale of mobile telephones. There are 3,819 active companies registered under this code in the UK, forming a substantial sector within the national economy. It falls under Section G (Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles) 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 Retail sale of mobile telephones industry page.

3,819
Active
13
Dissolved
4,481
Total
4.0y
Avg Age

Sector Analysis

With a 85% survival rate, this sector shows strong business longevity. Only 13 of 4,481 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: 75% of all active companies were formed since 2020, marking this as one of the fastest-expanding classifications. The 2010s contributed another 22%, meaning the vast majority of businesses are relatively new. The leading locations for this sector are LONDON (645), MANCHESTER (153), BIRMINGHAM (139), which together account for 25% of active companies.

Formation by Decade
22%
75%
Pre-1990: 2
1990s: 15
2000s: 90
2010s: 851
2020s: 2,861

Frequently Asked Questions about SIC 47421

What does SIC code 47421 mean?

SIC code 47421 stands for "Retail sale of mobile telephones" under the UK Standard Industrial Classification (SIC 2007) system. It belongs to Section G — Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles. 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.

How many UK companies use SIC code 47421?

There are currently 3,819 active companies registered under SIC code 47421 in the UK, out of 4,481 total registrations. This gives a survival rate of 85%, meaning 15% of companies registered under this code have since dissolved. These figures are based on Companies House data and updated regularly.

Where are most SIC 47421 companies located in the UK?

The top locations for retail sale of mobile telephones companies (SIC 47421) are: LONDON (645), MANCHESTER (153), BIRMINGHAM (139), GLASGOW (84), ILFORD (70). Geographic concentration can reflect local economic conditions, industry clusters, or proximity to key markets and supply chains.

Is the retail sale of mobile telephones sector growing or declining in the UK?

The sector is growing: 75% of currently active SIC 47421 companies were formed since 2020, and 22% during the 2010s. This sustained formation rate indicates ongoing demand for retail sale of mobile telephones services in the UK.

What is the typical company profile for SIC code 47421?

Companies classified under SIC 47421 have an average age of 4.0 years. This young average age reflects a sector with many recent market entrants and rapid turnover. Notable companies include CURRYS RETAIL LIMITED.

What SIC codes are similar to 47421?

Related SIC codes within the same division include: 47910 (Retail sale via mail order houses or via Internet), 47990 (Other retail sale not in stores, stalls or markets), 47110 (Retail sale in non-specialised stores with food, beverages or tobacco predominating), 47190 (Other retail sale in non-specialised stores). 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.

How do I find companies registered under SIC code 47421?

You can search for companies with SIC code 47421 (Retail sale of mobile telephones) 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.

Explore Companies Under SIC 47421

Search, filter, and analyse 3,819 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.