What is a SIC code
What Standard Industrial Classification codes are, where they come from, and how Senserity uses them.
A SIC code (Standard Industrial Classification code) is a five-digit number that describes what a company does. It is filed with Companies House as part of company registration and updated via the confirmation statement.
Where SIC codes come from
SIC codes are self-reported. When a company registers or files a confirmation statement, it selects up to four SIC codes that best describe its business activities. The codes are drawn from a standardised list published by Companies House.
Because they are self-selected, SIC codes are not always accurate. A company may have chosen a code at registration that no longer reflects its activities. A holding company may list the SIC code of its most prominent subsidiary. Some companies select codes that are intentionally vague.
How Senserity uses SIC codes
SIC codes appear in the company profile as part of the basic company information. Senserity uses them in several ways:
Sector context. SIC codes help contextualise other findings. Certain risk indicators are more or less significant depending on the sector. A construction company without HSE records is more notable than a software consultancy without them.
Regulatory body checks. Some SIC codes indicate that a company is likely to be regulated by a specific body such as the FCA for financial services, the CQC for health and social care, and others. Senserity checks whether regulated companies have the expected registrations and flags cases where a company's SIC code suggests regulation that is not evidenced in the data.
Anomaly detection. A SIC code that is unusual for the company's stated activities, or that is inconsistent with other data in the profile, can be a signal worth investigating.
SIC code limitations
SIC codes are a blunt instrument. Many companies operate across multiple sectors; the four-code limit is a simplification. The SIC code taxonomy is also updated infrequently, which means some newer business models don't fit cleanly into any category.
Senserity treats SIC codes as one signal among many, not as a definitive description of what a company does. Where a company's activities appear to conflict with its SIC code, this is flagged as an informational finding rather than a risk.
Looking up a SIC code
If you see a SIC code in a company profile and want to know what it means, the Companies House SIC code list is the canonical reference. You can search it at find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk.
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