The United Kingdom Standard Industrial Classification
of Economic Activities (SIC) is used to classify business establishments
and other standard units by the type of economic activity in which
they are engaged. The new version of these codes (SIC 2007) was
adopted by the UK as from 1st January 2008.
A list of SIC 2007 codes can be found by Clicking
Here
This Q & A notice explains why we are replacing
the SIC 2003 codings with the SIC 2007 codings for companies to
use when giving their principal business activity.
1. What is SIC 2007?
It’s the latest version of the Standard Industrial
Classification which was last revised in 2003. It’s a numerical
classification that Companies House adopted to identify company
principal business activities which are required to be stated
on the annual return (form AR01) each year. The new classification
system was adopted by the UK on 1st January 2008.
2. When did CH adopt SIC 2007?
We adopted SIC 2007 from 01 October 2011. Companies
are required to change their SIC code to the latest classification
(SIC 07) upon filing their annual return with a made up date of
1st October 2011 onwards.
3. What are the changes to Annual Return information
required in the Companies Act 2006 (Annual Returns) Regulations
2011?
The new regulations contain changes to shareholder
details required on the annual return with made up dates 1st Oct
2011 or later which can be summarised as follows: For returns
made up to 1st October 2011 or later:
a) Companies whose shares have not been at any
time admitted to trading on a relevant market must provide a 'full
list' of all shareholders on the first annual return following
incorporation; and thereafter on every third annual return. Any
details of transfers of shares that have taken place during the
year will be required for intervening annual returns
b) Companies any of whose shares have been admitted
to trading on a relevant market, must provide the names and addresses
of shareholders who hold 5% or more of the company’s issued share
capital as at the made up date of the return every year. The Regulations
remove the requirement for a full list every third year and details
of transfers of shares that have taken place to be shown on intervening
annual returns
c) Companies any of whose shares have been admitted
to trading on a relevant market throughout the return period and
who were subject to the Vote Holder and Issuer Notification Rules
contained in Chapter 5 of the Disclosure and Transparency Rules
source book issued by the Financial Services Authority (DTR5)
throughout the return period; shareholder details do not have
to be provided. Since September 2010 all major shareholder notifications
required under DTR have been available online on the National
Storage Mechanism at www.hemscott.com/nsm.do ; this means that
there is no longer a significant public interest in Companies
House holding historic information on the holdings of major shareholders
of companies subject to DTR.
4. Apart from the Annual Return, are
there other forms that should be using SIC 2007 after 01 October
2011?
The new SIC 2007 codes should also be used on
the following forms; SE FM01, SE FM02, SE FM03, SE FM04, SE FM05,
SE TR02, and SE TR03
5. Where can I get more information about
SIC 2007?
The website of the Office for National Statistics
Alternatively contact ONS by email: classifications.helpdesk@ons.gov.uk
A list of SIC 2007 codes can be found by Clicking
Here
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