specialised design activities: UK companies
32,186 live UK companies list specialised design activities as their main trade, or 0.6% of the register. It ranks 30th among the 60 trades we cover. 3,487 of those companies were formed in 2025, against 1,115 still live from 2015. 1,854 (5.8%) have a proposal to strike off on file, below the UK figure of 7.3%.
Where they're registered
Where this trade is unusually common
The town's share of this trade, compared with its share of all UK companies.
By year formed
Only companies still live are counted, so older years look smaller. 2026 stops on 1 November 2026.
20122026
See every year as a table
| Year | Live companies |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 831 |
| 2013 | 991 |
| 2014 | 1,090 |
| 2015 | 1,115 |
| 2016 | 1,199 |
| 2017 | 1,301 |
| 2018 | 1,835 |
| 2019 | 2,024 |
| 2020 | 1,896 |
| 2021 | 1,871 |
| 2022 | 1,958 |
| 2023 | 2,363 |
| 2024 | 2,693 |
| 2025 | 3,487 |
| 2026 | 2,959 |
Oldest active companies in this trade
- Alluvial DredgesFormed 1935
- Cole & Son (wallpapers)Formed 1938
- Frank Astling & SonFormed 1947
- Clark & StandfieldFormed 1948
- Mrs.monroFormed 1948
Related by size
- Public houses and bars
- Advertising agencies
- Other retail sale in non-specialised stores
- Other construction installation
- Financial intermediation not elsewhere classified
- Specialists medical practice activities
Trade means the first Standard Industrial Classification code (SIC 74100) a company declares. Companies choose their own codes. Figures come from Companies House on 1 November 2026.