UK SIC 2007 · 42220
Construction of utility projects for electricity and telecommunications
Construction of utility projects for electricity and telecommunications is UK SIC code 42220, part of division 42 (Civil engineering) in the SIC 2007 classification. As of the July 2026 Companies House register, 4,780 active UK companies list 42220 among their SIC codes, and 3,642 list it as their first code. That makes it the second most used code in its division.
As of the July 2026 Companies House register, 4,780 active UK companies list 42220 among their SIC codes (3,642 as their first code).
Companies House data refreshed daily. Page reviewed July 2026.
Division 42: Civil engineering
Civil engineering covers infrastructure rather than buildings: roads under 42110, railways under 42120, utility networks for power and telecoms under 42220, and the broad 42990 for other civil projects, which is the division's most used UK code. That catch-all houses groundworks and infrastructure contractors whose work spans drainage, foundations, flood defences and external works. Companies range from major national contractors to small civils firms serving housebuilders, and subcontracting chains run deep, with much of the register made up of specialist subcontractors.
Plant is the heart of civils prospecting: hire companies, excavator and attachment dealers, fuel suppliers and operator training providers all work this division hard, watching for growth that means bigger fleets. Recruiters supplying operators and site engineers, insurance brokers and surety bond providers follow the same signals. Because civils work flows from frameworks and tenders, new incorporations often represent management teams spinning out to chase a specific contract, arriving with immediate needs for bonds, accreditation and plant. Utility contractors under 42220 track fibre and grid investment cycles, which shape their buying more than anything else.
Related SIC codes
Who uses this code in B2B outreach
Lead generation for UK construction firms and trades →
Find UK contractors, developers, and trades by SIC and region.
Where SIC 42220 clusters in the UK
About SIC 42220
How many UK companies use SIC code 42220?
4,780 active UK companies include 42220 (Construction of utility projects for electricity and telecommunications) among their up-to-four registered SIC codes, of which 3,642 list it first. Figures are from the July 2026 Companies House register snapshot, counting active companies only.
Is groundworks a division 42 or division 43 activity?
Both exist and the split is genuinely fuzzy. Site preparation and excavation has code 43120, while broader civil engineering works fit 42990. Many groundworks contractors choose 42990 because their scope includes drainage, roads and structures, while others use 43120 for enabling works. Listing both is common and permitted within the four-code limit. No enforcement turns on the choice; it is a self-declared classification.
Can one company hold codes across construction, civil engineering and plant hire?
Yes. Companies House allows up to four SIC codes with no restriction on combining divisions, so a contractor doing building work, civils and equipment hire can list codes from divisions 41, 42, 43 and 77 simultaneously. Codes are set at incorporation on the IN01 and changed through the CS01 confirmation statement. There is no approval step, and updates take effect once the statement is filed.
Find UK SIC 42220 companies
Filter Companies House by this code and enrich with verified contact data.
10 free trial leads, no card required.