UK SIC 2007 · 78109
Other activities of employment placement agencies
Other activities of employment placement agencies is UK SIC code 78109, part of division 78 (Employment activities) in the SIC 2007 classification. As of the July 2026 Companies House register, 29,922 active UK companies list 78109 among their SIC codes, and 24,406 list it as their first code. That makes it the most used code in its division.
As of the July 2026 Companies House register, 29,922 active UK companies list 78109 among their SIC codes (24,406 as their first code).
Companies House data refreshed daily. Page reviewed July 2026.
Division 78: Employment activities
Employment activities covers the recruitment industry in its various forms. Permanent placement agencies register under 78109, temporary staffing businesses under 78200, and 78300 captures human resources provision, a code widely used by umbrella companies, payroll vehicles and staff outsourcing arrangements as well as HR providers. The distinction is worth respecting when building lists: a 78200 company runs candidates on its own payroll and carries the compliance burden that entails, while many 78109 registrations are single-recruiter businesses launched from a laptop.
Recruitment firms buy an unusually deep stack for their size: job board credits, sourcing tools, CRM and ATS platforms, invoice finance to bridge contractor payroll, and back-office outsourcing. Funders watch 78200 incorporations especially, because temporary agencies need working capital from their first placement onwards. A brand-new 78109 company usually signals an experienced consultant going solo, prime timing for software and finance offers. Website absence is common early on and worth pairing with incorporation date rather than treating it as a dead-company marker.
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Where SIC 78109 clusters in the UK
About SIC 78109
How many UK companies use SIC code 78109?
29,922 active UK companies include 78109 (Other activities of employment placement agencies) among their up-to-four registered SIC codes, of which 24,406 list it first. Figures are from the July 2026 Companies House register snapshot, counting active companies only.
What is the difference between SIC codes 78109 and 78200?
78109 covers placement agencies that introduce candidates for permanent roles, earning a fee on hire, while 78200 covers temporary agencies that employ or engage workers and supply them to clients, invoicing for the hours worked. The business models differ sharply in cash flow and compliance. Agencies doing both commonly register both codes; Companies House allows up to 4 per company, amendable on any confirmation statement.
Does a recruitment agency need a licence to operate in the UK?
For most sectors, no licence is required: agencies must simply comply with the Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Businesses Regulations, enforced by the Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate. The exception is supplying workers into sectors covered by the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority, such as agriculture and food processing, where a GLAA licence is mandatory. None of this is connected to your SIC code.
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