What this means for users
We are pleased to announce the publication of the Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) 2026 framework and integral explanatory notes as ratified by the Ad Hoc Panel to Assure Key GSS Guidance in the Absence of a National Statistician.
The SIC 2026 framework is not yet in operational use across ONS (Office for National Statistics) systems. The earliest planned use is in the 2031 Blue Book (UK National Accounts).
You do not need to take immediate action, but you may want to review the new classification and explanatory notes, and prepare for future implementation in your systems.
For more information, please see our Guidance on the Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) 2026 Revision Process.
For any queries, please email SIC.revision@ons.gov.uk.
Overview
The UK Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) has been updated from SIC 2007 to SIC 2026 to better reflect the modern UK economy.
This publication represents a major revision of the UK Standard Industrial Classification of Economic Activities (SIC), started in 2019 and completed in 2026. It is effective from 14 April 2026 and is the outcome of a series of consultations carried out in conjunction with a major revision of the International Standard Industrial Classification of All Economic Activities (ISIC Rev. 5) by the United Nations.
The consultations involved many stakeholders:
national statistical institutes
international statistical institutes
a range of government departments in the UK, the Bank of England, the devolved governments, business and trade associations, and other interested bodies
It was decided through our public consultation on UK SIC alignment that the UK should align with international standards, including Eurostat's Nomenclature of Economic Activities (NACE Rev. 2.1 ) and the United Nations' International Standard Industrial Classification (ISIC Rev. 5).
What has happened so far
2019 to 2025 – International revisions of ISIC
The ONS contributed on behalf of the UK to ISIC revision.
July 2025 – UK SIC revision launched
The ONS launched the SIC 2026 revision project. Stakeholders were invited to submit proposals via coordinators. Initial proposals and expressions of interest were gathered.
February 2026 – Draft framework shared
173 formal proposals were reviewed: 85 accepted, 23 rejected, 1 partially rejected, and 64 under discussion. A draft framework was published for final feedback.
March to April 2026 – Finalisation
Publication was briefly delayed for governance checks. In April 2026, the SIC 2026 framework was officially published and approved.
What is happening now
Following publication, the ONS is producing supporting materials, including the full classification structure, explanatory notes (what each category includes and excludes), indexes, and correlation tables mapping SIC 2007 to SIC 2026.
The ONS is also preparing systems and processes for future implementation.
We will no longer publish hardcopy manuals for SIC and all content will be available online.
When SIC 2026 will come into effect
SIC 2026 will be introduced gradually.
The first use is expected in the 2031 Blue Book. Implementation will take place in stages:
introduction into business registers
use in survey sampling
full integration into the UK National Accounts
This phased approach ensures that data remain consistent over time and that changes are applied safely across systems.
Future updates (annual review process)
SIC 2026 explanatory notes that are integral to the framework will be reviewed annually and a revision published with any agreed updates.
Each year, updates will be published at the end of March. These may include:
fixing errors or inconsistencies
clarifying wording
reflecting small changes in industries
These updates are minor improvements, not full rewrites. For example, artificial intelligence (AI)-related activities were expanded in SIC 2026. Future updates may refine how these are classified as the sector evolves.
Upcoming milestones
2026 to 2027, the ONS will publish full documentation and the SIC index.
Annual reviews of the integral explanatory notes will be held and approved updates released at end of March each year.
There will be ongoing alignment with international classifications such as NACE and ISIC.
The ONS will, alongside international statistical bodies such as the UN and Eurostat, explore more flexible and faster update approaches in the future.
Previous updates (archived)
March 2026
Publication was delayed to complete governance and approval.
February 2026
A draft framework was shared for final feedback. The submission deadline of 16 February 2026 has now passed.
July 2025
The project was launched. Stakeholder engagement and proposal processes have now closed.
Contact
For further information, please see our Guidance on the Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) 2026 Revision Process.
Please notify any errors or inconsistencies in the explanatory notes via email to SIC.revision@ons.gov.uk. These will be reviewed throughout the year and considered for the next annual update of the explanatory notes. The framework structure itself will only be updated in line with international reviews of NACE and ISIC.