History
Standard Industrial Classifications (SIC) were first introduced into the United Kingdom in 1948 by the Office of National Statistics in order to classify
organisations by the type of business in which they are engaged.  The classification was designed to provide a framework for the collection, tabulation,
presentation and analysis of data for the government, however, in addition it can be used by non-government bodies as a convenient way of classifying
their customer databases, or aids the purchase of specific business data.  The SIC system has been reviewed and altered over the past 60 years, the
1980 system contained a lot of detail on manufacturing, the 1992 system provided even more detail, reflecting the changes in industries over the previous
12 years.  The 1992 system was amended slightly in 2003 and SIC03 is the system still used by many companies today.  

The current 2007 SIC codes
A new system, SIC 07, was introduced in 2008, which brought the classifications in line with the European Union's Industrial Classification System (NACE)
and the UN's International Standard Industrial Classifications (ISIC) to, and including, the 4 digit class level.  For certain classes in the UK SIC 2007
taxonomy a further breakdown to a 5 digit level is available.  The new SIC code list was revised mostly to cater for the growth in importance of service
activities over the previous fifteen years due to developments in technology (IT and communications ICT).

SIC 2007 Main Sections
A) Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing
B) Mining and quarrying
C) Manufacturing
D) Electricity, Gas, Steam and air conditioning
E) Water supply, sewerage, waste management and remediation activities
F) Construction
G) Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles
H) Transport and storage
I) Accommodation and food service activities
J) Information and communication
K) Financial and insurance activities
L) Real Estate activities
M) Professional, scientific and technical activities
N) Administrative and support service activities
O) Public administration and defence; compulsory social security
P) Education
Q) Human health and social work activities
R) Arts, entertainment and recreation
S) Other service activities
T) Activities of households as employers, undifferentiated goods and service producing activities of households for own use
U) Activities of extraterritorial organisations and bodies

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SIC Documentation