Review of UK Standard Industrial Classifications 2007
What you need to know
The Statistical Classification of Economic Activities in the European Community, commonly known as NACE Rev. 2 is undergoing an international review. The review will directly impact on United Kingdom Standard Industrial Classification of Economic Activities 2007 (UK SIC 2007). So here is everything you need to know about the process and what this means for you.
What is NACE?
NACE Rev. 2 is the standard classification system used by National Statistics Institutes in the European Union to classify economic activities. UK SIC 2007 is the national version of NACE Rev. 2, both systems are identical down to the 4 digit ‘class’ level.
The review will directly impact on UK SIC 2007, as by European regulation the classification must stay in line with NACE Rev 2. UK SIC 2007 does have additional 5 digit ‘subclasses’ however these are national and will not be included in the review.
How did we get here?
It has been over 10 years since the introduction of the current version of NACE and in this time there have been rapid developments in technology and changes to the economy. Many users have reported areas of NACE that no longer accurately reflect today’s economy.
Eurostat launched a consultation on whether a NACE rev 2 update was necessary. In March 2018, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) in collaboration with stakeholders from across Government Statistical Service (GSS) submitted a response. The GSS response reflected strong UK support for the revision of NACE Rev 2, given the shared impact a revision would have on UK SIC 2007.
The way forward
The UK are part of a Task Force set-up by Eurostat to support the NACE Review. Task Force meetings are ongoing to evaluate proposals for change and draft a revised NACE structure for consultation.
Input gathered by Eurostat from European Federations, Commission Services and the European Central Bank will be included in the review. Once the review has been finalised, the Task Force report will be presented at the European Statistical System Committee (ESSC) meeting.
We need you!
We need to understand your user requirements to ensure we reflect the full UK picture.
If you would like your name to be added to the distribution list to receive NACE review documents and updates, or if you have any questions about the review, please contact NACE.Rev.2.Review@ons.gov.uk
Documents available on request
- List of proposals from the 2018 consultation
- Minutes of the meeting, March 2019
- Taskforce Mandate, March 2019
- List of proposals for divisions 01 to 25, discussed May 2019
- Conclusions of May 2019 discussion on divisions 01 to 25
- List of proposals for divisions 26 to 39, discussed September 2019
- Conclusions of September 2019 discussion on divisions 26 to 39
- List of proposals for divisions 41 to 46, discussed October 2019
- Conclusions of October 2019 discussion on divisions 41 to 46
- List of proposals for divisions 47 to 56, discussion date pending
- Log of proposals agreed to date
If you would like access to any of these documents, please email: Industry.Information@ons.gov.uk.