Plans for esports-specific UK Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) codes announced

The UK’s Office for National Statistics (ONS) has today announced plans to introduce esports-specific UK Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) Codes for the first time.

This is a significant step for esports in the UK as it is recognition of the industry at a government level.

Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) codes are 4-to-5-digit numerical identifiers used by government agencies (like Companies House in the UK) to classify the nature of a business’s economic activities. They’re essential for registering companies, analysing industrial trends, and for lenders/insurers to assess business risks.

In short, this means that the size of UK esports and its revenues should be better-tracked going forward. It also means this can help encourage investment for esports and create more jobs in the UK.

The decision comes following years of industry lobbying for esports SIC codes in the UK. The proposal was written in large parts by members of the UK Esports Team Committee (UKETC), who had made SIC codes one of their priorities for 2025, with DCMS support. British Esports also played a part in consulting on the proposal, with tournament organiser Blast.

Esports is getting four SIC codes:

• 93.112: Operation of esports facilities
• 93.122: Activities of esports clubs
• 91.193: Organisation of esports events
• 91.195: Other esports activities nec (not elsewhere classified)

The planned codes place esports under the ‘sports activities’ category, not creative industries. 

The planned codes crucially place esports within the UK’s ‘sports activities’ classification. This means esports clubs, venues and competitions are recognised in the same way as traditional sports, rather than being treated purely as entertainment or media. 

The change recognises esports as an organised and competitive activity, which may be significant as organisations such as UK Sport prepares to assess new sports from 2026. Essentially, it helps position esports closer to the structures that support long-term sporting development, funding and integrity in the UK.

This will allow these codes to be aggregated to produce an esports total (and, similarly, produce a total for sports excluding esports). 

In addition to the esports codes, the wider games industry will also get its own four-digit codes – relevant to game developers and publishers, for example.

The ONS has published the updated UK SIC 2026 framework on its website today, with a two-week review period for final comments. The final framework is expected to be published on March 31st.

Esports businesses have historically had to use existing SIC codes for the sports and creative industries – now esports is getting its own codes.

The Office for National Statistics is the UK’s largest independent producer of official statistics and the recognised national statistical institute of the UK. It is responsible for collecting and publishing statistics related to the economy, population and society at national, regional and local levels.

It also works with the UK Statistics Authority, an independent body that promotes and safeguards the production and publication of official statistics that serve the public good.

Michael ‘ODEE’ O’Dell, Scan Computers Director of Esports and Gaming, and member of the British Esports Advisory Board, said: “For 15 years I’ve been pushing for esports-specific SIC codes, and this week they finally approved it.

“So now every company in esports can have an SIC code, so someone in the Government can press a button and say, ‘esports makes us this amount of money’.

“Hopefully this will open up investment and create more jobs.”

Kalam Neale, British Esports Head of Education, added: “The news also comes as a welcome and timely development as British Esports are lobbying for the future of esports education programmes. Being able to align new qualifications and progression opportunities for esports students strengthens the pathways from education to employment. 

“The new codes are an important first step in government being able to recognise the economic impact of esports for the United Kingdom.”

See the updated UK SIC 2026 framework on the ONS website here