Key facts: London
- Active companies, SIC 71129 (other engineering activities), London registered office
- 5,921
- Counted
- 18 October 2026
- Rank among the 11 London professions on this site
- 3rd
Count from the Companies House register, 18 October 2026.
Engineering consultancies registered in London
On 18 October 2026, 5,921 active companies with a London registered office gave SIC 71129, other engineering activities, as their business activity. That puts engineering consultancies 3rd of 11 London professions here, behind accountancy practices (8,594) and ahead of architecture practices (5,848).
SIC 71129 is a catch-all for engineering activities and related technical consultancy, so it includes contractors and technical services as well as consulting engineers. A registered office is also not always where a firm trades.
Regulation and what lenders check
Chartered engineers register through the Engineering Council and its licensed institutions. Clients on larger projects often set minimum PII cover as a contract condition.
Lenders look at fee income, the order book, retentions, lock-up, PII and how dependent the firm is on a few clients.
What London engineering consultancies usually fund
Consultancies usually borrow to bridge lock-up and retentions, spread the PII renewal, invest in design software or fund succession.
Retentions held back until a project completes can tie up cash for years, which lenders understand when it is shown clearly in the aged debt.
Premises and security in London
Buying a freehold for a engineering consultancy in England brings Stamp Duty Land Tax at non-residential rates, and a lender secures the loan with a legal charge registered at HM Land Registry. If the building is rented, lenders read the lease closely: a short unexpired term caps the loan term.
Lenders for London engineering consultancies
We hold no lender lists by town, and lenders for engineering consultancies lend nationally rather than city by city. For a London case we search the whole market. Fees depend on the lender, with nothing upfront.
Common questions
How many engineering consultancies are there in London?
Companies House lists 5,921 active companies with SIC 71129 and a London registered office (18 October 2026). Partnerships and sole traders are not included.
Can retentions be funded?
Sometimes. Some lenders will advance against a well-evidenced debtor book; retentions are assessed case by case.
Can you arrange finance for a London engineering consultancy?
Yes. We are a whole-of-market broker, not a lender, and search the market for lenders whose criteria suit the engineering consultancy. Fees depend on the lender; nothing upfront.
