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UK SIC SP0.008 | Industry Report

Precision Engineering in the UK Industry Data and Analysis

CH
Cormac Hayes
Analyst London, United Kingdom December 2025

Precision engineers produce complex parts and components to high tolerance for machinery and equipment used in a broad range of downstream markets, including the industrial, aerospace and automotive sectors. Precision engineers are exposed to a range of market fluctuations as a result of underlying low business confidence prompted by lingering inflation and elevated borrowing costs, which have pressured demand in downstream industries over recent years. Repair and maintenance demand has remained strong through this, as manufacturers look to implement cost-cutting measures and improve their efficiency through the use of lightweight metal alloy components and electric-based output that lowers their emissions. This has helped maintain steady profit growth in the industry, as companies face a surge in demand for bespoke parts to update existing machinery.

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What's included in this industry analysis

IBISWorld's research coverage on the Precision Engineering industry in the United Kingdom includes market sizing, forecasting, data and analysis from 2015-2030. The most recent publication was released December 2025.

About this industry

What's this industry report about?

The Precision Engineering industry in the United Kingdom operates under the SIC industry code SP0.008. Operators in the Precision Engineering industry focus on the production, maintenance and refurbishment of bespoke equipment and machinery to specific instructions. This can include electrical engineering, software engineering, electronics engineering, mechanical engineering and optical engineering. Related terms covered in the Precision Engineering industry in the United Kingdom include tolerance, industrial automation and computer-aided design (cad).

What's included in this industry?

Products and services covered in Precision Engineering industry in the United Kingdom include Plant and machinery production, Plant and machinery maintenance and repair and Consultancy services.

What companies are included in this industry?

Companies covered in the Precision Engineering industry in the United Kingdom include GKN Ltd, IMI plc and Lymington Precision Engineers Co Ltd.

Performance

What's included in the Performance chapter?

The Performance chapter covers detailed analysis, datasets, detailed current performance, sources of volatility and an outlook with forecasts for the Precision Engineering industry in the United Kingdom.

Questions answered in this chapter include what's driving current industry performance, what influences industry volatility, how do successful businesses overcome volatility, what's driving the industry outlook. This analysis is supported with data and statistics on industry revenues, costs, profits, businesses and employees.

Products & Markets

What's included in the Products and Markets chapter?

The Products and Markets chapter covers detailed products and service segmentation and analysis of major markets for the for the Precision Engineering industry in the United Kingdom.

Questions answered in this chapter include how are the industry's products and services performing, what are innovations in industry products and services, what products or services do successful businesses offer and what's influencing demand from the industry's markets. This includes data and statistics on industry revenues by product and service segmentation and major markets.

Geographic Breakdown

What's included in the Geographic Breakdown chapter?

The Geographic Breakdown chapter covers detailed analysis and datasets on regional performance of the Precision Engineering industry in the United Kingdom.

Questions answered in this chapter include where are industry businesses located and how do businesses use location to their advantage. This includes data and statistics on industry revenues by location.

Competitive Forces

What's included in the Competitive Forces chapter?

The Competitive Forces chapter covers the concentration, barriers to entry and supplier and buyer profiles in the Precision Engineering industry in the United Kingdom. This includes data and statistics on industry market share concentration, barriers to entry, substitute products and buyer & supplier power.

Questions answered in this chapter include what impacts the industry's market share concentration, how do successful businesses handle concentration, what challenges do potential industry entrants face, how can potential entrants overcome barriers to entry, what are substitutes for industry services, how do successful businesses compete with substitutes and what power do buyers and suppliers have over the industry and how do successful businesses manage buyer & supplier power.

Companies

What's included in the Companies chapter?

The Companies chapter covers Key Takeaways, Market Share and Companies in the Precision Engineering industry in the United Kingdom. This includes data and analysis on companies operating in the industry that hold a market share greater than 5%.

Questions answered in this chapter include what companies have a meaningful market share and how each company is performing.

External Environment

What's included in the External Environment chapter?

The External Environment chapter covers Key Takeaways, External Drivers, Regulation & Policy and Assistance in the Precision Engineering industry in the United Kingdom. This includes data and statistics on factors impacting industry revenue such as economic indicators, regulation, policy and assistance programs.

Questions answered in this chapter include what demographic and macroeconomic factors impact the industry, what regulations impact the industry, what assistance is available to this industry.

Financial Benchmarks

What's included in the Financial Benchmarks chapter?

The Financial Benchmarks chapter covers Key Takeaways, Cost Structure, Financial Ratios, Valuation Multiples and Key Ratios in the Precision Engineering industry in the United Kingdom. This includes financial data and statistics on industry performance including key cost inputs, profitability, key financial ratios and enterprise value multiples.

Questions answered in this chapter include what trends impact industry costs and how financial ratios have changed overtime.

Industry Data

What's included in the Industry Data chapter?

The Industry Data chapter includes 10 years of historical data with 5 years of forecast data covering statistics like revenue, industry value add, establishments, enterprises, employment and wages in the Precision Engineering industry in the United Kingdom.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the market size of the Precision Engineering industry in the United Kingdom in 2026?

The market size of the Precision Engineering industry in the United Kingdom is £7.4bn in 2026.

How many businesses are there in the Precision Engineering industry in the United Kingdom in 2025?

There are 2,087 businesses in the Precision Engineering industry in the United Kingdom, which has grown at a CAGR of 2.0 % between 2020 and 2025.

How may import tariffs affect the Precision Engineering industry in the United Kingdom?

The Precision Engineering industry in the United Kingdom is unlikely to be materially impacted by import tariffs with imports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.

How may export tariffs affect the Precision Engineering industry in the United Kingdom?

The Precision Engineering industry in the United Kingdom is unlikely to be materially impacted by export tariffs with exports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.

Has the Precision Engineering industry in the United Kingdom grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Precision Engineering industry in the United Kingdom has been growing at a CAGR of 0.7 % between 2020 and 2025.

What is the forecast growth of the Precision Engineering industry in the United Kingdom over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Precision Engineering industry in the United Kingdom is expected to grow.

What are the biggest companies in the Precision Engineering industry in the United Kingdom?

The biggest companies operating in the Precision Engineering industry in the United Kingdom are GKN Ltd, IMI plc and Lymington Precision Engineers Co Ltd

What does the Precision Engineering industry in the United Kingdom include?

Plant and machinery production and Plant and machinery maintenance and repair are part of the Precision Engineering industry in the United Kingdom.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Precision Engineering industry in the United Kingdom?

The company holding the most market share in the Precision Engineering industry in the United Kingdom is GKN Ltd.

How competitive is the Precision Engineering industry in the United Kingdom?

The level of competition is moderate and increasing in the Precision Engineering industry in the United Kingdom.

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