Search Options
Any word, or combination of words and spaces, or any character on the keyboard, telephone numbers, fax numbers and e-mail addresses can be entered in the the Search box.
This is a WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) search facility, not a Boolean search using AND, OR, NOT logic.
Select an appropriate heading from the drop-down menu, followed by “Search for details”.
Select an appropriate heading from the drop-down menu, (comprising the main industry sectors), followed by “Continue”, then select the appropriate sub-sector, followed by “Continue”.
These correspond to the main groups within the Standard Industrial Classification, 1992. Select an appropriate heading from the drop-down menu at “SIC sector”.
These correspond to the activities within the main groups of the Standard Industrial Classification, 1992. Select an appropriate heading from the drop-down menu, followed by “Continue”, then select an appropriate heading, followed by “Continue”.
This option is scheduled for revision and will eventually provide a greater range of information than is currently available. Details will be announced in due course.
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Abbreviations
Abbreviations, which form part of business names, are normally entered with intervening spaces, resulting in them being listed at the start of each letter of the alphabet.
Abbreviations forming part of business activity descriptions are not entered with intervening spaces and are shown alongside the full meaning in the first instance:
eg. asymmetric digital subscriber line (ADSL)
These rules are applied consistently throughout the database.
Business Centres and Industrial Estates
When businesses are located in business centres, business parks, named buildings and industrial estates, the name of the location is incorporated in the address in every case, thus making it possible to search by location, by using the "Keyword search" facility.
Business Names
Businesses are entered using the normal form of their business name, but registered companies are always entered under their registered name. If a business has a trading name, then it is entered under its registered name, with the trading name shown as below:
e.g. A B C INDUSTRIES LTD
T/A A B C TRANSPORT (T/A = trading as)
Both names would be found by using the "Keyword search" facility .
Businesses frequently undergo changes of name. Where this information is known, the previous names are retained on the core database, making it possible to search under an old name. An entry found in this way will appear under the new business name.
e.g. a search for KVAERNER GOVAN LTD will return an entry for B A E SYSTEMS MARINE LTD
Postcode Searches
Postcode searches can be performed by entering all, or part of, a postcode in the "Keyword search" box. When searching for single digit postcodes, such as G2, enter a single space after the postcode to ensure that the search will not find G21, G22, etc. Postcode sub-sectors can also be identified, e.g. G41 3.
Standard Industrial Classification (SIC)
At the moment, the Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) codes are being revised across the entire database. Clients are advised to use the "Industry sector" searches or "Keyword search" for a subject approach.
The version of the Standard Industrial Industrial Classification used is the 1992 edition. This is currently being revised, with a new edition expected in 2005.
Subject Searches
Subject searches can be performed by using the "Keyword search", "Industry sector", or “Standard Industrial Classification (SIC)” search categories.