Podcast and audio businesses will soon receive formal recognition within the UK’s official industrial classification system.
AudioUK says the UK Government has confirmed that “Podcast and other audio publishing activities” will be included in the Standard Industrial Classification 2026 framework, giving the sector its own recognised category for the first time.
SIC codes are used across government and financial systems to classify businesses. They can affect access to funding, support schemes and lending decisions, while also shaping how industries are measured in official data.
Until now, many podcast and audio companies were grouped into broader categories that did not fully reflect podcast production, publishing or audio focused business models. The new classification acknowledges the sector’s growing role within the wider creative economy.
The UK’s creative industries contribute £124 billion in gross value added and support 2.4 million jobs. AudioUK says the inclusion of podcast and audio publishing activities within the SIC framework is an important step towards ensuring the industry’s economic contribution is properly measured and recognised.
AudioUK worked with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, the Office for National Statistics and the BBC during discussions around the updated framework.
Chris Baughen, Chief Executive of AudioUK, said: “This is a major milestone for the UK podcast and audio industry.
“Formal recognition within the SIC framework helps validate the scale, value and economic contribution of podcast and audio businesses and marks an important step toward ensuring audio businesses are properly represented across government, finance and the wider creative economy.”
The SIC 2026 framework will be introduced in stages, with full adoption expected by 2031.
AudioUK says it will continue updating members as further guidance becomes available, as the sector prepares for the changes to be implemented across official systems.
