ESSITY UK LIMITED

Active
Company number 03226403Private limited companyIncorporated 1996

Key figures

£355,802,000-7.6%
Net assets 2025
-7.6%
Average annual change 2024–2025
0100 m200 m300 m400 m20242025

† ESSITY UK LIMITED filed these accounts on paper, so Companies House publishes them only as a scanned image. The figures for the years marked † were read automatically from the scan and kept only where the statements add up (for example net assets equal total equity), but a reading error is still possible — check the original accounts at Companies House.

Ratios

2025

Sector comparison

SIC 17120

Where the company stands among the 223 active companies whose first SIC code is 17120 (Manufacture of paper and paperboard).

Turnover£875,264,000
Higher than 97% · median £22,022,365 among 36 that publish turnover
Net assets£355,802,000
Higher than 97% · median £400,571
Total assets£594,400,000
Higher than 97% · median £1,408,252
Employees1,616
Higher than 97% · median 2
Company age30.3 years
Older than 73% · median 12.9 years
Largest in this sector by net assets
  1. DS SMITH PAPER LIMITED£505.1m
  2. ESSITY UK LIMITED£355.8m
  3. PALM PAPER LIMITED£167.9m
  4. HOLMEN BOARD AND PAPER LIMITED£159.2m
  5. GLATFELTER LYDNEY, LTD.£68.7m
  6. HOLMEN UK LIMITED£59.4m
  7. SONOCO CORES AND PAPER LIMITED£56m
  8. INDUSTRIE CARTARIE TRONCHETTI UK LIMITED£54.1m
  9. SONOCO LIMITED£51.1m
  10. SAICA FLEX UK LIMITED£50.7m

Positions are approximate. Figures come from each company's latest accounts; money and employee figures are compared only with companies that filed accounts in pounds for a period ending in the last two and a half years and are not dormant, so those groups are smaller than 223. The line on each bar marks the median.

Summary: ESSITY UK LIMITED

What kind of company is it?

ESSITY UK LIMITED is a private limited company registered with Companies House under company number 03226403. It was incorporated on 12 Jul 1996. Its status is active. The registered office is in Bedfordshire (LU6). Its nature of business (SIC 2007) is manufacture of paper and paperboard (17120), manufacture of household and sanitary goods and of toilet requisites (17220).

How is the company doing financially?

The latest accounts in the database are for 2025 (period ending 31 Dec 2025); the company files full accounts. Turnover was £875,264,000. Profit for the year was £67,215,000. Net assets were £355,802,000, down 7.6% on the previous year. Total assets were £594,400,000 and total liabilities £209,868,000. The company had an average of 1,616 employees. Figures are available for 2 financial years (2024–2025).

How does it compare with similar companies?

Compared with 223 active companies whose first SIC code is 17120: By turnover it ranks higher than 97% of the 36 that publish turnover (median £22,022,365). By net assets it ranks higher than 97% of them (median £400,571). By total assets it ranks higher than 97% of them (median £1,408,252). By number of employees it ranks higher than 97% of them (median 2). It is older than 73% of them (median age 12.9 years).

Does it supply the public sector?

The company is named as a supplier in 70 public contract award notices from 45 public sector buyers since 2015. Contracts awarded to it alone have a combined published value of £119.5m. Its most frequent buyer is NHS Supply Chain (9 contracts). 45 of the awards are shared with other suppliers, typically framework agreements. It is recorded as the recipient of 3 central government grants worth £155.1k, from Department for Education.

What do public registers and reports show?

It appears on the Home Office register of licensed sponsors (Global Business Mobility: Senior or Specialist Worker, Skilled Worker). HMRC lists it as an importer of goods, mainly miscellaneous manufactures, optical, medical and measuring instruments, furniture and lighting. HMRC lists it as an exporter of goods, mainly perfumery and cosmetics, soaps and waxes, plastics. In its latest payment practices report it took an average of 45 days to pay suppliers, and 19% of invoices were not paid within agreed terms. Its gender pay gap report for 2026/27 shows median hourly pay for women 19.6% higher than for men. It has modern slavery statements on the government registry for 6 years.

Who runs and controls the company?

One person with significant control is registered. 2 of 4 registered charges are outstanding.

When are its next filings due?

The next accounts are due by 30 Sep 2027. The next confirmation statement is due by 16 Jul 2027.

Filed accounts2024–2025
2024 †2025 †
Turnover899,141,000875,264,000
Profit for the year57,362,00067,215,000
Total assets673,380,000594,400,000
Total liabilities258,804,000209,868,000
Net assets / total equity385,194,000355,802,000
Average number of employees1,4511,616

A dash (—) means no accounts were filed for that year or the item is not in the accounts; 0 is a zero stated in the accounts. Small companies usually file only a balance sheet, so the profit and loss account is often missing.

Public contracts

70 contracts

ESSITY UK LIMITED is named as a supplier in 70 public contract award notices from 45 public sector buyers since 2015. The 24 contracts awarded to it alone with a published value add up to £119.5m. 45 awards are shared with other suppliers and not counted in that total.

Contracts per year
Main buyers45
NHS Supply Chain
9 contracts
East Riding of Yorkshire Council
7 contracts · £1.4m
ESPO
4 contracts · £14.4m
East Riding of Yorkshire
3 contracts · £120k
YPO
3 contracts
Contracts
  1. Continence Products and Home Delivery‡Camrbridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust · £13,805,136 · runs until Jul 2029
  2. Advanced Wound Care & Lymphoedema Products and Services‡Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust · £150,000 · runs until Jun 2027
  3. Surgical Dressings‡Belfast Health & Social Care Trust · £1,063,011 · runs until Oct 2030
  4. Dressings‡The Common Services Agency (more commonly known as Public Services Delivery Scotland ) (P… · shared by 14 suppliers, up to £56,350,000 in total · 14 lots
  5. Anti-Embolism Stockings, Lymphoedema Products, Compression Devices & Accessories‡The Common Services Agency (more commonly known as NHS National Services Scotland) (NSS) · shared by 12 suppliers, up to £37,440,000 in total · 6 lots
Show 65 more
  1. Wound Closure‡Supply Chain Coordination Limited · shared by 39 suppliers, up to £286,000,000 in total
  2. Provision of a Community Adult Bladder and Bowel Service (Continence Delivery and Supply)County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust · £4,318,828 · runs until Aug 2027
  3. Water Hygiene Safety Planned Maintenance‡London Borough of Haringey · shared by 8 suppliers, up to £8,000,000 in total
  4. HCC Jan 2025 - The Provision of a Framework Agreement for the Supply of Generic and Branded Cleaning Chemicals, Wipes, Soaps and Sanitisers - AWARD‡Hertfordshire County Council - Resources · shared by 12 suppliers · runs until Aug 2029
  5. Podiatry Orthoses Consumables [5820615]‡Business Services Organisation, Procurement and Logistics Service on behalf of Health and… · shared by 11 suppliers, up to £336,682 in total
  6. For the Provision of a Continence Home delivery Service to RDash NHS FTRotherham Doncaster and South Humber NHS Foundation Trust · £1,873,045 · runs until May 2027
  7. Lymphoedema hosieryUNIVERSITY HOSPITALS OF DERBY AND BURTON NHS FOUNDATION TRUST · £24,000
  8. Continence Goods and Services 2024‡HealthTrust Europe LLP (HTE) acting on behalf of Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust… · shared by 9 suppliers, up to £60,000,000 in total · 3 lots
  9. Continence Home Delivery Service‡Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust · £5,756,406 · runs until Nov 2026
  10. Cleaning Equipment Supplies & Associated Products 2024NHS Supply Chain · shared by 59 suppliers, up to £19,157,500 in total · runs until Jun 2029
  11. Lymphoedema Compression Garments‡Lincolnshire Community Health Services NHS Trust · £122,500 · runs until Feb 2028
  12. Orthoses, Podiatry and Immobilisation 2025NHS Supply Chain · shared by 63 suppliers, up to £714,000,000 in total · runs until Mar 2027
  13. Orthoses, Podiatry and Immobilisation 2025‡Supply Chain Coordination Ltd (SCCL) · shared by 51 suppliers, up to £400,000,000 in total
  14. Rationalisation of Hand Hygiene Products to single supply‡East Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Trust · £60,000 · runs until Sep 2027
  15. YPO 1224 - Soaps and Sanitisers‡YPO · shared by 2 suppliers, up to £1,100,000 in total
  16. Paper Hygiene and Toilet Tissue‡East Riding of Yorkshire Council · £1,100,000
  17. Solent NHS Trust Continence Product Home Delivery Service‡Solent NHS Trust · £1,851,091
  18. 187_24 Paper Hygiene Consumables and DispensersESPO · £14,400,000
  19. Paper Hygiene Products 2023NHS Supply Chain · shared by 17 suppliers, up to £27,000,000 in total
  20. Paper Hygiene Products 2023‡NHS Supply Chain operated by North of England Commercial Procurement Collaborative (who a… · £34,397,393 · 8 lots
  21. Provision of Acute and Community Health and Social Care Equipment Products and Services.Cambridgeshire Community Services - NHS Trust · £282,834
  22. Continence Products & Home Delivery Service‡Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Foundation Trust · £1,845,588
  23. Disposable Paperware [4893873]‡Procurement and Logistics Service · £23,026,807 · 2 lots
  24. Paper Towels‡Leeds Teaching Hopsitals NHS Trust · £600,000
  25. SBRI: Industrial Fuel Switching Phase 2: Demonstration ProjectsBEIS · shared by 12 suppliers, up to £52,491,766 in total
  26. Toilet Tissues‡East Riding of Yorkshire Council · £175,000
  27. YPO - 001137 Paper Hygiene and Associated Dispensers‡YPO · shared by 3 suppliers, up to £5,000,000 in total · runs until Jan 2027
  28. YPO - 001137 Paper Hygiene and Associated DispensersYorkshire Purchasing Organisation · shared by 3 suppliers, up to £7,500,000 in total
  29. 23_23 Cleaning Chemicals and Hand SoapsESPO · shared by 7 suppliers, up to £1,710,244 in total
  30. PPE Mini Competition Hand Hygiene‡Supply Chain Coordination Limited · shared by 21 suppliers, up to £139,077,481 in total · 4 lots
  31. Hand Hygiene Products [4016092]‡Procurement and Logistics Service · shared by 6 suppliers, up to £1,368,188 in total
  32. 2264-22 Supply of Toilet Tissues, Dispensers and Liquid Soaps‡East Riding of Yorkshire · shared by 4 suppliers, up to £168,000 in total
  33. Framework for beds, mattresses and wheelchairs both services and products, continence home delivery services plus managed services for all lots.‡NHS Shared Business Services Ltd (NHS SBS) · £591,837 · 3 lots
  34. Supply of Washroom Paper – Y21030‡Kent County Council (t/a KCS)
  35. HCC 01/21 - The Supply of Washroom Paper Disposables and Dispensers for Hertfordshire County Council - AWARD‡HCC - Resources · shared by 8 suppliers, up to £9,300,000 in total
  36. HCC 01/21 - The Supply of Washroom Paper Disposables and Dispensers for Hertfordshire County Council‡Hertfordshire County Council · shared by 4 suppliers, up to £9,300,000 in total
  37. Cleaning Equipment Supplies & Associated ProductsNorth of England Commercial Procurement Collaborative (NOE CPC) · shared by 38 suppliers, up to £71,180,000 in total · 2 lots
  38. Disposable and Washable Continence Care and Associated Products‡NHS Supply Chain Coordination · shared by 14 suppliers, up to £395,225,000 in total
  39. MegaLabs - CENTREFEED DUNS TOWELS‡Department of Health and Social Care (T&T) · £11,931
  40. 1033-21 Paper Hygiene Products‡East Riding of Yorkshire Council · shared by 2 suppliers, up to £174,000 in total
  41. 2264-21 Toilet Tissues and Liquid Soaps‡East Riding of Yorkshire Council · shared by 3 suppliers, up to £165,000 in total
  42. Framework Agreement for the Bulk Supply of Continence Products‡HealthTrust Europe LLP (HTE) acting as agent for the University Hospitals of Coventry and… · shared by 5 suppliers, up to £3,000,000 in total
  43. Framework Agreement for the Bulk Supply of Continence Products‡HealthTrust Europe LLP (HTE) · shared by 5 suppliers, up to £3,000,000 in total
  44. HCC 10/19 - Framework Agreement for the Supply of Cleaning Chemicals, Soaps and Sanitisers - AWARD‡Supply Hertfordshire · shared by 7 suppliers, up to £1,157,000 in total
  45. 2261-19 Cleaning Chemicals and Hardware Products‡East Riding of Yorkshire · shared by 22 suppliers, up to £530,000 in total
  46. 2264-20 Toilet Tissue and Dispensers‡East Riding of Yorkshire · £120,000
  47. 1033-20 Paper Hygiene & Liquid Soap Products‡East Riding of Yorkshire Council · shared by 4 suppliers, up to £157,500 in total
  48. Provision of Continence Containment Products and a fully Managed Home Delivery Service‡Midlands Partnership Foundation Trust · £7,300,000
  49. Urology, Bowel and Faecal Management‡NHS SUPPLY CHAIN · shared by 49 suppliers, up to £82,680,000 in total
  50. 187_20 - Paper Hygiene Consumables and Dispensers‡ESPO · shared by 3 suppliers, up to £10,400,000 in total
  51. YPO - 000816 Soaps and Sanitisers‡YPO · shared by 8 suppliers, up to £1,500,000 in total
  52. 1033-18 Paper Hygiene Products‡East Riding of Yorkshire Council · shared by 5 suppliers, up to £135,000 in total
  53. 2264-18 Toilet Tissue and Dispensers‡East Riding of Yorkshire Council · £120,000
  54. 23_19 - Supply of Cleaning Chemicals‡ESPO · shared by 12 suppliers, up to £7,200,000 in total
  55. The Supply of Paper Hygiene and Associated DispensersYorkshire Purchasing Organisation · shared by 3 suppliers, up to £9,500,000 in total
  56. Provision of Continence Products and Services‡United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust · £6,500,000
  57. Basic Fixation Pants V2‡NHS SUPPLY CHAIN · shared by 4 suppliers, up to £8,000,000 in total
  58. Disposable and Washable Continence Care and Associated Products‡NHS SUPPLY CHAIN · shared by 13 suppliers
  59. Skin Cleansing Disinfection and Care‡NHS SUPPLY CHAIN · shared by 27 suppliers, up to £229,000,000 in total
  60. Clinical Cleaning and Hygiene Associated Products‡HEALTHTRUST EUROPE · shared by 20 suppliers
  61. Paper Hygiene Products‡NHS SUPPLY CHAIN · shared by 9 suppliers, up to £139,791,000 in total
  62. HCC Dec 2015 - The Supply of Generic Washroom Paper Disposables - AWARD‡any of the projects listed on the portal · shared by 4 suppliers
  63. Urology Bowel and Faecal Management products‡NHS SUPPLY CHAIN · shared by 39 suppliers, up to £86,600,000 in total
  64. HCC Nov 2015 - The Supply of Washroom Paper Disposables and Dispensers - AWARD‡any of the projects listed on the portal · shared by 2 suppliers
  65. Continence Products Home Delivery Service Framework Agreement‡EAST OF ENGLAND NHS COLLABORATIVE PROCUREMENT HUB · shared by 5 suppliers

From contract award notices on Contracts Finder (since 2016) and Find a Tender (since 2021), published by the Cabinet Office under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Values are as published by the buyer and usually cover the whole contract term; the total leaves out awards shared between several suppliers, where the published figure is a ceiling for all of them, placeholder values and single figures of £1 billion or more. Notices marked ‡ do not state a company number and were linked by an exact match on the registered name. Contracts below the publication thresholds and those of devolved buyers that publish elsewhere are not included.

Government grants

3 grants

ESSITY UK LIMITED is recorded as the recipient of 3 central government grants since 2020, together worth £155.1k.

Grants
  1. Apprenticeships Participation 16 - 18Department for Education · £136,638
  2. Apprenticeships Participation 16 - 18Department for Education · £5,000
  3. Apprenticeships Participation 18+Department for Education · £13,500

From the Government Grants Register published by the Cabinet Office (financial years 2016/17 onwards, Open Government Licence v3.0). It covers grants from central government departments and their agencies where the register states the recipient's company number and the recipient name matches this company; grants from local authorities, lottery distributors and devolved governments are not included.

Statutory reporting

Payment practices1 Jan 2026 – 30 Jun 2026
Average time taken to pay invoices
45 days
Invoices not paid within agreed terms
19%
Standard payment terms
7–90 days
Member of a payment code
No
  • Within 30 days 43%
  • 31 to 60 days 35%
  • After 60 days 22%
Earlier periods (7)
Period ending
Days to pay
Within 30 days
Late
31 Dec 2025
47
43%
18%
30 Jun 2025
39
37%
7%
31 Dec 2024
39
49%
71%
30 Jun 2024
51
36%
62%
31 Dec 2023
43
39%
51%
30 Jun 2023
45
37%
52%
31 Dec 2022
45
35%
50%

View the latest report on GOV.UK

Gender pay gap2026/27
Median hourly pay
women 19.6% higher
Mean hourly pay
women 19% higher
Median bonus pay
women 73.3% higher
Employer size
1000 to 4999 employees
Lower pay quarter20.3% womenLower middle21.7% womenUpper middle23.1% womenUpper pay quarter41.8% women
Earlier years (9)
Year
Median hourly pay
Mean hourly pay
2025/26
women 19.7% higher
women 18.7% higher
2024/25
women 19.9% higher
women 18.7% higher
2023/24
women 17.7% higher
women 11.2% higher
2022/23
women 20.7% higher
women 13.8% higher
2021/22
women 9.2% higher
women 4.9% higher
2020/21
women 87.9% higher
women 9.5% higher
2019/20
women 12.3% higher
women 16.7% higher
2018/19
women 12% higher
women 8.9% higher
2017/18
women 6.6% higher
women 9.2% higher

A positive gap means women's average hourly pay is lower than men's across the whole employer; it is not a comparison of pay for the same work. View on the Gender pay gap service

Modern slavery statements6
2026
Statement · summary on GOV.UK · group statement
2025
Statement · summary on GOV.UK · group statement
2024
Statement · summary on GOV.UK · group statement
Earlier years (3)
2023
Statement · summary on GOV.UK · group statement
2022
Statement · summary on GOV.UK · group statement
2021
Statement · summary on GOV.UK · group statement

Figures the company reported itself to the government's Check payment practices service, Gender pay gap service and Modern slavery statement registry (Open Government Licence v3.0). Only large companies and employers with 250 or more staff have to report, so most companies have nothing here.

Registers and licences

Sponsor licence‡
Licence type and rating
Worker (A rating)
Routes
Global Business Mobility: Senior or Specialist Worker, Skilled Worker

On the Home Office register of licensed sponsors, which lists organisations licensed to sponsor workers from overseas.

International trade‡

Listed by HMRC as an importer of goods in 12 of the last 12 months on record, most recently August 2026. Main goods: miscellaneous manufactures, optical, medical and measuring instruments, furniture and lighting, electrical equipment and coated textiles.

Listed by HMRC as an exporter of goods in 12 of the last 12 months on record, most recently August 2026. Main goods: perfumery and cosmetics, soaps and waxes, plastics, wood and wood pulp.

From HMRC's monthly lists of importers and exporters. Traders can ask to be left off the lists, so absence does not mean a company does not trade.

Sources: Charity Commission for England and Wales, Care Quality Commission, Home Office and HM Revenue & Customs, under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Entries marked ‡ come from lists that do not state a company number and were linked by an exact match on the registered name.

History

9 events
  1. Financial year 2025 endedAccounts: turnover £875.3m, net assets £355.8m, 1,616 employees
  2. Financial year 2024 endedAccounts: turnover £899.1m, net assets £385.2m, 1,451 employees
  3. Essity Holding Uk Limited registered as a person with significant control
  4. Mr Kevin John Starr ceased to be a person with significant control
  5. Name changed to ESSITY UK LIMITEDPreviously SCA HYGIENE PRODUCTS UK LIMITED
  6. Mr Kevin John Starr registered as a person with significant control
  7. Mr Nils Petter Lindhoilm ceased to be a person with significant control
  8. Mr Nils Petter Lindhoilm registered as a person with significant control
Earlier events (1)
  1. Company incorporatedPrivate limited company

Dates as recorded at Companies House: incorporation, name changes, officer appointments and resignations, current and former persons with significant control, and the end of each financial year with figures in the database.