With millions of companies active in the UK, identifying those working in a specific sector is crucial for making informed decisions. The keyword search function allows you to quickly navigate our dataset of company descriptions.

We have descriptions for over a million companies on their Beauhurst profiles:

Each of these descriptions can be searched over from Advanced Search under 'What the company does' -> 'Description.'

⭐ Tip: If you are running a market mapping activity, and want to ensure you are covering as much ground as possible, you might want to follow the steps below. This type of search will ensure you’re not missing out on any potential opportunities.

There are 6 different options you can pick from when running a description search:

Contains any of these words (near match) - this option is best for when you want to search for a string of different words within a description, and you would also like to see if there are any descriptions with words that closely match these words.

You do not need to add any commas, simply list the words one after the other!

Contains any of these words (exact match) - similar to the first option, this is used when you want to search for descriptions with a string of very specific words (this is usually good if you find that the 'near match' search has not brought up very close matches).

Contains all of these words (near match) - this search will look for company descriptions which contain all of the words you input, and is particularly useful for looking for areas of overlap within or between industries. For example, you might want to search for a company that exists in the solar and wind energy industries, rather than those that fit into one or the other:

Again, this search will also look for words that are similar to both solar and wind, and so is useful when searching for any synonyms.

Contains all of these words (exact match) - this search is similar to the previous option, the only difference being that this will only search over the exact words you have selected, rather than looking for synonyms as well. This is useful when you want to find something particularly niche, and don't want to search for anything slightly different.

Contains none of these words - this search will allow you to exclude words from a description, and is best used when you are looking for something specific (either using an industry / buzzword search, or another description search), but you also want to ensure it doesn't bring up certain other companies. For example, you might want to find companies in the green energy space, but you don't want any companies that work with nuclear energy:

Contains exactly this phrase - this search allows you to look up descriptions that contain a particular phrase e.g. nuclear power plant. This is perfect for when you need that exact phrase, with the words in that order, but it does mean it will often be quite a limited search. If you find you are not seeing enough results, we suggest trying 'contains all of these words (exact match)' as this often finds very similar companies, that just might use slightly different phrasing. Alternatively, you can try changing up the phrase to something similar, and see if that makes a difference.

Video guide for ‘any’ search:

Video guide for ‘all’ search:

Here’s how keyword search can revolutionise the way you discover, compare, and evaluate companies based on their descriptions:
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🔎 Efficient Discovery: Traditional methods of company research might involve manually sifting through vast amounts of information. Keyword search streamlines this process by swiftly presenting companies that share specific characteristics or attributes, saving you valuable time.

📌 Precise Filtering: The ability to input specific keywords allows you to filter through a large database of companies and narrow down your search to those that closely align with your interests.
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This precision reduces the risk of missing out on potential opportunities. The keyword search will be particularly helpful when you’re targeting niche industries that do not fit within one of our sector classifications or SIC codes.

👬 Insightful Comparisons: With a keyword search, you can easily compare companies that share similar descriptions. This enables you to identify trends, patterns, and industry standards, leading to better-informed decisions.

⚖️ Holistic Analysis: By examining descriptions from various sources, such as curated content, company websites, and official filings, you gain a more comprehensive understanding of a company's identity, objectives, and operations.

🧐 Efficient Due Diligence: When conducting due diligence, keyword searching helps you quickly identify key details from various sources, such as company descriptions, websites, and filings. This saves time and aids in making well-informed decisions.

If you have any further questions or need assistance, your support team is always here to help. Happy researching!