The United Kingdom is Europe’s largest tech hub, drawing investments and talented employees from neighboring countries and beyond. Over the years, the sector has grown its market value to over $1 trillion and has seen the expansion of many tech companies. Below are some of the largest ones to know.
Largest Companies in the UK to Know
- BP
- AstraZeneca
- Unilever
- HSBC
- Shell
- Smartly
- Samsara
UK’s Largest Companies
British Petroleum, or BP, is one of the largest oil and gas companies in the world. It employs over 87,000 workers across multiple countries and is involved in all aspects of oil production from collection to refining. BP is also invested in renewable energy, operates offshore wind farms and has installed tens of thousands of electric vehicle, or EV, chargers.
Auto Trader is an online vehicle marketplace and advertising platform. Founded in the 1970s, it shifted to digital operation in the early 2000s and now maintains two offices in the United Kingdom. Through Auto Trader’s digital platform, customers can shop for new and used vehicles, sell their automobiles and read reviews. Meanwhile, dealerships can use Auto Trader to advertise their inventory to potential buyers.
Cencora partners with healthcare providers and pharmaceutical companies to facilitate access to therapies that people and animals need. The company is headquartered in Pennsylvania and powers patient-centered care in over 50 countries with its end-to-end pharmaceutical commercialization solutions portfolio.
Magna International is an mobility tech innovator and automotive supplier that aims to make vehicles safer. Its workforce is spread across 29 countries and employs more than 170,000 people. The company develops concepts, systems and technologies.
AstraZeneca is a British and Swedish pharmaceutical company headquartered in Cambridge. The company was one of the first to develop a Covid-19 vaccine. It also develops treatments for rare diseases and other respiratory illnesses.
Shell is a British oil company employing over 90,000 workers in various tech and non-tech fields. The company produces oil from the North Sea and supplies a major percentage of all gas in the U.K. Shell also adheres to strict environmental guidelines and operates carbon capture facilities, EV chargers and wind farms.
Aveva develops software for the industrial sectors and works with over 20,000 clients. Between its digital products and industrial cloud platform, Aveva can streamline operations and improve collaboration between suppliers and customers. Aveva has several decades of experience working with oil, energy and manufacturing companies and employs over 6,400 employees.
With its Connected Operations Cloud and other IoT products, Samsara aims to modernize transportation and warehousing to make it safer. Its products collect data from sensors, vehicles and heavy machinery, and use it to help clients create strategic workflows and optimize their operations. Samsara is a United States-based company that operates an office in London and other global cities.
NBCUniversal has over 1,300 employees in the United Kingdom as a leading entertainment and media company. It aims to continuously develop the way TV shows and movies are delivered to audiences. The company’s portfolio includes sports programming, broadcast news, streaming and network television comedies and dramas.
Klaviyo uses data science tools, machine learning and generative AI to build their client companies’ automated marketing campaigns. It aims to help users engage their consumers through personalized messaging. In 2019, the company opened its first international office in London.
Unilever manufactures food and consumer goods for its popular brands, such as Dove, Ben & Jerry’s and Persil. Although it has global operations, Unilever is headquartered in London and employs people in various fields, including software engineering and marketing.
Vodafone is a telecommunications company headquartered in London. Vodafone provides 5G and broadband services to phones and IoT devices through fiber optics and network towers. The company has a storied history in the U.K. and claims to be the first regional company to send an SMS message in Britain. Today the company employs over 100,000 workers and contractors.
HSBC is a financial institution covering over 60 countries and territories. It is primarily known for providing banking services, loans, insurance and investment products. It also supports corporate customers with specialized services.
The Kraft Heinz Company is known globally for iconic products like Heinz Ketchup and Kraft Mac & Cheese. As one of the largest food and beverage companies in the world, Kraft Heinz’s offerings include popular U.K. food items, such as HP Sauce, Heinz Curry Sauce and Heinz Salad Cream. Its U.K. headquarters is based in London. The company relies heavily on technology to support its global operations, from manufacturing to marketing.
Smartly is an AI social media advertising platform that works with brands like Uber and Spotify. Its platform automates idea and content generation and then leverages data to optimize advertising spend on social media channels like Meta, TikTok and Snapchat. By having a unified automation platform, the company aims to optimize marketing campaigns and provide real-time visibility on its efforts.
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