List of companies of the United Kingdom K–Z explained

See also: List of companies of the United Kingdom A–J. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK or U.K.) or Britain, is a sovereign country located off the northwestern coast of the European mainland. It includes the island of Great Britain, the northeastern part of the island of Ireland, and many smaller islands. The United Kingdom consists of four constituent countries: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The United Kingdom is a highly developed country with a market-orientated economy and is a member of the Group of 7 (formerly G8) leading industrialised countries.[1] [2] It is the sixth-largest national economy in the world measured by nominal gross domestic product (GDP),[3] ninth-largest by purchasing power parity (PPP)[4] and twenty first-largest by GDP per capita.[5] In 2017, the UK was the eleventh-largest goods exporter in the world[6] and the eighth-largest goods importer.[7] It also had the second-largest inward foreign direct investment,[8] and the third-largest outward foreign direct investment.[9] The UK left the European Union in 2019, but it remains the UK's largest trading partner.[10] [11] In 2019, the UK had a labour force of 34,280,575 people[12] and, as of 2018, an employment rate of 78.7%.[13]

The service sector contributes around 80% of GDP[14] with the financial services industry being significant, with London as the second-largest financial centre in the world.[15] Britain's aerospace industry is the second-largest national aerospace industry.[16] Its pharmaceutical industry is the tenth-largest in the world.[17] Of the world's 500 largest companies, 26 are headquartered in the UK.[18] The economy is boosted by North Sea oil and gas production; its reserves were estimated at 2.8 billion barrels in 2016,[19] although it has been a net importer of oil since 2005.[20] The size of London's economy makes it the largest city by GDP in Europe.[21]

In the 18th century the UK was the first country to industrialise,[22] [23] and during the 19th century it had a dominant role in the global economy,[24] accounting for 9.1% of the world's GDP in 1870.[25] The Second Industrial Revolution was also taking place rapidly in the United States and the German Empire; this presented an increasing economic challenge for the UK. The costs of fighting World War I and World War II further weakened the UK's relative position. In the 21st century, the UK has faced the challenges of the 2008 banking collapse and the 2020 coronavirus pandemic.[26] [27] [28] [29]

Largest companies

This list shows the UK companies in the Fortune Global 500, which ranks firms by total revenues reported as of September 2019. Only the top five firms are included as a sample.[30]

RankImageName2018 revenues (USD $M)EmployeesNotes
3Royal Dutch Shell$396,50081,000British multinational oil, gas, and renewable energy company including exploration, production, refining, transport, distribution and marketing, petrochemicals, power generation, trading, biofuels, wind power, energy-kite, and hydrogen power. It was established in 1907, and is headquartered in London, and incorporated in the UK. Formerly known as Royal Dutch Petroleum Co, and The Shell Transport and Trading Company of the United Kingdom, it has 12 subsidiaries.
7BP$303,73873,000British multinational oil, gas, and renewable energy company including exploration and production, refining, distribution and marketing, petrochemicals, power generation and trading, biofuels, wind power and solar technology. It was established in 1909, and is headquartered in London. Formerly known as Anglo-Persian Oil Company, Anglo-Iranian Oil Company, and BP Amaco plc, its subsidiaries include Amaco, and Castrol.
99HSBC Holdings$86,131235,200British multinational investment bank and financial services holding company. It was first established in 1865 in British Hong Kong, but is now headquartered in London. Former names include The Hong Kong and Shanghei Bank, and The Hong Kong and Shanghei Banking Corporation. As of 2019 it has 12 subsidiaries.
103Tesco$84,270450,000British multinational grocery and general merchandise retailer, petrol retailer, software provider, financial services provider, and telecoms and internet services provider. It was first established in 1919 in Hackney, London, first named Tesco in 1924, and is now headquartered in Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire.
167Unilever$60,167154,800British multinational consumer goods company with more than 400 brands including food and beverages, cleaning agents, beauty products, and personal care products. Established in 1929 by the merger of Margarine Unie and Lever Brothers, it is headquartered in London, UK.

Notable companies

This is a list of companies of the United Kingdom as well as those first established in the United Kingdom that are no longer British owned, and also including defunct UK companies. Only companies with articles in Wikipedia are included.

K

L

M

N

O

P

Q

R

S

T

U

V

W

X

Y

Z

Notes and References

  1. Web site: World Economic Outlook Database, April 2019 . . IMF.org . 29 September 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190617091701/https://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2019/01/weodata/weoselco.aspx?g=110&sg=All+countries+%2f+Advanced+economies . 17 June 2019 . live .
  2. Web site: Privatisation Revisited. Nigel. Hawkins. Adam Smith Institute. 2020-04-27 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181202131708/https://static1.squarespace.com/static/56eddde762cd9413e151ac92/t/57162b8d37013b05a0372d7e/1461070738199/privatization-revisited%281%29.pdf . 2018-12-02 . live .
  3. Web site: Report for Selected Countries and Subjects. www.imf.org. 2020-04-27. https://web.archive.org/web/20200423173324/https://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2019/02/weodata/weorept.aspx?pr.x=57&pr.y=17&sy=2019&ey=2019&scsm=1&ssd=1&sort=country&ds=.&br=1&c=512%2C668%2C914%2C672%2C612%2C946%2C614%2C137%2C311%2C546%2C213%2C674%2C911%2C676%2C314%2C548%2C193%2C556%2C122%2C678%2C912%2C181%2C313%2C867%2C419%2C682%2C513%2C684%2C316%2C273%2C913%2C868%2C124%2C921%2C339%2C948%2C638%2C943%2C514%2C686%2C218%2C688%2C963%2C518%2C616%2C728%2C223%2C836%2C516%2C558%2C918%2C138%2C748%2C196%2C618%2C278%2C624%2C692%2C522%2C694%2C622%2C962%2C156%2C142%2C626%2C449%2C628%2C564%2C228%2C565%2C924%2C283%2C233%2C853%2C632%2C288%2C636%2C293%2C634%2C566%2C238%2C964%2C662%2C182%2C960%2C359%2C423%2C453%2C935%2C968%2C128%2C922%2C611%2C714%2C321%2C862%2C243%2C135%2C248%2C716%2C469%2C456%2C253%2C722%2C642%2C942%2C643%2C718%2C939%2C724%2C734%2C576%2C644%2C936%2C819%2C961%2C172%2C813%2C132%2C726%2C646%2C199%2C648%2C733%2C915%2C184%2C134%2C524%2C652%2C361%2C174%2C362%2C328%2C364%2C258%2C732%2C656%2C366%2C654%2C144%2C336%2C146%2C263%2C463%2C268%2C528%2C532%2C923%2C944%2C738%2C176%2C578%2C534%2C537%2C536%2C742%2C429%2C866%2C433%2C369%2C178%2C744%2C436%2C186%2C136%2C925%2C343%2C869%2C158%2C746%2C439%2C926%2C916%2C466%2C664%2C112%2C826%2C111%2C542%2C298%2C967%2C927%2C443%2C846%2C917%2C299%2C544%2C582%2C941%2C474%2C446%2C754%2C666%2C698&s=NGDPD&grp=0&a=. 2020-04-23. live.
  4. Web site: Global Economy Watch – Projections. PwC. 2020-04-27. https://web.archive.org/web/20190924205649/https://www.pwc.com/gx/en/issues/economy/global-economy-watch/projections.html. 2019-09-24. live.
  5. Web site: Report for Selected Countries and Subjects. www.imf.org. 2020-04-27. https://web.archive.org/web/20200216215748/https://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2019/02/weodata/weorept.aspx?pr.x=50&pr.y=11&sy=2019&ey=2019&scsm=1&ssd=1&sort=country&ds=.&br=1&c=512%2C668%2C914%2C672%2C612%2C946%2C614%2C137%2C311%2C546%2C213%2C674%2C911%2C676%2C314%2C548%2C193%2C556%2C122%2C678%2C912%2C181%2C313%2C867%2C419%2C682%2C513%2C684%2C316%2C273%2C913%2C868%2C124%2C921%2C339%2C948%2C638%2C943%2C514%2C686%2C218%2C688%2C963%2C518%2C616%2C728%2C223%2C836%2C516%2C558%2C918%2C138%2C748%2C196%2C618%2C278%2C624%2C692%2C522%2C694%2C622%2C962%2C156%2C142%2C626%2C449%2C628%2C564%2C228%2C565%2C924%2C283%2C233%2C853%2C632%2C288%2C636%2C293%2C634%2C566%2C238%2C964%2C662%2C182%2C960%2C359%2C423%2C453%2C935%2C968%2C128%2C922%2C611%2C714%2C321%2C862%2C243%2C135%2C248%2C716%2C469%2C456%2C253%2C722%2C642%2C942%2C643%2C718%2C939%2C724%2C734%2C576%2C644%2C936%2C819%2C961%2C172%2C813%2C132%2C726%2C646%2C199%2C648%2C733%2C915%2C184%2C134%2C524%2C652%2C361%2C174%2C362%2C328%2C364%2C258%2C732%2C656%2C366%2C654%2C144%2C336%2C146%2C263%2C463%2C268%2C528%2C532%2C923%2C944%2C738%2C176%2C578%2C534%2C537%2C536%2C742%2C429%2C866%2C433%2C369%2C178%2C744%2C436%2C186%2C136%2C925%2C343%2C869%2C158%2C746%2C439%2C926%2C916%2C466%2C664%2C112%2C826%2C111%2C542%2C298%2C967%2C927%2C443%2C846%2C917%2C299%2C544%2C582%2C941%2C474%2C446%2C754%2C666%2C698&s=NGDPDPC&grp=0&a=. 2020-02-16. live.
  6. Web site: The World Factbook — Central Intelligence Agency. www.cia.gov. 2020-04-27. https://web.archive.org/web/20081004073036/https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook//rankorder/2078rank.html. 2008-10-04. dead.
  7. Web site: The World Factbook — Central Intelligence Agency. www.cia.gov. 2020-04-27. https://web.archive.org/web/20081004070323/https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook//rankorder/2087rank.html. 2008-10-04. dead.
  8. Web site: The World Factbook — Central Intelligence Agency. www.cia.gov. 2020-04-27. https://web.archive.org/web/20170429221140/https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2198rank.html. 2017-04-29. dead.
  9. Web site: Country Comparison: Stock of direct foreign investment – abroad. CIA. 9 May 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110524225531/https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2199rank.html. 24 May 2011. dead.
  10. News: UK leaves the European Union. BBC News . February 1, 2020. April 27, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200209115541/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-51333314. February 9, 2020. live.
  11. Web site: Statistics on UK-EU trade. Matthew. Ward. December 16, 2019. commonslibrary.parliament.uk. April 27, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200424073252/https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-7851/. April 24, 2020. live.
  12. Web site: Labor force, total – United Kingdom . data.worldbank.org . World Bank . 13 January 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200113181659/https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SL.TLF.TOTL.IN%3Flocations%3DGB . 13 January 2020 . live .
  13. Web site: Employment rate by sex, age group 20–64 . ec.europa.eu/eurostat . Eurostat . 13 January 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190813172032/https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/tgm/table.do?tab=table&init=1&language=en&pcode=t2020_10&plugin=1 . 13 August 2019 . live .
  14. Web site: Components of GDP: Key Economic Indicators. 9 June 2017. 25 June 2017. House of Commons Library. UK Parliament. Lorna. Booth.
  15. News: New York stretches lead over London as the world's top financial center, survey shows. 19 September 2019. David. Reid. CNBC. 27 April 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20191206134338/https://www.cnbc.com/2019/09/19/new-york-beats-london-again-as-the-worlds-top-financial-center.html. 6 December 2019. live.
  16. Web site: Facts and Figures 2017. 25 June 2017. 12 June 2017. Laura. Wipfer. ADS Group. https://web.archive.org/web/20181125073848/https://www.adsgroup.org.uk/facts/facts-figures-2017/. 25 November 2018. live.
  17. News: Pharmaceutical industry drives British research and innovation. The Guardian. Angela. Monaghan. 22 April 2014. 25 June 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170824005857/https://www.theguardian.com/business/2014/apr/22/pharmaceutical-uk-research-and-development-employment. 24 August 2017. live.
  18. Web site: The Fortune 2016 Global 500 . Fortune. 18 October 2016. Number of companies data taken from the "Country" box for Britain and Britain/Netherlands.
  19. Web site: CRUDE OIL – PROVED RESERVES. The World Factbook. CIA. 25 June 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20191004021428/https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2244rank.html#uk. 4 October 2019. dead.
  20. Web site: Crude oil and petroleum: production, imports and exports 1890 to 2015. Gov.uk. 25 August 2016. 18 October 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160922230026/https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/crude-oil-and-petroleum-production-imports-and-exports-1890-to-2011. 2016-09-22. live.
  21. Web site: London – Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs. European Commission. 2020-04-27. https://web.archive.org/web/20180630000203/https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/regional-innovation-monitor/base-profile/london. 2018-06-30. live.
  22. Book: Western Civilization: Ideas, Politics, and Society. Marvin. Perry. Margaret C.. Jacob. Myrna. Chase. James R.. Jacob. Boston. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 2009. 9th. 503. 978-0-547-14701-7. 2020-04-27. https://web.archive.org/web/20160509031517/https://books.google.com/books?id=kKGgoNo4un0C&lpg=PP1&pg=PA503. 2016-05-09. live.
  23. Web site: Productivity Growth In The Industrial Revolution . 8 February 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20081011144451/http://www.frbsf.org/economics/conferences/0211/crafts.pdf . 11 October 2008 . live .
  24. Book: Ferguson, Niall. 2004. Empire, The rise and demise of the British world order and the lessons for global power. registration. Basic Books. 0-465-02328-2.
  25. Book: Maddison, Angus. The World Economy. 2006. Development Centre of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. 978-92-64-02261-4. 263. 2020-04-27. https://web.archive.org/web/20170127031109/https://books.google.com/books?id=3NKSC0cgNroC. 2017-01-27. live.
  26. Web site: Reality check: how much did the banking crisis cost taxpayers?. Polly. Curtis. September 12, 2011. The Guardian. April 27, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200413222911/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/reality-check-with-polly-curtis/2011/sep/12/reality-check-banking-bailout. April 13, 2020. live.
  27. News: Virus will have 'significant impact' on economy. BBC News . 2020-04-27. https://web.archive.org/web/20200416110204/https://www.bbc.com/news/av/uk-politics-52282814/coronavirus-will-have-significant-impact-on-economy. 2020-04-16. live.
  28. Web site: A Regional Perspective on the Knowledge Economy in Great Britain . 8 February 2014 . dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20130921054412/http://www.bis.gov.uk/files/file11034.pdf . 21 September 2013 .
  29. Web site: Bolshaw . Liz . The future of work is the knowledge economy . FT.com . 29 February 2012 . 1 February 2013.
  30. Web site: Global 500. Fortune. 30 March 2020.
  31. Web site: One Horizon Group - Products, Competitors, Financials, Employees, Headquarters Locations . 2024-06-21 . www.cbinsights.com.
  32. Web site: Feedinfo - Pathway Intermediates Breaks Down The ‘Why’ Behind New US Business Unit & Upcoming Addition to Flagship Range – INDUSTRY PERSPECTIVES . 2024-07-26 . www.feedinfo.com.