A critical engine of growth for the future of the UK, the Technology sector attracts all British attention. Spanning various sub-sectors this curated list of the 20 British tech leaders in offers a panoramic view of the technology sector’s diversity and potential in the UK.
Navigating through the fast-paced and ever-evolving realm of technology requires a guide to the key players shaping its landscape. Though not quite as successful as the leading American tech companies, British tech companies do provide innovative products and services, notably in software development, IT services, and electronic components to a large number of customers in the UK and abroad.
This in-depth exploration of the top 20 Technology companies in the UK provides crucial insights for investors, technologists, and the curious minds aiming to understand the powerhouses behind the technological advancements in the region.
Key insights from the list of Top 20 UK Tech Companies in January 2023
Industry Diversity and Innovation
Software Development: Companies like The Sage Group and AVEVA Group plc exemplify the transformative power of software, offering solutions that span enterprise management and industrial applications.
IT Services: FDM Group and Computacenter plc illustrate the extensive range and critical role of IT services, from consultation to implementation, sustaining various industries.
Electronic Components: discoverIE Group plc showcases the importance of electronic components in enabling technological solutions across multiple applications.
Market Capitalization and Growth
Top of the List: AVEVA Group plc leads the pack with a market capitalization of £9.72 B, illustrating the substantial value and impact of software solutions in the technology sector. Remark that it has been acquired by Schneider Electric in mid January 2023.
Rising Entities: On the other end, discoverIE Group plc, valued at £755.4 M, demonstrates the potential for growth and innovation within specialized segments like electronic components.
Global Influence and Expansion:
International Presence: The reach of these companies is not confined to the UK. Firms like Endava plc and Alphawave IP Group plc operate globally, underscoring the universal relevance and demand for innovative technological solutions.
Cross-sector Impact: These companies transcend their primary sectors, providing essential services and products to healthcare, finance, manufacturing, and many other industries, reflecting technology’s integral role in various facets of society.
Future of Technology
AI and Cloud Computing: Darktrace plc and AVEVA Group plc are front-runners in cutting-edge technologies like AI and cloud computing, pivotal in shaping the future trajectory of the tech industry and society at large.
Robotic Process Automation: Blue Prism Group plc is a notable entity in the burgeoning field of robotic process automation, emphasizing the ongoing shift towards automation and efficiency in operational processes.
For more information on the largest British companies, download our FTSE 350 companies Excel file containing the complete list of the 350 largest publicly listed companies in the UK (FTSE 100 + FTSE 250), together with extensive business, market, financial, and digital information on each company. For even more data on the largest UK companies, download our Excel files on the FTSE All-Share companies, FTSE AIM All-Share companies, and combined FTSE All-Share companies + FTSE AIM All-Share companies.
Check our data platform for the latest ranking of UK tech companies.
List of the top 20 largest British tech companies by market capitalization
To help you understand what companies are in the technology field in the UK, details about the twenty largest public companies that make the British tech have been listed hereafter. Each tech company is detailed with presentations of its sector, sub-industry, activities, market capitalization, a direct link to its website, logo, and stock symbol.
The top technology companies listed hereafter are ranked by market capitalization in British Pounds, as of January 1st, 2021.
For more information on other world-leading companies, check our series of posts on Top Companies, and for more information on the country, read our articles on Top Business Resources for the UK.
Shortcuts to each company
To facilitate your browsing in this long list, here are quick links to go directly to the details of any of the top 20 British tech companies.
20. discoverIE Group plc
Country: United Kingdom | Sector: Technology | Industry: Electronic Components
discoverIE Group specializes in designing, manufacturing, and supplying components for electronic applications globally. It operates through Design & Manufacturing and Custom Supply divisions, providing technically demanding, customized electronic, photonic, and medical products primarily to industrial, medical, and healthcare markets.
Company Profile | Market Cap.: £755.4 M | Stock: LSE:DSCV | discoverieplc.com
19. FDM Group (Holdings) plc
Country: United Kingdom | Sector: Technology | Industry: Information Technology Services
FDM Group is a provider of information technology services. The company recruits, trains, and places its own IT and business consultants in a variety of technical and business disciplines, including development, project management, support and operations services, and information security. It operates in the United Kingdom, Ireland, North America, Europe, and beyond.
Company Profile | Market Cap.: £834.2 M | Stock: LSE:FDM | fdmgroup.com
18. Alphawave IP Group plc
Country: United Kingdom | Sector: Technology | Industry: Semiconductors
Alphawave IP Group specializes in designing and developing digital signal processing, multi-standard wired connectivity silicon IP solutions. It offers connectivity IPs and licenses its technology to semiconductor companies and electronic equipment manufacturers.
Company Profile | Market Cap.: £858.3 M | Stock: LSE:AWE | awaveip.com
17. GB Group plc
Country: United Kingdom | Sector: Technology | Industry: Software—Application
GB Group plc is a company that provides identification data intelligence services. The firm and its subsidiaries provide fraud, identity, and location solutions to assist businesses in validating and verifying their customers’ identities and locations. It also offers fraud and compliance management systems, as well as fraud investigation and detection services, in the United Kingdom, the United States, Australia, and throughout the world.
Company Profile | Market Cap.: £862.2 M | Stock: LSE:GBG | gbgplc.com
16. Auction Technology Group plc
Country: United Kingdom | Sector: Technology | Industry: Software—Application
Auction Technology Group operates online marketplaces and a proprietary auction platform focusing on several sectors including Arts and Antiques, Industrial and Commercial, and Consumer Surplus, primarily in the UK, North America, and Germany. The company provides a platform for a wide range of items including fine art, jewellery, commercial vehicles, and used equipment across various industries.
Company Profile | Market Cap.: £951.5 M | Stock: LSE:ATG | auctiontechnologygroup.com
15. Bytes Technology Group plc
Country: United Kingdom | Sector: Technology | Industry: Software—Application
Bytes Technology Group offers a range of IT solutions including software, IT security, hardware, and cloud services internationally. The company provides various devices, licenses, training, consulting, data management, deployment, and security services, operating under Bytes Software Services and Phoenix brands, and serving professional services, manufacturing, retail, government, and technology sectors.
Company Profile | Market Cap.: £969.8 M | Stock: LSE:BYIT | bytes.co.uk
14. Ideagen plc
Country: United Kingdom | Sector: Technology | Industry: Software—Application
Ideagen provides information management software globally, specializing in governance, risk, and compliance solutions. The company offers a suite of software products including quality, product and legal compliance management, audit automation, financial disclosure checklist, and cloud-based performance and risk management software, for a variety of industries including aerospace, finance, healthcare, and manufacturing.
Company Profile | Market Cap.: £1.05 B | Stock: LSE:IDEA | ideagen.com
13. Oxford Instruments plc
Country: United Kingdom | Sector: Technology | Industry: Semiconductor Equipment & Materials
Oxford Instruments plc researches, develops, manufactures, rents, sells, and services tools and systems. It was founded in 1959 and produced the first superconducting magnets for scientific study, leading to the creation of magnetic resonance imaging for body scanning. Since then, it has grown to produce tools and instruments for a wide range of applications, including atomic force microscopy, semiconductors, renewable energy, mining, metallurgy, and forensics.
Company Profile | Market Cap.: £1.28 B | Stock: LSE:OXIG | oxinst.com
12. Blue Prism Group plc
Country: United Kingdom | Sector: Technology | Industry: Software—Infrastructure
Blue Prism Group plc is a company that licenses robotic process automation software. It provides Software-as-a-Service solutions such as a digital workforce platform, intelligent automation capabilities, and process discovery tools. Blue Prism has a significant customer base in the financial services, industrial and manufacturing, communications, media and technology, hotel, utilities, public, and health and life sciences industries.
Company Profile | Market Cap.: £1.24 B | Stock: LSE:PRSM | blueprism.com
11. Spirent Communications plc
Country: United Kingdom | Sector: Technology | Industry: Software—Infrastructure
Spirent Communications plc is a telecommunications multinational. It was founded in 1936 and provides solutions for the development of devices and equipment, as well as the operation of communication networks throughout the world. Spirent is a network and security company that also provides lifecycle service assurance and linked devices for the communication, government, financial services, healthcare, retail, and transportation industries.
Company Profile | Market Cap.: £1.68 B | Stock: LSE:SPT | corporate.spirent.com
10. Micro Focus International plc
Country: United Kingdom | Sector: Technology | Industry: Software—Infrastructure
Micro Focus International plc is an information technology and consulting firm that specializes in software products and solutions for small and medium-sized businesses. The company offers infrastructure software products for investment portfolios, application modernization and connectivity, application delivery management, IT operations management, security, information management, and governance.
Company Profile | Market Cap.: £1.80 B | Stock: LSE:MCRO | microfocus.com
9. Kainos Group plc
Country: United Kingdom | Sector: Technology | Industry: Software—Application
Kainos Group plc offers digital technology services and platforms to both public and private sector organizations. Focusing on the public, healthcare, and financial services sectors, it provides a variety of digital services and daily practice services to customers in the United Kingdom, Ireland, the United States, and internationally.
Company Profile | Market Cap.: £1.94 B | Stock: LSE:KNOS | kainos.com
8. Darktrace plc
Country: United Kingdom | Sector: Technology | Industry: Software—Infrastructure
Darktrace specializes in developing and selling cyber-threat defense solutions globally. It offers products to uncover unpredictable cyber-threats, safeguard industrial technologies, and conduct AI-driven security incident investigations. Darktrace also provides autonomous response technology delivering proactive defense to digital infrastructures.
Company Profile | Market Cap.: £2.05 B | Stock: LSE:DARK | darktrace.com
7. Computacenter plc
Country: United Kingdom | Sector: Technology | Industry: Information Technology Services
Computacenter plc is an IT infrastructure services company. It provides endpoint, cyber security, information security management, and identity and access management solutions. Computacenter also offers client computing, workplace, and mobility solutions. It has operations in the UK, Germany, France, and the United States.
Company Profile | Market Cap.: £2.22 B | Stock: LSE:CCC | computacenter.com
6. Softcat plc
Country: United Kingdom | Sector: Technology | Industry: Information Technology Services
Softcat is an IT infrastructure provider. It offers a range of services in technology implementation and management, consulting, and professional services, notably through software licensing, workplace technology, networking, security, cloud and datacenter, asset management, business intelligence, and analytics.
Company Profile | Market Cap.: £2.37 B | Stock: LSE:SCT | softcat.com
5. Renishaw plc
Country: United Kingdom | Sector: Technology | Industry: Scientific & Technical Instruments
Renishaw plc is an engineering firm that focuses on metrology and healthcare products. Well known for its coordinate-measuring equipment and machine tools, Renishaw specializes in measurement, motion control, healthcare, spectroscopy, and manufacturing. It also sells dental scanners, computer-aided design software for dentists, neurosurgical robots, and accessories.
Company Profile | Market Cap.: £2.77 B | Stock: LSE:RSW | renishaw.com
4. Spectris plc
Country: United Kingdom | Sector: Technology | Industry: Scientific & Technical Instruments
Spectris plc is a manufacturer of precision instruments and controllers. The company’s products and services help its customers to identify the structure, composition, quantity, and quality of particles and materials throughout their research and product development activities, during the pre-production evaluation of materials, or within the manufacturing process.
Company Profile | Market Cap.: £3.21 B | Stock: LSE:SXS | spectris.com
3. Endava plc
Country: United Kingdom | Sector: Technology | Industry: Software—Infrastructure
Endava offers technology services globally, specializing in sectors like consumer products, healthcare, mobility, retail, payments, and financial services. The company provides a broad range of services including IT strategies, digital product strategy, business analysis, program management, and services in machine learning and artificial intelligence.
Company Profile | Market Cap.: $4.26 B | Stock: NYSE:DAVA | endava.com
2. The Sage Group plc
Country: United Kingdom | Sector: Technology | Industry: Software—Application
Sage Group plc, also known as Sage, is a provider of technology solutions and services. It serves over 6 million small and medium-sized enterprises in North America, Europe, and across the world with enterprise software, cloud-connected and hybrid solutions, and business management solutions.
Company Profile | Market Cap.: £7.71 B | Stock: LSE:SGE | sage.com
1. AVEVA Group plc
Country: United Kingdom | Sector: Technology | Industry: Software—Application
Aveva Group plc is a global corporation that specializes in information technology. It offers engineering and industrial software solutions, as well as digital transformation solutions in artificial intelligence, cloud computing, extended reality, and the Industrial Internet of Things. It has operations throughout the Asia Pacific region, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Americas.
Remark that Aveva has been acquired by Schneider Electric in mid January 2023.
Company Profile | Market Cap.: £9.72 B | Stock: LSE:AVV | aveva.com
This exploration into the top 20 technology companies in the UK provides a snapshot of the vibrancy, innovation, and diversity within the sector. Each entity, with its unique focus and expertise, contributes to the technological tapestry that is shaping our present and forging our future.
Whether you are an investor seeking opportunities, a professional in the tech industry, or simply a technology enthusiast, delving deeper into these companies can provide invaluable insights and understanding. For those interested in a more profound analysis and exploration of the technology realm in the UK and beyond, check our UK technology market and companies analysis.
Share your thoughts, insights, or questions in the comments below and let’s create a dialogue around these technological innovators.
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