The technology sector is of critical interest in the United Kingdom, as the country’s future growth greatly depends on it. IT and communications companies are at the heart of innovation, rapidly changing people’s lives and transforming business, finance, and the broader economy.
British technology companies operate across a wide range of industries, offering products and services that transform old business models or develop new models that change whole industries. With high-tech products and high-value-added services, actors in the IT industry are competing fiercely to get and keep their share in a number of highly lucrative markets.
Even though UK tech companies are nowhere near quite as large and successful globally as the leading American tech companies, they do provide innovative services, telecommunications, software, and other IT products and services to a large number of customers in the UK and abroad. Thanks to their existing customers and distribution networks, they can expand into new ventures to develop their offer into new markets.
Due to their limited size beyond the first two telecommunications leaders, Vodafone and BT Group, competition in the different tech-related industries, Brexit confusion, British tech companies are facing severe threats from external and internal market forces. Among these threats, the largest UK startups, also bring serious challenges.
For now, the top UK tech companies still have a rather positive outlook compared to other countries (besides the US and China). The advance of British tech and startups over most countries, the expectation from the economic and political forces to drive future high-paying jobs in the UK from technology and the country’s general enthusiasm for new things will help tech companies develop new useful and exciting applications.
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 the effective close on Friday, February 26, 2021. They primarily belong to the sectors of Technology per se (which notably includes companies in software and semiconductors) and Communication Services (such as Internet services and telecoms).
UK tech companies are engaged in a variety of tech industries related to Software, Telecommunication and Internet Services, Data Processing & Outsourced Services, Semiconductor Equipment & Materials, IT Consulting, and Communications Equipment.
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.
Note that if you are searching for information on these companies to invest in their stocks, make sure you know what you are doing as your investment will be subject to significant risks with the evolution of stock prices. To learn more about investing in the stock market and managing your portfolio, check our post on the best online courses on stock investing and trading.
Shortcuts to each tech 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. Be sure to also check the Top 10 UK tech companies’ summary after the list!
20. Oxford Instruments
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.
Website: oxinst.com – Market Cap.: £1.03 Billion – Stock ticker: OXIG
19. FDM Group
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.
Website: fdmgroup.com – Market Cap.: £1.096 Billion – Stock ticker: FDM
18. TalkTalk Group
Industry: Telecom Services
TalkTalk Telecom Group PLC offers telecommunications services to both individuals and businesses in the United Kingdom. Under the TalkTalk and TalkTalk Business names, it provides fiber, internet, telephone, TV, and mobile services. It also provides a number of services such as home filtering, internet and devices protection and security, and voice identification.
Website: talktalkgroup.com – Market Cap.: £1.108 Billion – Stock ticker: TALK
17. Micro Focus
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.
Website: microfocus.com – Market Cap.: £1.402 Billion – Stock ticker: MCRO
16. Gamma
Industry: Telecom Services
Gamma Communications plc offers communications and software services to small, medium, and big businesses in the United Kingdom and across the world. It provides cloud services, inbound call management, and network services such as internet and mobile. Gamma sells directly to end customers as well as through a network of channel partners.
Website: gamma.co.uk – Market Cap.: £1.441 Billion – Stock ticker: GAMA
15. Spirent
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.
Website: corporate.spirent.com – Market Cap.: £1.441 Billion – Stock ticker: SPT
14. Blue Prism
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.
Website: blueprism.com – Market Cap.: £1.444 Billion – Stock ticker: PRSM
13. Moneysupermarket Group
Industry: Internet Content & Information
Moneysupermarket.com Group PLC is a financial services-focused price comparison and editorial-based internet company. Through its MoneySuperMarket, TravelSupermarket, MoneySavingExper, and Decision Tech brands, it provides online and app-based tools for consumers to compare prices and save money on a variety of products, including energy, car insurance, home insurance, travel insurance, mortgages, credit cards, and loans. In addition, the firm offers financial intermediary services.
Website: corporate.moneysupermarket.com – Market Cap.: £1.556 Billion – Stock ticker: MONY
12. Kainos
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.
Website: kainos.com – Market Cap.: £1.614 Billion – Stock ticker: KNOS
11. GBG
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.
Website: gbgplc.com – Market Cap.: £1.621 Billion – Stock ticker: GBG
10. Computacenter
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.
Website: computacenter.com – Market Cap.: £2.381 Billion – Stock ticker: CCC
9. Softcat
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.
Website: softcat.com – Market Cap.: £2.913 Billion – Stock ticker: SCT
8. Spectris
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.
Website: spectris.com – Market Cap.: £3.527 Billion – Stock ticker: SXS
7. Renishaw
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.
Website: renishaw.com – Market Cap.: £4.185 Billion – Stock ticker: RSW
6. Rightmove
Industry: Internet Content & Information
Rightmove plc owns and operates rightmove.co.uk, the United Kingdom’s leading online real estate marketplace, and property website. It operates advertising services on its platforms notably by resale and lettings of property advertising services, advertising services to new home developers, and overseas and commercial property advertising services. Other services include non-property advertising services from third-party advertising and data services.
Website: rightmove.co.uk – Market Cap.: £4.933 Billion – Stock ticker: RMV
5. Auto Trader
Industry: Internet Content & Information
Auto Trader Group plc is an automotive classified advertising company. Auto Trader Group plc is a classified advertising firm for automobiles. Handling both new and used automobile sales, and it offers services on its website including vehicle advertisements for private sellers, display advertising for manufacturers and advertising agencies, and insurance and loan finance products to consumers.
Website: autotrader.co.uk – Market Cap.: £5.316 Billion – Stock ticker: AUTO
4. Sage
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.
Website: sage.com – Market Cap.: £6.123 Billion – Stock ticker: SGE
3. Aveva
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.
Website: aveva.com – Market Cap.: £9.758 Billion – Stock ticker: AVV
2. BT Group
Industry: Telecom Services
BT Group plc, trading as BT and formerly British Telecom, is a multinational telecommunications company. Tracing its origins to 1846, BT has grown to operate in about 180 countries, operating in a number of services to individuals including fixed-line, broadband, and mobile services, together with subscription television and IT services. BT also provides a range of connectivity, communications, and IT services to businesses.
Website: bt.com – Market Cap.: £12.25 Billion – Stock ticker: BT.A
1. Vodafone
Industry: Telecom Services
Vodafone Group plc is a multinational telecommunications company. Engaged predominantly in mobile connectivity services, Vodafone also provides broadband, television, and enterprise services such as voice, cloud services as well as Internet-of-Things services for a number of applications in industries including automotive, insurance, and healthcare. A leader in the UK, Vodafone also operates directly or indirectly in more than 150 countries.
Website: vodafone.com – Market Cap.: £32.74 Billion – Stock ticker: VOD
Summary: Top 10 UK Tech Companies 2021
To give you a quick overview of the largest British tech companies in 2021, here is a synthesizing image regrouping the information of the top 10. Note that you can use this image to embed it on your website and other digital properties using the embed code below.
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Here are the 20 largest British tech companies. Do you think they are worth their market capitalization? Do they provide a valuable and convenient service? Do they have too much economic power… and maybe political power too?
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