UK's Largest Family Businesses
The largest family firms in the UK have been identified in the 2025 EY and University of St. Gallen Family Business Index, which is a ranking of the 500 largest family businesses in the world by revenue, and is issued every two years. The top 10 British family firms in the list are outlined below and cumulatively they account for £44.7 billion turnover, have traded for 764 years and employ 189,000 people.
It is great to see so many British family firms continuing to be in the index, many of them household names that will be familiar to many of us. These family firms individually and collectively are great examples of the importance of family firms to the UK economy in terms of their overall contribution by way of income generated, jobs provided and wealth created, not forgetting the significant impact they have in the communities in which they operate.
DYSON TECHNOLOGY LIMITED
1985
Dyson Technology Ltd is a Singaporean-British multinational technology company that designs and manufactures household appliances including vacuum cleaners, air purifiers, and hair care products. Founded in 1991 by Sir James Dyson, the company is now a family-owned enterprise headquartered at the historic St James Power Station in Singapore.
Pentland Group Limited
1932
Pentland Brands are the people behind some of the world’s best sports, outdoor and lifestyle brands. Their brands are bold and brave, always in pursuit of better, award winning results. They own Speedo, Berghaus, Canterbury of New Zealand, Endura, ellesse, Red or Dead, KangaROOS and Mitre and are also the UK footwear and apparel licensee for Kickers. Their products are available in over 190 countries, sold either directly or by licensees and distributors.
JCB Limited
1945
JCB, or J.C. Bamford Excavators Limited, is a British multinational manufacturer of equipment for construction, agriculture, waste handling, and demolition. It is one of the world's largest privately-owned construction equipment companies.
Arnold Clark Automobiles Limited
1954
Arnold Clark Automobiles is the UK's largest independent, family-run car retailer which sells new and used cars and offers a range of automotive services.
BESTWAY GROUP LIMITED
1963
Bestway Group is a diversified multinational conglomerate headquartered in London, founded in 1976 by Sir Anwar Pervez. It has grown from a single wholesale warehouse into a global business with interests in wholesale, pharmacy, banking, cement, and real estate.
HEMANI GROUP VENTURES LTD
2021
Based on its recent corporate history and activity, the entity serves as a holding structure for Westcoast's broader operations following major strategic mergers as a leading IT distributor in the UK.
ICELAND FROZEN FOODS LIMITED
1970
Iceland Foods Ltd is a major British supermarket chain that specialises in frozen foods, operating under both the Iceland and the larger The Food Warehouse brand names.
European Metal Recycling Limited
1939
European Metal Recycling (EMR) Ltd is one of the world's largest privately held metal recycling companies, headquartered in Warrington, England. As of February 2026, the company continues to operate globally with approximately 150-160 locations and a workforce of over 3,000 employees. It remains a fourth-generation family business wholly owned by the Sheppard family, with Chris Sheppard serving as Group CEO
LAING O ROURKE CONSTRUCTION GROUP PTY LTD
1848
Laing O'Rourke Construction Ltd is the UK's largest privately owned construction company and a major international engineering firm.
Rigby Group (Rg) Plc
1972
Rigby Group is a multi-generational, wholly family-owned global enterprise headquartered in Stratford-upon-Avon, UK. Founded in 1975 by Sir Peter Rigby, it has grown into one of Europe’s largest private technology companies.
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