Virgin Group

Virgin Group^[1] is a British multinational venture capital conglomerate founded by Richard Branson and Nik Powell in February 1970.

Virgin Group

Company type	Private
Industry	Conglomerate
Founded	February 1970; 54 years ago (1970-02)
Founders	Richard Branson Nik Powell
Headquarters	London , United Kingdom
Area served	Worldwide
Key people	Peter Norris (chairman) Josh Bayliss (CEO)
Products	List Banking Broadcasting Books Commercial aviation Commercial spaceflight Consumer electronics Films Health care Health insurance Internet Insurance Jewellery Mobile phones Music Radio Rail Transport Retail Television Travel
Revenue	£16.6 billion (2019)
Owner	Richard Branson
Number of employees	~71,000
Website	virgin.com

Virgin Group's date of incorporation is listed as 1989 by Companies House, who class it as a holding company; however, Virgin's business and trading activities date back to the 1970s. The net worth of Virgin Group was estimated at £3 billion as of early 2023.^[2]

History

The name "Virgin" arose in 1970 when Richard Branson and Nik Powell formed a record shop, first as mail order and in 1971 with a physical store.^[3] They considered themselves virgins in business.^[4] Branson has described the "V" in the logo as an expressive tick, representing the Virgin seal of approval.^[4]

The original logo from 1973 was a completely different design intended to be used for the record company that was founded by Richard Branson and Nik Powell. The logo was designed by British science-fiction artist and designer Roger Dean. According to Richard Branson in interviews and on the Virgin website, the more recent signature logo, introduced in 1978, was based on one that designer Ray Kyte scribbled on a napkin after a design meeting.^[5][6]

Corporate affairs

Virgin Group has its headquarters in Whitfield Studios in Soho, a district of the City of Westminster. The group moved to this location in November 2024; the space is renowned for its music history as a creative hub for musical legends such as the Rolling Stones, Madonna, Spice Girls & Amy Winehouse.

Whitfield Studios also houses the head offices for other Virgin Group owned companies, such as Virgin Red, Virgin Unite, Virgin StartUp, Virgin Limited Edition & Big Change.

Previously, the Virgin Group were based at the Porchester Building in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, The Battleship Building in Paddington, a district of the City of Westminster and at The School House in Brook Green, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham.^[7][8]

The Virgin Group of companies have a complex structure that contains elements of a generic conglomerate and a keiretsu, and sometimes it simply licences its brand. Examples of licensing are Virgin Records and Virgin Media, which are owned by Universal Music Group and Liberty Global respectively.^{[citation needed]}

In mid-May 2013, the Virgin Group expressed its intention to seek out opportunities in Australia's healthcare industry to consolidate on the Group's Australian fitness centres. The Group also runs over 100 National Health Service (NHS) services in the United Kingdom and the healthcare division of medical services group Assura after entering the British healthcare industry in 2011.^[9]

Virgin Group announced the establishment of Virgin Voyages on 4 December 2014 with financial backing from Bain Capital. The cruise line would be led by CEO Tom McAlpin, would have two new large ships built and be based in the Miami/Fort Lauderdale area.^[10][11]

Virgin StartUp

Virgin StartUp is the Virgin Group's non-profit company, helping entrepreneurs across the UK to start, fund and scale their business. In 2013, Branson visited Boxpark in Shoreditch, London, to launch the new organisation, revealing that he wanted to support anyone that had the same dreams and ambitions that he did as a young boy: “It was £300 from my mum that sparked the Virgin adventure 40 years ago. Today, young people need that same help and I believe Virgin StartUp will provide it – with access to early capital, strong mentorship, advice and promotion.”^[12]

The organisation became a delivery partner for the UK Government's Start Up Loans Company,^[13] providing loan finance of between £500 and £25,000, advice, and mentoring to thousands of start-ups across the country. In 2016, it was awarded European Regional Development Funding^[14] and subsequently launched Ready, Steady, Grow with Virgin StartUp, a programme of support aimed at start-ups that were ready to grow. A year later, it launched the UK's first equity-based crowdfunding accelerator programme, Crowdboost.^[15]

By 2018, the organisation had supported over 11,000 UK-based entrepreneurs, with over £35m in pre-seed funding.^{[citation needed]}

Foodpreneur

In 2014, Branson and Virgin StartUp launched the "Foodpreneur" food and drink focused start-up competition. Winners received mentorship from Branson, legal support, and brand counseling.^[16] The 2014 winners included Proper Beans, Killer Tomato, Sweetpea Pantry, and Sweet Virtues.

In 2015, winners were given the opportunity to pitch Target Corporation buyers in the US. The 2015 winners included Pip & Nut, Double Dutch Drinks, Harry Bromptons, Cauli Rice, and Mallow and Marsh.^[17]

Only one start-up was announced winner of the 2017 Foodpreneur prize, The Snaffling Pig Co., who won a six-week rental space at Intu Lakeside, the retail center with the highest foot traffic in the U.K.^[18]

Senior leadership

• Chairman: Peter Norris (since 2009)
• Chief Executive: Josh Bayliss (since 2014)

List of former chairmen

1. Sir Richard Branson (1970–2009)

List of former chief executives

1. Sir Richard Branson (1970–2005)
2. Stephen Murphy (2005–2011)
3. David Baxby and Josh Bayliss (2011–2014)

Subsidiaries and investments

An Airbus A330 of Virgin Atlantic Airways

Further information: List of Richard Branson's business ventures

Company	Ownership percentage	Sector
Virgin Active	20%	Health, gyms
Virgin Atlantic	51%	Travel, airline
Virgin Atlantic Holidays	51%	Travel, tour operator
Virgin Australia Holdings[citation needed]	5%	Travel, airline
Virgin Balloon Flights	Brand licensed to AirXcite Ltd	Entertainment, hot air balloons
Virgin Bet	100%	Online bookmaker
Virgin Books	10%	Publishing
Virgin Casino	Brand licensed to Gamesys Operations Limited	Online casino
Virgin Experience Days	Brand licensed to Inflexion Private Equity	Hospitality
Virgin Experience Gifts	Brand Licensed to Virgin Experience Gifts Ltd.	Hospitality
Virgin Fibra	33.3%	Broadband
Virgin Galactic	11.9%[19]	Travel, aerospace
Virgin Games	Brand licensed to Gamesys Operations Limited	Online casino
Virgin Gift Card	100%	Retail
Virgin Hotels	100%	Travel, hotels
Virgin Limited Edition	100%	Travel, hotels
Virgin Media O2	Brand licensed to VMED O2 UK Limited, a 50/50 joint venture between Liberty Global and Telefónica	Communications
Virgin Megastores	Brand licensed to Azadea Group, Megastores of Lebanon SAL and Retail Holding SA	Retail
Virgin Mobile	Brand licensed to numerous entities, operating Virgin-branded mobile virtual network operators	Communications
Virgin Money Australia	Brand licensed to Bank of Queensland[20]	Banking
Virgin Money UK	Brand licensed to Nationwide Building Society[21]	Banking
Virgin Music	Brand licensed to Universal Music Group	Music
Virgin Plus	Brand licensed to Bell Canada[22]	Communications
Virgin Pulse	25%	Business services
Virgin Pure	Partnership agreement with Strauss Group	Consumer goods
Virgin Radio	Brand licensed to numerous entities, operating Virgin-branded radio stations	Entertainment, radio
Virgin Rail Group	51%	Travel, train
Virgin Records	Brand licensed to Universal Music Group	Music
Virgin Red	100%	Loyalty program
Virgin Unite	100%	Charity
Virgin Startup	100%	Charity
Virgin Telco	100%	Communications
Virgin Trains Ticketing	100%	Ticket retailer, trains
Virgin Voyages	49%	Travel, cruises
Virgin Wines	Brand licensed to Virgin Wine Online Ltd (UK) & Direct Wines (Australia)[23]	Retail, wine

Formerly owned ventures

• Absolute Radio: formerly Virgin Radio UK, rebranded in 2008
• Air Nigeria: Nigerian national airline launched as Virgin Nigeria, shares sold in 2010
• Connect Airways (Flybe): 30% stake held through Virgin Atlantic.^[24] Entered administration in March 2020.
• Virgin Airship and Balloon Company: Operating hot air balloons and airships for advertisers
• Liquid Comics: comic book producer formerly known as Virgin Comics—sold to management in 2008
• Vie at Home: cosmetics retailer formerly known as Virgin Vie, sold to management in 2009
• Virgin America: North American airline, sold to Alaska Air Group on 14 Dec 2016
• Virgin Brides: retailer specialising in bridal wear
• Virgin Care sold to Twenty20 Capital and rebranded as HCRG Care Group on 1 December 2021^[25]
• Virgin Cars: online car retailer, ceased trading in 2005
• Virgin Charter: online marketplace of private aircraft seat bookings
• Virgin Cinemas: sold to UGC in 1999
• Virgin Digital Help: technical support
• Virgin Drinks: drink manufacturer
  • Virgin Cola: carbonated cola soft drink
  • Virgin Vodka: alcoholic beverage
  • v-Mix: spirit mixers
• Virgin Electronics: electronics retailer
• Virgin Energy: joint venture energy provider
• Virgin Express: airline based in Brussels, merged with SN Brussels Airlines in 2006 to form Brussels Airlines
• V Festival: British music festival sponsored by the Virgin Group
• V Festival (Australia): an Australian version of the V Festival
• Virgin Festival: a North American version of the V Festival
• Virgin Films: film production company
• Virgin Games: sold to Gamesys in 2013
• Virgin Green Fund: shut down in 2014
• Virgin Health Bank: sold to Qatar Foundation
• Virgin Hyperloop: High Speed Rail Travel - Rebranded back to previous name ‘Hyperloop One’,^[26] went bankrupt in January 2024.
• Virgin Interactive: Game Developer and publisher, bought by various companies, and renamed Avalon Interactive in 2003
• Virgin Limobike: Virgin Atlantic announced they will cut complimentary ground transfers for Upper Class passengers in February 2020 - Virgin Limobike has since rebranded to ‘Limobike’ ^[27]
• Virgin Limousines: a former limousine service that operated mostly in the US and Canada. It operated for 14 years, until November 2010.
• Virgin Media (including Virgin Mobile UK): UK Cable TV, broadband internet and Fixed and Mobile telephony provider—bought by Liberty Global
• Virgin Mobile Australia: mobile phone service provider in Australia—shares sold to Optus in 2006
• Virgin Mobile France: mobile phone service provider in France—shares sold to Numericable-SFR in 2014
• Virgin Mobile India: mobile phone service provider in India—shares sold to Tata Teleservices in 2015
• Virgin Mobile USA: mobile phone service provider in the USA—shares sold to Sprint Corporation in 2009, ceased operations in 2020.
• Virgin Money Australia: sold to Bank of Queensland
• Virgin Money US: sold in 2010
• Virgin One account: shareholding sold to co-owner (RBS) in 2003
• Virgin Orbit: aerospace - declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy on 4 April 2023
• Virgin Sports: Active lifestyle company - Sold to LimeLight Sports in September 2020 ^[28]
• Virgin Sun Airlines: scheduled and charter airline, closed in 2001
• Virgin Play: Spanish game distributor and publisher, filed for liquidation and closed in 2009
• Virgin Plus: (formerly Virgin Mobile Canada) mobile phone service provider in Canada—shares sold to joint venture partner Bell Mobility in 2009
• Virgin Snow, 1986 joint venture with Bladon Lines Ski Vacations^[29]
• Virgin Trains ExpressCoach: former operator of inter-city bus & coach services (51%)
• Virgin CrossCountry: former operator of the Cross Country railway franchise in the United Kingdom, superseded by Arriva CrossCountry in 2007 (51%)
• Virgin EMI Records: soundtrack label—owned by Universal Music Group
  • Virgin Records: American music soundtrack label
• Virgin Racing: Formula One motor racing team
• Virgin Racing Formula E Team: Formula E motor racing team
• Virginware: clothing retailer
• Virgin Wines: online wine market, sold to Direct Wines in 2005
• Virgin Trains West Coast: train operating company on the West Coast Main Line. Renewed franchise bid unsuccessful, superseded by Avanti West Coast in December 2019 (51%)
• Virgin Trains East Coast: train operating company, supersed by London North Eastern Railway in June 2018 (10%)
• Virgin Trains USA: train operating company between Miami and West Palm Beach, Florida. Branding deal launched in late 2018, ended in 2020.
• Virgin Video (aka Virgin Vision): home video distributor, sold to Management Company Entertainment Group in 1989.^[30]
• Virgin Vacations: Former USA based tour operator, closed on 31 March 2019

Controversies

The group's health business received significant media coverage over its legal battle with NHS groups. It sued clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) in Surrey after it lost out on an £82 million contract to provide children's health services across the country. The NHS bodies settled out of court with a £328,000 payout to Virgin Care, resulting in some controversy. More than 100,000 people backed a petition calling on the company to stop "dragging the NHS through the courts".^[31][32]

References

1. "VIRGIN GROUP overview - Find and update company information - GOV.UK". Companies House. 28 September 1993. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
2. "Richard Branson". Forbes. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
3. "Our timeline". Virgin.com. Archived from the original on 20 July 2021. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
4. Branson, Richard (1998). Losing My Virginity: The Autobiography. London: Virgin Books. ISBN 1852276843. OCLC 901482660.
5. "Extra: Richard Branson Full Interview". Freakonomics. Archived from the original on 27 February 2018. Retrieved 27 February 2018.
6. ANash (15 August 2016). "The Virgin logo". Archived from the original on 28 February 2018. Retrieved 27 February 2018.
7. "Our company information Archived 31 December 2008 at the Wayback Machine". Virgin Group. Retrieved 14 October 2013. "The Battleship Building, 179 Harrow Road, London W2 6NB"
8. "Our company information Archived 31 December 2008 at the Wayback Machine." Virgin Group. Retrieved 14 January 2009. "The School House 50 Brook Green London, W6 7RR England"
9. Kitney (20 May 2013). "Virgin Group eyes slice of Australia's $65bn healthcare market". The Australian. Archived from the original on 20 May 2013. Retrieved 20 May 2013.
10. Sampson, Hannah (23 June 2015). "Virgin Cruises to base first 2,800-passenger ship in Miami". The Miami Herald. Archived from the original on 24 June 2015. Retrieved 24 June 2015.
11. Stieghorst, Tom (4 December 2014). "Richard Branson to enter cruise business". USA Today. Archived from the original on 26 June 2015. Retrieved 24 June 2015.
12. Murray-Morris, Sophie (6 November 2013). "Richard Branson launches Virgin StartUp at BoxPark Shoreditch". Hackney Post. Archived from the original on 13 January 2020. Retrieved 3 August 2019.
13. "Virgin StartUp". Start Up Loans. Archived from the original on 3 August 2019. Retrieved 3 August 2019.
14. "LIST of ERDF PROJECTS IN THE LONDON LEP AREA" (PDF). London Enterprise Panel. Archived (PDF) from the original on 13 January 2020. Retrieved 3 August 2019.
15. "Virgin StartUps launches CrowdBoost, a crowdfunding acc". www.crowdcube.com. Archived from the original on 3 August 2019. Retrieved 3 August 2019.
16. Platt, Ryan (22 September 2014). "Winners of Richard Branson's "Foodpreneur" competition announced". Startups.co.uk. Archived from the original on 6 July 2018. Retrieved 5 June 2018.
17. Foster, Charlie (5 October 2015). "Richard Branson announces 2015 Foodpreneur Festival winners". Virgin. Archived from the original on 6 July 2018. Retrieved 5 June 2018.
18. Clarkson, Natalie (26 July 2017). "Virgin StartUp and Intu have named The Snaffling Pig Co as the winners of Virgin Foodpreneur 2017". Virgin. Archived from the original on 6 July 2018. Retrieved 5 June 2018.
19. Sheetz, Michael (15 April 2021). "Richard Branson sells over $150 million in Virgin Galactic stock". CNBC.
20. "Virgin Money sold to Bank of Queensland". amp.smh.com.au. 10 April 2013.
21. "Virgin Money UK sold to Nationwide". uk.virginmoney.com.
22. Oberoi, Karandeep (17 July 2021). "Virgin Mobile to rebrand as Virgin Plus on July 19th". MobileSyrup.
23. Monaghan, Angela (12 November 2013). "Virgin Wines' UK business in £14m management buyout". The Guardian.
24. Dyson, Molly (11 January 2019). "Virgin Atlantic and Stobart agree Flybe take-over". Buying Business Travel. Archived from the original on 14 October 2019. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
25. "Introducing HCRG Care Group | Virgin". Virgin.com.
26. "Virgin pulls its name from Hyperloop One (update)". Engadget. 4 November 2022.
27. "Virgin Atlantic to cut complimentary ground transfers for Upper Class passengers". Business Traveller.
28. Long, Michael (8 September 2020). "LimeLight Sports buys mass participation company Virgin Sport".
29. Ski - Feb 1986 Page 16 Archived 4 April 2019 at the Wayback Machine "The program, called "Virgin Snow." is available in seven resorts this season, including Zermatt, Verbier, Val dTsere and St. Anton."
30. "THE MEDIA BUSINESS; Film Concern Is Being Sold". The New York Times. AP. 27 July 1989. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
31. Dobinson, Isabel (8 December 2017). "Tens of thousands demand Virgin Care return £328,000 NHS payout". GetSurrey. Archived from the original on 6 November 2019. Retrieved 6 November 2019.
32. "More than 100,000 demand Richard Branson 'stop dragging NHS through courts'". The Independent. 8 August 2018. Archived from the original on 6 November 2019. Retrieved 6 November 2019.

External links

• Official website