According to McKinsey’s Facing the future: Britain’s new industrial revolution report in May 2021, the UK’s economy is approaching the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) with a wave of new technological improvements. The four factors that pillar the coming age are digitization, artificial intelligence, robotics, and additive manufacturing.
Moving Towards Digitalization
Companies are moving to a digital landscape. For example, Britishvolt, UK’s top battery manufacturer, reuses materials and generates its exclusive energy from a 200MW solar farm. Among the UK healthcare industry, GlaxoSmithKline plc (NYSE: GSK) has applied 4IR automation, image recognition, and advanced analytics to achieve a double-digit increase in capacity, leading their plant in Ware to be dubbed as a lighthouse manufacturer by the World Economic Forum. The report further clarifies that upskilling employees to match the digital environment leads to a 12% rise in productivity.
Complications in Catching Up
UK’s output per hour has reached a standstill, floating around the 100 mark (the average) from 2010 to 2020. This may be due to the higher labor costs of the manufacturing sector in the UK compared to other nations. In Ireland, The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE: KO) has started a digital transformation at its manufacturing site in Ireland. This has led to a double-digit productivity rise, boosting growth by creating the right capacity, capability, and agility to support a broader range of beverages – while other companies in the UK fail to adapt 4IR advancements at a similar pace. The UK government aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 78% by 2035, and this puts a strain on manufacturers. Around 66% of the workforce may be digitally unskilled within 10 years, leaving some crucial leadership underqualified.
McKinsey does leave some room for improvement, suggesting that UK’s motor vehicles, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and machinery sectors may be able to find a suitable market exporting to non-EU related countries.
photo.ua/Shutterstock.com
Our Methodology
In this article, we chose some of the most notable and biggest UK companies in the world based on their popularity and market cap.
Most Valuable UK Companies in the World
15. Reckitt Benckiser Group plc (OTC: RBGPF)
Reckitt Benckiser Group plc (OTC: RBGPF) centers around the manufacturing, marketing, and sales of health, hygiene, and nutrition products in the United Kingdom, the United States, and China. Founded in 1819 and located in Slough, the United Kingdom, Reckitt Benckiser Group plc (OTC: RBGPF) provides acne treatment creams, facial washes, cleansing pads, and first aid products.
14. London Stock Exchange Group plc (Frankfurt: LS4C.F)
London Stock Exchange Group plc (Frankfurt: LS4C.F) focuses on market infrastructure business primarily in the United Kingdom, France, Italy, and the United States. Founded in 1698 and situated in London, the United Kingdom, London Stock Exchange Group plc (Frankfurt: LS4C.F) runs a variety of international equity, ETF, bond, and derivatives markets such as the London Stock Exchange and Borsa Italiana.
13. Prudential plc (NYSE: PUK)
Taking the 13th spot on our list of most valuable UK companies in the world, Prudential plc (NYSE: PUK) offers health insurance and management solutions to individuals in Asia, the United States, and Africa. Prudential plc (NYSE: PUK) was founded in 1848 and operates in London, the United Kingdom.
12. RELX PLC (NYSE: RELX)
Launched in 1903 and based in London, the United Kingdom, RELX PLC (NYSE: RELX) focuses on information-based analytics and decision tools for professional and business customers in North America, Europe, and the international market.
11. Anglo American plc (Swiss: AAM.SW)
Anglo American plc (Swiss: AAM.SW) is an international mining company. Founded in 1917 and located in London, the United Kingdom, Anglo American plc (Swiss: AAM.SW) is specialized in the exploration of rough and polished diamonds, copper, platinum group metals, metallurgical and thermal coal.
10. Aon plc (NYSE: AON)
Founded in 1919 and headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, Aon plc (NYSE: AON) is a professional services firm, providing advice and solutions to clients focused on risk, retirement, and health internationally.
9. BP p.l.c. (NYSE: BP)
Ranking 9th on our list of most valuable UK companies in the world, BP p.l.c. (NYSE: BP) caters to the Gas & Low Carbon Energy, Oil Production & Operations, Customers & Products, and Rosneft segments. Originated in 1908 and based in London, the United Kingdom, BP p.l.c. (NYSE: BP) is involved in the natural gas, biofuels, wind power, solar power markets, while also offering de-carbonization solutions and services.
8. British American Tobacco p.l.c. (NYSE: BTI)
Founded in 1902 and headquartered in London, the United Kingdom, British American Tobacco p.l.c. (NYSE: BTI) focuses on tobacco and nicotine products to international markets.
7. GlaxoSmithKline plc (NYSE: GSK)
Ranking 7th on our list of most valuable UK companies in the world, GlaxoSmithKline plc (NYSE: GSK) focuses on creating, discovering, developing, manufacturing, and marketing pharmaceutical products, vaccines, over-the-counter medicines, and health-related consumer products in the United Kingdom, the United States, and other international markets. Founded in 1715 and located in Brentford, the United Kingdom, GlaxoSmithKline plc (NYSE: GSK) provides pharmaceutical products comprising medicines in the therapeutic areas, such as respiratory, HIV, immuno-inflammation, oncology, anti-viral, central nervous system, cardiovascular and urogenital, metabolic, anti-bacterial, and dermatology.
6. HSBC Holdings plc (NYSE: HSBC)
Founded in 1865 and headquartered in London, the United Kingdom, HSBC Holdings plc (NYSE: HSBC) provides banking and financial services to international markets. HSBC Holdings plc (NYSE: HSBC) operates within the Wealth and Personal Banking, Commercial Banking, and Global Banking and Markets segments.
5. Diageo plc (NYSE: DEO)
Ranking 5th on our list of most valuable UK companies in the world, Diageo plc (NYSE: DEO) caters to the production, marketing, and sales of alcoholic beverages internationally. Founded in 1886 and based in London, the United Kingdom, Diageo plc (NYSE: DEO) operates in North America, Asia Pacific, Europe, the Caribbean, Turkey, Latin America, and Africa.
Pixabay/Public Domain
4. Rio Tinto Group (NYSE: RIO)
Incorporated in 1873 and rooted in London, the United Kingdom, Rio Tinto Group (NYSE: RIO) centers around the exploration, mining, and processing of mineral resources internationally. Rio Tinto Group runs open pit and underground mines, mills, power stations, smelters, refineries, and research and service facilities.
robert-tudor-EjHr26LqfhI-unsplash
3. Unilever PLC (NYSE: UL)
Inaugurated in 1894 and based in London, the United Kingdom, Unilever PLC (NYSE: UL) offers ice cream, mayonnaise, soups, ketchups, bouillons, seasonings, and tea categories under the Ben & Jerry’s, Magnum, Breyers, Brooke Bond, Knorr, Heart (Wall’s), Hellmann’s, Lipton, The Vegetarian Butcher, and Unilever Food Solutions brands. Securing the 3rd spot on our list of most valuable UK companies in the world, Unilever PLC formed its identity through the sales of fast-moving consumer goods in Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Turkey, Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, the Americas, and Europe.
2. Linde plc (NYSE: LIN)
Ranking 2nd on our list of most valuable UK companies in the world, Linde plc (NYSE: LIN) is an industrial gas company in North and South America, Africa, Europe, the Asia Pacific, and the Middle East. Founded in 1879 and headquartered in Guildford, the United Kingdom, Linde plc (NYSE: LIN) provides oxygen, nitrogen, argon, rare gases, carbon dioxide, hydrogen, helium, electronic and specialty gases, acetylene, and carbon monoxide. Linde plc (NYSE: LIN) also operates in the healthcare, aerospace, petroleum refining, chemical, manufacturing, electronics, beverage carbonation, steel making, fiber-optics, and water treatment industries.
Copyright: stokkete / 123RF Stock Photo
1. AstraZeneca PLC (NASDAQ: AZN)
AstraZeneca PLC is a holding company that specializes in the research, manufacturing, and sales of pharmaceutical and medical products. AstraZeneca PLC (NASDAQ: AZN) focuses its operations on eight areas: gastrointestinal, pain control, oncology, cardiovascular, infection, respiratory, central nervous system, and anesthesia. Founded in 1992 and situated in Cambridge, the United Kingdom, AstraZeneca PLC operates in 60 countries in Asia-Pacific, Europe, Africa, and the Americas.
You can also take a peek at the 25 Youngest Countries in the World and 15 Most Valuable Travel Companies in the World.
Follow Insider Monkey on Twitter
Suggested articles:
- Martin Taylor’s Crake Asset Management Portfolio: Top 10 Stock Picks
- Top 10 Stock Picks of Brad Farber’s Atika Capital
- Cathie Wood is Buying These 10 Stocks
This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.
