Virgin Group

Virgin Group Limited is a British multinational venture capital conglomerate founded by Richard Branson and Nik Powell in February 1970.
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.
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. They considered themselves virgins in business. Branson has described the "V" in the logo as an expressive tick, representing the Virgin seal of approval.
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.
Corporate affairs
Virgin Group has its headquarters at The Battleship Building in the Paddington district of the City of Westminster. Previously it was in The School House, Brook Green, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham.
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.
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.
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.
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, Sir Richard 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.”
The organisation became a delivery partner for the UK Government's Start Up Loans Company, 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 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.
By 2018, the organisation had supported over 11,000 UK-based entrepreneurs, with over £35m in pre-seed funding.
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. 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.
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.
Senior leadership
Chairman: Peter Norris (since 2009)
Chief Executive: Josh Bayliss (since 2014)
List of former chairmen
Sir Richard Branson (1970–2009)
List of former chief executives
Sir Richard Branson (1970–2005)
Stephen Murphy (2005–2011)
David Baxby and Josh Bayliss (2011–2014)
Subsidiaries and investments
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. 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
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’
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’
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 4th April 2023
Virgin Sports: Active lifestyle company - Sold to LimeLight Sports in September 2020
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
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
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.
Virgin Vacations: Former USA based tour operator - Closed on 31st March 2019
Controversies
The parent company, Virgin Group Holdings Ltd, is registered in the British Virgin Islands. Richard Branson and his family hold a £2.7 billion stake in this offshore, tax-free, tax haven company.
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".
References
External links
Airline holding companies
British brands
British companies established in 1970
Companies based in London
Conglomerate companies of the United Kingdom
Holding companies established in 1970
Holding companies of the United Kingdom