Our 8th annual LinkedIn Top Companies list highlights the 25 best large workplaces in the UK for growing a career right now. Fuelled by unique LinkedIn data, the methodology looks at different aspects of career progression, including how employees are getting promoted, gaining new skills and more. You can read more about how we compile the list at the bottom of the article.

This year’s honourees are some of the best workplaces in the UK and prove that investment in the employee experience is vital in today’s employment landscape – whether it’s launching upskilling initiatives to accelerate employees’ AI proficiency, or offering flexible working arrangements. These are the top companies to work at, leading the way in not only attracting workers, but retaining them in our ever-changing world of work. 

In every listing, you’ll find actionable insights on the in-demand roles, skills and job functions at each top company. See a firm that sparks your interest? Take a look at their current job openings and connect with employees you may know, or use the new I’m interested button to signal your interest to recruiters.

Not interested in working for a large company? Take a look at the inaugural list of Top Midsize Companies in the UK. You can also check out the Top Companies in Technology, IT and Internet, Financial Services and Consumer Goods.

Looking to level up? Dig into these LinkedIn Learning courses (which are free for all members until 15 May) on career topics including transferable skills and digital networking strategies.

Here are this year’s 25 large #LinkedInTopCompanies in the UK.

1. Mastercard

Mastercard is the parent company of Cirrus, Dynamic Yield, ethoca, Mastercard Cyber and Intelligence and others.

Top locations in the UK: London | Most notable skills: FinTech, Competitive Strategies, Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) | Most common job titles: Director of Product Management, Software Engineer, Product Manager | Largest job functions: Product Management, Business Development, Engineering | About: Mastercard is a multinational payment technology platform that provides financial payment services, as well as products including credit, debit and prepaid cards.

See jobs | See people you may know

2. Bain & Company

Bain & Company is the parent company of Proxima, ArcBlue and others. 

Top locations in the UK: London | Most notable skills: Economics, Mathematics, Management Consulting | Most common job titles: Consultant, Partner, Executive Assistant | Largest job functions: Consulting, Entrepreneurship, Human Resources | About: Bain & Company is a global management consulting firm that provides advice to public, private and non-profit organisations. 

See jobs | See people you may know

3. AstraZeneca

AstraZeneca is the parent company of Alexion Pharmaceuticals and others. 

Top locations in the UK: Cambridge, Cheshire, Manchester | Most notable skills: Oncology, Pharmaceuticals, Clinical Trials | Most common job titles: Senior Scientist, Account Manager, Project Manager | Largest job functions: Research, Operations, Business Development | About: AstraZeneca is a multinational pharmaceutical and biotechnology company with a strong focus on research, as well as the development and manufacturing of pharmaceutical products for oncology, cardiovascular and other healthcare specialisms.

See jobs | See people you may know

4. Deloitte

Deloitte is the parent company of Monitor Deloitte and others. 

Top locations in the UK: London, Manchester, Cardiff | Most notable skills: Tax Accounting, Economics, Auditing | Most common job titles: Consultant, Tax Analyst, Audit Associate | Largest job functions: Consulting, Accounting, Business Development | About: Deloitte is one of the largest professional services firms in the world, with a range of offerings including audit, consulting, financial advisory and risk management. 

See jobs | See people you may know

5. Eli Lilly and Company

Eli Lilly and Company is the parent company of Point Biorpharma, Prevail Therapeutics and others.

Top locations in the UK: London | Most notable skills: Pharmaceuticals, Clinical Trials, Oncology | Most common job titles: Territory Business Manager, Medical Sales Representative | Largest job functions: Sales, Research, Healthcare Services | About: Eli Lilly and Company is an American pharmaceutical firm that specialises in the research, development and manufacturing of medicines for a range of conditions including diabetes and cancer. 

See jobs | See people you may know

6. Kyndryl

Top locations in the UK: London, Glasgow, Manchester | Most notable skills: System Administration, Technical Support, Competitive Strategies | Most common job titles: Project Manager, Technical Solutions Manager, Site Reliability Engineer | Largest job functions: Information Technology, Program and Project Management, Engineering | About: Kyndryl is an American multinational IT infrastructure services provider that designs, builds and manages large-scale information systems, including cloud-based and AI technologies.

See jobs | See people you may know

7. Tata Consultancy Services

Top locations in the UK: London, Edinburgh, Reading | Most notable skills: Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC), Software Testing, Data Storage Technologies | Most common job titles: Business Analyst, Software Engineer, Project Manager | Largest job functions: Engineering, Information Technology, Consulting | About: Tata Consultancy Services is an IT services, consulting and business solutions organisation. Its offerings include IT infrastructure, cloud solutions, business process outsourcing and software development.

See jobs | See people you may know

8. Barclays

Barclays is the parent company of Barclaycard and others.

Top locations in the UK: London, Glasgow, Manchester | Most notable skills: Commercial Banking, Capital Markets, Investment Banking | Most common job titles: Banker, Bank Manager, Customer Service Representative | Largest job functions: Finance, Business Development, Sales| About: Barclays is a multinational bank headquartered in London,providing services including consumer, corporate and investment banking, as well as wealth management and private banking.

See jobs | See people you may know

9. Vertex Pharmaceuticals

Vertex Pharmaceuticals is the parent company of ViaCyte and others.

Top locations in the UK: London, Oxford | Most notable skills: Organic Chemistry, Pharmaceutics, Genetic Engineering | Most common job titles: Research Scientist, Chemist | Largest job functions: Research, Operations, Business Development | About: Vertex Pharmaceuticals, a biopharmaceutical firm headquartered in the US, is primarily focused on the research and development of treatments for severe diseases, including cystic fibrosis and sickle cell disease.

See jobs | See people you may know

10. HSBC

Top locations in the UK: London, Sheffield, Edinburgh | Most notable skills: Commercial Banking, Capital Markets, Investment Banking | Most common job titles: Banker, Business Analyst, Project Manager | Largest job functions: Finance, Business Development, Information Technology | About: HSBC, a British multinational bank and financial services group, offers a diverse range of financial services, including wealth management, personal banking and commercial banking. 

See jobs | See people you may know 

11. BNY Mellon

Top locations in the UK: London, Manchester, Edinburgh | Most notable skills: Economics, Investment Banking, Capital Markets | Most common job titles: Client Manager, Business Analyst, Client Services Analyst | Largest job functions: Finance, Business Development, Information Technology | About: BNY Mellon, a global financial services firm, offers investment management, investment services and wealth management to clients worldwide. 

See jobs | See people you may know

12. Philip Morris International

Philip Morris International is the parent company of Vectura and others.

Top locations in the UK: London | Most notable skills: Competitive Strategies, Social Perceptiveness, Affiliate Marketing | Most common job titles: Territory Executive, Activation Manager, Business Development Executive | Largest job functions: Business Development, Marketing, Sales | About: Philip Morris International (PMI), an American multinational tobacco company, owns brands including Marlboro and has grown a smoke-free portfolio particularly focused on heated tobacco products, as well as offering e-vapour and oral smokeless products.

See jobs | See people you may know

13. American Express

Top locations in the UK: London, Brighton and Hove area, Manchester | Most notable skills: Commercial Banking, Travel Management, Criminal Law | Most common job titles: Software Engineer, Product Manager, Customer Service Representative | Largest job functions: Business Development, Finance, Engineering | About: American Express, a global payments company, offers prepaid, credit and charge cards to consumers and businesses, and also processes payment transactions.

See jobs | See people you may know

14. JPMorgan Chase & Co.

JPMorgan Chase & Co. is the parent company of J.P. Morgan, Chase, Nutmeg and WePay.

Top locations in the UK: London, Bournemouth, Glasgow | Most notable skills: Economics, Capital Markets, Investment Banking | Most common job titles: Software Engineer, Project Manager, Managing Director | Largest job functions: Finance, Business Development, Engineering | About: JPMorgan Chase & Co., a global financial services firm, offers a broad spectrum of services including investment banking, financial services for consumers and small businesses, financial transaction processing and asset management. 

See jobs | See people you may know

15. ERM

Top locations in the UK: London, Manchester, Edinburgh | Most notable skills: Data Analysis, Resource Assessment, Environmental Consulting | Most common job titles: Environmental Consultant, Technical Director | Largest job functions: Consulting, Operations, Information Technology | About: ERM, short for Environmental Resources Management, is a global sustainability consulting firm that works with companies on environmental, health, safety, risk and social impact challenges.

See jobs | See people you may know

16. Gilead Sciences

Gilead Sciences is the parent company of Kite Pharma.

Top locations in the UK: London, Cambridge | Most notable skills: Oncology, Cardiology, Pharmaceutical Manufacturing | Most common job titles: Clinical Trial Manager, Regulatory Affairs Manager, Safety Director | Largest job functions: Research, Legal, Operations | About: Gilead Sciences is an American biopharmaceutical company that focuses on researching and developing pharmaceuticals, including antiviral drugs used in the treatment of HIV/AIDS, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, influenza and Covid-19.

See jobs | See people you may know

17. FactSet

Top locations in the UK: London | Most notable skills: Artificial Intelligence (AI), Economics, Human Computer Interaction | Most common job titles: Software Engineer, Product Manager | Largest job functions: Engineering, Sales, Finance | About: FactSet, a financial data and software company, provides open data and software solutions to global investment professionals. 

See jobs | See people you may know

18. Entain

Entain is the parent company of Sportingbet and Ladbrokes Coral.

Top locations in the UK: London, Glasgow, Manchester | Most notable skills: Customer Experience, Data Analysis, Operations Management | Most common job titles: Customer Service Manager, Retail Cashier, Shop Manager | Largest job functions: Customer Service and Support, Sales, Operations | About: Entain is a multinational sports betting and gambling company. It operates brands such as Coral, Ladbrokes and Sportingbet. 

See jobs | See people you may know

19. Stryker

Stryker is the parent company of Vocera Communications and others.

Top locations in the UK: London, Belfast, Manchester | Most notable skills: Sales Management, Orthopaedics, Medical Device R&D | Most common job titles: Salesperson, Territory Sales Manager, Product Support Specialist | Largest job functions: Sales, Operations, Engineering | About: Stryker, a prominent medical technology company, offers a wide range of products and services in orthopaedics, neurotechnology and other medical specialisms.

See jobs | See people you may know

20. Visa

Top locations in the UK: London, Reading, Belfast | Most notable skills: FinTech, Growth Strategies, Computer Security | Most common job titles: Software Engineer, Product Manager, Account Manager | Largest job functions: Information Technology, Engineering, Business Development | About: Visa, an American multinational corporation, facilitates electronic fund transfers globally, primarily through its Visa-branded credit cards, debit cards and prepaid cards. 

See jobs | See people you may know 

21. SLB

SLB is the parent company of OneSubsea, Gyrodata and others.

Top locations in the UK: Aberdeen, London, Leeds | Most notable skills: Drilling Engineering, Earth Science, Fluid Mechanics | Most common job titles: Project Manager, Mechanical Technician, Software Engineer | Largest job functions: Engineering, Operations, Information Technology | About: SLB is a leading oilfield services company. It focuses on technology and provides services to the oil and gas industry globally, including reservoir characterisation, drilling, production and processing.

See jobs | See people you may know 

22. Bristol Myers Squibb

Bristol Myers Squibb is the parent company of Celgene, Amylin Pharmaceuticals and others.

Top locations in the UK: London, Cheshire, Liverpool | Most notable skills: Gastroenterology, Cardiology, Oncology | Most common job titles: Account Manager, Healthcare Manager, Clinical Trial Manager | Largest job functions: Research, Healthcare Services, Operations | About: Bristol Myers Squibb is a multinational pharmaceutical company that produces prescription pharmaceuticals and biologics for conditions including cancer, cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

See jobs | See people you may know 

23. SMBC Group

Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation – SMBC Group Financial Services

Top locations in the UK: London | Most notable skills: Commercial Banking, Financial Accounting, Risk Management | Most common job titles: Director, Vice President | Largest job functions: Finance, Business Development, Information Technology | About: SMBC Group is a Japanese multinational financial institution that operates in retail, corporate and investment banking sectors. It is headquartered in Tokyo and operates in over 40 countries.

See jobs | See people you may know

24. Boston Consulting Group (BCG)

Boston Consulting Group (BCG) Business Consulting and Services

Boston Consulting Group (BCG) is the parent company of Kernel Analytics, BCG Platinion and others.

Top locations in the UK: London | Most notable skills: Economics, Management Consulting, Compensation & Benefits | Most common job titles: Managing Director, Project Lead, Business Consultant | Largest job functions: Consulting, Program and Project Management, Business Development | Remote job availability: 53.47% Hybrid | About: Boston Consulting Group (BCG) is a global firm that provides management consulting services. It helps companies to address challenges and identify potential opportunities.

See jobs | See people you may know

25. Blackstone

Top locations in the UK: London | Most notable skills: Economics, Financial Accounting, Capital Markets | Most common job titles: Managing Director, Executive Assistant, Analyst | Largest job functions: Business Development, Finance, Administrative | About: Blackstone is a leading global investment business, managing alternative assets across private equity and real estate. 

See jobs | See people you may know

You can check out the Top Companies in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, Netherlands, Poland, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye, the UAE and the US.

Methodology

Our methodology uses LinkedIn data to rank companies based on eight pillars that have been shown to lead to career progression: ability to advance; skills growth; company stability; external opportunity; company affinity; gender diversity; educational background and employee presence in the country. Ability to advance tracks employee promotions within a company and when they move to a new company, based on standardised job titles. Skills growth looks at how employees across the company are gaining skills while employed at the company, using standardised LinkedIn skills. Company stability tracks attrition over the past year, as well as the percentage of employees that stay at the company at least three years. External opportunity looks at Recruiter outreach across employees at the company, signalling demand for workers coming from these companies. Company affinity, which seeks to measure how supportive a company’s culture is, looks at connection volume on LinkedIn among employees, controlled for company size. Gender diversity measures gender parity within a company and its subsidiaries. Educational background examines the variety of educational attainment among employees, from no degree up to Ph.D. levels, reflecting a commitment to recruiting a wide range of professionals. Finally, employee presence in the country looks at the company’s number of employees in the country relative to other companies, as a means of capturing companies that provide a diverse work environment and more opportunities for career advancement and networking.

To be eligible for the large list, companies must have had 5,000 or more global employees, with at least 500 in the country, as of December 31, 2023.

Attrition can be no higher than 10% over the methodology time period, based on LinkedIn data. Similarly, organisations that have had layoffs of 10% or more of their workforce based on corporate announcements or public, reliable sources between January 1, 2023 and the list launch, are not eligible. These decisions are made by the LinkedIn News team based on company statements and/or reputable news outlets. Only parent companies rank on the list; majority-owned subsidiaries and data about those subsidiaries are incorporated into the parent company score. The methodology time frame is January 1, 2023 through December 31, 2023. This analysis represents the world seen through the lens of LinkedIn data, drawn from the anonymised and aggregated profile information of LinkedIn's members around the world.

We exclude all staffing and recruiting firms, educational institutions and government agencies. We also exclude LinkedIn, its parent company Microsoft and Microsoft subsidiaries.

About company insights

Company insights were sourced from LinkedIn Talent Insights and include the parent company and majority-owned subsidiaries. Data reflects aggregated public member data from active LinkedIn profiles in the relevant country and includes employee profiles associated with the parent company and majority-owned subsidiaries on LinkedIn. We exclude members who identify as interns or contractors. All insights reflect a 12-month time period looking back from January 2024. Top locations were categorised as the regions or cities that employed the largest percentage of each company. Skills data was derived from measuring the most frequent unique skills among a company’s employees, relative to other companies. Most common job titles represent the occupations most common within each company. Largest job function measures the function area most prevalent within each company.

Reported and proofread by: Siobhan Morrin & Emma Hudson

Methodology and insights by: Nadine Fares