What are the top funded companies in the UK based on annual turnover?
Using the same methodology as above, we’ve now sorted these companies to find the top three UK companies by turnover.
Topping the list is the retail giant and ex-unicorn The Hut Group with a turnover of £1.75b. To date, the company has secured 12 fundraisings worth a total of £1.18b, with the latest round — part equity and part loan — taking place in March 2025. The business has also made 34 acquisitions in its history, spun out two businesses, and secured two grants worth £2.69m.
Second on our list is car manufacturer and Formula One team, Aston Martin. Our figures reveal that the company registered £1.58b in turnover last year. In May 2025, the company raised £52.5m in follow-on investment from Yew Tree Consortium, bringing its total equity raised to £1.63b across nine rounds. In addition to this, the company has secured £13m from InnovateUK across 13 grants.
Inspired, a global consortium of private schools, takes the third spot with £931m in turnover.
What are the top funded companies in the UK based on GVA?
Using the same parameters as above, we then looked at the top companies in the UK based on their GVA (gross value added).
Inspired tops the list, reporting a gross value added (GVA) of £642m. The company operates across multiple sectors and has grown into one of the UK’s largest contributors to the economy.
In second position is Aston Martin, with a GVA of £523m, followed by The Hut Group, which posted £400m.
As a reminder, we calculate GVA via the GVA(i) formula, also known as the ‘income approach’. This means adding employee wages + operating profit (EBIT) + depreciation + amortisation together to deliver a final figure. You can read more about our GVA data here.
What are the top funded companies in the UK based on number of employees?
The number of staff that a business employs is also an important measure of their success.
Leading the dataset is Inspired, which employs 10.5k staff across its network. The group has rapidly expanded through acquisitions and now operates in multiple countries, offering education to students worldwide.
In second place is Dewhirst, with 10.3k employees. The company is a long-established clothing manufacturer and supplier, producing garments for international fashion and retail brands, with operations spanning design, sourcing, and large-scale production.
Cera takes the third spot, employing 9.04k staff. The technology-enabled healthcare provider offers homecare, telehealth consultations, and prescription services, with its digital platform allowing users to book appointments with nurses and carers on demand.
Looking to the future
The future of equity-backed businesses in the UK appears promising, poised to play a pivotal role in shaping and improving the country’s economic landscape.
These dynamic enterprises, often characterised by rapid expansion and innovation, are expected to contribute significantly to job creation, bolstering employment rates and fostering a culture of entrepreneurship.
As these businesses continue to push boundaries and embrace emerging technologies, they are expected to contribute not only to economic growth but also to the evolution of industries and the transformation of traditional business models.
How Beauhurst can help
Here at Beauhurst, we work hard to ensure our users are armed with the best information to put them in the position to succeed. We collect data on every UK private company — that’s over 5m profiles — to give our clients a complete view of the UK’s private market.
Our 60+ data analysts work with machine learning models to ensure the data you see is always current and accurate, so you can stay ahead of the competition.
Additionally, our team of experienced Account Managers are always on hand to help all of our users get the most out of our data and platforms.
If you’re interested in finding out more about our services, speak to a member of our team today or see how the platform works by booking a demo.
