By FMTeam Sure, the UK may not be the biggest trading pattern of India, but the amount of trade happening between both nations is pretty significant. And as always, the main thing that keeps this trade thing going is the businesses from both sides working in both nations. See, it might appear to you that there are no British or UK companies in India, but you’d be completely wrong. Have you ever heard of Unilever? Yes, that’s a UK-based company that has its subsidiary in India with the name Hindustan Unilever Limited, which for sure is one of India’s top-ranking companies. Just like that, there are so many British companies in India, but today, we are here to talk about the top 10 leading British (UK) companies in India as of 2024. Alright, here we go now.
1. Unilever (Hindustan Unilever Limited – HUL)
When you think of things that people in India need every day, HUL is definitely at the top of the list, that’s for sure. In Indian homes since 1930, names like Dove, Lux, and Surf Excel have become a part of everyday life. But did you know that they were one of the first businesses to use local knowledge to improve what they were selling? And for sure, they stay ahead because they are good at knowing the different tastes of Indian people.
2. HSBC
You might not think of banking as an exciting job or thing, but HSBC’s time in India has been anything but dull, that’s what we are pretty certain of. Did you know that HSBC India became one of the main branches of this bank to raise 3rd biggest profits around the world in 2023? Yes, that was around $1.5 billion. It’s real! HSBC has made it easy for its customers to use banking services by putting a lot of focus on going digital. They do more than just banking, they’re also big names in wealth management and work with India’s wealthy. Also, don’t forget that they make international trade easier, which is why businesses that want to grow internationally turn to them.
3. Standard Chartered Bank
Indians who like a mix of traditional and digital banking have found Standard Chartered to be a lifesaver when it comes to their money, you know? But why exactly is this particular bank super famous in India? Well, it’s the mix of both actual physical as well as virtual banking services. They have been closing down branches and boosting digital services, which means that you can now bank from anywhere. They’ve become a super big name in wealth management and business banking under Zarin Daruwala’s direction.
4. GlaxoSmithKline (GSK)
GSK is a well-known name in India’s pharmaceutical industry. But did you know that they are also at the heart of developing new vaccines? In 2023, there was a big rise in demand for their vaccines, especially Shingrix. GSK doesn’t just want to sell drugs; they also want to make people healthier, you know? They’ve streamlined their business by focusing on core goods like drugs and vaccines and getting rid of products that aren’t as important.
5. Jaguar Land Rover
Jaguar Land Rover is a British brand name for high-end cars that are known for their style and innovation and everybody in India dreams of having a car from this company. JLR has made a name for itself in India with a line of high-end and fast cars, which are owned by Tata Motors. And yes, they’re not just about gasoline and diesel anymore; JLR is leading the way toward electric cars and wants to have all of their models electric by 2030.
6. BP (British Petroleum)
BP isn’t just into oil and gas, they’re focused more and more on India’s renewable energy market. How? Well, through their joint business “Jio-bp” with Reliance Industries, they are changing the way fuel is sold and how EVs are charged. All of this is part of BP’s bigger plan to help India make the switch to cleaner energy, like super fast. And for sure, besides working on traditional fuels, they are also making big steps forward with clean energy projects, such as Lightsource BP’s solar power.
7. G4S Secure Solutions
Security isn’t always fun, but G4S Secure Solutions makes it cool and important. How exactly? Well, they just opened a brand-new, cutting-edge Security Risk Operations Center in Gurgaon. It uses cutting-edge technologies like advanced video analytics and robotic process automation. G4S offers a wide range of services, from manned security to complicated risk consulting.
8. Barclays Bank
Barclays isn’t just being safe in India, they’re taking big steps. They recently got a lot of money, which they used to improve their Indian businesses and focus on corporate and investment banking. They have a big name in the debt capital markets and use their world knowledge to offer full financial solutions. And talking about something recent, well, their work in GIFT City, Gujarat, shows how committed they are to helping businesses do business across borders.
9. Cairn Oil & Gas
The Indian energy industry is being pushed to its limits by Cairn Oil & Gas, which is part of Vedanta Limited. They are stepping up their exploration and production operations quickly in order to double their share of India’s oil and gas production. Their creative methods, such as using truck-mounted CNG kits to get rid of gas, show that they are dedicated to using resources efficiently and in a way that doesn’t harm the environment, you know? Even though there have been legal problems, Cairn is still working hard to improve India’s energy security by exploring and producing more oil and gas.
10. Capita India
Last on the list is the BPO giant Capita India which does more than just back-office work, you know? They are changing with the times by using AI and technology to give you the best services possible. They recently grew by buying Prudential UK’s offshore business in Mumbai, know about that already? This added more people to their team and made their services better.
Conclusion
All in all, the presence of these British companies is pretty significant in India right now, and that has literally been the case for decades now. We are pretty sure that if you dig a little deeper on your own, you’d find a bunch of different companies that are actually based in the UK but have been able to capture a decent market share in India too.