Working at Virgin

Overview

The Virgin Group is a global, growth investor founded by Richard Branson. The principal activity of the Virgin Group is investment management.

The Virgin Group's investment portfolio is diversified across multiple asset classes and geographies with majority and minority investments in listed companies, private companies, venture capital and real estate in both Virgin branded and non-branded companies.

The Virgin Group invests in businesses spanning multiple sectors: Brand Licensing & Loyalty, Travel & Leisure, Health & Wellness, Telecoms & Media, Real Estate, Venture Capital and Fixed Income. The strength, diversification and maturity of the portfolio enables the Virgin Group to realise certain holdings, reinvesting investment income from sales to support, develop and grow new and existing businesses.

We define success not only by investing in and building successful, profitable businesses as global employers but also by the long-term value we create for people and the planet. Avoiding the impacts of climate change is therefore a key priority for the Virgin branded businesses and we believe that all Virgin branded companies should achieve net zero emissions by 2050 or sooner.

Virgin Management

In order to provide support to the Virgin Group investment platform on a global basis Virgin Management has investment professionals and executives based in the UK, the US, and Switzerland. This diversified operating model allows for the effective management and coordination of the Virgin Group’s portfolio of investments.

Alongside the management of the portfolio of existing Investee Businesses, Virgin Management advises on investments on behalf of the Virgin Group and Branson family in key sectors.

Virgin Management also provides administrative functions across Investment Management for the Virgin Group and across other areas, including Brand Licensing, for certain businesses in the investment portfolio.

Investment portfolio

Travel & Leisure

The Virgin Group’s Travel & Leisure portfolio includes Virgin Atlantic, Virgin Voyages and Virgin Hotels Collection (including Virgin Hotels and Virgin Limited Edition brands).

Real estate

The Virgin Group’s global portfolio of real estate is operated by Virgin Hotels Collection.

Health & Wellness

The Virgin Group invests in Virgin Active which operates health clubs in the UK, Italy, South Africa, Singapore, Thailand and Australia.

Telecoms & Media

The Virgin Group’s telecoms and media investments operate in the Middle East and Latam, as Virgin Mobile. Virgin Radio International licenses the Virgin Radio brand to over 40 radio stations globally.

Image from Virgin Limited Edition

Image from Virgin Limited Edition

Venture capital

The venture capital portfolio is focused on new opportunities where there is a clear value proposition and a credible business model. Some of the companies the Virgin Group has backed in the past include the video doorbell Ring; mobile payments app Square; and the Rise Fund, which specialises in Impact Investing.

Brand Licensing and Loyalty

Virgin Holdings Limited is the principal investor in Virgin Enterprises Limited, which licenses out the brand, and Virgin Red, which runs the Virgin Red platform and loyalty business.

Brand Licensing

VEL Holdings Limited and its subsidiaries, principally Virgin Enterprises Limited, license the Virgin brand through trademark license agreements with companies to use the Virgin brand. These include both companies which form part of the Virgin Group (Investee Businesses), as well as companies in which the Virgin Group holds no ownership interest (Licensees). The infographic below summarises the Investee Businesses and Licensees and where they are based.

For over 50 years, the Virgin brand has been renowned for providing unique and exceptional customer experiences. Each Virgin branded company brings a fresh, innovative and distinctive consumer proposition, shaking up the status quo to create businesses that lift experiences out of the ordinary. This clear focus on the consumer has given the brand the ability to expand into new sectors and new geographies. From Virgin Red’s fresh perspective on rewards to how Virgin Voyages is set to re-invent the cruising experience - each Investee Business and Licensee strives to put the customer experience at its heart.

Virgin’s brand purpose is Changing Business For Good.

Philanthropy

Alongside commercial activities, the Virgin Group is committed to philanthropy through its support for Virgin Unite - the entrepreneurial foundation of the Virgin Group and the Branson family, and Virgin StartUp, a not for profit organisation that delivers government-backed loans, mentoring and other support to entrepreneurs in the UK.