Virgin Group facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Virgin Group

Type	Private
Industry	Conglomerate
Founded	February 1970; 55 years ago (1970-02)
Founders	Richard Branson Nik Powell
Headquarters	London , United Kingdom
Area served	Worldwide
Key people	Peter Norris (Chairman) Josh Bayliss (CEO)
Products	List Banking Broadcasting Books Commercial aviation Commercial spaceflight Consumer electronics Films Health care Health insurance Internet Insurance Jewellery Mobile phones Music Radio Rail Transport Retail Television Travel
Revenue	£16.6 billion (2019)
Owner	Richard Branson
Number of employees	~71,000

Virgin Group is a big British company. It was started by Richard Branson and Nik Powell in February 1970. It's like a group of many different businesses all under one name.

Even though the main company was officially set up in 1989, Virgin's business activities began much earlier, in the 1970s. In early 2023, the Virgin Group was thought to be worth about £3 billion.

History of Virgin Group

The name "Virgin" came about in 1970. Richard Branson and Nik Powell started a record shop. First, they sold records by mail order. Then, in 1971, they opened a physical store. They chose the name "Virgin" because they felt new to the business world.

Richard Branson has said that the "V" in the Virgin logo looks like a check mark. It shows that something has the "Virgin seal of approval."

The first logo was designed in 1973 by Roger Dean. It was for the record company. The more recent logo, which looks like a signature, was introduced in 1978. Richard Branson says it was drawn on a napkin by designer Ray Kyte.

How Virgin Group Works

Virgin Group's main office is in London, United Kingdom. It's located in a building called The Battleship Building.

The Virgin Group has many companies. Some of these companies are fully owned by Virgin. Others just use the Virgin brand name under a special agreement. For example, Virgin Records and Virgin Media are not owned by Virgin Group. They are owned by other large companies.

In 2013, Virgin Group wanted to expand its healthcare businesses in Australia. They already had fitness centers there. The Group also runs over 100 health services in the UK. They started in the British healthcare industry in 2011.

On December 4, 2014, Virgin Group announced Virgin Voyages. This is a cruise line with financial help from another company called Bain Capital. Tom McAlpin became the CEO. They planned to build two large new ships. The cruise line would be based in Miami, USA.

Virgin StartUp: Helping New Businesses

Virgin StartUp is a special company within the Virgin Group. It's a non-profit, which means it doesn't aim to make money. It helps people across the UK start and grow their own businesses.

In 2013, Richard Branson launched Virgin StartUp. He wanted to help young people with business dreams. He said his own business journey started with £300 from his mum. Virgin StartUp helps by giving money, advice, and support.

This organization works with the UK Government's Start Up Loans Company. It provides loans from £500 to £25,000. It also offers advice and mentors to thousands of new businesses. In 2016, they launched a program called "Ready, Steady, Grow." A year later, they started "Crowdboost." This program helps businesses get funding from many small investors.

By 2018, Virgin StartUp had helped over 11,000 entrepreneurs in the UK. They provided more than £35 million in early funding.

Foodpreneur Competition

In 2014, Richard Branson and Virgin StartUp started "Foodpreneur." This was a competition for new food and drink businesses. Winners received advice from Branson himself. They also got help with legal matters and branding. Some winners in 2014 were Proper Beans and Killer Tomato.

In 2015, winners had a chance to present their products to buyers from Target Corporation in the US. Winners included Pip & Nut and Double Dutch Drinks.

In 2017, only one company won the Foodpreneur prize. It was The Snaffling Pig Co.. They won a six-week space at a busy shopping center in the UK.

Who Leads Virgin Group

• Chairman: Peter Norris (since 2009)
• Chief Executive: Josh Bayliss (since 2014)

Past Chairmen

1. Sir Richard Branson (1970–2009)

Past Chief Executives

1. Sir Richard Branson (1970–2005)
2. Stephen Murphy (2005–2011)
3. David Baxby and Josh Bayliss (2011–2014)

Virgin's Companies and Investments

An Airbus A330 airplane from Virgin Atlantic Airways.

Virgin Group owns parts of many different companies. Some are fully owned, while others are partly owned or just use the Virgin brand name.

Companies Virgin Used to Own

• Absolute Radio: Used to be Virgin Radio UK, changed its name in 2008.
• Air Nigeria: An airline in Nigeria, Virgin sold its shares in 2010.
• Connect Airways (Flybe): Virgin Atlantic owned 30%. This airline stopped operating in March 2020.
• Virgin Airship and Balloon Company: Operated hot air balloons for advertising.
• Liquid Comics: A comic book company, sold in 2008.
• Vie at Home: A cosmetics seller, sold in 2009.
• Virgin America: An airline in North America, sold in 2016.
• Virgin Brides: A shop that sold wedding dresses.
• Virgin Care: A healthcare company, sold in 2021.
• Virgin Cars: An online car seller, stopped operating in 2005.
• Virgin Charter: An online place to book private planes.
• Virgin Cinemas: Movie theaters, sold in 1999.
• Virgin Digital Help: Provided technical support.
• Virgin Drinks: Made drinks.
  • Virgin Cola: A soda drink.
  • Virgin Vodka: An alcoholic drink.
  • v-Mix: Drink mixers.
• Virgin Electronics: Sold electronics.
• Virgin Energy: An energy provider.
• Virgin Express: An airline in Brussels, merged in 2006.
• V Festival: A music festival in Britain sponsored by Virgin.
• V Festival (Australia): An Australian version of the V Festival.
• Virgin Festival: A North American version of the V Festival.
• Virgin Films: A company that made movies.
• Virgin Games: Sold in 2013.
• Virgin Green Fund: Closed down in 2014.
• Virgin Health Bank: Sold to Qatar Foundation.
• Virgin Hyperloop: A company working on super-fast train travel. It changed its name back to Hyperloop One and then closed down in 2024.
• Virgin Interactive: A company that made and published video games, sold in 2003.
• Virgin Limobike: A service that offered motorcycle transfers. It changed its name to Limobike.
• Virgin Limousines: A limousine service, stopped operating in 2010.
• Virgin Media (including Virgin Mobile UK): Provided TV, internet, and phone services in the UK. Bought by Liberty Global.
• Virgin Mobile Australia: A mobile phone service in Australia, sold in 2006.
• Virgin Mobile France: A mobile phone service in France, sold in 2014.
• Virgin Mobile India: A mobile phone service in India, sold in 2015.
• Virgin Mobile USA: A mobile phone service in the USA, sold in 2009 and stopped operating in 2020.
• Virgin Money Australia: Sold to Bank of Queensland.
• Virgin Money US: Sold in 2010.
• Virgin One account: Sold in 2003.
• Virgin Orbit: An aerospace company. It stopped operating in April 2023.
• Virgin Sports: A company for active lifestyles, sold in 2020.
• Virgin Sun Airlines: An airline that closed in 2001.
• Virgin Play: A Spanish game company, closed in 2009.
• Virgin Plus: (formerly Virgin Mobile Canada) A mobile phone service in Canada, sold in 2009.
• Virgin Snow: A company for ski vacations, started in 1986.
• Virgin Trains ExpressCoach: Operated bus services.
• Virgin CrossCountry: Operated train services in the UK, replaced in 2007.
• Virgin EMI Records: A music label, owned by Universal Music Group.
  • Virgin Records: An American music label.
• Virgin Racing: A Formula One car racing team.
• Virginware: A clothing store.
• Virgin Wines: An online wine seller, sold in 2005.
• Virgin Trains West Coast: Operated train services in the UK, replaced in 2019.
• Virgin Trains East Coast: Operated train services, replaced in 2018.
• Virgin Trains USA: Operated train services in Florida. The branding deal ended in 2020.
• Virgin Video (aka Virgin Vision): A company that distributed home videos, sold in 1989.
• Virgin Vacations: A tour operator in the USA, closed in 2019.

See also

In Spanish: Virgin Group para niños