🇬🇧 1. BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation)

 

 

Industry: Media & Broadcasting

Headquarters: London, UK

Employees: ~22,000

 

Overview:

The BBC is a world-renowned public service broadcaster, known for its journalism, entertainment, and educational content across TV, radio, and digital platforms.

 

Culture & Values:

The BBC values impartiality, creativity, and inclusivity. Employees are encouraged to think independently, collaborate across departments, and innovate while upholding strong editorial standards.

 

Career Opportunities:

Offers a wide range of roles in journalism, production, engineering, digital content, design, and more. Strong early-career schemes include graduate programmes and apprenticeships in media and tech.

 

What it’s like to work there:

Known for its collaborative and diverse environment, the BBC supports flexible working and professional development. Staff benefit from public service values combined with modern content production.

 

🛍️ 2. Marks & Spencer (M&S)

 

Industry: Retail (Clothing, Food & Home)

Headquarters: London, UK

Employees: ~65,000

 

Overview:

A heritage British retailer with a strong customer focus, M&S is transforming itself into a digitally driven, values-led business with a modern retail experience.

 

Culture & Values:

Customer-first, sustainability-focused, and supportive of workplace wellbeing. M&S champions ethical sourcing, community engagement, and a strong internal culture of inclusion and respect.

 

Career Opportunities:

Offers roles in store operations, digital, logistics, buying & merchandising, and food innovation. Known for internal mobility and development opportunities at every level.

 

What it’s like to work there:

Collegiate and purpose-led. Many staff value the sense of pride in working for a trusted UK brand that’s evolving for the future while caring about its people and planet.

 

✈️ 3. Rolls-Royce

 

Industry: Aerospace & Engineering

Headquarters: Derby, UK

Employees: ~40,000 globally

 

Overview:

Rolls-Royce is a global leader in advanced engineering, powering civil and defence aircraft, submarines, and sustainable energy systems.

 

Culture & Values:

Driven by innovation, technical excellence, and a commitment to building a more sustainable world. The company embraces digital transformation and lifelong learning.

 

Career Opportunities:

Opportunities in engineering, manufacturing, data, business operations, cyber security, and sustainability. Known for world-class graduate and apprenticeship programmes.

 

What it’s like to work there:

Rolls-Royce fosters a high-performance yet supportive culture. Engineers and innovators thrive in a fast-paced, impactful environment focused on shaping the future of mobility and energy.

 

🏦 4. Barclays

 

Industry: Financial Services & Banking

Headquarters: London, UK

Employees: ~83,000

 

Overview:

Barclays is a major global bank offering retail, business, and investment banking services. It’s focused on responsible growth and digital innovation.

 

Culture & Values:

Values integrity, respect, service, excellence, and stewardship. Diversity, equity, and inclusion are deeply embedded in its corporate identity.

 

Career Opportunities:

Wide-ranging roles in finance, tech, data science, HR, customer service, compliance, and leadership. Strong focus on future skills, fintech, and agile working.

 

What it’s like to work there:

Fast-moving, people-focused, and purpose-driven. Barclays supports hybrid working, wellbeing, and structured career development across all levels.

 

🍃 5. Octopus Energy

 

Industry: Renewable Energy / Tech

Headquarters: London, UK

Employees: ~2,500

 

Overview:

A disruptive green energy provider, Octopus Energy uses technology to deliver affordable, sustainable energy solutions to millions of customers across the UK and beyond.

 

Culture & Values:

Bold, transparent, customer-obsessed, and mission-led. The company has a startup spirit with a commitment to climate action and ethical business.

 

Career Opportunities:

Roles in customer operations, software development, data science, UX, energy innovation, and international expansion. Open to remote and hybrid roles.

 

What it’s like to work there:

Flat hierarchy, high trust, and real autonomy. Employees love the dynamic pace, the company’s green mission, and its embrace of doing things differently.