Virgin Group

 ( Official Website ) 

The original logo from 1973 was a completely different design intended to be used for the record company that was founded by Richard Branson and Nik Powell. The logo was designed by British science-fiction artist and designer Roger Dean. According to Richard Branson in interviews and on the Virgin website, the more recent signature logo, introduced in 1978, was based on one that designer Ray Kyte scribbled on a napkin after a design meeting.

Whitfield Studios also houses the head offices for other Virgin Group owned companies, such as Virgin Red, Virgin Unite, Virgin StartUp, Virgin Limited Edition & Big Change.

Previously, the Virgin Group were based at the Porchester Building in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, The Battleship Building in Paddington, a district of the City of Westminster and at The School House in Brook Green, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham." Our company information ". Virgin Group. Retrieved 14 October 2013. "The Battleship Building, 179 Harrow Road, London W2 6NB"" Our company information ." Virgin Group. Retrieved 14 January 2009. "The School House 50 Brook Green London, W6 7RR England"

The Virgin Group of companies have a complex structure that contains elements of a generic conglomerate and a keiretsu, and sometimes it simply licences its brand. Examples of licensing are Virgin Records and Virgin Media, which are owned by Universal Music Group and Liberty Global respectively.

In mid-May 2013, the Virgin Group expressed its intention to seek out opportunities in Australia's healthcare industry to consolidate on the Group's Australian fitness centres. The Group also runs over 100 National Health Service (NHS) services in the United Kingdom and the healthcare division of medical services group Assura after entering the British healthcare industry in 2011.

Virgin Group announced the establishment of Virgin Voyages on 4 December 2014 with financial backing from Bain Capital. The cruise line would be led by CEO Tom McAlpin, would have two new large ships built and be based in the Miami/Fort Lauderdale area.

The organisation became a delivery partner for the UK Government's Start Up Loans Company, providing loan finance of between £500 and £25,000, advice, and mentoring to thousands of start-ups across the country. In 2016, it was awarded European Regional Development Funding and subsequently launched Ready, Steady, Grow with Virgin StartUp, a programme of support aimed at start-ups that were ready to grow. A year later, it launched the UK's first equity-based crowdfunding accelerator programme, Crowdboost.

By 2018, the organisation had supported over 11,000 UK-based entrepreneurs, with over £35m in pre-seed funding.

In 2015, winners were given the opportunity to pitch Target Corporation buyers in the US. The 2015 winners included Pip & Nut, Double Dutch Drinks, Harry Bromptons, Cauli Rice, and Mallow and Marsh.

Only one start-up was announced winner of the 2017 Foodpreneur prize, The Snaffling Pig Co., who won a six-week rental space at intu Lakeside, the shopping centre with the highest foot traffic in the U.K.

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

1. Richard Branson (1970–2009)

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

• Absolute Radio: formerly Virgin Radio UK, rebranded in 2008
• Air Nigeria: Nigerian national airline launched as Virgin Nigeria, shares sold in 2010
• Connect Airways (Flybe): 30% stake held through Virgin Atlantic. Entered administration in March 2020.
• Virgin Airship and Balloon Company: Operating hot air balloons and airships for advertisers
• Liquid Comics: comic book producer formerly known as Virgin Comics—sold to management in 2008
• Vie at Home: cosmetics retailer formerly known as Virgin Vie, sold to management in 2009
• Virgin America: North American airline, sold to Alaska Air Group on 14 Dec 2016
• Virgin Brides: retailer specialising in bridal wear
• Virgin Care sold to Twenty20 Capital and rebranded as HCRG Care Group on 1 December 2021
• Virgin Cars: online car retailer, ceased trading in 2005
• Virgin Charter: online marketplace of private aircraft seat bookings
• Virgin Cinemas: sold to UGC in 1999
• Virgin Digital Help: technical support
• Virgin Drinks: drink manufacturer
• Virgin Cola: carbonated cola soft drink
• Virgin Vodka: alcoholic beverage
• v-Mix: spirit mixers
• Virgin Electronics: electronics retailer
• Virgin Energy: joint venture energy provider
• Virgin Express: airline based in Brussels, merged with SN Brussels Airlines in 2006 to form Brussels Airlines
• V Festival: British music festival sponsored by the Virgin Group
• V Festival (Australia): an Australian version of the V Festival
• Virgin Festival: a North American version of the V Festival
• Virgin Films: film production company
• Virgin Games: sold to Gamesys in 2013
• Virgin Green Fund: shut down in 2014
• Virgin Health Bank: sold to Qatar Foundation
• Virgin Hyperloop: High Speed Rail Travel - Rebranded back to previous name ‘Hyperloop One’, went bankrupt in January 2024.
• Virgin Interactive: Game Developer and publisher, bought by various companies, and renamed Avalon Interactive in 2003
• Virgin Limobike: Virgin Atlantic announced they will cut complimentary ground transfers for Upper Class passengers in February 2020 - Virgin Limobike has since rebranded to ‘Limobike’
• Virgin Limousines: a former limousine service that operated mostly in the US and Canada. It operated for 14 years, until November 2010.
• Virgin Media (including Virgin Mobile UK): UK Cable TV, broadband internet and Fixed and Mobile telephony provider—bought by Liberty Global
• Virgin Mobile Australia: mobile phone service provider in Australia—shares sold to Optus in 2006
• Virgin Mobile France: mobile phone service provider in France—shares sold to Numericable-SFR in 2014
• Virgin Mobile India: mobile phone service provider in India—shares sold to Tata Teleservices in 2015
• Virgin Mobile USA: mobile phone service provider in the USA—shares sold to Sprint Corporation in 2009, ceased operations in 2020.
• Virgin Money Australia: sold to Bank of Queensland
• Virgin Money US: sold in 2010
• Virgin Music: sold to Universal Music Group
• Virgin One account: shareholding sold to co-owner (RBS) in 2003
• Virgin Orbit: aerospace - declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy on 4 April 2023
• Virgin Play: Spanish game distributor and publisher, filed for liquidation and closed in 2009
• Virgin Plus: (formerly Virgin Mobile Canada) mobile phone service provider in Canada—shares sold to joint venture partner Bell Mobility in 2009
• Virgin Pure: Consumer goods company in partnership with Strauss Group, rebranded to Our Taap in 2025
• Virgin Sports: Active lifestyle company - Sold to LimeLight Sports in September 2020
• Virgin Sun Airlines: scheduled and charter airline, closed in 2001
• Virgin Snow, 1986 joint venture with Bladon Lines Ski VacationsSki - Feb 1986 Page 16 "The program, called "Virgin Snow." is available in seven resorts this season, including Zermatt, Verbier, Val dTsere and St. Anton."
• Virgin Trains ExpressCoach: former operator of inter-city bus & coach services (51%)
• Virgin CrossCountry: former operator of the Cross Country train franchise in the United Kingdom, superseded by Arriva CrossCountry in 2007 (51%)
• Virgin EMI Records: soundtrack label—owned by Universal Music Group
• Virgin Records: American music soundtrack label
• Virgin Racing: Formula One motor racing team
• Virgin Racing Formula E Team: Formula E motor racing team
• Virginware: clothing retailer
• Virgin Wines: online wine market, sold to Direct Wines in 2005
• Virgin Trains West Coast: train operating company on the West Coast Main Line. Renewed franchise bid unsuccessful, superseded by Avanti West Coast in December 2019 (51%)
• Virgin Trains East Coast: train operating company, supersed by London North Eastern Railway in June 2018 (10%)
• Brightline: train operating company between Miami and West Palm Beach, Florida. Branding deal launched in late 2018, ended in 2020.
• Virgin Video (aka Virgin Vision): home video distributor, sold to Orion Pictures in 1989.
• Virgin Vacations: Former USA based tour operator, closed on 31 March 2019