The 15 Biggest Companies in Liverpool: Driving Growth and Innovation

Liverpool isn’t just famous for football and music—it’s also a dynamic business hub. The city’s commercial landscape is anchored by some of the UK’s most influential companies, driving jobs, innovation, and export success. Here are the top 15 companies based in Liverpool making waves in 2025.

---

1. The Very Group (formerly Shop Direct)

• Founders: David & Frederick Barclay
• Industry: Retail, Finance
• Overview: Headquartered in Speke since 2005, this online retail giant (Very, Littlewoods) is a driving force in ecommerce and flexible finance. Their Skyways HQ is a converted aircraft hangar, symbolising their modern, customer-first mindset thetimes.co.uk+5en.wikipedia.org+5thetimes.co.uk+5.

---

2. Hill Dickinson

• Founded: 1810 by Edward Morrall
• Industry: Commercial Law
• Overview: A powerhouse legal firm with 950 employees and £105M+ turnover, serving clients from maritime giants to global corporations. They’ve also been named title sponsors of Everton FC’s Bramley-Moore Dock stadium en.wikipedia.org+2en.wikipedia.org+2thetimes.co.uk+2.

---

3. Weightmans

• Founder: William Arthur Weightman (1827)
• Industry: Commercial Law
• Overview: Now a £126M+ turnover firm with over 1,400 professionals across the UK, Weightmans expanded through strategic mergers, becoming a top 40 legal provider with deep regional roots en.wikipedia.org.

---

4. Home Bargains

• Founder: Tom & Joe Morris (1976)
• Industry: Retail
• Overview: What started as a local Old Swan shop has grown into a national retail behemoth, offering bargains on everything from food to homeware. Tom Morris remains a key stakeholder in one of the UK’s fastest growing discounters en.wikipedia.org+1fiftyeight.io+1.

---

5. United Utilities

• HQ: Warrington, serves Liverpool region
• Industry: Water & Wastewater
• Overview: With nearly £2B in revenue and serving 7.3M people in North West England, this FTSE 100 company is a vital regional utility provider glassdoor.com+6sisinternational.com+6inspiringinterns.com+6en.wikipedia.org.

---

6. Robert Bosch (Liverpool)

• Parent Company: Bosch Group
• Industry: Industrial Technology
• Overview: As part of the global Bosch network, local operations in Liverpool employ advanced engineering in mobility, software, and automation — helping address global sustainability and tech needs theguardian.com+4glassdoor.com+4glassdoor.co.uk+4.

---

7. IBM (Liverpool)

• Industry: Technology & Consulting
• Overview: Part of IBM’s international presence, the Liverpool team supports global tech transformation — from AI and cloud to enterprise consulting within a centuries-old brand glassdoor.com+10glassdoor.com+10glassdoor.co.in+10.

---

8. Handepay

• Founder: Andy Peake (2006)
• Industry: FinTech/Payments
• Overview: With ~180 employees and 28,000+ UK merchants, Handepay (now part of PayPoint) has democratized card payments for small businesses, embodying quality and trust since launch glassdoor.com.

---

9. Peel Ports Group (Port of Liverpool)

• Industry: maritime, logistics
• Overview: One of the UK’s largest port operators, Peel Ports ensures Liverpool remains a key gateway for international trade and supply chains sisinternational.com.

---

10. Jaguar Land Rover – Halewood Plant

• Parent Company: JLR
• Industry: Automotive manufacturing
• Overview: Producing iconic Range Rovers and Leafs, the Liverpool-area Halewood facility is an advanced manufacturing site vital to JLR’s global operations sisinternational.com.

---

11. Unilever – Port Sunlight Factory

• Parent Company: Unilever
• Industry: Consumer Goods
• Overview: Iconic site producing household products, Port Sunlight supports innovation and sustainability under Unilever’s global footprint glassdoor.co.insisinternational.com.

---

12. Princes Group

• Founded: 1880 by Simpson & Roberts
• Industry: Food & Beverage
• Overview: Operating from the Royal Liver Building, Princes Group is a global canned food & soft drinks leader, merging century-old roots with modern supply chains clickliverpool.com.

---

13. Lucid Games

• Industry: Video Game Development
• Overview: Since 2011 from former Bizarre Creations, Lucid Games has developed hits like GTA: Liberty City Stories on mobile — a rising tech creative asset in Liverpool clickliverpool.com.

---

14. Renshaw

• Founded: 1898
• Industry: Baking & Confectionery
• Overview: Producing ~90% of the UK’s marzipan and decorative icing, this heritage brand remains a bakery sector leader with local and national impact theguardian.com+15clickliverpool.com+15theguardian.com+15.

---

15. Lime Pictures

• Formerly: Mersey Television
• Industry: TV & Media Production
• Overview: Creating hits like Geordie Shore and Hollyoaks from Childwall, Lime Pictures is a BAFTA-winning media powerhouse rooted in Liverpool’s creative scene glassdoor.com+3clickliverpool.com+3en.wikipedia.org+3.

---

What Liverpool’s Top Companies Have in Common

1. Long-Term Roots & Innovation: Many firms have operated for over a century (e.g., Renshaw, Weightmans), yet they continually evolve.
2. Global Reach & Local Power: Companies like Bosch and IBM combine multinational influence with local employment.
3. Diverse Industries: Liverpool’s economy spans legal, tech, retail, manufacturing, maritime, media, and food.
4. Commitment to Regional Growth: Major employers actively invest in jobs, sustainability, and innovation in Merseyside.

---

Why This Matters for Business Leaders

• Job Market Insights: Leading employers mean stable, high-skilled local talent.
• Partnership Opportunities: From logistics (Peel Ports) to manufacturing and media (Lime, Unilever).
• Market Growth Potential: Liverpool’s blend of creative and industrial sectors offers fertile ground for B2B, tech, and consumer businesses.

---

In Summary

Liverpool’s top 15 biggest companies combine heritage, innovation, and economic breadth. For business owners, investors, and executives, understanding this ecosystem is critical — whether you’re seeking tech partnerships, retail market insights, or global supply-chain collaborators.

📧 Need help with marketing business? We only charge based on the results we bring clients, no retainers, no hidden fees!

Contact us today at grow@dabrando.co.uk or explore our services to learn more, or Book A Free Discover Call to get started today!