Google top in brand search

Feb 26 2008 by Iain Laing, The Journal

INTERNET giant Google has been rated the number one business brand in the UK.

The firm came top of the UK’s top 500 brands in an annual survey conducted by research firm Superbrands and based on the views of 1,500 professionals.

Google, which replaced the BBC in the top spot, is the only firm in the top 50 to have been established after 1990. Microsoft ranked second, followed by BP and the BBC. The list aims to establish which brands have the best reputation.

But there were two North East companies – Newcastle-based software giant Sage at number 137 and Sunderland-based transport company Arriva at 364 – on a list dominated by global brands based in national capitals.

Superbrands Council chairman Stephen Cheliotis said: “The top 10 positions are dominated by companies who are either British stalwarts such as BA and BP, or like GlaxoSmithKline can trace their origins to the UK.”

He added that on average the members of the top 50 are 90 years old, “demonstrating the power of longevity and familiarity in British business”.