UK's Most Powerful 100 Brands 2026 › Arup
#43 of 100 – Aerospace & Engineering

Arup

An employee-owned engineering, design and advisory firm working on buildings, infrastructure and energy projects around the world.

By Abhimanyu Ghosh, Chairman, WCRC, with the WCRC Business Intelligence Unit · November 2026

Provisional score
WCRC UK's Most Powerful 100 Brands 2026 badge: Arup #43
Power Score65.92out of 100
UK rank#43 of 100
HeadquartersLondon, England
Founded1946
Latest revenue£2.2bn revenue
Global rankOutside top 100

Arup in brief

  • Rank: #43 of 100 in UK's Most Powerful 100 Brands 2026; #3 of 4 in Aerospace & Engineering.
  • WCRC Power Score: 65.92 out of 100.
  • Founded: 1946, by Ove Arup.
  • Owner: Arup Group Limited (employee-owned trusts), London, England.
  • Leadership: Jerome Frost, Chief Executive (Hilde Tonne, Chair).
  • Latest revenue: £2.2bn revenue (FY2025, year to Mar 2025, -2.0%), group revenue of Arup Group Limited, as per company filings.

What makes Arup powerful

Arup is one of the most respected names in engineering design. Founded by Ove Arup in London in 1946, it has worked on landmark structures around the world and built a reputation for solving hard technical problems in buildings, transport, water and energy.

Its ownership model is a core strength. Held in trust for its employees, Arup has no outside shareholders to satisfy, so it can invest in research, take on complex projects and keep a long-term view. In the year to March 2025 it generated revenue of £2.16 billion and operating profit of £58.5 million. Under chief executive Jerome Frost, the firm says it has set a course for growth.

Arup cut its headcount by 810 in the year to March 2025.

Why Arup ranks #43

Arup sits 43rd with a WCRC Power Score of 65.92, between Greggs and Nurofen. Product & innovation leads at 70, reflecting its engineering reputation, while Trust and Sustainability & governance both score 68, helped by employee ownership. Positioning & recall at 62 reflects lower consumer awareness, and Digital & financial at 60 is its weakest pillar after slightly lower revenue and job cuts in its latest year.

The Achilles' heel

Arup's revenue slipped 2% to £2.16 billion in the year to March 2025, and accounts show it has spent more than £43 million on cost-cutting over two years, reducing headcount by 810 in 2024/25. Slower construction markets, especially in property, and pressure on consultancy fees squeeze margins.

The 2026 story

Arup's results for the year to 31 March 2025, issued in November 2025, showed revenue of £2.16 billion, down 2%, and operating profit of £58.5 million, against £59.1 million a year earlier. Headcount fell by 810. Jerome Frost is chief executive and Hilde Tonne chairs the board. The firm described the year as a resilient performance and said it had set a course for growth, while its Irish arm reported lower profits in February 2026.

Pillar profile

Brand Positioning & Recall (28%)
62
Consumer Trust & Sentiment (26%)
68
Product, Innovation & Delivery (20%)
70
Sustainability, Governance & ESG (16%)
68
Digital Presence & Financial Soundness (10%)
60

Provisional desk scores out of 100, for the WCRC Business Intelligence Unit to validate.

Versus its nearest rivals

41BupaHealthcare · 65.9242GreggsHospitality · 65.9243ArupAerospace · 65.9244NurofenConsumer · 65.7245VodafoneTelecom · 65.68

Questions people ask

What rank is Arup in WCRC's UK's Most Powerful Brands 2026?

Arup ranks #43 of 100 in WCRC's UK's Most Powerful 100 Brands 2026, with a WCRC Power Score of 65.92 out of 100.

What makes Arup powerful?

Independence through employee ownership and a portfolio of landmark projects give it a reputation for technical ambition that attracts top talent and clients.

What is Arup's revenue?

£2.2bn revenue (FY2025, year to Mar 2025, -2.0%), group revenue of Arup Group Limited, as per company filings.

Who founded and owns Arup?

Arup was founded in 1946 by Ove Arup. It is owned by Arup Group Limited (employee-owned trusts) and based in London, England.

Who leads Arup?

Jerome Frost, Chief Executive (Hilde Tonne, Chair).

What is Arup's biggest challenge?

Slightly lower revenue and job cuts show pressure from slower construction markets.

Also featured in

Key facts

BrandArup
Company / ownerArup Group Limited (employee-owned trusts)
HeadquartersLondon, England, United Kingdom
Founded1946
Founder(s)Ove Arup
LeadershipJerome Frost, Chief Executive (Hilde Tonne, Chair)
Latest revenue£2.2bn revenue (FY2025, year to Mar 2025, -2.0%), group revenue of Arup Group Limited, as per company filings
SectorAerospace & Engineering
Websitearup.com
Home countryUnited Kingdom

Sources

  • Revenue figure published by Arup Group Limited
  • Company website, official announcements and press releases
  • Published interviews and statements by the leadership
  • WCRC Business Intelligence Unit research: consumer sentiment, ratings and reviews, search demand, media and social data
Want the full picture? For the detailed methodology, a brand's full assessment report, or the parameters behind a score, contact the WCRC Business Intelligence Unit at consulting@wcrcint.com.
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Disclaimer
  1. Who was considered. Only brands whose owners publish financial results were considered. Brands that do not publish their financials have not been assessed or ranked. Not being on this list says nothing about a brand's quality.
  2. Eligibility. Ranked brands generally qualify through UK founding or an owner headquartered in the UK for more than 30 years, together with current UK ownership and control. Dove and Formula 1 are included as classification exceptions. WCRC carries forward the British classification assigned to each in its global 2026 ranking. This classification does not establish that either brand meets the standard UK ownership and control test.
  3. Independent opinion. This ranking is WCRC's independent research and opinion, based on publicly available information as of November 2026. It is not an endorsement of any brand. No brand paid to be included, and inclusion cannot be bought.
  4. Not a valuation. The WCRC Power Score measures brand strength across 50 parameters. It is not a financial valuation of any brand or company, including on the Most Valuable list.
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  6. Scores. Scores are WCRC's assessment at the time of research. They are opinions, not measurements, and may be revised.
  7. Revenue and facts. Revenue is shown as reported in company filings and published results for the latest available financial year. WCRC has not audited any figure. Facts in the brand articles are checked twice against independent public sources, but errors are possible.
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