Chinese companies in the UK maintain impressive growth

Manufacturing sector drives revenue

Grant Thornton estimates that there are 13,000 China-owned businesses based in the UK.

The 800 businesses included in the Tou Ying tracker employ 71,000 people, up from 62,000 in 2018.

While so-called mid-market companies — or those with revenues between 50 million pounds and 1 billion pounds — account for less than 100 of the businesses listed, they provide almost two thirds of total employees.

Almost half of the companies are based in London, and Chinese companies also have a strong presence in the North and the Midlands, according to Grant Thornton.

The consumer sector is the most well represented area of industry, accounting for more than a quarter of the 800 companies, though the manufacturing and industrial sector is the biggest money-maker, generating 70 percent of total revenues.

Retail accounts for just more than half of Chinese businesses in the consumer sector. Chinese tourism company Jin Jiang acquired a majority stake in Radisson Hospitality in 2018, which increased Chinese representation in the hotel industry in the UK. Hotels now account for 10 percent of large Chinese businesses in the UK consumer sector, the same proportion as major restaurants and takeaway businesses in the Tou Ying tracker.

Large Chinese industrial, automotive, and chemical and gas companies are the most well represented in the UK manufacturing sector. This sector also supports the largest number of employees in the 800 companies listed, at 30,000 workers.