The Virgin brand's early history is that of Virgin Records, founded in 1970 by Richard Branson and Nik Powell as a recorded-music retailer, first via mail order and in 1971 with a physical store. The name reflected their status as metaphorical virgins in business.
According to Branson, the signature-style logo, introduced in 1978, was based on one that designer Ray Kyte scribbled on a napkin after a design meeting. (An unrelated 1973 pictorial logo for the Virgin record label was designed by Roger Dean.) Branson has described the "V" in the 1978 logo as an expressive tick, representing the Virgin seal of approval.
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.
Virgin StartUp
Virgin StartUp is the Virgin Group's non-profit company, helping entrepreneurs across the UK to start, fund and scale their business.
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.
Foodpreneur
In 2014, Branson and Virgin StartUp launched the "Foodpreneur" food and drink focused start-up competition. Winners received mentorship from Branson, legal support, and brand counselling. The 2014 winners included Proper Beans, Killer Tomato, Sweetpea Pantry, and Sweet Virtues.
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 UK.
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 Vacations: Former USA-based tour operator, closed on 31 March 2019
Controversies
In 2017, Virgin Care received significant media coverage for suing clinical commissioning groups in Surrey after it lost out on an £82 million National Health Service (NHS) contract to provide children's health services across the country. The NHS bodies settled out of court with a £328,000 payout. More than 100,000 people backed a petition calling on the company to stop "dragging the NHS through the courts". Virgin Care was sold in 2021 and rebranded HCRG Care.
↑Ski - Feb 1986 Page 16; Archived 4 April 2019 at the Wayback Machine "The program, called 'Virgin Snow,' is available in seven resorts this season, including Zermatt, Verbier, Val dTsere and St. Anton."
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£16.6 billion (2019)
