Who Are the Best Companies to Work for in the UK in 2026, and Do They Sponsor Work Visas?
Reviewed by: UK Visa Jobs Editorial Team | Estimated reading time: 13–15 minutes
Finding a great employer is about more than salary. Culture, flexibility, career development and the quality of management can all determine whether a job becomes a long-term career opportunity or simply another line on your CV.
For international job seekers, however, there is another factor that can outweigh almost everything else: visa sponsorship.
A company might be one of the best places to work in Britain, but that distinction is of limited practical value if it cannot or will not sponsor the role you are applying for.
That is why UK Visa Jobs has taken a closer look at Glassdoor’s Best Places to Work in the UK 2026 ranking, not simply to repeat the top 10, but to examine it from the perspective of people who need a Skilled Worker visa to build their careers in the UK.
And this year’s ranking tells an interesting story.
Technology remains highly prominent, but financial services has made a noticeable advance. SAP has taken the number-one position from Arm; Mastercard and Google have entered the top three, and companies including NFU Mutual, Kraken and Royal London have broken into the top 10.
There is also encouraging news for international professionals: the relevant UK entities associated with all 10 employers can sponsor workers under the Skilled Worker route.
But there is an important catch.
Being a licensed sponsor does not mean every job at that company comes with sponsorship.
For international candidates, the real question is therefore not simply “Does this company sponsor visas?” but:
“How realistic is it that this company will sponsor someone for the type of job I am applying for?”
That distinction is central to understanding this year’s ranking.
In This Article
- The best companies to work for in the UK in 2026
- 1. SAP
- 2. Mastercard
- 3. Google
- 4. Mars
- 5. Arm
- 6. NFU Mutual
- 7. Kraken
- 8. Royal London
- 9. Equal Experts
- 10. EasyJet
- What does the 2026 ranking tell international job seekers?
- What has changed from 2025?
- Which companies look most interesting for visa applicants?
- Sponsor licence vs visa-sponsored job: what is the difference?
- What are the Skilled Worker visa requirements in 2026?
- Should you apply only to companies in Glassdoor’s top 10?
- Frequently asked questions
- Final thoughts
The Best Companies to Work for in the UK in 2026
| Rank | Company | Industry | Skilled Worker sponsor capability |
| 1 | SAP | Enterprise software and technology | Yes |
| 2 | Mastercard | Payments and financial technology | Yes |
| 3 | Technology | Yes | |
| 4 | Mars | Consumer goods and manufacturing | Yes, through relevant UK entities |
| 5 | Arm | Semiconductors and technology | Yes |
| 6 | NFU Mutual | Insurance and financial services | Yes, through a relevant UK entity |
| 7 | Kraken | Energy technology and software | Yes |
| 8 | Royal London | Insurance and financial services | Yes |
| 9 | Equal Experts | Software and technology consultancy | Yes |
| 10 | EasyJet | Aviation | Yes |
Ranking source: Glassdoor Best Places to Work UK 2026. Sponsor capability checked against the Home Office Register of Licensed Sponsors.
Glassdoor’s ranking is based on employee feedback rather than employer nominations. That makes it useful for understanding how employees experience areas such as culture, career opportunities, management and work-life balance.
Visa applicants, however, need to look one step further.
1. SAP
Industry: Enterprise software and technology
2026 Glassdoor ranking: #1
Skilled Worker sponsor: Yes
SAP has climbed from fourth place in the 2025 ranking to become Glassdoor’s best company to work for in the UK in 2026.
Employee feedback highlights flexible working, opportunities to learn about cutting-edge technology and supportive teams.
Those characteristics help explain SAP’s position at the top of the ranking, but there is another reason the company deserves attention from international professionals.
SAP operates in exactly the type of high-skilled sector in which visa sponsorship tends to be most relevant.
The company recruits across software engineering, enterprise technology, artificial intelligence, cloud computing, cybersecurity, data, consulting and other specialist functions.
SAP’s relevant UK entity holds a Skilled Worker sponsor licence.
What does this mean for international candidates?
SAP should be on the radar of experienced technology professionals who require sponsorship.
That does not mean every SAP vacancy will be sponsored. General commercial, administrative or junior positions may not necessarily meet the requirements or the company’s internal sponsorship policy.
The strongest opportunities are likely to be roles where SAP needs specialist skills and where the position meets Skilled Worker eligibility requirements.
Looking for visa-sponsored SAP jobs? Search “SAP” on UK Visa Jobs.
2. Mastercard
Industry: Payments and financial technology
2026 Glassdoor ranking: #2
Skilled Worker sponsor: Yes
Mastercard is one of the biggest additions to the top of this year’s list, entering at number two.
Employees praise its benefits, flexible working environment and culture of valuing diverse talent.
But Mastercard’s appearance near the top also reflects a broader trend in the 2026 ranking: the boundary between technology and financial services is becoming increasingly blurred.
Modern payments businesses require software engineers, cybersecurity specialists, data scientists, product managers, analysts and technology consultants alongside traditional finance professionals.
That makes Mastercard particularly relevant to internationally mobile workers.
What does this mean for international candidates?
Mastercard may offer strong prospects for experienced candidates working in technology, payments, cybersecurity, analytics and specialist financial roles.
Candidates should still check individual vacancies carefully. Being employed by a multinational company does not automatically mean sponsorship is available for every UK position.
Search “Mastercard” on UK Visa Jobs for current sponsorship opportunities.
3. Google
Industry: Technology
2026 Glassdoor ranking: #3
Skilled Worker sponsor: Yes
Google enters the UK top 10 in third place.
Employees highlight compensation, access to leading technology, flexibility and the ability to move between teams and products.
For visa-dependent workers, Google is also one of the least surprising companies to see on this list.
Large technology businesses compete globally for highly specialised talent, and Google’s UK operations recruit across areas including software engineering, artificial intelligence, machine learning, cloud computing, product management and data science.
What does this mean for international candidates?
Among the top 10 companies, Google is particularly relevant to highly skilled international technology professionals.
Competition is intense, however.
Google's ability to sponsor workers should not be confused with sponsorship being easy to obtain. Applicants still need to secure an eligible role and compete successfully against a strong candidate pool.
Search “Google” on UK Visa Jobs to find relevant visa sponsorship jobs.
4. Mars
Industry: Consumer goods and manufacturing
2026 Glassdoor ranking: #4
Skilled Worker sponsor: Yes, through relevant UK entities
Mars moves from fifth place in 2025 to fourth in 2026.
Employee feedback points towards work-life balance, benefits, career opportunities and purpose-led leadership.
Mars is also useful evidence that visa sponsorship opportunities are not restricted to technology companies and consultancies.
Its UK businesses employ professionals across engineering, research and development, manufacturing, supply chain, procurement, finance and digital technology.
What does this mean for international candidates?
Mars may be worth targeting if you have specialist experience in engineering, manufacturing, supply chain, research, technology or other skilled corporate functions.
Applicants should pay particular attention to the legal entity advertising the vacancy because sponsorship licences can sit with individual companies within a larger corporate group.
Search “Mars” on UK Visa Jobs for available opportunities.
5. Arm
Industry: Semiconductors and technology
2026 Glassdoor ranking: #5
Skilled Worker sponsor: Yes
Arm topped Glassdoor’s UK list in 2025 and remains firmly among the country’s best-rated employers despite moving to fifth place this year.
Employees continue to value its empowering culture, flexibility, development opportunities and access to highly skilled colleagues.
For international candidates, Arm remains one of the most interesting employers in the entire ranking.
The semiconductor industry depends on specialist technical skills and Arm recruits across chip architecture, hardware engineering, embedded systems, software engineering, machine learning and related disciplines.
What does this mean for international candidates?
If you work in semiconductors, advanced computing or specialist engineering, Arm arguably deserves more attention than its fifth-place ranking might suggest.
Glassdoor rank measures employee experience. It does not measure the likelihood of securing sponsorship.
For a skilled international engineer, those two rankings could look very different.
Search “Arm” on UK Visa Jobs for visa-sponsored vacancies.
6. NFU Mutual
Industry: Insurance and financial services
2026 Glassdoor ranking: #6
Skilled Worker sponsor: Yes, through a relevant UK entity
NFU Mutual is a new addition to the top 10.
Employees highlight hybrid working, supportive management, career development and strong benefits.
Its inclusion alongside Mastercard and Royal London is one of the clearest changes in the 2026 ranking: financial services employers are becoming much more prominent among Britain’s highest-rated workplaces.
NFU Mutual recruits across actuarial work, technology, analytics, finance, pricing, underwriting and risk.
What does this mean for international candidates?
Specialist roles in actuarial science, technology, data and analytics may be more relevant to sponsored applicants than general insurance or entry-level positions.
This illustrates an important principle for visa seekers: the employer’s sponsor status matters less than the job you are applying for.
Two people applying to the same company may have completely different sponsorship prospects depending on their occupation, salary and level of experience.
Search “NFU Mutual” on UK Visa Jobs for relevant opportunities.
7. Kraken
Industry: Energy technology and software
2026 Glassdoor ranking: #7
Skilled Worker sponsor: Yes
Kraken is one of the most interesting companies in this year’s ranking.
It has risen dramatically from number 40 in 2025 to number seven in 2026.
Importantly, this is Kraken Technologies, the energy technology business, rather than the cryptocurrency exchange.
Employees praise its collaborative culture, international team and mission around the transition to a smarter, more sustainable energy system.
Kraken also represents another trend worth watching: the growth of companies operating at the intersection of technology, energy and climate.
What does this mean for international candidates?
Kraken may be particularly worth watching for software engineers and other technology specialists who want to work in the energy transition.
Its rapid rise in Glassdoor’s ranking also makes it one of the companies UK Visa Jobs would watch most closely over the next few years.
It is a reminder that some of the most interesting opportunities for international talent may come from rapidly expanding businesses rather than only established technology giants.
Search “Kraken” on UK Visa Jobs for current sponsored opportunities.
8. Royal London
Industry: Insurance and financial services
2026 Glassdoor ranking: #8
Skilled Worker sponsor: Yes
Royal London is another newcomer to the top 10.
Employees highlight hybrid working, supportive management, benefits and training opportunities.
Alongside NFU Mutual, its arrival strengthens one of the biggest themes of the 2026 ranking: insurance and financial services are becoming increasingly attractive sectors from an employee-experience perspective.
For international professionals, Royal London may offer opportunities across actuarial work, investments, technology, cybersecurity, data, finance and risk.
What does this mean for international candidates?
Royal London could be particularly relevant to specialists rather than generalist candidates.
Actuaries, investment professionals, technology specialists and experienced data professionals are more likely to find roles aligned with Skilled Worker requirements than applicants targeting lower-paid operational positions.
Search “Royal London” on UK Visa Jobs for suitable visa sponsorship opportunities.
9. Equal Experts
Industry: Software and technology consultancy
2026 Glassdoor ranking: #9
Skilled Worker sponsor: Yes
Equal Experts ranked second in 2025 and remains inside the top 10 at number nine.
Its employee proposition is somewhat different from that of many large consultancies. Staff frequently highlight autonomy, trust, flexibility and a people-first culture.
The business also focuses heavily on experienced technology practitioners.
What does this mean for international candidates?
Equal Experts may be more attractive to experienced developers, data specialists, product professionals and technology consultants than to candidates at the beginning of their careers.
Applicants should also distinguish carefully between permanent employment and independent associate or contractor opportunities because the immigration implications are not the same.
Search “Equal Experts” on UK Visa Jobs for relevant sponsored jobs.
10. EasyJet
Industry: Aviation
2026 Glassdoor ranking: #10
Skilled Worker sponsor: Yes
EasyJet remains in the top 10, moving from sixth place in 2025 to tenth this year.
Employees highlight travel benefits, supportive colleagues and career development opportunities.
The airline recruits across a diverse range of functions, from aviation and engineering to technology, data and corporate roles.
What does this mean for international candidates?
EasyJet demonstrates particularly clearly why candidates should not treat a sponsor licence as a blanket promise.
An airline may employ thousands of people across dozens of occupations, but only some of those roles are likely to satisfy the relevant immigration requirements and the company’s sponsorship policy.
Specialist engineering, technology and professional roles may therefore be more realistic targets for visa-dependent applicants than many operational positions.
Search “EasyJet” on UK Visa Jobs for relevant opportunities.
What Does the 2026 Ranking Tell International Job Seekers?
Looking beyond the individual companies, several patterns stand out.
Technology is still the strongest sector for global talent
SAP, Google, Arm, Kraken and Equal Experts all sit inside the top 10, while Mastercard is itself heavily technology-driven.
That matters to international professionals because many technology occupations involve specialist skills, higher salaries and international recruitment.
Those characteristics can make them more compatible with Skilled Worker sponsorship.
For software engineers, cloud specialists, AI professionals, data scientists and experienced technology consultants, the 2026 list contains several employers worth monitoring.
Financial services has become much more prominent
Mastercard, NFU Mutual and Royal London all appear in the top eight.
That is one of the most significant differences between the 2025 and 2026 rankings.
For international candidates, this broadens the opportunity beyond traditional technology firms.
Actuaries, risk professionals, investment specialists, data professionals, cybersecurity experts and technology workers within financial services may find an increasingly interesting set of employers to target.
A sponsor licence is only the starting point
Perhaps the most important lesson from this exercise is that asking whether a company “sponsors visas” can be misleading.
All 10 employers have relevant entities with Skilled Worker sponsorship capability, yet an international graduate applying for a relatively junior commercial position and an experienced AI engineer applying for a specialist technology role are unlikely to have the same sponsorship prospects.
The employer is only one part of the equation.
The occupation, salary, seniority, immigration rules and employer’s willingness to sponsor that particular vacancy all matter.
Experienced specialists remain in the strongest position
The 2026 ranking contains some excellent employers for international workers, but many of the most obvious sponsorship opportunities are concentrated in specialist occupations.
That makes experience increasingly valuable.
Candidates with expertise in areas such as software engineering, AI, semiconductors, cybersecurity, actuarial science, data and engineering are likely to have more options than applicants searching for broad entry-level corporate roles.
That does not mean graduates cannot obtain sponsorship.
It means they need to be much more selective about the roles and employers they target.
What Has Changed from 2025?
The 2026 ranking looks substantially different from the previous year.
SAP replaces Arm at number one
Arm was Glassdoor’s highest-ranked UK employer in 2025, while SAP sat fourth.
This year the positions have shifted significantly: SAP has risen to number one, and Arm has moved to fifth.
Both remain particularly interesting employers for international technology professionals.
Mastercard and Google enter the top three
Mastercard and Google were not in the 2025 top 10 but take second and third place respectively in 2026.
Their arrival strengthens the dominance of technology and technology-enabled businesses at the top of the ranking.
Financial services have gained ground
NFU Mutual and Royal London are new top-10 entrants, while Mastercard also operates at the intersection of finance and technology.
Compared with 2025, the list therefore offers a broader mix of potentially interesting employers for candidates working in finance, insurance, risk, actuarial science and associated technology roles.
Kraken is the standout mover
Kraken’s jump from number 40 in 2025 to number seven in 2026 is arguably the most striking movement in this year’s ranking.
It also introduces another potentially important sector for international workers: climate and energy technology.
Five members of the 2025 top 10 have dropped out
Informa, ServiceNow, Capgemini Invent, Telent and Boston Consulting Group were all in the top 10 in 2025 but no longer appear there this year.
That should not be interpreted as evidence that they have suddenly become poor employers.
Glassdoor’s list is a relative ranking based on employee feedback, and companies can move considerably from one year to another.
For job seekers, it's better viewed as one useful signal than an absolute verdict on employer quality.
Which Companies Look Most Interesting for Visa Applicants?
Glassdoor’s ranking tells us which companies employees rate highly.
If we were looking specifically through the lens of an international professional who requires sponsorship, we would not necessarily rank the companies in exactly the same order.
For technology professionals
Google, SAP, Arm, Kraken and Equal Experts stand out.
Arm may be particularly compelling for semiconductor and hardware specialists, while Google and SAP offer a broader range of international technology careers.
Kraken is worth watching as an emerging option in energy technology.
For finance and data professionals
Mastercard, Royal London and NFU Mutual deserve particular attention.
Highly skilled applicants in areas such as analytics, actuarial science, risk, cybersecurity and financial technology may find stronger sponsorship prospects than candidates applying to more general operational positions.
For engineers
Arm, Mars and EasyJet may all offer relevant specialist opportunities, depending on discipline.
Again, job eligibility matters far more than company size alone.
For graduates
The picture is more complicated.
A company having a Skilled Worker sponsor licence does not mean its graduate scheme offers sponsorship.
Graduate salaries, occupation eligibility and individual recruitment policies can all affect whether sponsorship is possible.
International graduates should therefore avoid assuming that applying to a licensed sponsor automatically solves the visa problem.
Sponsor Licence vs Visa-Sponsored Job: What Is the Difference?
This distinction is worth emphasising.
A company appearing on the Home Office Register of Licensed Sponsors means it is authorised to sponsor qualifying workers.
It does not mean:
- every vacancy qualifies for the Skilled Worker visa
- the company is willing to sponsor every eligible candidate
- all graduate schemes offer sponsorship
- every occupation within the company is eligible
- the advertised salary meets the required threshold
A genuinely useful visa job search therefore needs to go beyond the sponsor register.
International candidates should look for jobs where the employer, occupation, salary and sponsorship policy all align.
That is exactly the gap UK Visa Jobs aims to address.
What Are the Skilled Worker Visa Requirements in 2026?
The Skilled Worker route has requirements relating to the employer, occupation, salary and applicant.
Salary rules vary depending on the occupation and the applicant’s circumstances. Candidates should therefore check the current rules before relying on a salary figure quoted in a job advert or older article.
UK immigration rules can change, so GOV.UK should be treated as the authoritative source for current eligibility requirements.
Should You Apply Only to Companies in Glassdoor’s Top 10?
No.
This ranking can help identify employers with highly rated workplace cultures, but it should not become a shortlist of the only companies international applicants consider.
There are thousands of licensed sponsors in the UK, including smaller businesses that may have a genuine need for specialist international talent.
A company outside Glassdoor’s top 50 could therefore be a much better target for a particular candidate than the number-one employer on the list.
The strongest job search strategy combines several factors:
- whether the employer is licensed to sponsor
- whether sponsorship is available for the specific vacancy
- whether the role meets Skilled Worker requirements
- how closely your skills match the position
- how much competition exists for the job
- whether the employer has a genuine need for international talent
- workplace culture and long-term career prospects
Glassdoor can help with the final point.
It cannot answer all the others.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best company to work for in the UK in 2026?
According to Glassdoor’s Best Places to Work in the UK 2026 ranking, SAP is number one, followed by Mastercard, Google, Mars and Arm.
Which companies in Glassdoor’s 2026 top 10 can sponsor Skilled Worker visas?
Relevant UK entities associated with SAP, Mastercard, Google, Mars, Arm, NFU Mutual, Kraken, Royal London, Equal Experts and EasyJet have Skilled Worker sponsorship capability.
This means they can sponsor qualifying workers. It does not mean every vacancy offers sponsorship.
Does Google sponsor visas in the UK?
Google’s relevant UK entity is a licensed Skilled Worker sponsor. Whether sponsorship is available depends on the particular vacancy and candidate.
Does Arm sponsor UK work visas?
Arm’s relevant UK entity holds a Skilled Worker sponsor licence. Sponsorship availability should still be confirmed for each individual vacancy.
Which industries are best for UK visa sponsorship?
There is no industry that guarantees sponsorship, but highly skilled sectors such as technology, engineering, financial services and certain scientific disciplines can provide more opportunities because employers recruit for specialist skills and roles may be more likely to meet Skilled Worker requirements.
Can international graduates get visa sponsorship from these companies?
Potentially, but graduate sponsorship varies considerably between employers and programmes.
Candidates should check the individual role rather than relying solely on the employer’s sponsor status.
How can I find jobs that actually offer visa sponsorship?
Rather than starting with every vacancy advertised by a licensed sponsor, international candidates can use UK Visa Jobs to focus on opportunities relevant to people who require visa sponsorship to work in the UK.
Final Thoughts
Glassdoor’s 2026 ranking shows that some of Britain’s highest-rated employers are also companies with the ability to recruit international talent.
SAP takes the top position, Mastercard and Google enter the top three and Arm remains one of Britain’s most attractive technology employers.
The arrival of NFU Mutual and Royal London also suggests that financial services deserve more attention from international professionals, while Kraken’s dramatic rise highlights the growing appeal of energy technology.
But the most important conclusion for visa applicants is not that all 10 companies have sponsorship capability.
It is that sponsor status alone should never determine where you apply. You can find employers with a track record of sponsoring on the UK Visa Jobs companies page.
The strongest opportunities arise when a highly rated employer also has a genuine need for your skills, an eligible vacancy, sufficient salary and a willingness to sponsor that particular role.
For an international job seeker, that is a much more useful definition of a great company to work for.
Looking for your next opportunity in the UK? Search UK Visa Jobs for the latest jobs offering visa sponsorship and focus your applications on employers looking for international talent.
About This Guide
This guide was researched and prepared by the UK Visa Jobs Editorial Team to help international professionals understand which of the UK’s highest-rated employers are able to sponsor overseas workers.
Ranking positions are taken from Glassdoor’s Best Places to Work UK 2026 award. Sponsor capability was checked against the Home Office Register of Licensed Sponsors published on 28 August 2026. Our career guides are periodically reviewed to reflect meaningful changes in UK recruitment, employer demand and immigration requirements.
Disclaimer
This article is intended for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or immigration advice. A sponsor licence does not guarantee that an employer will sponsor any particular vacancy. Visa requirements, salary thresholds and employer sponsorship policies can change. Always check current UK Government guidance and confirm sponsorship arrangements directly with prospective employers.
