U.K. rates Google tops in business
A study of the top corporate brands in the U.K. listed Google as number one, dethroning the BBC and also bypassing Microsoft. Stephen Beard reports the survey identifies brands with the best British reputation.
The Google logo is photographed on a camera phone. (Photo illustration: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)
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Doug Krizner: The results of a new survey in the U.K. were released this morning. British business people rated the top corporate brands. Guess who's number one? Would you be surprised if I said Google, followed closely by Microsoft? Stephen Beard has more from London.
Stephen Beard: The survey is designed to identify the brands with the best reputation, and which have the biggest impact on British business.
Coming top is quite an achievement for Google. It pushed the state-owned broadcaster, the BBC, out of the number one slot. Beating Microsoft into second place must be gratifying, too.
Stephen Cheliotis of the Superbrands Consultancy, which carried out the survey:
Stephen Cheliotis: It's no fault of Microsoft, really. I don't think they've done anything wrong this year that's made them fall below Google. But I think Google just simply is riding on the crest of a wave and is in everyone's consciousness at the moment.
One brand name in the top 10 is on the face of it rather surprising. The oil giant BP is ranked number three. Its reputation in Britain apparently remains intact. All the damage was done in the U.S., with the Texas City refinery fire and the oil leaks in Alaska.
In London, this is Stephen Beard for Marketplace.
