Poll reveals Rolls-Royce as Britain’s best-loved trade mark

Rolls-Royce has been revealed as the British public’s most iconic trade mark, according to a new poll.

The survey was carried out of the Intellectual Property Office to celebrate the 150-year anniversary of trade mark registration in the UK.

Today, the IPO’s register protects more than 2.5 million marks – and as part of the celebrations, the public were asked to nominate their favourite.

Rolls-Royce, which has its civil aerospace and defence divisions in Derby topped the list, which included Twinings, Cadbury, Bass and the BBC.

Matthew Hill, head of intellectual property at Rolls-Royce, said: “Rolls-Royce has been at the forefront of advanced engineering and high value manufacturing for over a century.

“Being voted as having the IPO’s most iconic British trade mark recognises that history and our continuing commitment to powering, protecting and connecting people everywhere.

“We’re extremely proud to play our part in the UK’s trade mark story and look forward to continuing to lead the way in the future.”

The IPO said that Rolls-Royce captures more than a century of British engineering excellence and craftsmanship, from cars to aero engines for passenger jets.

Rolls-Royce, which is Derby’s largest private sector employer, originally established its operations in the city in 1908, evolving from luxury car manufacturing to world-leading aerospace engineering.

Today, it is also a key base for nuclear, with its site on Raynesway producing the reactor cores for Royal Navy submarines, while the firm also leads the way in the civil nuclear sector, through Rolls-Royce SMR.

According to the IPO, one of the respondents to its survey noted: “an iconic British brand name, which over time has become a worldwide metaphor for the best of the best”.

Another described Rolls-Royce simply as “the mark of quality”.

Adam Williams, chief executive of the IPO, said: “Trade marks are the foundation of brand trust.

“For 150 years, they’ve helped British businesses – from corner shops and market stalls to app stores and global online retailers – build lasting relationships with consumers and stand behind the quality of their products.

“This anniversary marks not just a legal milestone, but the enduring role that brands play in connecting businesses with the public.

“That’s still why businesses come to us today. The tens of thousands who register a trade mark each year are making a statement: we’ve built something good, and we’re putting our name to it.

“We’re proud to be custodians of a system that has supported British enterprise and innovation for generations, and we’re ready for the next 150 years.”