Investing in the British companies you use every day

We’re often told to invest in what we know – and there’s a surprisingly large number of companies on the UK stock market embedded into everyday life.

From the moment we wake up, get dressed and have breakfast, go to work and come home again, there are oodles of touch points with companies whose shares can be bought at the click of a button. There’s a high chance you’re engaging with British businesses without even knowing it.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves wants the public to invest in British companies because it could benefit the economy, enhance personal wealth and improve the UK stock market’s reputation. Many UK investors have been lured by faster growth opportunities overseas in the past decade, such as tech stocks in the US, but there is a lot to offer at home.

The FTSE 100 has been a fruitful place to make money for patient individuals. Someone who used a Stocks and shares ISA and put £100 into a FTSE 100 tracker fund every month for the past 10 years would now have a pot worth £20,357*. That works out as £12,000 of personal contributions and £8,357 of investment gains.

Investing little and often, and reinvesting all dividends, can have a snowball effect and leave you with something substantial in time.

*Source: AJ Bell, FE Analytics. Data to 31 March 2026. Based on performance of the iShares Core FTSE 100 ETF (CUKX).

How we interact with companies on the UK stock market

The morning routine

Most people jump in the shower as soon as they wake up. They might reach for Dove body wash, lotions and deodorants all supplied by Unilever. The energy to heat the home and shower might be supplied by Centrica, owner of British Gas, or from SSE, while the bathroom might have been cleaned using products from Reckitt such as Harpic, or Unilever’s Domestos. We all want to look the part at work, and many skin care products contain ingredients from Croda.

Breakfast time

Associated British Foods is best known as the owner of Primark, yet it is also responsible for many of the products that fill our bellies before work including a nice cuppa and a slice of toast. Its brands include Twinings tea, Kingsmill bread and Dorset Cereals muesli. Meanwhile, the kitchen from which you eat your breakfast might have been supplied by Howden Joinery.

Commute to work

Millions of people commute to work by car and various names on the UK stock market play a key role. AutoTrader is a popular place to buy a car, Admiral is a major motor insurer, and the petrol to get from A to B is often bought from a BP petrol station.

At work

Once you get to work, the office block might be owned by Land Securities or British Land. If you work in a factory, there’s a good chance that Diploma supplies the essential widgets to keep the placing running.

Those working for small businesses might find their employer has turned to Lloyds or NatWest for growth funding. You might even get your salary paid into an account with one of these banks.

Lunch time

It’s common for people to nip out and buy a sandwich, with meal deals from Tesco a popular choice. Those looking for something fancier might go to Marks & Spencer, or some people have a canteen at work with Compass providing the catering. Some workers may even find time to pop to the shops for some retail therapy like buying new clothes from Next during their lunch break.

Quick drink after work

There’s a lot to be said for unwinding with colleagues or friends after work in the pub. Those choosing a pint of Guinness will be lining Diageo’s pockets.

Errands on the way home

You might stop by your local convenience store or visit a parcel locker after work to pick up something you’ve bought online. Most people don’t give a moment’s thought to who provided the cardboard packaging, but there’s a good chance it will have been Mondi.

The evening routine

Once you’ve cooked your dinner, you might want to kick back and put your feet up. Your current home may have been built by Barratt Redrow or Persimmon, and you might be thinking about moving to a new place and browse property listings on Rightmove.

It’s been a busy day, and those who are suffering with a headache may take a Panadol tablet made by Haleon before heading to bed.

All these companies sit inside the FTSE 100, an index of the 100 biggest companies on the UK stock market. They’re successful because people continuously use their products and services. Their brands are well known and trusted, and they’re in the top league for their respective markets. On average, their shares are not expensive, and many pay generous dividends.

Three ways to invest in the UK stock market

There are three ways to invest in British businesses. You can buy shares in individual companies, tracker funds that mirror the performance of a basket of shares such as the FTSE 100 index, or active funds where a professional curates a portfolio of UK shares based on their best ideas.

From the names mentioned in the analysis of companies we interact with daily, factory parts-to-healthcare products distributor Diploma is the best performing UK share over the past 10 years. It has generated an 848% total return which factors in share price gains and dividends. In plain English, that means £100 invested a decade ago is now worth £948.

Across the whole of the FTSE 100, Games Workshop is the best performer over 10 years, returning 4,640%. Someone who bought £100 worth of shares a decade ago would now have an investment worth £4,740. Games Workshop is best known for the Warhammer series of fantasy figures and board games, so some investors may also have engaged with their products during their spare time.

Examples of UK tracker funds include iShares Core FTSE 100 ETF. Among actively managed investments, the standout performers over 10 years are investment trust Rockwood Strategic with a 314% total return and the Artemis SmartGARP UK Equity fund which has returned 255%. That compares to 144% from the FTSE 100**.”

**Data source: AJ Bell, FE Analytics, ShareScope, 17 April 2026.