About Walpole

OUR MISSION

Promoting, Protecting & Developing British Luxury

Walpole is the official sector body for UK luxury. Founded in 1992 as a not-for-profit organisation, it counts more than 250 British brands in its membership and is recognised in both Westminster and Brussels. As the voice of British luxury, Walpole’s purpose is to promote, protect and develop a sector worth £81 billion to the UK economy, and destined to become a world leader in sustainability.

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DAKS Simpson

The Savoy Group

The Financial Times

William Grant & Sons

British Airways

Chewton Glen

History

Formed in 1990 as ‘The Churchill Group’ by top-tier British companies, including British Airways, Chewton Glen, Coutts & Co, DAKS Simpson, The Financial Times, The Savoy Group and William Grant & Sons, the aim of the organisation was to promote British excellence, providing a community for the exchange of best practice ideas to drive business development. In 1992, The Churchill Group became Walpole, and in 2005, Walpole refined its mission statement from promoting British excellence to promoting, protecting and developing British luxury.

What Walpole does

Walpole is the UK’s only business organisation for luxury brands. Effective and influential, it speaks on behalf of more than 250 of Britain’s finest and most famous brands across a wide range of sectors, collectively worth £81 billion to the UK economy, contributing 3.7% of the UK’s GDP, and supporting over 450,000 jobs throughout the country.

Walpole’s members include British luxury icons such as Alexander McQueen; Burberry; Bentley Motors; dunhill; Farfetch; Fortnum & Mason; Gleneagles; Harrods; Mulberry; Penhaligon’s; Rolls-Royce Motor Cars; The Savoy and Wedgwood. It also represents many prestigious heritage brands - Church’s; Henry Poole & Co; Johnstons of Elgin; Ettinger; Lock & Co Hatters, for example - as well as emerging high-end British brands like Chapel Down Wines; Biscuiteers; Miller Harris and Bremont Watches, many of whom have come through Walpole’s flagship development programme, Brands of Tomorrow. Member brands are united by a common focus on discerning and affluent consumers and a shared mission to deliver world-class products and experiences.

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Walpole’s mission is to protect, promote and develop a sector that is the jewel in the crown of British business and a global calling card for British creativity, quality, entrepreneurship and sustainability, representing the very best Britain can do. Walpole achieves this by representing its members’ interests at home and abroad, building networks and encouraging collaboration within our community, and providing members with knowledge, insight and expertise.

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Walpole News

Public Policy

8th Apr 2025

How British luxury will compete in a post-tariff world

Walpole welcomes the Prime Minister's support for 'British brilliance' in the wake of US tariffs – announced earlier this week at JLR's manufacturing facility. But to help UK luxury brands compete in a post-tariff world, Walpole CEO Helen Brocklebank argues that the British government must reinstate Tax Free shopping as a matter of urgency

Public Policy

3rd Apr 2025

Walpole responds to announcement of US tariffs

On Wednesday 2nd April, the United States government under President Trump announced sweeping global trade tariffs. Here, Walpole CEO Helen Brocklebank explains how these could affect British luxury, what Walpole is doing to represent the sector to government in both Britain and Europe, and how you can help inform our response moving forward

Knowledge & Insights

31st Mar 2025

Introducing the latest edition of The Art of British Luxury Hospitality

Last week in New York City, we launched this new 2025 edition of The Art of British Luxury Hospitality. Created in association with Notable and Globetrender, the paper breaks down the key trends shaping the UK's luxury travel sector. Read the report and see all the photos from the event below...