The UK arm of Garmin, the maker of GPS watches, cycling computers and marine and aviation electronics, with its European headquarters near Southampton.
Garmin makes devices that use satellite navigation and sensors. Its UK business sells and supports sports and fitness watches (such as the Forerunner and fenix ranges), cycling computers, golf devices, outdoor handhelds and satellite communicators such as inReach, car navigators, boat chartplotters and sonar, and aviation equipment. Garmin's online service, Garmin Connect, lets people see data from their devices on a phone. In the UK the company trades through Garmin (Europe) Limited, which is registered at Companies House.
Gary Burrell and Min Kao founded the company in 1989 in Lenexa, Kansas, and the name Garmin comes from their first names. Its mission is 'to be an enduring company by creating superior products for automotive, aviation, marine, outdoor, and sports', and its vision is 'to be the global leader in every market we serve'. Garmin's pages list honesty, integrity and respect as its values and name five strategies: people, products, operations, growth and sustainability. The company describes itself as vertically integrated, covering design, manufacturing, distribution, sales and support. These are the company's own words from its global pages.
Garmin set up its European headquarters in the Southampton area more than 30 years ago, first in Romsey and now in Totton. In November 2024 it opened its first UK shop, a store of about 1,500 square feet in the Westquay Shopping Centre in Southampton, close to the headquarters. Jon Oliver, managing director for UK and Ireland, said it was fitting that 'the next step in our growth in the UK' was a store. Garmin also sponsors local and national events, including AFC Totton, the New Forest Marathon, the Southampton Boat Show and Cowes Week, and runs an annual cycle event with Action Medical Research.
Garmin refers to its staff as associates, and its global pages promise competitive pay and benefits, career growth and a culture that encourages long-term contribution. These are the company's claims. It had nearly 23,000 employees worldwide in 2025 according to a reference entry, but we did not find a UK-only headcount. The store has staff described as experts who help customers try devices hands-on, and the shop plans events for the local community.
In the UK, the functions that are visible from public sources include sales and account management, marketing, retail, product support and customer service, logistics for European distribution, and management of local partnerships. If you like sport, the outdoors or technology, you can see how many parts of the company relate to something you enjoy. Look at Garmin's site for current roles and ask whether the job is at the Totton site or the Westquay shop.
Website: www.garmin.com/en-GB
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