Oracle

A global technology company best known for databases, cloud infrastructure and business software. Its stated mission is to help people see data in new ways, discover insights and unlock endless possibilities.

About Oracle

Oracle is a global technology company that sells databases, cloud infrastructure, business applications and AI tools. Organisations use its software to store and understand their data, run finance and HR, and manage supply chains. It also looks after Java, one of the world's most widely used programming platforms, and through its Cerner purchase it runs electronic health record systems used in healthcare.

Oracle was founded on 16 June 1977 in Santa Clara, California, by Larry Ellison, Bob Miner and Ed Oates, originally as Software Development Laboratories. It became Relational Software in 1979, Oracle Systems in 1983 and Oracle Corporation in 1995. Its headquarters have been in Austin, Texas since a move announced in 2020, and Larry Ellison remains executive chairman and chief technology officer. Clay Magouyrk and Mike Sicilia became co-CEOs in September 2025.

Oracle's own stated mission is "to help people see data in new ways, discover insights, unlock endless possibilities". Its best-known products are Oracle Database, which has added AI features such as vector search in recent versions, the Autonomous Database, which manages and tunes itself, and Oracle Cloud Infrastructure, the platform behind its AI and cloud services.

Oracle has a long-standing UK presence, including a large business campus at Thames Valley Park in Reading, England. Our sources give no UK staff figures, so we have not stated one.

For young people, Oracle is a good example of the "enterprise software" world that quietly runs banks, hospitals, retailers and governments. Careers include software and database engineering, cloud, consulting, sales and customer support, and many students learn Java or SQL before meeting Oracle's products. Oracle's careers page invites people to "create the future with us", but the pages we read do not describe early-careers programmes, so check Oracle's careers site for current UK internships and graduate roles.

What they do

• {'desc': 'Oracle Database and the self-managing Autonomous Database.', 'title': 'Databases'}
• {'desc': 'Oracle Cloud, used to run business software and AI.', 'title': 'Cloud infrastructure'}
• {'desc': 'Finance, HR, supply chain and customer software, including NetSuite.', 'title': 'Business applications'}
• {'desc': 'Electronic health records (Cerner) and the Java platform.', 'title': 'Health and Java'}

Key facts

• Founded: 16 June 1977, Santa Clara, California
• Founders: Larry Ellison, Bob Miner, Ed Oates
• Headquarters: Austin, Texas, USA
• Mission: help people see data in new ways, discover insights, unlock endless possibilities
• UK: major campus at Thames Valley Park, Reading

Website: www.oracle.com