Last week market analysts at Superbrands unveiled their latest list of the top 500 names in UK business, with unquestioned flag-bearers for UK plc such as Linklaters storming into the top, erm, 260.

Links marched past Clifford Chance (CC) to be this year’s top-placed law firm in 259th – a single agonising spot behind ubiquitous outhouse-provider Portakabin and a mere 245 places behind the leading accountancy group, PricewaterhouseCoopers.