Rank | Company | Location | Year end | Annual sales rise over 3 years | Latest sales £000s | Staff | Comment |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Progressive Computer RecruitmentRecruitment agency | South-west London | 1997 | 197.79% | †26,434 | 111 | High flying workers can earn up to £150,000 a year |
2 | Optical ExpressOptical retailer | Cumbernauld, Glasgow | 1997 | 188.43% | 36,650 | 935 | A Scottish optician with an eye for acquisitions |
3 | Rotrax Engineering ServicesElectrical and mechanical contractors | Middlesbrough | 1997 | 148.72% | 10,740 | 80 | Rapid growth is result of repeat business from big contractors |
4 | Travel CounsellorsTravel agency | Bolton | 1997 | 147.72% | 8,330 | 71 | Holiday consultants visit clients in their own homes to plan and book trips |
5 | TechnetixTelecoms equipment maker | West Sussex | 1997 | 138.77% | 10,294 | 83 | Investment in new equipment halved labour costs in three years |
6 | Oxford Asymmetry InternationalChemicals researcher | Oxfordshire | 1997 | 138.64% | 10,143 | 150 | Oxford University spin-off that went public this year |
7 | Beresford Blake ThomasRecruitment agency | London | 1997 | 138.44% | 8,991 | 55 | Having survived one downturn, the company has taken measures to withstand the next |
8 | Wilson JamesSecurity provider | Essex | 1997 | 133.96% | 6,096 | 265 | One of two companies in league table founded by a teenager |
9 | Great Bear DistributionWarehouser and distributor | Chester | 1997 | 132.55% | 10,544 | 146 | Stores and distributes food for big grocers such as Sainsbury |
10 | Antal InternationalRecruitment agency | Central London | 1997 | 131.19% | 3,921 | 100 | The company places middle managers in 58 countries |
11 | DR Simpson Chilled FoodsFish freezing and processing for supermarkets | Hull | 1997 | 130.27% | 8,599 | 120 | Started with mother's redundancy cheque, now supplies Somerfield and Asda |
12 | A-Gas InternationalChemicals and gases distributor | Bristol | 1997 | 128.85% | 11,986 | 29 | Struck gold in newly regulated refrigerant-gas market |
13 | Software WarehouseMail-order and reseller of software and hardware assembled | Birmingham | 1997 | 127.88% | 38,141 | 324 | Young founder has recruited his sailing friends to help manage the business |
14 | McGregor Boyall AssociatesRecruitment agency | London | 1997 | 123.99% | 18,526 | 41 | Former design lecturer turns techno-recruiter |
15 | Meica GroupElectrical contractor | West London | 1997 | 123.82% | 18,573 | 82 | Company gained backing by venture capitalists after being rejected by banks |
16 | Gemstone TravelTravel agency | Berkshire | 1997 | 122.88% | 16,446 | 91 | Offers cheap airline seats via teletext and national newspaper advertising |
17 | Team 121Software installer | Birmingham | 1997 | 121.57% | †12,433 | 115 | Good profits earned on export sales to mainland Europe |
18 | Computer FuturesRecruitment agency | Central London | 1997 | 115.92% | 70,528 | 283 | Company says it adds 2,000 candidates to its database every week |
19 | C-Mar Services (UK)Marine consultancy | Aberdeen | 1997 | 112.30% | 5,933 | 27 | Launched by two sea captains while decommissioned from their drill-ship |
20 | Management Services InternationalHotel operator | Berkshire | 1997 | 109.10% | 4,974 | 281 | Three men turned ailing hotel company into profitable chain of six |
21 | Bulldog Computer ServicesFurniture maker | Leicestershire | 1997 | 103.57% | 5,011 | 71 | Two days before ISO9000 certification, a storm blew off the factory roof |
22 | S&J (Chatteris)Building contractors | Cambridgeshire | 1997 | 102.76% | 6,777 | 26 | Late-blooming family business jumps 48 places on the list |
23 | EyretelDevelopers of multimedia recording and analysis equipment | West Sussex | 1997 | 102.14% | 17,344 | 156 | Last year's top company on list recently raised £22.5m in venture capital |
24 | Classic Choice FurnishingsFurniture maker | Mid Glamorgan | 1997 | 102.12% | 3,197 | 59 | Chief executive nominated by venture capitalists decided to put up the money himself |
25 | AGP DistributionComputer components wholesaler | Hampshire | 1997 | 100.36% | 22,025 | 29 | Arranges staff football matches to foster camaraderie |
26 | Karavale EnterprisesElectronic design and assembly of circuit boards | Welwyn Garden City | 1997 | 98.89% | 14,186 | 450 | 600-worker firm created from blue-chip plant closure |
27 | Humana ConsultingRecruitment agency | London | 1997 | 98.78% | 11,319 | 28 | Loyalty club for temps offers free training in exchange for hours worked |
28 | Backup StaffRecruitment agency | Worcester | 1997 | 98.33% | 3,690 | 25 | Squeezes prospective staff and clients' for competitors' practices |
29 | Argo HolidaysTour operator | London | 1997 | 98.21% | 10,894 | 30 | Frenchwoman ships Britons to Cyprus to learn western-style line dancing |
30 | Manning Gottlieb MediaAdvertising agency | London | 1997 | 96.80% | 63,925 | 25 | Clients include Nike and Virgin. Acquired by Omnicom |
31 | GyroMarketing agency | London | 1997 | 96.45% | 4,607 | 17 | Employee incentives include trips to Majorca and Armani suits |
32 | Schallenberg International TransportFreight forwarder | Suffolk | 1997 | 94.24% | 3,342 | 10 | Removal of east European borders presented threats but also opportunities |
33 | YardbraceChemicals distributor | Hull | 1997 | 94.21% | 48,915 | 93 | One of the largest exporters on the list, with 70% of revenues generated overseas |
34 | FDiRecruitment agency | Brighton | 1997 | 90.92% | 14,787 | 112 | Prides itself on training local youth and the unemployed |
35 | Highfield GroupNursing home operator | Edinburgh | 1997 | 90.57% | 29,104 | 3,228 | Largest employer in the league table with 3200 workers in 1997 |
36 | DCS Group (UK)Toiletry products distributor | Stratford-upon-Avon | 1997 | 90.36% | 35,562 | 24 | Former hockey international joined three brothers to export to more than 49 countries |
37 | Roldec SystemsAssemblers and direct re-sellers of computers via mail order | Wolverhampton | 1997 | 89.78% | 10,075 | 50 | Claims to assemble and deliver its computers faster than Dell and Gateway |
38 | Link LicensingLicensing agency | London | 1997 | 89.73% | 4,247 | 28 | Positioning its Teddybears brand to be the next Teletubbies |
39 | Hedon SaladsFood processor | Humberside | 1997 | 88.96% | 13,198 | 191 | Plans to generate own electricity from waste lettuce |
40 | Custom Cable (Communications) CoCable installer | Surrey | 1997 | 88.15% | 6,680 | 55 | Founder moved from mother's basement to kitchen, then took over the whole house |
41 | Panacea ServicesProvision of computer maintenance services and sale of computers | London | 1997 | 86.74% | 6,974 | 20 | Partners originally set out to open a jazz bar |
42 | Bon Bon BuddiesConfectionery maker | Gwent | 1997 | 86.16% | 4,593 | 14 | Sells chocolate RugRats and Monopoly to leading retailers |
43 | Plan-Net ServicesComputer services provider | London | 1997 | 85.85% | 3,933 | 42 | IT contractors teamed up to get big bank's business |
44 | Camco Air ConditioningAir conditioning distributor | West Midlands | 1997 | 85.66% | 8,229 | 15 | Rewards customers with its Ferrari for a day |
45 | Gamble Jarvis PlantIndustrial equipment provider | West Sussex | 1997 | 85.13% | 13,095 | 37 | 27 year-old family business shifts into high gear by selling imports from Canada |
46 | Thomson Pettie Tube ProductsSteel products maker | Lanarkshire | 1997 | 84.96% | 5,602 | 150 | After firm went into receivership owner bought it back at a quarter of the price |
47 | PMR GroupIT recruitment consultancy | Kent | 1997 | 83.97% | 7,454 | 20 | Staff vote on major decisions |
48 | Systems CapitalComputer lessor | London | 1997 | 83.75% | 13,346 | 49 | One-stop shop for computer leasing |
49 | Taran MicrosystemsComputer assembler | Hampshire | 1997 | 83.65% | 8,121 | 18 | The school of hard knocks: lost £60,000 to a disappearing supplier |
50 | BUE MarineMarine services provider | Edinburgh | 1997 | 83.27% | 9,211 | 51 | Operate solely in unpredictable Caspian Sea region |
51 | BodenClothing retailer | Northwest London | 1997 | 82.45% | 9,491 | 61 | Use friends and staff as models for up-market catalogue |
52 | Svenska Palmer ConstructionSpecialist builder | Tyne & Wear | 1997 | 81.97% | 4,306 | 60 | Builder specialises in Swedish timber-framed system of construction |
53 | GlotelRecruitment agency | Central London | 1997 | 81.15% | 49,085 | 133 | Eighteen offices internationally from San Francisco to Sydney |
54 | Lucas FlettWaste equipment maker | Buckinghamshire | 1997 | 80.73% | 20,603 | 180 | Owner bought back business he founded 30 years ago |
55 | Telesoft DesignTelephony switch maker | Dorset | 1997 | 80.68% | 6,430 | 35 | Achieves the second-highest return on sales of all companies in the league table |
56 | Pride Valley FoodsBaker | County Durham | 1997 | 79.90% | 8,027 | 155 | Secured new premises within hours of catastrophic fire |
57 | Tai Computer SystemsComputer components distributor | London | 1997 | 79.79% | 9,314 | 13 | Three cousins squeeze £9m in sales from just 13 staff |
58 | Voyager NetworksComputer consultancy | Coventry | 1997 | 79.75% | 5,866 | 50 | Installs computer networks for clients such as PepsiCo and the Civil Aviation Authority |
59 | Modular TechnologyManufacture and supply of data communications products | Oxfordshire | 1997 | 79.68% | 7,808 | 61 | Company claims one in four PCs sold in Britain contains its products |
60 | Mason CommunicationsIT consultancy | Manchester | 1997 | 79.66% | 6,043 | 80 | Full-time culture chief conducts company samba drum playing rituals |
61 | Countrywide ConsortiumProvision of grounds maintenance services to corporates | Cheshire | 1997 | 78.73% | 8,478 | 20 | Family-run business is sole franchisor in league table with 50 UK franchisees |
62 | Ink (Clothing)Clothes manufacturer | London | 1997 | 78.66% | 3,359 | 11 | Competes with Calvin Klein and Diesel, but in much lower price bracket |
63 | ComDisAudio visual equipment provider | West Midlands | 1997 | 77.38% | 3,360 | 27 | Husband and wife team capitalises on audio visual boom |
64 | Phoenix ComputersComputer services contractor | Northampton | 1997 | 77.20% | 12,172 | 220 | Owner used venture capital backers to retire partner |
65 | TPD GroupPublishers of magazines and directories | London | 1997 | 76.38% | 15,243 | 143 | Company says quality and employees matter more than aggressive profit targets |
66 | ADA Computer SystemsComputer installer | West Sussex | 1997 | 75.98% | 3,642 | 25 | Sales people are trained to turn away unprofitable business |
67 | InterdependenceFinancial support service | Hampshire | 1997 | 75.96% | 11,528 | 15 | Company believes female co-founder provides healthy balance |
68 | Extra PersonnelProvision of temporary and permanent staff to industry | West Midlands | 1997 | 74.59% | 9,414 | 87 | Claims to help the unemployed in its area |
69 | Carphone WarehouseMobile phone retailer | Northwest London | 1997 | 74.36% | 107,371 | 451 | Becoming a household name and has the largest sales on the list |
70 | New Forest FoodsPoultry importer | Wiltshire | 1997 | 74.33% | 18,366 | 111 | Brothers claim they can track imports down to the chicken that laid the egg |
71 | Henson CorporationRecruitment agency | Essex | 1997 | 74.01% | 14,395 | 139 | Sleeping beauty awakened by demands for experts to tackle millenium bug |
72 | DX CommunicationsRetail of mobile phones & network contracts | Lanarkshire | 1997 | 73.61% | †21,217 | 173 | Young founder has built Scotland's leading cellular retailer |
73 | AculabTelephony equipment maker | Buckinghamshire | 1997 | 73.46% | 9,373 | 73 | Jazz musician switched from sound mixing to digital telephony |
74 | The Gadget ShopGift retailer | Humberside | 1997 | 73.32% | 12,151 | 160 | 21 groovy stores hawk inflatable furniture, lava lamps, and trendy yo-yo's |
75 | Sol-TecComputer distributor | Reading | 1997 | 72.86% | 3,156 | 26 | First and largest client cold-called from co-founder's bedroom |
76 | Special Delivery ServicesCourier | London | 1997 | 72.66% | 7,075 | 173 | Sophisticated database pinpoints package location with picture of messenger |
77 | BasebuyClothes retailer | Lancashire | 1997 | 72.46% | 3,332 | 100 | 13 stores still run by four people from founder's living room |
78 | Noto CateringJapanese caterer | London | 1997 | 72.32% | 3,444 | 50 | Runs Harrods' sushi bar and supplies Pret a Manger |
79 | Anglia Telecom CentresTelecommunications specialist | Suffolk | 1997 | 71.83% | 37,270 | 235 | Chief executive slept in his car to save money for start-up |
80 | QuartzAir conditioning maker | Dorset | 1997 | 71.80% | 5,958 | 87 | Founder sold out this year for £4m after four years in business |
81 | ComputappointRecruitment agency | London | 1997 | 71.76% | 6,836 | 16 | Former Harrods' manager used £10,000 credit-card loan to fund start-up |
82 | Ashbourne CommunicationsCable installer | Southwest London | 1997 | 71.43% | 36,515 | 175 | Irish brothers turn £10,000 into £37m sales business |
83 | MBI MBOHotelliers | Hertfordshire | 1997 | 70.86% | 3,696 | 75 | Planet Hollywood-type hotel for backpackers and other business hotels in central London |
84 | ROC RecruitmentRecruitment agency | London | 1997 | 70.78% | 4,978 | 41 | Company set up by female entrepreneur later joined by ex-army husband |
85 | Prosoft LogisticsCD maker | West London | 1997 | 70.73% | 5,479 | 35 | Textbook case of three management consultants with venture capital backing |
86 | Telecom Design CommunicationsElectronic components distributor | Hampshire | 1997 | 70.71% | 3,503 | 23 | One of company's largest customers, Modular Technology, is also on the list |
87 | KingsburghTechnology value added reseller | Edinburgh | 1997 | 70.41% | 5,479 | 35 | Has profited from implementing Microsoft's frequent upgrades |
88 | SteljesReseller & hire of audio-visual equipment | West London | 1997 | 70.03% | 14,969 | 37 | Won over banker by displaying business plan on equipment he planned to sell |
89 | PCI LiveDesignMarketing agency | London | 1997 | 69.97% | 7,806 | 36 | Boss uses 30-second recruiting test, arguing clients do the same |
90 | GardmanGarden products wholesaler | Lincolnshire | 1997 | 69.73% | 6,762 | 87 | Tuned into national gardening obsession |
91 | MiletrianContract cleaner | Surrey | 1997 | 69.70% | 27,434 | 188 | 22 year-old trainee chef spotted opportunity while cleaning offices to pay bills |
92 | CAE Office SuppliesComputer distributor | Hertfordshire | 1997 | 68.86% | 6,071 | 15 | Business was set up by Iranian and Lebanese couple |
93 | Grampian Electronic ComponentsElectronic components distributor | Aberdeenshire | 1997 | 68.46% | †4,096 | 20 | Co-founder sold fish and chip shop to join childhood friend in business |
94 | MJ Quinn (Electrical)Electrical contractor | Merseyside | 1997 | 68.06% | 5,332 | 39 | Has won contracts with organisations such as Railtrack and London Underground |
95 | TeleAdaptHotel telecoms provider | Central London | 1997 | 68.03% | 4,118 | 71 | Supplies more than 40 types of telephone sockets to business travellers |
96 | Prime Time RecruitmentRecruitment agency | Northampton | 1997 | 67.32% | 21,720 | 165 | Opened seven regional offices on day one with the help of venture capital |
97 | LogistixMarketing agency | Buckinghamshire | 1997 | 67.29% | 10,314 | 24 | Founders mortgaged homes to buy company back from receiver |
98 | STH Stretch The HorizonMarketing agency | London | 1997 | 66.61% | 7,654 | 32 | Regular brainstorming sessions with staff |
99 | Glyn Webb WallpapersSuppliers of wallpaper and home improvements | Lancashire | 1997 | 66.55% | 24,789 | 447 | Claims to have funded 10 new stores in past 3 years with retained earnings |
100 | The Jean SceneClothes retailer | West Lothian | 1997 | 66.01% | 4,818 | 116 | Raju Tali started as market trader at the age of 21 |
* Supplied by Company † Annualised figure