Rank | Company | Location | Year end | Annual sales rise over 3 years | Latest sales £000s | Staff | Comment |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Opera TelecomMobile services provider | Birmingham | 2003 | 431.59% | 44,237 | 42 | Has launched Britain’s first soap opera streamed to your mobile phone |
2 | The Global DrawBetting terminal supplier | West London | 2003 | 237.46% | 12,536 | 47 | £130m is gambled each week through its betting terminals |
3 | innocentFruit drinks maker | West London | 2003 | 205.24% | 10,645 | 32 | Founders gave up day job after testing their smoothies at music festival |
4 | OctopusTravel.comOnline travel agency | Central London | 2003 | 197.54% | 59,972 | 112 | Claims to offer hotel bookings for 3,300 cities in 112 countries |
5 | GabemBusiness services provider | West Sussex | 2003 | 196.98% | 8,928 | 67 | Handles accounting, admin and payroll for 25,000 temporary workers |
6 | beCogentCall centre operator | Airdrie | 2003 | 189.17% | 13,584 | 849 | Scottish operators handle trouble-shooting when AOL customers need help |
7 | IngeniousInvestor and adviser | Central London | 2003 | 174.06% | 33,995 | 46 | Funded and co-produced the hit films Wimbledon and Bride and Prejudice |
8 | BargainsoundPetrol retailer | Cheshire | 2003 | 171.29% | 22,194 | 70 | Sold 34m litres of fuel last year through nine outlets in northwest England |
9 | Redbus Film DistributionFilm distributor | Central London | 2003 | 170.18% | 20,430 | 31 | Distributed shark thriller Open Water and co-produced Bend It Like Beckham |
10 | ExpansysOnline electronics retailer | Manchester | 2003 | 165.74% | 12,579 | 49 | Sells wireless devices like PDAs in more than 20 countries worldwide |
11 | Boxwood GroupManagement consultancy | Leeds | 2003 | 157.63% | 18,118 | 264 | Works with Barclays, BAA and Metronet to improve business performance |
12 | The Somerset Toiletry CompanyToiletry products designer | Somerset | 2003 | 156.89% | 4,606 | 29 | Top-selling range of toiletries is scented with pina colada and margarita |
13 | Firebox.comOnline gadget retailer | SW London | 2003 | 156.09% | 4,400 | 16 | Founders invented the shot-glass chess set while chatting in a pub |
14 | LimehouseMarketing agency | SE London | 2003 | 154.11% | 4,650 | 28 | Helps 100 public-sector organisations communicate with their users |
15 | Data LocatorConsumer data collector | Watford | 2003 | 151.50% | 5,190 | 382 | Founder started company with redundancy payment from previous job |
16 | Auto Union FinanceVehicle finance broker | Warrington | 2003 | 144.69% | 23,222 | 58 | Brokers vehicle-finance deals on behalf of Black Horse and GE Capital |
17 | sit-upHome shopping channel | Central London | 2003 | 139.08% | 118,870 | 413 | Sells 25,000 items a day from its three TV home-shopping channels |
18 | MLS GroupBusiness centre operator | SE London | 2003 | 138.50% | 11,408 | 66 | Rents serviced offices to 800 firms, including Warner Bros and Virgin |
19 | Qdos ConsultingTax consultancy | Leicestershire | 2003 | 132.68% | 5,215 | 45 | Former Vat inspector at Customs and Excise founded tax consultancy |
20 | Premier GuaranteeUnderwriting agency | Merseyside | 2003 | 132.03% | 3,279 | 15 | Arranges warranties that cover £5 billion of new homes |
21 | UKOSOffice products supplier | Hemel Hempstead | 2003 | 131.96% | 8,446 | 43 | Supplies stationery to O2, John Lewis and Associated Newspapers |
22 | Jump GroupProperty retailer | Leeds | 2003 | 130.50% | 47,668 | 129 | Founder was 22 years old when he set up the company |
23 | LamvaElectrical engineer | Ipswich | 2003 | 129.05% | 7,148 | 107 | Connected a Lincolnshire wind farm to the regional electricity network |
24 | Acoustic SolutionsConsumer electronics supplier | Northamptonshire | 2003 | 121.24% | 16,037 | 30 | Designs Pop Idol karaoke machines under licence from the hit TV show |
25 | Iglu.comOnline travel agency | SW London | 2003 | 119.57% | 16,420 | 63 | Founder started firm while finishing his MBA at London Business School |
26 | BinomialInsurance underwriter | Surrey | 2003 | 119.33% | 78,385 | 447 | Brokers motor insurance for RAC and pet policies for Argos and Homebase |
27 | Northern UnderwritersInsurance broker | Middlesbrough | 2003 | 117.62% | 6,025 | 26 | Claims to work with more than 1,200 regional brokers and City underwriters |
28 | New HeightsFurniture retailer | NW London | 2003 | 115.60% | 6,519 | 54 | Founders met at Oxford University and now run 11 furniture stores |
29 | York MailingCommercial printer | York | 2003 | 113.78% | 15,804 | 180 | Says its machines can print up to 250,000 flyers and mail shots an hour |
30 | 1927 LondonDesigner clothes distributor | SW London | 2003 | 113.75% | 5,425 | 12 | Sells designer clothes to Harvey Nichols and Selfridges |
31 | Veritas ITIT recruitment agency | Milton Keynes | 2003 | 110.81% | 4,175 | 25 | Supplies IT staff to customers such as Abbey, Argos and KPMG |
32 | AllClear FinancePersonal debt adviser | Cheshire | 2003 | 109.50% | 3,739 | 42 | Manages repayments for 10,000 people struggling with unsecured debt |
33 | Altrix HealthcareDrug testing laboratory | Warrington | 2003 | 102.36% | 3,389 | 42 | Supplies oral testing kits to enforce drug rehabilitation programmes |
34 | Alpha Health CareNursing home operator | Redditch | 2003 | 100.25% | 5,705 | 695 | Former GP and Royal Mail doctor runs 11 care homes in central England |
35 | Credential HoldingsRecycler and developer | Glasgow | 2003 | 99.33% | 15,323 | 76 | Claims to be Britain's leading tyre recycler, handling 80,000 tons a year |
36 | GladedaleHousebuilder | Dunfermline | 2003 | 99.14% | †236655 | 412 | Founder builds third business through acquisitions |
37 | MNH Vehicle ContractsVehicle contract hirer | Blackburn | 2003 | 98.58% | 4,112 | 12 | Hires out 3,000 vehicles to 300 businesses on long-term contracts |
38 | ADL HealthcarePharmaceuticals distributor | Burton upon Trent | 2003 | 97.61% | 44,746 | 26 | Founder's mother cooks breakfast for whole company every Tuesday |
39 | Zen InternetInternet services provider | Rochdale | 2003 | 95.88% | 7,809 | 50 | Supplies Umbro and Sony Europe with broadband connections |
40 | PPFDriver recruitment agency | Luton | 2003 | 95.81% | 12,920 | 394 | Finds drivers from Britain and central Europe for J Sainsbury and Safeway |
41 | Teleticket TravelTour operator | Brighton | 2003 | 94.79% | †16167 | 18 | Sells 85,000 airline seats a year to travel agents such as Lastminute.com |
42 | Loans.co.ukLoan broker | Watford | 2003 | 94.36% | †29408 | 145 | Claims to sell more than 1,000 customer loans a month |
43 | LatentzeroFinancial software developer | Central London | 2003 | 93.81% | 8,817 | 69 | Develops asset-management software for the likes of Morgan Stanley |
44 | CarshockCar supermarket | Newcastle | 2003 | 93.15% | 8,345 | 45 | Claims to sell cars at up to 35% less than manufacturers’ list prices |
45 | Moneysupermarket.comFinancial website operator | Wales | 2003 | 92.34% | 38,143 | 209 | Claims website receives 10,000 credit-card and loan applications daily |
46 | Union Square MusicMusic compilations publisher | Uxbridge | 2003 | 92.29% | 4,720 | 12 | Controls the rights to release thousands of back-catalogue music tracks |
47 | Castleway ConstructionBuilding contractor | Salisbury | 2003 | 91.19% | 4,429 | 15 | Founder’s wife, son and daughter all work in the business |
48 | Carluccio’sRestaurateur and retailer | Central London | 2003 | 90.39% | 19,655 | 453 | Claims 50,000 people eat in its restaurants each week |
49 | IPTConsumer data collector | SW London | 2003 | 90.12% | 6,139 | 84 | Runs marketing database of 5.4m e-mail addresses |
50 | Isis TelecommunicationsTelecoms services provider | West London | 2003 | 90.11% | 14,721 | 56 | Provides telecoms services for 700 companies, including EMI |
51 | HIFXForeign exchange provider | Windsor | 2003 | 90.08% | 9,662 | 66 | Claims to manage £20bn of foreign exchange for clients like Royal Mail |
52 | Cathedral CapitalInsurer and reinsurer | Central London | 2003 | 89.53% | 139,934 | 33 | Reinsures against plane crashes, hurricanes and tornadoes |
53 | Loch Fyne RestaurantsSeafood restaurateur | Twickenham | 2003 | 88.77% | 21,849 | 658 | Bought 75% of Raymond Blanc’s Le Petit Blanc chain in 2003 |
54 | 19 EntertainmentMusic and TV producer | SW London | 2003 | 88.25% | 53,372 | 79 | Produces Pop Idol and manages Will Young and Annie Lennox |
55 | The Car PeopleCar dealer | Wakefield | 2003 | 87.56% | 49,564 | 82 | Sold 6,000 cars last year from its vehicle supermarket in Wakefield |
56 | Activity SuperstoreActivity organiser | Essex | 2003 | 87.48% | 5,281 | 49 | Offers flights in Mig jets and the world’s highest bungee jump |
57 | West Cornwall Pasty CoCornish pasty retailer | Cornwall | 2003 | 87.09% | 7,598 | 121 | Sells 6m Cornish pasties a year, including a chicken balti variety |
58 | Silver Software ConsultantsTransport software developer | Wiltshire | 2003 | 85.56% | 3,116 | 54 | Develops safety software for the new Airbus A380 super-jumbo |
59 | L&CMortgage broker | Bath | 2003 | 85.40% | 6,902 | 111 | Founders have appeared on BBC2’s Working Lunch news programme |
60 | LOMBOKFurniture retailer | SW London | 2003 | 85.28% | 3,574 | 42 | Furniture features in the film Bridget Jones, The Edge of Reason |
61 | Tax Computer SystemsTax software developer | Staines | 2003 | 85.21% | 3,437 | 32 | Software helps the likes of Orange and British Airways calculate tax returns |
62 | GreenCare EnvironmentalHygiene services provider | Worcester | 2003 | 82.18% | 3,174 | 55 | Founded by husband and wife with £60,000 in savings |
63 | MultimapOnline map provider | Central London | 2003 | 81.53% | 3,381 | 40 | Supplies online mapping for 700 clients, including Tesco, Shell and Ford |
64 | Parador PropertiesOverseas estate agency | Surrey | 2003 | 81.48% | 19,060 | 97 | Claims its property portfolio covers 1,100km of Spanish coastline |
65 | ComtecTravel software developer | South Wales | 2003 | 80.70% | 6,034 | 83 | Develops travel software for Thomas Cook, Going Places and First Choice |
66 | Source SoftwareFinancial software developer | South Wales | 2003 | 79.97% | 7,205 | 46 | Says 2,500 brokers use its software to compare insurance quotes |
67 | Beaver Management ServicesRecruitment agency | Middlesbrough | 2003 | 78.45% | 53,857 | 467 | Provides 1,800 workers for the construction industry each week |
68 | RAPIDIT component distributor | Lancashire | 2003 | 77.37% | 6,694 | 25 | Founder’s father came out of retirement to work for the company for free |
69 | Worcester CarsalesCar dealer | Worcester | 2003 | 77.12% | 40,461 | 192 | Managing director started valeting cars at 11 and sold his first car at 13 |
70 | Business Management ServicesIT services provider | Nottingham | 2003 | 76.99% | 12,640 | 17 | Founder used to manage women’s football team Notts County |
71 | ClarityBlueCRM software developer | Luton | 2003 | 76.77% | 11,485 | 50 | Taken private in £10m management buyout from Nasdaq-listed company |
72 | Highline Building PlasticsRoofing products distributor | Yorkshire | 2003 | 76.63% | 3,584 | 30 | Has three-year £650,000 deal to supply roofing products to Wimpey Homes |
73 | MedleyIT consultancy | Guildford | 2003 | 76.08% | 3,740 | 28 | Founder started consultancy business from his family home |
74 | Provecta Car PlanFleet services provider | Reading | 2003 | 76.07% | 5,085 | 43 | Manages tax-efficient car ownership schemes for 7,000 UK workers |
75 | Riviera ProduceVegetable wholesaler | Cornwall | 2003 | 75.20% | 6,798 | 40 | Supplies Asda with 10m cauliflower heads a year from 40 Cornish farms |
76 | Fasthosts InternetInternet services provider | Gloucester | 2003 | 74.33% | 9,544 | 67 | Hosts more than 1m domain names and delivers 4.5m e-mails each day |
77 | Fresh BouquetsFlower supplier | Kent | 2003 | 74.33% | 10,940 | 156 | Supplies flowers to 5,000 UK retailers and operates in mainland Europe |
78 | Babel MediaGames services provider | Brighton | 2003 | 74.12% | 3,635 | 55 | Tests all the games that can be played on Vodafone mobile phones |
79 | PaceTimber frame maker | Milton Keynes | 2003 | 73.70% | 9,083 | 58 | Has £20m deal to provide timber-frame houses to the Home Group |
80 | Morgan BrookesSystems integrator | East London | 2003 | 73.07% | 4,327 | 18 | Founder sold his Porsche for £12,500 to start company |
81 | MCM ConstructionBuilding contractor | Isle of Wight | 2003 | 72.86% | 6,922 | 62 | Does building work at Parkhurst jail, where the Kray twins were held |
82 | Ambition RecruitmentNursing recruitment agency | SW London | 2003 | 71.98% | 59,004 | 133 | Provides 24-hour emergency nursing cover for hospitals and care homes |
83 | Inweb NetworksTelecoms services provider | Surrey | 2003 | 70.98% | 3,200 | 10 | Has developed a synthetic voice program that converts e-mails into speech |
84 | Networks By WirelessNetwork developer | Sheffield | 2003 | 69.77% | 3,707 | 34 | Chosen as a supplier for £1billion public services broadband scheme |
85 | Cartel MarketingIndependent mortgage adviser | Manchester | 2003 | 69.34% | 4,854 | 87 | Processes some of its British mortgage applications in India |
86 | Environmental Business ProductsPrinter cartridge recycler | NW London | 2003 | 69.04% | 20,415 | 141 | Makes own-brand inkjet cartridges for Tesco, Dixons and WH Smith |
87 | Barhale ConstructionCivil engineering contractor | Walsall | 2003 | 68.52% | 107,277 | 1,023 | Excavated a fighter plane that had crashed in London during the war |
88 | Suttons HorticulturePlant producer | King's Lynn | 2003 | 68.47% | 14,614 | 227 | Grows 16m plants a year for supermarkets such as Morrisons and Waitrose |
89 | Direct TradePVCu window maker | Doncaster | 2003 | 68.19% | 4,345 | 53 | Founders’ former employer is now their main supplier |
90 | The Holiday PlaceTravel agency | NW London | 2003 | 68.10% | 15,466 | 40 | Sells holidays to places like the Maldives, Cuba, and Dominican Republic |
91 | SMS (Southern)Building services contractor | Brighton | 2003 | 67.70% | 3,764 | 37 | Has five-year deal with Brighton city council to refurbish local schools |
92 | IT Human ResourcesIT recruitment agency | Central London | 2003 | 66.43% | 4,709 | 16 | Celebrated company’s fifth birthday by taking all staff go-karting |
93 | Firoka (Heythrop Park)Luxury hotel operator | Oxfordshire | 2003 | 66.02% | 4,369 | 58 | Founder owns chain of Holiday Inns and is chairman of Oxford United FC |
94 | OneBill TelecomTelecoms service provider | Worthing | 2003 | 65.99% | 8,925 | 42 | Claims 35,000 individuals and small businesses use its phone services |
95 | Roadside GroupPetrol station operator | Buckinghamshire | 2003 | 65.30% | 40,930 | 48 | Road builder and oil executive now run 10 petrol stations in north England |
96 | Balkan HolidaysTour operator | Central London | 2003 | 65.24% | 44,545 | 32 | Founded by Bulgarian government in 1966 and bought by owners in 1999 |
97 | MolarDental products distributor | Somerset | 2003 | 64.81% | 3,354 | 10 | Supplies oral hygiene products to half of all dental practices in Britain |
98 | Centurion Risk Assessment ServicesConflict survival trainer | Hampshire | 2003 | 64.61% | 3,098 | 50 | Ran terror survival courses for the media before the Athens Olympics |
99 | SunQuest Tanning SystemsTanning equipment maker | Cheshire | 2003 | 63.82% | 6,038 | 81 | Founder started by hiring sunbeds in spare room of his chiropodist practice |
100 | WorldRoamMobile phone hirer | Essex | 2003 | 63.49% | 10,753 | 52 | American businessmen travelling abroad account for 80% of sales |
* Supplied by Company † Annualised figure