Rank | Company | Location | Year end | Annual sales rise over 3 years | Latest sales £000s | Staff | Comment |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ActiniumPayroll services provider | Central London | 2005 | 282.45% | 40,745 | 14 | Looks to the 2012 Olympics and the Inland Revenue for growth |
2 | Kew Green HotelsHotel operator | West London | 2006 | 255.90% | *34,212 | 800 | Acquired 11 hotels from Whitbread for £80m in December 2004 |
3 | 4C AssociatesOutsourced procurement provider | West London | 2006 | 245.84% | *46,163 | 101 | Procurement contracts with blue-chip companies like BP drive up sales |
4 | LebaraTelecoms services provider | East London | 2005 | 242.13% | †37,868 | 35 | Provides low-cost international calls from mobile phones |
5 | Head ResourcingRecruitment agency | Edinburgh | 2005 | 206.87% | 7,406 | 21 | Scottish recruiters score a hat-trick by setting up a third company |
6 | MaxximaRecruitment agency | Essex | 2005 | 195.56% | 7,407 | 30 | Provides permanent and temporary staff to the NHS and local authorities |
7 | Just LampsProjector lamp supplier | Berkshire | 2006 | 194.80% | 9,926 | 24 | Sells 6,000 types of projector lamps to schools and audio-visual resellers |
8 | MicrolineMobile phone retailer | Middlesex | 2005 | 181.20% | *22,006 | 50 | Sells mobile-phone packages to West London’s Asian community |
9 | Melrob GroupChemicals distributor | West Sussex | 2005 | 179.13% | 6,777 | 10 | Growth sticks for supplier of plastics, oils, and adhesive materials |
10 | Easy ComputersLaptop and TV reseller | Huddersfield | 2006 | 177.11% | *35,893 | 33 | Not content with selling 10,000 laptops a month, launches online TV retail |
11 | Dolphin MusicMusical equipment retailer | Liverpool | 2006 | 175.71% | 5,587 | 20 | Two Liverpool students used credit cards to set up musical equipment firm |
12 | WCLChange management consultancy | Central London | 2006 | 173.20% | *6,156 | 38 | Advises Department for Education and Skills on improving school meals |
13 | RocelaOracle consultancy | Edinburgh | 2006 | 158.84% | 20,638 | 15 | Company name is an anagram of Oracle |
14 | Dawnus ConstructionCivil engineering contractor | Swansea | 2005 | 150.87% | 30,858 | 136 | Worked with BNFL on decommissioning Hinkley Point nuclear power station |
15 | Wilson ValeContract caterer | Leicestershire | 2005 | 144.30% | 5,204 | 175 | Brings restaurant-like quality dining to the workplace |
16 | SEKO LogisticsLogistics services provider | Slough | 2006 | 141.88% | *14,262 | 82 | Transports Ann Summers and M&S items from factories abroad |
17 | Tyrrells Potato CrispsCrisps and snacks producer | Herefordshire | 2006 | 130.00% | *5,951 | 40 | Produces crisps from home-grown potatoes for upmarket outlets |
18 | ATD Travel ServicesTravel services provider | SW London | 2006 | 127.98% | 32,372 | 18 | Sells 220,000 tickets a year to American attractions such as Disneyland |
19 | 99p StoresDiscount retailer | Northampton | 2005 | 127.17% | 42,279 | 612 | All products are priced at 99p in its 48 discount stores nationwide |
20 | Morgan HuntRecruitment agency | Central London | 2006 | 126.99% | *35,938 | 103 | Recruits for the public sector, private sector and not-for-profit organisations |
21 | SuperbrandsBrand promotion publisher | Central London | 2005 | 121.62% | 7,949 | 18 | Identifies the trendiest companies through its CoolBrands programme |
22 | SmartSourcingOnline recruitment agency | Staffordshire | 2005 | 118.69% | 9,542 | 11 | Handles business and IT resourcing for blue-chip companies |
23 | EncoreRecruitment agency | Leicester | 2005 | 117.18% | †10,028 | 42 | Specialises in recruitment of blue-collar staff for clients such as British Gas |
24 | 2e2IT services provider | Newbury | 2005 | 116.75% | 112,324 | 967 | Duke Street Capital backed secondary buyout, valuing the firm at £130m |
25 | InsureandGoTravel insurance provider | Essex | 2005 | 115.40% | 37,213 | 194 | Sells ‘scratch and go’ cards offering instant travel insurance at airports |
26 | s2sIT services provider | West Sussex | 2006 | 111.53% | 5,341 | 21 | Provides network security for the England and Wales Cricket Board |
27 | Adviance Technical SolutionsFacilities maintenance supplier | Central London | 2006 | 111.52% | 8,027 | 77 | Claims a one-hour response rate to clients including O2 |
28 | Venn GroupRecruitment agency | Central London | 2005 | 108.94% | 45,079 | 218 | Twice is nice for recruitment duo’s second company |
29 | CSGBusiness finance provider | SE London | 2006 | 107.12% | 8,517 | 18 | Provides companies with unsecured loans |
30 | CentiqIT services provider | Nottingham | 2005 | 104.71% | 15,447 | 24 | Works as a subcontractor on the NHS computerisation project |
31 | 4L’s PackingPacker and distributor | Doncaster | 2005 | 104.68% | 7,915 | 87 | Repackages and distributes plumbing and heating products for B&Q |
32 | McLaren ConstructionBuilder | Essex | 2005 | 103.95% | 48,343 | 61 | Has up to 14 major construction projects on the go at any one time |
33 | Objective ProductionsIndependent television producer | Central London | 2005 | 102.93% | *18,999 | 50 | Produces Channel 4’s Balls of Steel and BBC3’s The Real Hustle |
34 | WidgetElectronic goods distributor | Stevenage | 2006 | 99.62% | 23,880 | 15 | Founded by technology journalist in his front room with enterprise allowance |
35 | Barchester HealthcareCare home operator | Southwest London | 2005 | 96.79% | *289,172 | 12,556 | Celebrity chef Paul Rankin improves food quality in residential care homes |
36 | PIPCManagement consultancy | Central London | 2006 | 96.75% | 17,885 | 237 | Helped to integrate NatWest into Royal Bank of Scotland |
37 | Orange & GoldPayroll services provider | Bucks | 2005 | 96.62% | †33,025 | 25 | Husband and wife team runs £34m business from rural Buckinghamshire |
38 | Vision CallMobile eyecare provider | Glasgow | 2006 | 95.85% | *5,896 | 116 | Brings mobile eye-testing services into care homes |
39 | LogistikCommunications agency | Leeds | 2005 | 95.45% | 10,984 | 72 | Runs events for clients such as M&S, Asda, and does the Mobo Awards |
40 | GladedaleHousebuilder | Dunfermline | 2005 | 93.11% | 474,879 | 924 | Acquired rival Country & Metropolitan for £72m in 2005 |
41 | Ink PublishingAirline magazine publisher | Central London | 2006 | 92.44% | *11,066 | 116 | Publishes airline magazines for 20 airlines across the world |
42 | NET-A-PORTER.comOnline fashion retailer | Central London | 2006 | 91.52% | 21,258 | 112 | Claims customers spend an average £475 per order on its fashion website |
43 | ChessTelecoms services provider | Cheshire | 2005 | 91.25% | 9,738 | 57 | Resells telecoms packages to businesses including Sale Sharks rugby club |
44 | Card FactoryGreeting card retailer | Wakefield | 2005 | 90.79% | 45,720 | 1,206 | Founder began by selling greetings cards from the back of his van |
45 | Simon Wright HomesHousebuilder | Maidstone | 2005 | 89.00% | 8,405 | 120 | Former banker aims for his company to become Kent’s largest housebuilder |
46 | CovionFacilities management provider | Berkshire | 2005 | 88.48% | 15,004 | 414 | Supplies on-site facilities services to the likes of Britvic |
47 | Audley TravelTour operator | Oxfordshire | 2005 | 86.71% | 26,200 | 90 | Offers bespoke long-haul holidays for culture-seeking travellers |
48 | Cornwallis EltRecruitment consultancy | Central London | 2006 | 85.86% | *5,525 | 13 | Specialises in recruiting senior technologists for the financial markets |
49 | Astbury MarsdenRecruitment agency | Central London | 2005 | 85.82% | 12,112 | 50 | Recruits personnel for clients such as Barclays and Tesco |
50 | Abel & ColeOrganic produce retailer | Wimbledon | 2005 | 85.74% | 13,368 | 166 | Delivers organic fruit and vegetables to 25,000 customers in south England |
51 | SPI (Materials)Exhaust component supplier | Staffordshire | 2005 | 84.55% | 5,124 | 12 | Provides metal parts for needles, car exhaust systems and missiles |
52 | GreenergyFuel supplier | Central London | 2006 | 83.89% | 774,814 | 50 | Fuel supplier moves into building renewable-energy power stations |
53 | Joe BrownsMail-order fashion retailer | Leeds | 2005 | 83.16% | 9,174 | 50 | Claims to process up to 2,000 mail orders a day |
54 | BizzEnergyElectricity supplier | Worcester | 2005 | 83.14% | 109,372 | 108 | Independent electricity supplier that specialises in renewable sources |
55 | Buyagift.comOnline gift retailer | North London | 2005 | 83.01% | 6,722 | 33 | Website sells presents ranging from hampers to Ferrari drives |
56 | Premier GuaranteeUnderwriting agency | Merseyside | 2006 | 82.50% | *19,930 | 35 | Claims to have insured £16 billion worth of new homes in Britain |
57 | ExpansysOnline electronics retailer | Manchester | 2005 | 82.13% | 35,654 | 168 | Rides wireless technology wave to sell mobile phones in China |
58 | PMI Field MarketingField marketing agency | Maidenhead | 2005 | 81.69% | 9,696 | 737 | Handles sales, stock and promotions for Universal Pictures and Sainsbury’s |
58 | Eden McCallumManagement consultancy | Central London | 2005 | 81.69% | 8,777 | 14 | Women founders set up business while pregnant with their second children |
60 | OptionisProfessional services group | Warrington | 2006 | 79.66% | 227,569 | 4,998 | Promise of pain-free payroll administration attracts 15,000 contractors |
61 | innocentFruit drinks maker | West London | 2005 | 79.58% | 37,724 | 75 | Sells 1m pure-fruit drinks a week through delicatessens and supermarkets |
62 | Warehouse ExpressOnline photography retailer | Norwich | 2005 | 79.45% | 22,964 | 40 | Claims its website attracts 50m hits a month |
63 | Really Useful ProductsStorage box supplier | West Yorkshire | 2006 | 79.13% | 8,826 | 33 | Produces stackable storage boxes sold through Staples and WH Smith |
64 | Personal Touch Financial ServicesFinancial services provider | West Midlands | 2005 | 78.84% | 57,144 | 144 | One-stop shop for financial intermediaries such as mortgage brokers |
65 | 1927 LondonDesigner clothes distributor | SW London | 2005 | 78.43% | 11,865 | 23 | Goes for bling, selling gold-riveted jeans at £750 a pair |
66 | Rolling ComponentsEngine component wholesaler | East London | 2005 | 77.78% | 5,623 | 25 | Claims to be the biggest car engine components supplier in Europe |
67 | 7city LearningTraining course provider | Central London | 2005 | 77.77% | 6,927 | 42 | Provides financial courses for Merrill Lynch and Royal Bank of Scotland |
68 | BfinanceInvestment consultancy | Central London | 2005 | 76.32% | 5,844 | 35 | Changes tack to take the headache out of selecting fund managers |
69 | Pharmalink ConsultingRegulatory affairs consultancy | Maidenhead | 2005 | 76.02% | 5,063 | 30 | Provides regulatory-affairs consultancy to the healthcare industry globally |
70 | Connect Group ConsultingRecruitment agency | West London | 2005 | 75.78% | 6,953 | 30 | Recruits specialist IT and project staff for Virgin Atlantic and IBM |
71 | Qdos ConsultingTax consultancy | Leicestershire | 2005 | 75.45% | 8,934 | 52 | Provides online tax and employment advice to 45,000 small businesses |
72 | The Reflex GroupLabel manufacturer | Leeds | 2006 | 75.17% | 10,929 | 82 | Sticky label manufacturer produces three billion labels a year |
73 | Move with UsResidential property broker | Cambridgeshire | 2006 | 75.10% | 11,951 | 111 | Solicitors’ network handled 25,000 conveyancing transactions in 2005 |
74 | Red CommerceSAP recruitment agency | Central London | 2006 | 74.79% | *22,450 | 61 | Underwent £15m buyout backed by Inflexion Private Equity last year |
75 | Worcester CarsalesCar dealer | Worcester | 2005 | 74.73% | 47,605 | 207 | Owner still motoring on after selling his first car at 13 years of age |
76 | ghdHair products supplier | Central London | 2005 | 74.51% | 57,402 | 109 | Completed £55m management buyout backed by LDC in July |
77 | WFCAMarketing agency | Kent | 2005 | 74.28% | †12,289 | 43 | Competes with London ad agencies at Tunbridge Wells prices |
78 | The Specials LaboratoryPharmaceuticals manufacturer | Northumberland | 2005 | 73.56% | 5,750 | 58 | Manufactures unlicensed medicines for special patients |
79 | RedbridgeTelecoms systems integrator | Wales | 2006 | 72.97% | *10,494 | 70 | Redundancy was the catalyst for this telecoms start-up |
80 | Portfolio PayrollPayroll recruitment consultancy | Central London | 2006 | 71.53% | 5,868 | 22 | Bookmaker family gets into recruitment of specialist payroll staff |
81 | NWP ElectricalElectrical contractor | Wales | 2005 | 70.88% | 9,758 | 127 | Claims to offer a one-stop shop for all mechanical and electrial needs |
82 | Healthcare at HomeHome healthcare provider | Burton upon Trent | 2005 | 69.76% | 251,731 | 528 | Treats NHS and private patients in their own homes |
83 | Progress Vehicle ManagementReplacement vehicle provider | South London | 2006 | 69.73% | *5,188 | 43 | Provides replacement vehicles to non-fault drivers after a car accident |
84 | Hodgson AutomotiveCar dealer | Chelmsford, Essex | 2005 | 68.08% | 74,673 | 166 | Sells 5,000 Audi cars a year to residents of Essex and East London |
85 | Holidays 4UTour operator | Brighton | 2005 | 66.73% | 11,693 | 10 | Sells budget holiday packages to Turkey at an average price of £265 |
86 | Littlestar ServicesMusical producer | Central London | 2005 | 66.40% | 24,316 | 16 | Linking with Tom Hanks’s production company to produce MAMMA MIA! film |
87 | Euro GaragesFuel forecourt operator | Blackburn | 2005 | 65.78% | 78,890 | 199 | Refurbishes and operates petrol stations bought from the big oil companies |
88 | Living VenturesRestaurateur | Cheshire | 2005 | 65.42% | 27,678 | 856 | Restaurant group set up by former Australian soap star |
89 | UnicomTelecoms services provider | Manchester | 2005 | 65.29% | 21,304 | 452 | Tempts small businesses with low-cost telephone calls and lines |
90 | LOMBOKFurniture retailer | SW London | 2005 | 65.25% | 7,661 | 105 | A £3.5m buyout pushes furniture retailer into new phase of store openings |
91 | Bank FashionClothing retailer | Macclesfield | 2005 | 65.21% | †30,182 | 543 | Sells branded fashion through 40 high-street shops across Britain |
92 | SEHCivil engineering contractor | Ipswich | 2005 | 64.22% | 126,752 | 563 | Builds roads and provides PVC windows for housebuilders |
93 | Up & RunningRunning equipment retailer | Harrogate | 2006 | 64.12% | *5,009 | 60 | Pace accelerates at Up & Running with 21 new store openings |
94 | Premium Appliance BrandsKitchen appliance supplier | Cheshire | 2005 | 63.75% | 11,570 | 23 | Sells competitively-priced kitchen appliances to B&Q and Argos |
95 | LBMDirect marketing agency | Cheshire | 2006 | 63.20% | 39,541 | 1,277 | Direct marketing firm rides the crest of the call-centre wave |
96 | Go InteriorsBuilding materials supplier | Herts | 2006 | 62.93% | 13,458 | 47 | Founders remortgaged their homes to sell drylining products |
97 | ProhireVehicle services provider | Stoke on Trent | 2005 | 62.75% | 12,241 | 30 | Leases and manages commercial fleet vehicles for the likes of Greene King |
98 | Clipper Logistics GroupWarehousing and distribution | Leeds | 2005 | 62.58% | 45,005 | 925 | Prada and Woolworths sign up for its storage, packaging and distribution services |
99 | Rawhide AccessoriesPlayboy accessories designer | East Yorkshire | 2005 | 62.46% | 10,951 | 65 | Sells Playboy accessories to department stores such as Littlewoods |
100 | MEM Retail Marketing ServicesMarketing services provider | West London | 2005 | 62.37% | 8,744 | 2,737 | Husband and wife founded firm in a £100,000 buyout backed by NatWest |
* Supplied by Company † Annualised figure