Rank | Company | Location | Year end | Annual sales rise over 3 years | Latest sales £000s | Staff | Comment |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Hotel Chocolat StoresChocolate retailer | Hertfordshire | 2008 | 225.53% | *18,384 | 160 | Opened five new shops in 2008 and now has 30 stores nationwide |
2 | TorFXForeign exchange provider | Cornwall | 2008 | 217.08% | 265,389 | 46 | Top traded currencies are euros, US dollars and Australian dollars |
3 | Silver CrossPram maker | Skipton | 2007 | 179.46% | †15,181 | 32 | Sold its first custom-built pram in Beijing this year |
4 | jjFOXRecruitment consultancy | Bristol | 2007 | 165.59% | *8,953 | 72 | Expanded to Truro because the directors like surfing and beach cricket |
5 | The Book DepositoryOnline book retailer | Gloucester | 2008 | 160.15% | *40,201 | 27 | Offers free worldwide delivery on every title |
6 | BurgopakPackaging designer | South London | 2008 | 147.73% | *5,260 | 25 | Founder drew inspiration for his packaging design from children’s pop-up books |
7 | Paladin GroupProperty services provider | Bath | 2008 | 147.34% | 15,677 | 313 | Plans to offer energy inspections to ensure compliance with new regulations |
8 | Manpower DirectSecurity services provider | Essex | 2007 | 143.99% | 5,566 | 28 | Engineering graduates started the company from a converted warehouse |
9 | Medicare FirstRecruitment consultancy | Central London | 2008 | 142.72% | *10,538 | 25 | Claims to recruit social workers for every local authority in London |
10 | Probuild BirminghamShopfitting contractor | Birmingham | 2008 | 142.08% | 9,442 | 58 | Branching out to start refitting schools and local council properties |
11 | TDX GroupDebt management provider | Nottingham | 2008 | 138.94% | *17,259 | 117 | Acquired Madrid-based competitor to kick off international expansion |
12 | Allen LanePublic sector recruitment consultancy | Central London | 2008 | 138.72% | 16,131 | 15 | Clients include Transport for London and the Royal Horticultural Society |
13 | Interim PartnersRecruitment consultancy | Harrogate | 2007 | 136.57% | 5,691 | 10 | Awarded Age Positive Employer Champion by the Department for Work and Pensions |
14 | CSGBusiness finance provider | SE London | 2008 | 133.12% | *28,822 | 32 | Founder previously set up, ran, and sold off a similar business |
15 | PracticusManagement consultancy | Henley | 2007 | 132.96% | 21,698 | 41 | Its three founding directors drew no salary for the first 12 months |
16 | On Holiday GroupHoliday sales agency | West Sussex | 2007 | 127.47% | 11,430 | 56 | Says its management has more than 60 years of experience in the travel industry |
17 | Towry LawIndependent wealth adviser | Bracknell | 2007 | 119.21% | 49,161 | 650 | Made five acquisitions in 2007, including Baker Tilly Financial Services |
18 | Mayday HealthcareRecruitment consultancy | Central London | 2007 | 118.85% | 11,031 | 32 | Claims its offices haven’t closed in four and a half years |
19 | Hobson PriorRecruitment consultancy | Tunbridge Wells | 2007 | 116.76% | 8,186 | 19 | Supplies highly skilled specialists for drug discovery and approval projects |
20 | First Point GroupTelecoms recruitment consultancy | Central London | 2008 | 114.76% | *10,518 | 20 | Headquartered in London but claims not to have a single British client |
21 | Reflex Vehicle SolutionsVehicle rental provider | Middlesbrough | 2007 | 114.75% | 16,145 | 54 | Its 500 clients include DHL and Network Rail |
22 | ea Consulting GroupBusiness management consultancy | Twickenham | 2008 | 114.35% | 20,646 | 38 | Originally founded to manage change arising from the introduction of the euro |
23 | Applied Language SolutionsTranslation services provider | Manchester | 2008 | 111.43% | *5,480 | 85 | Founder was featured on Dragons’ Den and Channel 4’s Secret Millionaire |
24 | Mentor IMC GroupOil industry consultancy | East London | 2008 | 107.91% | 28,215 | 13 | Iceni Capital recently took a 55% stake in the company |
25 | New Career SkillsVocational training provider | East Sussex | 2008 | 104.72% | 5,266 | 33 | Counts Halifax Rugby Union player Will Kay as one of its graduate electricians |
26 | 33six ConsultancyRecruitment agency | Central London | 2007 | 100.62% | *8,109 | 27 | Founder previously set up and sold two businesses |
27 | Octavian SecuritySecurity services provider | Nottingham | 2008 | 100.26% | *8,317 | 500 | Placed former Gurkha soldiers as guards at Ikea store in Nottingham |
28 | AO.comHousehold appliance supplier | Bolton | 2008 | 99.56% | *80,982 | 263 | Says it has made about 225,000 deliveries this year |
29 | AsteralMedical equipment provider | Reading | 2008 | 98.43% | 11,084 | 37 | Claims most of its staff are clinical scientists, medical engineers or radiation specialists |
30 | Seven Publishing GroupMagazine publisher | South London | 2007 | 96.73% | 30,751 | 161 | Publishes magazines for Sainsbury’s and fashion retailer Asos.com |
31 | DanbroPayroll services provider | Blackpool | 2008 | 95.79% | 34,924 | 1,021 | Husband and wife team used a redundancy payout to set up company |
32 | Global ResourcingIT recruitment consultancy | Bromley | 2007 | 92.57% | 9,723 | 27 | Is expanding into new sectors such as construction in Dubai and the UAE |
33 | Ping PongRestaurant chain | Southeast London | 2008 | 90.89% | †10,632 | 416 | Founded by the former general manager of Nobu restaurant |
34 | Kew Green HotelsHotel operator | West London | 2007 | 90.73% | 37,424 | 720 | Runs the largest Holiday Inn Express in Europe at Stansted airport |
35 | Cornwallis EltRecruitment consultancy | Central London | 2007 | 90.09% | †8,157 | 16 | All three directors compete in endurance sporting events for charity |
36 | innocentFruit drinks maker | West London | 2007 | 89.14% | *113,193 | 280 | Claims 130,000 people a week sign up for its innocent e-mail |
37 | Balhousie Care GroupCare home operator | Forfar | 2008 | 88.76% | 8,630 | 400 | Sponsors a PhD student at Dundee University to carry out research on dementia |
38 | Fusion PeopleTechnical recruitment consultancy | Hampshire | 2007 | 88.01% | 34,135 | 171 | Has just opened an office in Perth, Australia |
39 | Draycott WardInsurance industry consultancy | Bath | 2008 | 87.12% | 5,639 | 22 | Sales jumped sharply on account of the 2007 floods |
40 | LNT GroupCare home developer | Leeds | 2008 | 86.60% | 25,736 | 79 | Says it is building 15 new care homes, with capacity for more than 1,000 beds |
41 | Geothermal InternationalRenewable energy supplier | Coventry | 2008 | 85.81% | *12,796 | 70 | Claims to have laid more than 300,000 metres of pipe to extract ground heat |
42 | Ice Energy Heat PumpsRenewable energy supplier | Oxfordshire | 2008 | 85.43% | *7,769 | 70 | Recently acquired an underfloor heating company to launch Ice Energy Floor Heating |
43 | G2V Recruitment GroupRecruitment consultancy | Manchester | 2008 | 84.98% | *15,981 | 28 | Recently backed a former employee’s recruitment start-up |
44 | Holiday TaxisAirport transfer provider | West Sussex | 2007 | 84.31% | 8,587 | 28 | Founder took a job as a holiday rep in Corfu during a gap year and still works in travel |
45 | Shilton Sharpe QuarryLegal recruitment consultancy | Central London | 2007 | 83.07% | 6,874 | 40 | Started from a Fleet Street Starbucks in 2002 |
46 | Oyster PartnershipRecruitment consultancy | Central London | 2008 | 82.90% | *5,305 | 22 | Sponsors carbon offset projects and claims to be fully carbon neutral |
47 | MiromaMedia barter company | Central London | 2008 | 80.09% | *9,125 | 10 | Founder did barter deal with Regus to secure his first office in St James’s Square |
48 | Compello Staffing GroupRecruitment consultancy | Glasgow | 2007 | 79.82% | 52,269 | 148 | Made its second acquisition in the oil and gas recruitment sector in a £4m deal last year |
49 | InvestigoRecruitment consultancy | Central London | 2008 | 79.60% | *19,209 | 48 | Undertakes finance recruitment for Tesco, Marks & Spencer and Amazon |
50 | SPI (Materials)Exhaust component supplier | Staffordshire | 2007 | 77.98% | 9,139 | 12 | Claims to supply more than 10m exhaust parts to car makers each month |
51 | Kinsey Allen ConsultingExecutive search consultancy | East London | 2007 | 77.69% | 8,721 | 37 | Handles only permanent placements to clients such as JP Morgan |
52 | Harkand GroupOffshore services provider | Aberdeen | 2007 | 77.17% | 56,198 | 322 | Bank of Scotland Corporate invested a reported £80m for a 12.5% stake in April |
53 | AJ PowerDiesel generator manufacturer | Northern Ireland | 2008 | 76.44% | 18,005 | 51 | Recently launched a range of green generators running entirely on biodiesel fuel |
54 | No 1 CurrencyForeign exchange specialist | Edinburgh | 2008 | 75.50% | 474,061 | 39 | Says its new system can process hundreds of exchange transactions per second |
55 | AlsbridgeOutsourcing consultancy | Central London | 2007 | 74.43% | 6,125 | 28 | Works with more than 40 clients, including a range of FTSE 100 companies |
56 | Towergate InsuranceInsurance underwriter and broker | Maidstone | 2007 | 72.78% | 268,931 | 3,299 | Claims to be Europe’s largest privately owned insurance intermediary |
57 | ActeonSubsea services provider | Norwich | 2007 | 71.72% | 194,690 | 1,041 | Acquired competitors in Brazil and Singapore in 2007 |
58 | Gü Chocolate PudsPremium pudding maker | West London | 2008 | 71.07% | *16,776 | 38 | Recently started selling hot chocolate served in Waitrose cafes |
59 | Maria Mallaband Care GroupCare home operator | Leeds | 2007 | 71.03% | 25,158 | 1,095 | Company also builds and sells retirement apartments |
60 | SavantConstruction consultancy | Central London | 2007 | 70.84% | *21,732 | 460 | Its construction projects include the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Moscow |
61 | McLaren ConstructionBuilder | Essex | 2007 | 70.75% | 133,843 | 131 | Projects include Europe’s first carbon-neutral logistics depot based in Staffordshire |
62 | People Source ConsultingIT recruitment consultancy | Bristol | 2008 | 68.40% | *5,378 | 25 | Set up with a grant from the Prince's Trust |
63 | Edge RecruitsRecruitment consultancy | Devon | 2008 | 67.95% | *6,116 | 15 | Developed “Job Pods”, video booths where jobseekers can sign up and register CVs |
64 | Ten Lifestyle ManagementConcierge service provider | Central London | 2008 | 67.71% | *10,034 | 149 | Its concierge service advises clients on eco-friendly holidays and energy-efficient homes |
65 | NET-A-PORTER.comOnline fashion retailer | Central London | 2008 | 67.32% | 55,158 | 331 | Has received more than £10m in funding since its launch eight years ago |
66 | Health ManagementOccupational health adviser | East Sussex | 2007 | 66.77% | 7,571 | 102 | Claims to work with 32 FTSE 250 companies |
67 | Sprue AegisSafety products manufacturer | Coventry | 2007 | 66.72% | 7,263 | 18 | Recently launched a new line of wireless fire safety devices |
68 | StaffgroupRecruitment consultancy | Central London | 2008 | 65.74% | 13,168 | 41 | Says 12 languages are spoken in its London head office |
69 | The Instant GroupOffice supplier | Central London | 2008 | 64.98% | †*5,331 | 80 | Claims to work with more than 50 FTSE 100 companies |
70 | Fast & Fresh RestaurantsSubway sandwich franchiser | Preston | 2007 | 64.55% | 6,525 | 350 | Offers a range of sandwiches containing only 6g of fat or less |
71 | Go ApeAdventure course operator | Suffolk | 2007 | 63.67% | 6,084 | 247 | Claims to take up to 100,000 bookings a year for its adventure courses |
72 | Caspian UK GroupBurger King franchiser | Surrey | 2007 | 63.62% | 41,828 | 1,159 | Claims to be one of the largest Burger King franchisers in Britain |
73 | Sloane Square HotelHotel operator | Central London | 2007 | 63.53% | 6,051 | 100 | Has put a laptop, wireless broadband and a PlayStation in every hotel room |
74 | Inside Ideas GroupMarketing services provider | Central London | 2008 | 63.15% | *8,439 | 31 | Claims that automated marketing technology is the key to its success |
75 | PlayforcePlayground equipment maker | Wiltshire | 2007 | 62.71% | 6,374 | 36 | Makes up to 100 installations of its playground equipment per month |
76 | MSI GroupRecruitment consultancy | Central London | 2007 | 62.24% | *9,202 | 26 | Claims to be the preferred supplier of staff for Ericsson Japan |
77 | 7city LearningTraining course provider | Central London | 2007 | 61.76% | †16,524 | 97 | Claims it trains about 20,000 staff each year for clients including HSBC and Citigroup |
78 | Move with UsResidential property broker | Cambridgeshire | 2008 | 61.30% | 27,900 | 201 | Says it sold more than £500m worth of part-exchange property in the last year |
79 | Dawnus ConstructionCivil engineering contractor | Swansea | 2007 | 61.16% | 68,783 | 401 | Projects include an environmentally sustainable centre on Skomer Island, Pembrokeshire |
80 | Henleys ClothingFashion retailer | Manchester | 2008 | 60.65% | *25,731 | 63 | Now has a new retail division with nine stores nationwide |
81 | Abel & ColeOrganic produce retailer | Wimbledon | 2007 | 60.49% | 27,939 | 321 | Food past its sell-by date feeds animals at Longleat Safari Park and the London Zoo |
82 | Lucy Wernick & AssociatesClothing wholesaler | Central London | 2008 | 59.41% | 11,646 | 12 | Founder started with a £1,500 council grant and a loan from her father |
83 | Tonic Life CommunicationsPR consultancy | Central London | 2007 | 59.18% | 5,110 | 30 | Has offices in New York City, Dallas and western France |
84 | Connex RecruitmentRecruitment consultancy | Liverpool | 2007 | 58.66% | *6,709 | 27 | Owner founded the business with £7,000 in savings |
85 | Just LampsProjector lamp supplier | Berkshire | 2008 | 57.92% | *21,362 | 62 | 20% of sales now come from its own-brand lamps that the firm manufactures itself |
86 | PineSolutions.co.ukWood furniture retailer | Norwich | 2008 | 57.69% | *7,176 | 23 | Claims to be carbon-neutral and that only two of its staff use cars to commute |
87 | Simply BizSupport services provider | Huddersfield | 2007 | 57.53% | 10,665 | 85 | Says its non-profit business academy has helped 2,000 users in six months |
88 | Ink PublishingAirline magazine publisher | Central London | 2008 | 57.52% | 25,280 | 225 | Publishes in-flight magazines in 17 languages, including Chinese, Polish and Khmer |
89 | DriveTechDriver trainer | Berkshire | 2008 | 56.82% | 10,106 | 69 | Claims to train drivers for more than 200 corporate fleets, including Sainsbury’s |
90 | Henry Howard FinanceBusiness finance provider | Newport | 2007 | 56.74% | 29,817 | 32 | Claims to handle up to 300 lease transactions monthly |
91 | OptionisProfessional services group | Warrington | 2007 | 56.36% | 248,968 | 5,801 | Claims to provide employment services for more than 25,000 contractors |
92 | 1927 LondonDesigner clothes distributor | SW London | 2007 | 55.65% | 23,115 | 41 | Recently launched a baby lifestyle brand created by Bon Jovi's drummer |
93 | JoulesClothing retailer | Leicestershire | 2008 | 55.25% | 22,225 | 187 | Claims its childrenswear is John Lewis’s best-selling children’s line this season |
94 | CreativeventsCatering services provider | Central London | 2007 | 54.93% | *10,230 | 169 | Provides bar and catering services to the Red Bull Air Race and Cartier Polo |
95 | GGR-UNICLifting solutions provider | Oldham | 2007 | 53.92% | 12,809 | 39 | Its cranes were used to raise the floor of a swimming pool without draining the water |
96 | Portfolio PayrollPayroll recruitment consultancy | Central London | 2007 | 53.64% | 7,375 | 35 | Clients include HMV, Citibank and Sony |
97 | Tyrrells Potato CrispsCrisps and snacks producer | Herefordshire | 2008 | 53.61% | *12,910 | 93 | Newest potato chip flavours include beef and horseradish and ale and cheese |
98 | Cameron BlackDesign and construction provider | Central London | 2008 | 53.45% | *10,281 | 26 | Says 80% of projects are within 10 miles of the company’s front door |
99 | FeliciniRestaurant chain | Sheffield | 2007 | 53.26% | 6,799 | 231 | Its Manchester branch is rumoured to be one of Wayne Rooney’s favourite eating spots |
100 | STATS GroupPipeline engineer | Aberdeen | 2007 | 52.83% | 8,760 | 103 | Recently opened offices in Houston and the UAE |
* Supplied by Company † Annualised figure