Rank | Company | Location | Year end | Annual sales rise over 3 years | Latest sales £000s | Staff | Comment |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | CycleschemeBicycle scheme administrator | Bath | Feb 09 | 347.91% | 22,748 | 27 | New client Rolls-Royce bought £1.2m of bikes for employees in one month |
2 | Gio-GoiFashion wholesaler | Central London | Mar 09 | 219.92% | 18,811 | 34 | Brand featured in an MTV show with Pete Doherty modelling its clothes |
3 | Empiric SolutionsRecruitment consultancy | Central London | Aug 09 | 202.15% | 8,962 | 14 | Has about 50 core investment and asset management clients, including ING and Fortis |
4 | OxygenInsurance broker | Central London | Dec 08 | 189.80% | 17,021 | 177 | Has arranged cancellation insurance for Madonna and U2 concerts |
5 | EazyfoneMobile phone recycler | Cheshire | Aug 09 | 176.69% | *36,246 | 124 | Says it recycles up to 200,000 phones a month through its Envirofone website |
6 | MattressmanMattress retailer | Norwich | Mar 08 | 173.60% | 8,680 | 44 | Says it stocks 5,000 bed frames and 3,000 mattresses at any given time |
7 | I-PayePayroll services provider | Merseyside | Mar 09 | 170.65% | 67,401 | 42 | Has 2,000 clients, many of whom are contractors working abroad |
8 | Paladin GroupProperty services provider | Bath | Mar 09 | 170.25% | 20,500 | 345 | Is moving into student letting, with a contract signed to manage 1,000 student units |
9 | Ella’s KitchenBaby food producer | Henley | Jun 09 | 156.16% | †8,260 | 10 | Its 30 products include flavours such as butternut squash, apple and prune |
10 | Catering AcademyContract caterer | Staffordshire | Dec 08 | 155.76% | 14,305 | 593 | Its clients include the Health Protection Agency, the University of Bolton and the YMCA |
11 | Genuine SolutionsMobile accessories distributor | Surrey | Jan 09 | 153.52% | 6,258 | 64 | Supplies mobile-phone accessories to 800 independent retailers in 24 countries |
12 | Getting PersonalOnline gift retailer | Cheshire | May 09 | 148.78% | *6,282 | 29 | Founders met at antenatal classes |
13 | Rize RecruitmentTelecoms recruitment consultancy | North London | Mar 09 | 144.85% | 8,370 | 19 | Says it has placed Colombian workers in Afghanistan, and Filipinos in Madagascar |
14 | Life Build SolutionsBuilding contractor | Buckinghamshire | Dec 08 | 139.65% | 15,002 | 15 | Recently completed a £2.5m project for Pinewood Studios opened by the Queen |
15 | Your Golf Travel.comGolf travel retailer | Central London | Dec 08 | 139.35% | 7,415 | 52 | Its call-centre staff are mostly keen golfers who advise travellers on best golfing deals |
16 | Team24Medical recruitment consultancy | Surrey | Apr 09 | 133.97% | 13,401 | 52 | Claims to place more than 1,000 doctors and nurses a week |
17 | Redrock ConsultingRecruitment consultancy | Bristol | Mar 08 | 131.41% | †15,372 | 21 | Clients include Orange, Motorola and Alcatel-Lucent |
18 | Alliance SurgicalSurgery group | Birmingham | Mar 09 | 131.22% | 5,895 | 29 | 450 NHS consultants are shareholders in the business |
19 | State OilFuel wholesaler | Weybridge | Feb 09 | 128.00% | 147,199 | 14 | Claims to be the fourth-largest independent oil importer in the UK |
20 | Low Cost Travel GroupTravel operator | West Sussex | Oct 08 | 127.03% | 50,732 | 72 | Has booked holidays for 1.2m people this year |
21 | Myprotein.co.ukSports nutrition supplier | Manchester | Sep 09 | 125.82% | *9,764 | 50 | Supplies sports nutrition to the current winner of Britain’s Strongest Man competition |
22 | Moonpig.comOnline greeting card retailer | Central London | Apr 09 | 125.60% | 20,906 | 65 | Says it will sell 10m personalised greeting cards this year |
23 | MiromaMedia barter company | Central London | Jun 09 | 118.22% | *20,257 | 14 | Launched an office in Singapore this year |
24 | E-ResourcingIT recruitment consultancy | Epsom | Jun 09 | 115.01% | *5,641 | 14 | Customers include the NHS, Logica and Toyota |
25 | Next VenturesRecruitment consultancy | Central London | Dec 08 | 111.32% | 8,292 | 25 | 75% of its sales are currently generated overseas |
26 | Interim PartnersRecruitment consultancy | Harrogate | Dec 08 | 110.53% | 9,377 | 17 | Launched a mid-market recruitment division in September |
27 | Kite Consulting GroupIT recruitment consultancy | Central London | Aug 09 | 110.19% | *7,914 | 20 | Clients include Balfour Beatty, Barclays and Aviva |
28 | Olive CateringContract caterer | Warwickshire | Dec 08 | 104.09% | 9,225 | 368 | Recently won contracts with Heinz and Capital One |
29 | Global Energy GroupEnergy services provider | Inverness | Mar 08 | 103.00% | 94,309 | 425 | Has hired two Olympic biathlete skiers to lead staff development |
30 | Fine Green AssociatesRecruitment consultancy | Manchester | Jun 09 | 102.94% | 10,861 | 18 | Supplies non-clinical management staff to the NHS and private healthcare organisations |
31 | ONEPOSTPostal management adviser | Bristol | Jun 09 | 100.62% | *28,415 | 44 | Its 230 clients include the National Trust and the British Red Cross |
32 | AM PMCash and carry wholesaler | Scunthorpe | Aug 08 | 99.52% | *5,332 | 12 | Cash and carry chain started in an old sewing-machine factory with £5,000 of stock |
33 | powerPerfectorEnergy-saving device distributor | Central London | Dec 08 | 97.21% | 11,557 | 27 | Says its technology can save clients an average of 13% in electricity costs |
34 | Chesterfield PoultryHalal poultry seller | Derbyshire | Jun 08 | 97.02% | 17,487 | 86 | Processes up to 120,000 halal chickens each week |
35 | Directline HolidaysOnline travel operator | Croydon | Oct 08 | 96.22% | 11,398 | 61 | Has developed software that can tailor holidays to customers’ requirements |
36 | Silver CrossPram maker | Skipton | Dec 08 | 95.67% | 17,484 | 41 | Founded in 1877, now sells to retailers and direct to public on its own website |
37 | jjFOXRecruitment consultancy | Bristol | Dec 08 | 94.87% | *13,691 | 100 | Company’s 2008 Christmas raffle raised £44,000 to start a charitable foundation |
38 | AsteralMedical equipment provider | Reading | Mar 09 | 94.42% | *14,277 | 43 | Handles the supply and maintenance of scanners and x-ray machines to hospitals |
39 | NAC GroupBusiness consultancy | Sunderland | Jul 08 | 92.87% | 7,598 | 40 | Helps improve business efficiency at Imperial College Hospital and JCB |
40 | DanbroPayroll services provider | Blackpool | Mar 09 | 91.63% | *51,080 | 1,363 | Client list includes 1,500 IT contractors and 1,100 limited companies |
41 | Hobson PriorRecruitment consultancy | Tunbridge Wells | Jul 08 | 91.04% | 10,267 | 20 | Has recently formed strategic partnerships with companies in Switzerland and Germany |
42 | ea Consulting GroupBusiness management consultancy | Twickenham | Mar 09 | 88.99% | 25,111 | 32 | Founded to manage change arising from the introduction of the euro |
43 | MFGFuel forecourt operator | St Albans | Aug 08 | 87.73% | 121,905 | 237 | Has acquired more than 20 petrol stations in the past three years |
44 | Boost DrinksEnergy drink maker | Leeds | Oct 08 | 87.54% | 9,654 | 12 | Became the official energy drink for Glastonbury this year |
45 | Stores DirectHeating products retailer | Huddersfield | Apr 09 | 86.58% | 8,224 | 15 | Sells about 500 stoves and fireplaces each month from its websites |
46 | HiggidyPie maker | West Sussex | Sep 09 | 85.68% | *5,586 | 106 | Sells its British quiches to a café in France |
47 | FjordDigital design consultancy | Central London | Dec 08 | 82.36% | *6,641 | 88 | Has offices in London, Berlin, Helsinki and New York |
48 | Joseph JosephHousehold goods manufacturer | Central London | May 09 | 82.11% | *6,477 | 21 | Sells 250 product lines through stores including John Lewis and House of Fraser |
49 | SFC (Wholesale)Fried chicken wholesaler | Merseyside | Mar 09 | 80.81% | 12,511 | 12 | Claims to sell more than 400 tonnes of frozen chicken products each month |
50 | DimarkEthnic food distributor | North London | Dec 08 | 80.60% | *5,077 | 15 | Is one of Britain’s largest importers of Polish and eastern European food |
51 | Easi-Drive Accident ManagementAccident services provider | Manchester | Mar 08 | 80.59% | †12,857 | 96 | Says its customers drive 1m miles a year in the replacement vehicles it provides |
52 | PracticusManagement consultancy | Henley | Dec 08 | 79.17% | 33,274 | 49 | Opened offices in Amsterdam and Australia earlier this year |
53 | World FirstInternational payments provider | Central London | Jan 09 | 78.86% | 5,579 | 54 | Its most popular currencies traded are euros and dollars |
54 | Global ResourcingIT recruitment consultancy | Bromley | Dec 08 | 77.89% | 14,782 | 38 | Operates globally, including in America, Hong Kong, Singapore and Kazakhstan |
55 | The Book DepositoryOnline book retailer | Gloucester | Jun 09 | 77.79% | 61,421 | 39 | Founder was part of the team that launched Amazon in Britain |
56 | Oliver James AssociatesRecruitment consultancy | Central London | Dec 08 | 77.57% | 6,986 | 24 | Places about 20 candidates each month with blue-chip insurance firms |
57 | Amber TavernsPub operator | Preston | Jan 09 | 76.74% | 7,019 | 10 | Purchased 23 pubs from the administrators in April, saving about 100 jobs |
58 | Allen LanePublic sector recruitment consultancy | Central London | May 09 | 76.43% | *23,644 | 19 | Clients include Ofsted and the London Business School |
59 | Liv-exFine wine exchange | Southwest London | Dec 08 | 75.70% | 27,145 | 21 | Produces an index ranking the world’s top 100 wines for investment |
60 | People Source ConsultingIT recruitment consultancy | Bristol | Mar 09 | 74.27% | 6,480 | 22 | Claims to have clients in every industry sector |
61 | ToppesfieldSpecialist surfacing contractor | Ipswich | May 08 | 74.23% | 10,549 | 33 | Recently completed a £1m resurfacing project on behalf of Transport for London |
62 | Richmond GroupFinancial services provider | Bournemouth | Mar 09 | 71.96% | *36,301 | 372 | Staff, customers and company raised £150,000 for local charities |
63 | Universal RecyclingMetal waste recycler | South Yorkshire | Oct 08 | 71.48% | 47,637 | 72 | A renewable fuel power plant now provides a third of all its electricity requirements |
64 | BLU 3 (UK)Infrastructure services provider | Croydon | Mar 08 | 70.87% | 14,283 | 77 | Clients include Tesco, Transport for London and EDF Energy |
65 | Opti-cal Survey EquipmentSurvey equipment supplier | Reading | Aug 09 | 70.35% | *5,039 | 17 | Supplies equipment to projects including the London 2012 Olympics and Crossrail |
66 | Mayday HealthcareRecruitment consultancy | Central London | Sep 08 | 70.14% | 29,710 | 55 | Claims its offices have not closed in five and a half years |
67 | Zaha HadidArchitect | Central London | Apr 08 | 67.43% | 26,231 | 241 | Designs include the Z.Car, a hydrogen-powered, three-wheeled automobile |
68 | Igloo BooksBook publisher | Northampton | Mar 08 | 67.36% | 7,728 | 32 | Publishes about 250 titles each year, from baby nutrition guides to gardening books |
69 | LifetimeTraining provider | Bristol | Mar 09 | 66.40% | *9,793 | 157 | Founder worked as a teacher and aerobics instructor before setting up the business |
70 | ActeonSubsea services provider | Norwich | Dec 08 | 66.37% | 309,154 | 1,595 | Group comprises 15 companies with services including oilwell decommissioning |
71 | PMSSRenewable energy consultancy | Romsey | Mar 09 | 65.97% | *5,963 | 65 | Claims to have provided expertise to more than 1,000 renewable-energy projects |
72 | McKinney RogersBusiness performance consultancy | Central London | Apr 09 | 65.10% | *11,042 | 59 | Stint in the Royal Marines led founder to adapt military principles to the business |
73 | Harkand GroupOffshore services provider | Aberdeen | Sep 08 | 64.67% | 87,626 | 472 | Recently opened offices in Singapore and Australia |
74 | InvestigoRecruitment consultancy | Central London | Jun 09 | 64.51% | 28,840 | 59 | Acts as primary supplier of finance staff to Alliance Boots, Coca-Cola and Lloyds |
75 | Timothy James ConsultingRecruitment consultancy | Bristol | Oct 08 | 63.63% | *5,428 | 30 | Candidates placed typically earn salaries of between £80,000 and £100,000 |
76 | Henleys ClothingFashion retailer | Manchester | Mar 09 | 63.45% | *37,952 | 191 | Says it is one of Shop Direct’s top selling brands |
77 | Holiday TaxisAirport transfer provider | West Sussex | Dec 08 | 63.41% | 12,238 | 48 | Founder set up company after Thomas Cook made him redundant |
78 | MSS GroupFacilities management consultancy | Cardiff | Mar 09 | 62.52% | 7,367 | 287 | Its clients include Superdrug, Rockwool and Scottish Power |
79 | Sprue AegisSafety products manufacturer | Coventry | Dec 08 | 61.86% | 9,368 | 22 | Says it supplies 85% of British fire authorities with its smoke alarms |
80 | Bond Aviation GroupHelicopter operator | Cheltenham | Mar 08 | 61.74% | 62,656 | 299 | Flies crews to and from drilling platforms in the North Sea |
81 | PJ CareCare home operator | Milton Keynes | Mar 08 | 60.25% | 5,002 | 155 | Recently acquired a training company to enable it to train its own staff |
82 | Go ApeAdventure course operator | Suffolk | Dec 08 | 60.19% | 8,479 | 198 | Says that nearly 2m customers have completed a course |
83 | Fast & Fresh RestaurantsSubway sandwich franchiser | Preston | Jun 08 | 59.84% | 10,643 | 388 | Recent openings include restaurants at Liverpool airport |
84 | Character WorldLicensed textile manufacturer | Cheshire | Dec 08 | 59.65% | 20,813 | 47 | Recently launched a Spiderman duvet set |
85 | AdConnectionMedia agency | Wimbledon | Mar 09 | 59.56% | *14,633 | 18 | New clients include Grosvenor Casinos and Trinidad and Tobago’s tourist board |
86 | Cath KidstonLifestyle retailer | West London | Mar 09 | 59.46% | 31,294 | 275 | Recently published a book of sewing projects designed for use with its fabric patterns |
87 | Applied Language SolutionsTranslation services provider | Manchester | May 09 | 59.16% | *6,257 | 102 | Claims to have a network of more than 16,000 linguists around the world |
88 | Balhousie Care GroupCare home operator | Forfar | Apr 09 | 59.02% | *12,734 | 530 | Founder appeared on Channel 4’s Secret Millionaire this year |
89 | Maria Mallaband Care GroupCare home operator | Leeds | Apr 08 | 58.85% | 31,834 | 1,303 | Supplies 1,200 beds in 54 care homes, including one in Jersey |
90 | Voice MobileMobile phone reseller | Birmingham | Dec 08 | 58.66% | 7,120 | 21 | Says it supplies mobile phones to one in every four British police officers |
91 | Manpower DirectSecurity services provider | Essex | Jun 08 | 58.00% | 7,399 | 240 | Started in a converted warehouse by a group of engineering graduates |
92 | NET-A-PORTER.comOnline fashion retailer | Central London | Jan 09 | 56.54% | 81,546 | 376 | Has raised more than £10m in funding since 2000 |
93 | DenticareDental practice operator | Bedford | Mar 08 | 56.47% | 5,125 | 55 | Provides financial assistance to help continental dentists relocate to Britain |
94 | EurospanBook distributor | Central London | Dec 08 | 56.09% | 5,472 | 27 | Distributes books from publishers such as the World Bank and Stanford University Press |
95 | PaulBakery and patisserie | Central London | Dec 08 | 55.71% | 18,901 | 413 | Claims it sold more than 300,000 croissants and 70,000 strawberry tartlettes last year |
96 | Hotel Chocolat StoresChocolate retailer | Hertfordshire | Jun 09 | 55.16% | *21,788 | 287 | Recently opened two stores in America, and will have franchises in Dubai and Kuwait |
97 | B&M RetailDiscount retailer | Liverpool | Dec 08 | 54.60% | 255,922 | 3,119 | Claims that more than 1.5m shoppers enter its stores each week |
98 | CMC PartnershipBusiness management consultancy | Monmouthshire | Jan 09 | 53.30% | 13,262 | 50 | Clients include the Ministry of Defence, the Foreign Office and the Welsh Assembly |
99 | Outsource UKRecruitment consultancy | Swindon | May 09 | 53.29% | 18,234 | 21 | Company was founded in the managing director’s spare bedroom |
100 | David Phillips FurnitureFurniture retailer | Central London | Mar 08 | 52.92% | *12,273 | 73 | Furnished more than 100 apartments in Cyprus this year |
* Supplied by Company † Annualised figure