Rank Company Location Year end % annual profit growth Latest profits £000 Latest sales £000 Staff Comment
1 LoveholidaysOnline travel agency Central London Oct-18 190.96% 13,350 64,413 292 Last year Livingbridge acquired a majority stake, valuing the company at £180m
2 GymsharkFitness clothing retailer Solihull Jul-18 151.76% *18,094 *103,612 260 Has launched a “try now, pay later” service in the UK and Scandinavia
3 Revolution BeautyBeauty products retailer Kent Dec-17 136.80% 11,486 71,788 94 US TV star Khloe Kardashian has praised one of the brand’s £3 highlighters
4 Arlington Industries GroupComponents supplier Manchester Mar-18 129.44% 6,160 171,210 1,074 Acquired international automotive manufacturer Magal Engineering in 2017
5 AerFinAircraft and spares services Caerphilly Dec-17 129.11% 8,001 70,151 87 Chief executive Bob James was appointed an OBE in the Queen’s Birthday honours in 2018
6 blu-3Infrastructure provider Kent Mar-18 126.30% 9,930 105,818 115 Works on data centre projects in Denmark, Ireland and Holland
7 HalsionElectrical & mechanical engineering Canterbury Mar-18 116.83% 16,327 58,332 78 Installed the UK Supreme Court’s data and security system as part of a larger engineering contract
8 Princess YachtsLuxury yacht builder Plymouth Dec-17 114.29% 10,884 274,446 2,407 Offers advanced apprenticeships in engineering, boat building and fabricating
9 Corin OrthopaedicsOrthopaedic parts maker Cirencester Dec-17 108.57% 7,431 105,729 474 Its new hip implant was cleared for sale in America in 2018
10 VSI GroupLanguage services provider Central London Dec-17 107.84% 6,633 45,026 112 Localises more than 200,000 hours of programming into over 50 languages each year
11 Batt CablesCable supplier Kent Mar-18 106.18% 6,924 145,732 299 Founded in 1952, this company says it is the oldest surviving cable distributor in Britain
12 Readie ConstructionConstruction contractor Romford, Essex Mar-18 105.93% 6,742 136,894 104 Says it delivers more than 4m sq ft of industrial, retail and leisure space every year
13 MiQDigital marketing agency Central London Dec-17 99.53% 10,955 155,876 463 Operates globally from 15 offices in America, Europe and Asia Pacific
14 mac-groupConstruction and fit-out County Down Dec-17 97.71% 4,533 94,724 83 Works for global firms seeking modern offices in Dublin
15 Talon OutdoorMedia agency Central London Dec-17 97.32% 9,627 205,028 95 Ranked as the number one Small Company to Work For in 2017 by Best Companies
16 FIRSTEvents agency Central London Sep-17 97.07% 4,727 56,981 201 Organises international events for clients including LG, Verizon Media and Mastercard
17 MotordepotCar supermarket East Yorkshire Aug-17 94.94% 7,161 148,771 208 Opened six branches in the last year and has more than 3,000 cars in stock
18 Joseph Heler CheeseCheesemaker Cheshire Sep-17 94.16% 4,086 57,586 137 Founder Joseph Heler purchased a local farm in 1957 and started the group’s tradition of cheesemaking
19 Kenny Waste ManagementWaste management & recycling Little Hulton, Manchester Mar-18 91.09% 3,974 21,110 85 Recycles more than 98% of the 10,000 tonnes of waste it processes every month
20 Llanmoor HomesHousebuilder Glamorganshire Jan-18 90.03% 9,526 36,652 71 This housebuilder completed on 184 homes in 2018, its best year so far
21 BEAUTY BAYOnline cosmetics retailer Salford Mar-18 89.97% †5,754 †79,319 114 Stocks more than 8,000 beauty products ranging from eyebrow pomade to glycolic acid toner
22 NG BaileyMechanical, electrical contractor West Yorkshire Feb-18 89.92% 13,700 481,000 2,764 Acquired Freedom Group in 2018, which will boost sales by around a quarter to £600m
23 ATD Travel ServicesTravel services provider Southwest London Dec-17 87.95% 4,422 16,037 132 Founder Olly Brendon started the business in 2002 with a £10,000 loan from his parents
24 Tropic SkincareBeauty products manufacturer Croydon Jun-18 85.40% 5,126 22,682 106 Founder Susie Ma started selling cosmetic products at Greenwich Market aged 15
25 Pure RetirementSpecialist mortgage broker Leeds Dec-17 84.85% 8,458 21,055 52 It increased lending by 47% in 2017, and estimated its market share at 7.5% by value
26 SolventisSolvent distributor Guildford Dec-17 83.40% 12,494 194,099 32 Moved its UK headquarters to Guildford in 2017
27 JRL GroupConstruction contractor North London Dec-18 82.52% *34,000 *535,000 1,363 Contracted to develop the Landmark Pinnacle, one of the tallest residential towers in Europe
28 SportsShoes.comSports goods retailer West Yorkshire Feb-18 81.95% 4,449 51,411 144 Provides online gait analysis at its Foot Lab to help people find the most suitable footwear
29 Fullers FoodsFrozen food supplier Leeds Jan-18 81.66% 8,136 285,232 47 Supplies more than 350,000 tonnes of food each year — equating to 25m cases of its produce
30 Make It CheaperBusiness cost saving service Central London Mar-18 80.58% 5,525 22,273 233 In 2017, founder Jonathan Elliott led a buyout backed by private equity firm ECI Partners
31 CH&Co GroupCatering group Reading Dec-17 79.86% 8,570 240,258 6,372 Merged with caterers Harbour & Jones and Concerto in 2017
32 Nexus UnderwritingUnderwriter Central London Dec-18 79.67% *12,658 *35,473 207 Has completed 13 acquisitions in total, and 11 since BP Marsh invested in 2014
33 Motor Parts DirectMotor Parts retailer Braintree, Essex Dec-17 78.97% 5,093 78,610 1,015 Newly opened branches in 2018 include locations in Gloucester, Bristol and Cardiff
34 Highwood GroupConstruction contractor and developer Hampshire Feb-18 78.34% 5,835 37,788 42 Developing 750 homes at North Stoneham Park in Hampshire
35 Orbital EducationInternational schools operator Cheshire Aug-18 78.23% *6,063 *30,628 491 Its British schools span the globe from Europe to China
36 ClipfineConstruction logistics Central London May-18 77.78% 6,054 73,374 186 Working with Sir Robert McAlpine to construct the new No 1 court at Wimbledon
37 7th HeavenBeauty face mask manufacturer Port Talbot Dec-17 77.73% 7,365 26,282 63 Rebranded from Montagne Jeunesse to 7th Heaven in 2013
38 Bourne GroupStructural steelwork contractor Poole, Dorset Oct-17 77.58% 7,017 67,353 193 Supplied the steelwork for the refurbishment of Reading train station
39 Fletchers SolicitorsPersonal injury solicitors Southport Apr-18 77.24% 5,353 26,456 367 Says it handles one eighth of all medical negligence cases in Britain
40 Xtrac GroupGearbox manufacturer Berkshire Sep-17 76.83% 9,499 50,499 306 Theresa May opened its new manufacturing facility in 2018
41 McBraidaPrecision aerospace engineer Bristol Jun-17 74.97% 4,580 27,717 233 Opened a high precision 3,100 sq m manufacturing site in Poland in 2013
42 LoweRefrigeration & catering rental services Lisburn, Co Antrim Aug-18 74.68% 4,382 25,966 141 Supplied fridges and catering equipment at last year’s Royal Ascot
43 FEFinancial data provider Central London Dec-18 73.68% *9,200 *38,400 661 In 2018 private equity firm HgCapital invested £7.5m for an undisclosed stake
44 Hanson WadeConference provider Central London Dec-18 72.96% 5,133 22,595 146 Its conferences and events in three continents were attended by more than 10,000 people last year
45 SerifSoftware developer Nottingham Dec-17 72.88% 5,223 13,037 73 Its Affinity iPad software was recognised by Apple as its app of the year in 2017
46 Exponential-eManaged services provider Central London Jan-18 72.88% 24,942 115,495 432 Cited as a world-class information and communications technology service provider by the BSI
47 HG ConstructionConstruction services Hitchin, Hertfordshire Dec-18 72.44% *12,742 *160,194 79 Takes on construction projects across Greater London, East Anglia and the Midlands
48 Westbourne LeisurePub, hotel and restaurant operator Coventry Sep-17 72.02% 3,462 18,212 164 Has expanded to six hotels in the Midlands, including The Strawberry Bank in Meriden with 55 rooms
49 END.Online menswear retailer Newcastle upon Tyne Mar-18 70.96% 22,991 101,051 316 Boasts more than 10m visitors to its website every month
50 Edam GroupCredit hire & post-accident services Manchester Mar-18 70.94% 9,018 68,258 361 Operates a fleet of more than 2,000 vehicles, on average less than a year old
51 DJSFintech software developer Bournemouth Jul-18 70.65% *7,330 *19,522 62 Named after its co-founders Dan, Julian and Simon
52 Invenio Business SolutionsIT consultancy Reading Mar-18 70.51% 7,083 25,501 468 Expanded in the US, Middle East and Apac countries with government and private sector contracts
53 WasteCareWaste management service provider Garforth, Leeds Mar-18 70.34% 3,113 53,330 457 Collects and recycles more than 60,000 tonnes of waste from 20,000 organisations every year
54 Rose GroupConstruction & housebuilding Lawford, Essex Mar-18 69.57% 7,469 53,992 158 Says it has employees whose families have been with the business for four generations
55 Openview GroupSecurity services Romford, Essex Mar-18 69.08% 3,339 46,314 307 Customers include police forces, retail complexes and NHS Trusts
56 Lee Marley BrickworkScaffolding and brickwork contractor Reading Dec-17 68.92% 3,350 48,637 107 Has overseen projects for University of Oxford colleges and the Defence and National Rehabilitation Centre
57 M247Internet and cloud services Manchester Mar-18 68.83% ‡15,500 54,978 239 Has its own wireless and fibre infrastructure that provides broadband for businesses
58 VeezuTaxi hire provider Newport Dec-18 68.69% *4,900 *31,400 306 Acquired V Cars in 2017, a private hire firm in the southwest with 1,000 self-employed drivers
59 Bateman GroundworksGroundworks contractor Norwich Dec-17 68.33% 3,365 22,853 168 Began work on 200 homes in Attleborough, Norfolk, in August 2018
60 The Geddes GroupConstruction & aggregate supplier Arbroath Dec-17 68.19% 3,185 25,431 244 Offers services including demolition, waste management, skip hire and road surfacing
61 Third BridgeResearch services provider Central London Dec-17 67.51% 5,470 71,461 589 Made its database of historical interview transcripts available to clients through Bloomberg in 2018
62 RegattaOutdoor clothing distributor Manchester Jan-18 67.48% 20,371 193,242 1,196 Originally sold army surplus before expanding into waterproof jackets
63 William DavisHousebuilder Leicestershire May-18 67.43% 14,456 90,848 381 Has two new developments in the pipeline for 2019 and an increased order book of 113 plots
64 Send For HelpLone-worker protection provider Southwest London Mar-18 67.40% 3,521 12,803 100 Says it sells the world’s smallest personal safety alarm
65 AC GroupConstruction services Bedfordshire Mar-18 66.72% 3,106 50,129 75 Partners with international firms such as Mace and WeWork in Europe
66 Johnstons of ElginCashmere textiles manufacturer Elgin Dec-17 65.79% 10,339 73,891 956 Has run its mill in the Highlands since 1797, making it the second-oldest family business in Scotland
67 ConlonGroundworks and demolition contractor Swindon Mar-18 65.20% 3,871 35,487 191 Provides groundworks and demolition services within a 50 mile radius of its headquarters in Wiltshire
68 A-SafeSafety barrier manufacturer Halifax Dec-17 64.98% 11,703 44,603 291 Its safety barriers have been installed in more than 30 international airports
69 ParentpaySchool payment services provider Coventry Nov-18 64.96% *11,500 *30,000 210 Helps parents pay online in advance for their children’s school meals
70 Acorn InsuranceSpecialist car insurer Liverpool Dec-17 64.17% 25,153 53,158 558 Offers car insurance for non-standard vehicles and their owners
71 Click TravelCorporate travel management Birmingham Mar-18 64.12% 5,871 198,775 202 Last year private equity firm BGF acquired a minority stake for an undisclosed sum
72 Phil McIntyre EntertainmentsLive entertainment promotion & management West London Jun-17 63.84% 3,309 42,289 62 Produced shows for John Bishop, Jason Manford and Ed Byrne in 2018
73 Balhousie Care GroupCare home operator Perth Sep-17 63.74% 6,216 36,838 1,334 Its care homes range from former country hotels to converted 19th century homes
74 GMI Construction GroupConstruction contractor Leeds Sep-17 63.70% 3,661 63,374 80 Projects include a stand for Carlisle United FC and refurbishment of the University of Law in Manchester
75 European AviationAviation parts distributor Herefordshire Mar-18 63.70% 5,491 30,440 36 Purchased 10 Airbus A340 aircraft from Etihad Airways in 2018
76 Supermassive GamesComputer games developer Guildford Dec-17 63.08% 3,611 13,205 125 Releases its cross-platform Man of Medan this year — a horror game set on the South Pacific
77 CarFinance247Vehicle finance provider Manchester Jun-18 62.97% ‡6,634 45,060 443 More than £35m of loans are completed every month via its website
78 HannafinGroundworks contractor Kidderminster Mar-18 62.02% 3,448 25,347 38 Owns a property development company in America, Elroy International
79 Scott LogicFinancial software developer Newcastle upon Tyne Dec-17 61.25% 5,461 21,771 222 Clients include seven of the top 10 investment banks and European electrical energy market Nord Pool
80 CDE GlobalProcessing equipment manufacturer County Tyrone Dec-17 61.00% 6,047 61,932 236 Its plant in Qatar washes 1,200 tonnes of dune sand an hour and is the largest in the world
81 Wasdell GroupOutsourced pharmaceutical services Swindon Apr-18 60.96% 9,126 41,148 586 Has spent £500,000 developing a new microbiological and analytical lab in Newcastle
82 MaylimExternal works contractor Central London Dec-17 60.75% 5,024 39,464 31 Was landscaping contractor for the renovation of the BBC’s iconic Television Centre
83 StrongvoxHousebuilder Somerset Sep-18 60.55% 5,504 49,077 55 Secured a £20m rolling credit facility in 2017 to develop new homes
84 SJM Alloys & MetalsMetal recycling and trading Essex Apr-18 60.22% 3,074 32,403 21 Ensures the metal it scraps and recycles comes from conflict-free zones
85 Bell ContractingConstruction contractor Gloucestershire May-18 59.78% 4,976 51,436 250 Provides construction services for housebuilding clients that include Bloor Homes, Kier and Persimmon
86 Dorchester CollectionLuxury hotel operator Central London Dec-17 59.62% 26,939 384,393 3,041 The oldest hotel in its portfolio, Le Meurice in Paris, has been open since 1835
87 Brogan GroupScaffolding contractor Hertfordshire Dec-17 59.47% 7,311 31,783 445 Helped to construct Capital Gate, Abu Dhabi, the world’s “farthest leaning man-made building”
88 CanaganPet food supplier Buckinghamshire Mar-18 59.22% *5,676 *26,861 21 High-profile customers include the Queen and the President of Ireland
89 Newland HomesHousebuilder Gloucestershire Dec-17 58.55% 12,024 60,926 64 In nearly three decades has developed more than 3,100 homes across 110 sites
90 PricecheckConsumer goods supplier Sheffield Apr-18 58.36% 4,247 73,073 123 Has over 20,000 pallet spaces at its new Sheffield warehouse
91 Amelia KnightCosmetic designer and manufacturer Knutsford Dec-17 56.52% 4,114 29,063 301 Supplies its own-brand cosmetic products to Primark
92 Hippodrome CasinoCasino, hospitality and theatre Central London Dec-17 56.46% 5,514 77,818 690 Charlie Chaplin performed in the chorus on the opening night of the Hippodrome in 1900
93 WhitemeadowFurniture manufacturer Nottinghamshire Dec-17 56.26% 3,776 48,390 473 Supplies Irish furniture retailers with handcrafted upholstered furniture
94 The Watches of Switzerland GroupJewellery and watch retailer Leicester Apr-18 56.01% 37,141 685,184 2,015 Opened its second New York showroom in March
95 NCMTEngineer Thames Ditton, Surrey Feb-18 55.95% 4,248 42,001 114 Is the exclusive UK agent for Japanese machine technology firm Makino
96 Clarkson EvansElectrical contractor Gloucester Sep-17 55.14% 3,905 52,157 791 It wired 19,000 new homes across the UK in 2017
97 Invertek DrivesVariable frequency drives manufacturer Welshpool Sep-18 55.08% 5,473 35,262 229 Its technology helped keep Haji pilgrims cool as they travelled from Malaysia to Mecca
98 CCS MediaIT & services reseller Chesterfield Dec-17 55.01% 5,208 180,177 420 Has partnerships with HP, Lenovo, Samsung and Xerox
99 AMG NursingHome care nursing Stafford Mar-18 54.54% 3,314 26,696 966 Its support services range from 24-hour nursing care to help with the weekly shop
100 William LoughranClassic and performance car dealer Preston Aug-17 54.12% 6,016 22,764 6 Stocks classic and high-performance cars from Ferrari, Aston Martin and Porsche