1 |
JobserveInternet recruitment publisher |
Essex |
1999 |
124.14% |
7,250 |
8,271 |
31 |
E-business advertising 10,000 IT vacancies daily yields 88% profit margin |
2 |
CodemastersComputer games publisher |
Warwickshire |
1999 |
118.97% |
†22,735 |
†59,773 |
195 |
Teenage brothers design top games for Playstation |
3 |
Progressive Computer RecruitmentRecruitment agency |
South-west London |
1998 |
110.55% |
9,232 |
58,840 |
150 |
Obtained £50m venture capital in preparation for 2001 flotation |
4 |
Carphone WarehouseMobile phone retailer |
Northwest London |
1998 |
107.01% |
14,863 |
159,647 |
767 |
235 UK stores control 45% of high street mobile phone sales |
5 |
TravelexForeign exchange operator |
Central London |
1998 |
106.94% |
5,850 |
1,513,837 |
1,423 |
From Trafalgar Square exchange kiosk to 300 outlets world-wide |
6 |
Necessity SuppliesPharmaceuticals importer |
W London |
1998 |
105.34% |
7,044 |
60,376 |
20 |
Euro would be "disaster" for company playing currency differentials |
7 |
Data Marine SystemsSatellite telecommunications |
Aberdeen |
1998 |
103.46% |
4,826 |
26,128 |
170 |
Provides satellite phone link-ups in Siberia and on the QEII |
8 |
Menzies HotelsHotel operator |
Derbyshire |
1999 |
102.89% |
5,847 |
23,232 |
923 |
Room-tracking software boosts profit for 21-hotel chain |
9 |
Concept Automotive ServicesSecond-hand car dealer |
Surrey |
1998 |
101.63% |
4,779 |
89,835 |
297 |
Claims to sell four times more cars per square foot than competitors |
10 |
Halewood Wines and SpiritsAlcoholic drinks maker |
Liverpool |
1999 |
101.30% |
10,615 |
119,825 |
360 |
Holds near-monopoly on Romanian red wine imports to UK |
11 |
CapelrigControl systems engineering |
Aberdeen |
1999 |
100.73% |
4,966 |
13,430 |
49 |
Won million-dollar Y2K contracts in oil and gas sector |
12 |
IRGShare registrar |
Central London |
1999 |
100.59% |
8,564 |
21,394 |
427 |
Business tripled as competitors were forced out by computerisation costs |
13 |
Computer FuturesRecruitment agency |
Central London |
1998 |
97.19% |
16,072 |
130,830 |
386 |
Expansion into Europe strengthened by merger with number three on table |
14 |
Waymade HealthcarePharmaceuticals maker |
Essex |
1998 |
91.53% |
9,773 |
135,551 |
253 |
Beats competitors to UK licensing rights for expired drug patents |
15 |
Jane NormanWomen’s clothing retailer |
Central London |
1998 |
89.58% |
3,641 |
18,929 |
237 |
Offers “catwalk looks at high street prices” |
16 |
Sherman CooperClothing designer |
Northern Ireland |
1999 |
84.75% |
14,472 |
78,471 |
393 |
Rose from receivership to clothe Oasis singer Noel Gallagher |
17 |
Euro PackagingCarrier bag manufacturer |
Birmingham |
1998 |
83.37% |
9,082 |
68,021 |
227 |
Malawi immigrant manufactures 30 tons of cornershop paper bags daily |
18 |
Titan AirwaysAirline |
Stansted Airport |
1999 |
83.29% |
4,339 |
16,469 |
117 |
Flies Premier League footballers by day, Ford car parts by night |
19 |
DysonAppliance manufacturer |
Wiltshire |
1998 |
77.66% |
24,257 |
172,844 |
916 |
Sells 85,000 bagless vacuum cleaners in the UK every month |
20 |
CWB SystemsIT consultancy |
Central London |
1999 |
77.65% |
5,274 |
19,329 |
157 |
IT consultancy works to fixed project fee and deadline |
21 |
Petroline WellsystemsDrilling equipment manufacturer |
Aberdeen |
1998 |
77.61% |
5,625 |
20,947 |
187 |
Founded in couple's garage and sold for £104m in 1999 |
22 |
TTPR&D consultancy |
Hertfordshire |
1999 |
75.90% |
10,215 |
36,883 |
393 |
Designs anything from chickenpox incubator to toy digital cameras |
23 |
PoundlandDiscount retailer |
West Midlands |
1998 |
75.14% |
3,273 |
79,449 |
1,421 |
50 stores visited by one million bargain hunters each week |
24 |
Belcher FoodFrozen meat producer |
Glasgow |
1999 |
73.13% |
4,689 |
19,561 |
136 |
Claims to be UK's largest frozen pork sausage maker |
25 |
Pethick & CoMeat processor |
East Yorkshire |
1999 |
73.06% |
3,274 |
13,780 |
78 |
Established by four friends and sold for £14.5m ten years later |
26 |
Dawn GroupBuilding contractor |
Glasgow |
1999 |
71.88% |
5,631 |
57,673 |
172 |
Boosted profits by avoiding low margin competitive tendering |
27 |
Roach FoodsMeat processor |
Cornwall |
1998 |
69.82% |
†17,312 |
†115,681 |
874 |
Expanded into pork processing when customer paid bill with gammon |
28 |
Gold GroupSexy underwear retailer |
Surrey |
1998 |
67.99% |
7,912 |
54,200 |
720 |
Owns Ann Summers sex shops and stake in Birmingham City FC |
29 |
The Imagination GroupDesign consultancy |
Central London |
1998 |
66.90% |
7,174 |
82,219 |
261 |
Holds worldwide contract for Ford motor show stands |
30 |
Leger HolidaysCoach tour operator |
South Yorkshire |
1998 |
66.88% |
3,060 |
23,830 |
89 |
Disneyland Paris' preferred UK coach tour partner |
31 |
Higgins GroupHousebuilder |
Essex |
1999 |
65.40% |
4,668 |
80,789 |
304 |
Family firm generates 70% of turnover from housing associations |
32 |
MansellConstruction and property developer |
Croydon |
1998 |
64.27% |
5,089 |
420,643 |
2,759 |
Adopting US-style customer focus reverses profit decline |
33 |
MorsonEngineering recruitment agency |
Manchester |
1998 |
63.34% |
3,463 |
70,577 |
80 |
Son bought out father in £55m venture capital deal |
34 |
William Gibbons & SonsPrinter and finisher |
West Midlands |
1999 |
62.45% |
3,417 |
14,304 |
125 |
Fourth generation invests £5m in technology to turn around family firm |
35 |
Speed FrameDouble-glazing manufacturer |
South Yorkshire |
1998 |
60.50% |
3,134 |
17,913 |
192 |
Claims to have Europe's largest automated double-glazing factory |
36 |
Noskab GroupCable supplier |
Aberdeen |
1999 |
60.28% |
3,183 |
35,855 |
84 |
Set up with four staff and £20,000 worth of stock |
37 |
Blackwell PublishingAcademic publisher |
Oxford |
1998 |
58.89% |
6,506 |
31,453 |
146 |
Traditional publisher moves into specialist journals and the US market |
38 |
JosephDesigner clothes retailer |
West London |
1999 |
57.42% |
9,387 |
44,584 |
336 |
Moroccan founder sold 34-outlet business for £98m in September 1999 |
39 |
Laing O’RourkeEngineering and construction group |
Dartford |
1999 |
57.26% |
7,921 |
188,483 |
2,059 |
Worked on the Millennium Dome and Museum of Scotland |
40 |
ERMEnvironmental consultancy |
Central London |
1999 |
57.11% |
4,181 |
57,814 |
883 |
Saving Taj Mahal and advising Latin American countries on eco-tourism |
41 |
Highfield GroupNursing home operator |
Edinburgh |
1998 |
56.73% |
6,546 |
43,336 |
4,426 |
Brothers left army to set up chain of 74 nursing homes |
42 |
Whitehouse GroupCar dealer |
Kent |
1999 |
56.14% |
6,940 |
169,053 |
513 |
Acquired local rivals and cut loss-makers from its showrooms |
43 |
ExpotelTravel services provider |
Manchester |
1998 |
55.56% |
3,114 |
37,488 |
395 |
Books accommodation worldwide for clients including Ministry of Defence |
44 |
John Cotton GroupBed fillings manufacturer |
West Yorkshire |
1999 |
54.89% |
6,403 |
56,080 |
690 |
Produces 150,000 pillows weekly for clients including Marks & Spencer |
45 |
TVRSports car manufacturer |
Blackpool |
1998 |
54.86% |
5,332 |
51,543 |
633 |
Competes with Porsche and Ferrari for UK sports car market |
46 |
FitzpatrickBuilding contractor |
Hertfordshire |
1998 |
53.60% |
3,258 |
115,830 |
562 |
Began building wartime airfields, now constructs hospitals in Kazakhstan |
47 |
Dunelm Soft FurnishingsSoft furnishings retailer |
Leicester |
1998 |
53.48% |
6,882 |
40,486 |
328 |
Firm founded by husband and wife team expands to 35 stores |
48 |
Kent PharmaceuticalsPharmaceuticals distributor |
Kent |
1999 |
53.26% |
4,535 |
35,780 |
160 |
Produces Early Bird pregnancy testing kits |
49 |
Hobbs LtdFashion clothes retailer |
North London |
1999 |
52.82% |
4,003 |
28,559 |
403 |
Family clothing store expands into up-market high street chain |
50 |
HPC EngineeringEngineer and manufacturer |
West Sussex |
1998 |
51.99% |
4,112 |
28,708 |
227 |
Makes the 'Spirit of Ecstasy' for Rolls Royce bonnets |
51 |
Elan ComputingRecruitment agency |
Central London |
1998 |
51.75% |
6,953 |
141,983 |
272 |
Bought by Manpower for £88m in January 2000 |
52 |
GlotelRecruitment agency |
Central London |
1999 |
50.80% |
4,883 |
102,078 |
226 |
Share price has increased four-fold since 1999 flotation |
53 |
Bell GroupHi-tech security supplier |
East London |
1998 |
50.29% |
4,304 |
34,095 |
447 |
Founders risked everything for company now listed on LSE |
54 |
EurochangeBureaux de change |
Central London |
1998 |
50.28% |
3,349 |
14,525 |
270 |
Chain profits from expansion into corporate money transfers |
55 |
Dudley TaylorPharmaceuticals importer |
Warwick |
1999 |
48.59% |
10,073 |
147,064 |
462 |
Won High Court battle against multinational drug companies |
56 |
Phoenix IT GroupIT service provider |
Northampton |
1999 |
48.57% |
3,333 |
26,074 |
310 |
Made strategic decision to target profit over sales growth |
57 |
Eastern Counties Newspaper GroupRegional newspaper publisher |
Norfolk |
1998 |
48.34% |
18,046 |
103,479 |
1,927 |
New management triples profit margins of 65-title newsgroup |
58 |
Ilmor EngineeringRacing car engineer |
Northamptonshire |
1999 |
47.57% |
7,629 |
69,919 |
361 |
Built engine that won Mika Hakkinen two Formula One world championships |
59 |
William DavisBuilding contractor |
Leicestershire |
1999 |
47.46% |
4,021 |
52,840 |
385 |
Won £20m contract to redevelop inner city Leicester |
60 |
Axminster CarpetsCarpet manufacturer |
Devon |
1998 |
46.21% |
4,291 |
32,853 |
702 |
Re-carpeted Windsor Castle after “annus horribilis” fire |
61 |
Bowmer & KirklandConstruction contractor |
Derbyshire |
1998 |
46.08% |
9,728 |
263,384 |
944 |
Family construction firm won contract to build 80 supermarkets |
62 |
S & A FoodsEthnic food producer |
Derby |
1999 |
45.54% |
8,796 |
60,130 |
795 |
Won Asda blind-tasting competition and now supplies 1.5m meals weekly |
63 |
Westbridge InternationalClothing importer |
Nottingham |
1999 |
44.28% |
4,512 |
52,445 |
732 |
Grew from mother's post-war market stall to license COSMO clothing brand |
64 |
Baxi PartnershipBoiler manufacturer |
Lancashire |
1999 |
43.97% |
10,469 |
118,603 |
1,327 |
Family gave firm to employees creating UK's largest staff-owned manufacturer |
65 |
North East Truck & VanTruck dealer |
Cleveland |
1999 |
43.34% |
3,819 |
71,860 |
251 |
Virtual showrooms allow clients to customise vehicles |
66 |
Carey GroupBuilder |
Wembley |
1999 |
42.94% |
6,370 |
62,169 |
347 |
Brothers won £12m contract for Windsor Legoland |
67 |
PA Consulting GroupManagement, IT consultancy |
Central London |
1998 |
42.94% |
35,730 |
277,113 |
2,423 |
Won award for developing cattle passports to track BSE-free herds |
68 |
Stewart MilneHousebuilder |
Aberdeen |
1999 |
42.86% |
8,831 |
115,081 |
737 |
Makes timber house frames for Falkland Islands |
69 |
David Meek GroupPlant hire |
Bristol |
1999 |
42.55% |
3,347 |
9,300 |
98 |
Recovered from near-bankruptcy to sell for £21m in 1999 |
70 |
Nelson BakewellChartered surveyor |
Central London |
1998 |
42.55% |
4,764 |
15,118 |
182 |
Stephen Fry radio adverts helped profits during property market slump |
71 |
Bradgate ContainersEquipment module manufacturer |
Leicestershire |
1998 |
42.51% |
3,005 |
14,160 |
71 |
Supplied containerised studios for military radio during Gulf War |
72 |
NorthdoorIT consultancy |
Central London |
1999 |
42.39% |
3,341 |
11,826 |
47 |
Named after stone door retained in Lloyd's of London's hi-tech building |
73 |
Searchlight ElectricLighting wholesaler |
Manchester |
1998 |
41.99% |
3,046 |
14,288 |
137 |
Claims to donate all bank interest to charity |
74 |
CPP GroupConsumer protection insurer |
York |
1998 |
40.91% |
5,984 |
39,203 |
314 |
Insurer covers 4.3m clients for card theft |
75 |
Alban CommunicationsOutdoor advertising agency |
W London |
1998 |
40.88% |
3,325 |
112,152 |
64 |
Projected David Beckham's image onto White Cliffs of Dover |
76 |
Elisabeth The ChefCake maker |
Leamington Spa |
1998 |
39.86% |
†3,923 |
†40,970 |
1,171 |
Holds exclusive licences for Star Wars and Premier League cakes |
77 |
Toni & GuyHair stylists |
Central London |
1998 |
38.98% |
6,192 |
59,029 |
1,737 |
Expanded from Clapham hairdressers to 240 salons worldwide |
78 |
Symington’sConvenience foods manufacturer |
Leeds |
1999 |
38.65% |
3,064 |
16,978 |
121 |
Increased profits by investing £500,000 in new production line |
79 |
McLoughlin GroupPipeline construction |
Derby |
1998 |
38.60% |
4,215 |
28,267 |
254 |
Venture capitalists financed £33.7m management buyout in 1998 |
80 |
Kebbell HomesEstate developer |
Watford |
1998 |
38.57% |
5,170 |
17,088 |
51 |
Carved niche in executive-style homes selling for average £260,000 |
81 |
NightspeedSecure parcel delivery |
West Midlands |
1998 |
38.37% |
3,570 |
34,675 |
963 |
Sold for £35m four years after £13m management buyout |
82 |
Williams LeaPrinters |
Central London |
1999 |
38.09% |
7,549 |
89,573 |
1,203 |
From 19th-century printing shop to multi-media and web design |
83 |
David McLeanBuilding contractor |
Flintshire |
1998 |
37.99% |
5,421 |
104,024 |
426 |
Company's first project was public toilet in Wales |
84 |
Macob HoldingsBuilding contractor |
Wales |
1999 |
37.39% |
4,476 |
62,820 |
606 |
Clients include Royal Opera House and Welsh Rugby Union |
85 |
The Rope CompanyRope manufacturer |
East Sussex |
1998 |
37.32% |
3,470 |
25,262 |
318 |
Still spins yachting ropes on site first used in 1900 |
86 |
The Miller GroupHousebuilder & construction services |
Edinburgh |
1998 |
36.29% |
15,010 |
365,758 |
1,945 |
Grandfather's architectural firm expands to £107m Channel Tunnel project |
87 |
TravelsphereTour operator |
Leicestershire |
1999 |
36.25% |
8,393 |
82,641 |
296 |
Takes 240,000 people annually to 60 destinations worldwide |
88 |
Foster + PartnersArchitectural consultancy |
Southwest London |
1999 |
35.84% |
5,953 |
28,751 |
488 |
Lord Norman Foster redesigned Berlin Reichstag and Wembley stadium |
89 |
CityFlyer ExpressAirline |
Gatwick |
1999 |
35.48% |
7,017 |
117,477 |
642 |
Sold to British Airways for £75m in 1999 |
90 |
Home EntertainmentVideo retailer |
Peterborough |
1999 |
34.97% |
4,618 |
49,954 |
1,041 |
Video chain expands into internet sales of DVDs and games |
91 |
OsborneBuilder, engineering contractor |
Reigate |
1999 |
34.97% |
3,565 |
131,412 |
764 |
Won £60m contract to maintain Railtrack stations in southern England |
92 |
Cannon AVENTBaby product manufacturer |
Suffolk |
1998 |
34.70% |
†7,493 |
†52,846 |
773 |
Venture capital turns around company split by family feuding |
93 |
Caledonian HeritableLeisure operator |
Edinburgh |
1998 |
34.66% |
4,910 |
17,938 |
474 |
Owns Tramps nightclub in London and 100 Edinburgh pubs |
94 |
Turner BiancaTextiles importer |
Lancashire |
1999 |
34.54% |
5,949 |
75,302 |
170 |
Ex-Vogue photographer designs bedroom ranges for Next and Asda |
95 |
Inver House DistillersWhisky distiller |
Lanarkshire |
1998 |
33.78% |
6,731 |
51,563 |
134 |
Management team rescued distiller by building 10-brand whisky range |
96 |
City TruckHaulier |
Bucks |
1998 |
33.42% |
4,204 |
48,037 |
515 |
Grew from three to 1,500 trucks in 21 years |
97 |
XtracGearbox manufacturer |
Berkshire |
1998 |
32.43% |
10,530 |
30,812 |
154 |
World's largest gearbox maker for Formula One racing cars |
98 |
TempoElectrical goods retailer |
Surrey |
1999 |
32.22% |
7,942 |
139,571 |
941 |
From five Surrey shops to 50 superstores nationwide |
99 |
CentraxGas turbine engineer |
Devon |
1998 |
32.09% |
5,408 |
55,843 |
849 |
Founder worked with war-time jet engine pioneer Frank Whittle |
100 |
JCT600Car dealer |
Bradford |
1998 |
31.79% |
8,620 |
231,470 |
665 |
Named after company chairman and his first Mercedes 600 |