1 |
The Entertainment GroupFilm distributor |
Central London |
2003 |
196.85% |
61,558 |
169,422 |
26 |
Has exclusive UK distribution rights to The Lord of the Rings blockbusters |
2 |
IngeniousInvestor and adviser |
Central London |
2003 |
179.01% |
19,629 |
33,995 |
46 |
Advised Robbie Williams on his £80m record contract with EMI |
3 |
BinomialInsurance underwriter |
Surrey |
2002 |
159.61% |
11,004 |
55,634 |
452 |
Acts as a ‘behind-the-brand’ broker for the RAC, Halifax and Abbey |
4 |
Central TrustLoan broker |
Norwich |
2002 |
142.59% |
18,915 |
39,866 |
273 |
Claims to field 45,000 customer inquiries a month |
5 |
Loans.co.ukLoan broker |
Watford |
2003 |
122.99% |
†8,807 |
†29,408 |
145 |
Sells more than 1,000 customer loans a month |
6 |
Nando’sRestaurant operator |
Southwest London |
2003 |
117.77% |
7,307 |
53,335 |
1,487 |
Has opened 80 restaurants since arriving from South Africa in 1992 |
7 |
Langley HoldingsEngineering equipment maker |
Nottinghamshire |
2002 |
117.33% |
8,971 |
101,554 |
1,123 |
Founder was 22 when he set up company that now has 25 subsidiaries |
8 |
Carte Blanche GreetingsGreeting card publisher |
Chichester |
2002 |
116.20% |
9,167 |
35,208 |
130 |
Claims to have sold nearly 10m soft-toy bears worldwide in 2003 |
9 |
WA DevelopmentsRail engineering contractor |
Cumbria |
2002 |
114.21% |
5,908 |
21,015 |
99 |
Won £14m contract to help upgrade the West Coast main line |
10 |
Tussauds GroupLeisure attraction operator |
Southwest London |
2002 |
110.74% |
39,439 |
177,870 |
3,052 |
Runs Madame Tussauds and Alton Towers and owns 33% of London Eye |
11 |
Vital ResourcesIndustrial recruitment agency |
Manchester |
2002 |
109.66% |
10,564 |
82,098 |
167 |
Places more than 20,000 workers a year in contract and permanent jobs |
12 |
Maplin ElectronicsElectronic equipment retailer |
Rotherham |
2002 |
104.98% |
12,071 |
76,424 |
762 |
Started out selling computer components and electronics by mail order |
13 |
Lotus GroupTour operator |
South London |
2002 |
101.71% |
8,844 |
198,273 |
462 |
Claims to have booked the last full fare on Concorde's final flight |
14 |
CTC Marine ProjectsUndersea cable layer |
Darlington |
2002 |
98.99% |
4,281 |
40,573 |
108 |
Directors led £6m share repurchase from Alcatel in late 2002 |
15 |
DMN InstallationsTelecoms network installer |
Oxfordshire |
2002 |
95.21% |
5,070 |
19,445 |
64 |
More than 300 engineers help build 3G networks in Europe and Australia |
16 |
Ferndale FoodsReady-meals producer |
Somerset |
2003 |
84.90% |
7,473 |
93,586 |
1,413 |
Prepares ready meals such as Sainsbury's best-selling lasagne |
17 |
Towergate InsuranceInsurance underwriter and broker |
Maidstone |
2002 |
83.11% |
9,332 |
39,393 |
558 |
Acquired 33 companies insuring holiday homes, yachts and military kit |
18 |
Strata HomesHousebuilder and developer |
Doncaster |
2003 |
82.89% |
11,433 |
57,236 |
252 |
Housing company started in 1919 now run by founder’s grandson |
19 |
BodenClothing retailer |
Northwest London |
2002 |
82.53% |
5,564 |
47,901 |
289 |
Niche mail-order clothing company eyes American expansion |
20 |
Broadgate HomesHousebuilder |
Lincolnshire |
2003 |
80.93% |
3,183 |
16,000 |
84 |
Runs affordable housing scheme that was promoted by Prince Charles |
21 |
Laing O’RourkeEngineering and construction group |
Dartford |
2003 |
80.39% |
45,721 |
1,257,706 |
8,778 |
Bought Laing Construction for a token £1 in September 2001 |
22 |
Cinque Ports LeisureCaravan park operator |
Hastings |
2002 |
77.17% |
†10,815 |
†40,420 |
336 |
Operates 21 caravan parks along Britain’s south and east coasts |
23 |
R K HarrisonInsurance broker |
Central London |
2003 |
75.76% |
5,022 |
15,922 |
170 |
Insures luxury homes, antiques and fine art for wealthy customers |
24 |
Urban Splash GroupHousebuilder and developer |
Manchester |
2002 |
73.75% |
5,249 |
24,615 |
117 |
Uses Lord Foster as architect for inner-city renewal projects |
25 |
Woodford GroupBrownfield land developer |
Lancashire |
2003 |
71.90% |
3,780 |
17,847 |
23 |
Cleans up brownfield sites for retail and housing developments |
26 |
Daryl IndustriesShower maker |
Wirral |
2003 |
71.14% |
3,337 |
16,469 |
160 |
New supply-chain management software turned the business around |
27 |
Charles Worthington Hair & BeautyHair stylist |
Central London |
2002 |
71.01% |
3,530 |
24,399 |
24 |
Celebrity clients include Sophie Dahl, Darryl Hannah and Jodie Kidd |
28 |
SynsealPVCu component maker |
Nottinghamshire |
2003 |
70.50% |
11,827 |
51,930 |
439 |
Claims to make parts for 1,000 conservatory roofs every week |
29 |
Parador PropertiesOverseas estate agency |
Surrey |
2003 |
70.40% |
4,408 |
18,140 |
97 |
Founders have over 50 years’ experience in Spanish property market |
30 |
EdotechOutsourced printing provider |
Gloucestershire |
2002 |
69.69% |
7,476 |
50,962 |
649 |
Sends bills and statements to 40m British householders a year |
31 |
Harron HomesHousebuilder |
North Yorkshire |
2003 |
68.24% |
5,021 |
28,490 |
111 |
Builds over 250 family homes in Yorkshire and the northwest each year |
32 |
GardmanGarden products wholesaler |
Lincolnshire |
2003 |
67.65% |
4,653 |
36,319 |
196 |
Started out selling hanging baskets made from coconuts |
33 |
Thomas Hardy HoldingsAlcoholic drinks bottler |
Berkshire |
2002 |
67.30% |
4,519 |
31,201 |
277 |
Brews and bottles beer for Guinness, Coors and Carlsberg |
34 |
AnsonOilfield equipment maker |
Gateshead |
2002 |
66.79% |
4,157 |
19,696 |
249 |
Supplies BP, Shell and Texaco with equipment for their oil rigs |
35 |
Mott MacDonaldManagement and engineering consultancy |
Croydon |
2002 |
66.76% |
15,018 |
401,065 |
6,265 |
Current projects include Wembley Stadium and Heathrow’s Terminal 5 |
36 |
Bill KenwrightTheatre producer |
Central London |
2002 |
66.47% |
3,333 |
23,128 |
245 |
Currently producing Cat on a Hot Tin Roof on Broadway |
37 |
TravelexForeign exchange operator |
Central London |
2002 |
66.45% |
39,689 |
463,108 |
4,986 |
Provides foreign-exchange services to 80,000 customers a day |
38 |
DCKJewellery retailer |
Essex |
2003 |
66.25% |
4,739 |
32,627 |
700 |
Provides fashion jewellery to Top Shop, Miss Selfridge and Wallis |
39 |
History & HeraldryGift maker |
Rotherham |
2002 |
66.17% |
3,299 |
11,228 |
70 |
Won a Queen’s Award last year for export to 54 countries |
40 |
Midas GroupBuilder |
Bristol |
2003 |
65.26% |
4,202 |
138,954 |
419 |
Hand-shaped 111,000 Cotswold stones to restore Wiltshire hotel |
41 |
Four Seasons Health CareHealthcare provider |
Cheshire |
2002 |
64.23% |
15,760 |
154,291 |
8,339 |
Looks after 15,000 people in 300 care homes across Britain |
42 |
C A Blackwell GroupCivil engineer |
Essex |
2002 |
62.55% |
9,398 |
48,707 |
525 |
Shifts 15m cubic metres of earth a year for projects like Terminal 5 |
43 |
Prentis Donegan & PartnersInsurance broker |
Central London |
2002 |
62.54% |
3,958 |
14,529 |
84 |
Clients outside Britain account for more than 85% of company sales |
44 |
Hit & Run MusicPerforming artist manager |
Central London |
2002 |
62.54% |
4,173 |
5,789 |
21 |
Manages Oscar-winning composer and singer Phil Collins |
45 |
R & SFire protection provider |
Nottinghamshire |
2002 |
61.47% |
3,276 |
17,465 |
116 |
Installed fireproof plasterboard walls for the Tate Modern |
46 |
Premier DecorationsChristmas decorations wholesaler |
West London |
2003 |
61.06% |
4,929 |
35,471 |
67 |
Imports Christmas lights and barbecue equipment from China |
47 |
Grampian Country Food GroupFood producer |
Livingston |
2003 |
60.93% |
38,600 |
1,470,000 |
19,032 |
Processes 4.6m chickens and 60,000 pigs a week for UK supermarkets |
48 |
The RangeDiscount retailer |
Plymouth |
2003 |
59.83% |
4,443 |
44,596 |
605 |
Sells 70,000 different items through chain of 13 discount stores |
49 |
Morris HomesHousebuilder |
Merseyside |
2003 |
58.86% |
20,590 |
133,221 |
348 |
Specialises in building luxury accommodation on brownfield sites |
50 |
Ainscough Crane HireCrane hirer |
Wigan |
2003 |
58.06% |
13,650 |
66,630 |
902 |
Fleet of 600 mobile cranes includes Britain's largest |
51 |
SchuhShoe retailer |
Livingston |
2003 |
56.83% |
7,834 |
64,501 |
679 |
Opens first central London store in Oxford Street in June 2004 |
52 |
Besso HoldingsInsurance broker |
Central London |
2002 |
55.81% |
5,504 |
18,817 |
141 |
Management sold company in 1990 but bought it back five years later |
53 |
Freightliner GroupRail haulage operator |
Central London |
2003 |
55.40% |
14,798 |
185,871 |
1,432 |
Company's trains take 120m lorry miles off British roads every year |
54 |
South Lakeland CaravansCaravan park operator |
Lancashire |
2003 |
55.17% |
4,023 |
14,368 |
151 |
Two England footballers own lodges at company's leisure parks |
55 |
European Metal RecyclingMetal recycler |
Warrington |
2002 |
55.12% |
35,024 |
598,890 |
1,282 |
Recycles 1.2m scrapped cars every year, one every 30 seconds |
56 |
T L Dallas GroupInsurance broker |
Bradford |
2002 |
54.60% |
3,169 |
10,017 |
102 |
Company arranges insurance for yachts worth up to £1.5m |
57 |
Cavanna GroupHousebuilder |
Torquay |
2002 |
53.84% |
5,071 |
20,271 |
60 |
Third-generation housebuilder developed disused monastery in Tavistock |
58 |
OfficeShoe retailer |
Central London |
2003 |
52.73% |
3,324 |
25,719 |
251 |
Founders began by selling shoes displayed on office furniture |
59 |
Transrent HoldingsTrailer lessor |
Stafford |
2002 |
52.17% |
7,688 |
20,977 |
55 |
Supplies lorry trailers to Safeway, Sainsbury and Cadbury Schweppes |
60 |
KeepmoatHousing regeneration specialist |
South Yorkshire |
2003 |
51.43% |
10,703 |
155,566 |
1,136 |
Renovated 15,000 local-council homes in 2003 |
61 |
Vivid ImaginationsToy marketer |
Surrey |
2002 |
51.34% |
9,921 |
80,595 |
68 |
Markets toys for Ninja Turtles, Spiderman and Lord of the Rings |
62 |
EmpriseOutsourced services supplier |
Central London |
2002 |
50.16% |
4,824 |
31,311 |
2,773 |
Clients include Waitrose and the Savoy Hotel |
63 |
Carole NashMotorcycle insurance broker |
Cheshire |
2002 |
49.58% |
3,474 |
15,093 |
257 |
Claims to insure a third of Britain's motorcycles |
64 |
SHS GroupBrand owner |
Belfast |
2002 |
49.01% |
27,099 |
234,809 |
340 |
Claims to sell 200m bottles a year of the club drink WKD |
65 |
Oyster PropertiesYacht builder |
Ipswich |
2002 |
48.80% |
4,087 |
39,721 |
270 |
Sells 30-40 hand-built yachts a year costing up to £3m each |
66 |
CostcutterConvenience store operator |
York |
2003 |
47.79% |
6,482 |
383,389 |
733 |
Operates 1,200 supermarkets and convenience stores throughout Britain |
67 |
SummerleazeRenewable power generator |
Maidenhead |
2002 |
47.41% |
4,050 |
19,445 |
65 |
Generates enough renewable energy to power 50,000 homes a year |
68 |
Berry Bros & RuddWine and spirit merchant |
Central London |
2003 |
46.54% |
7,772 |
177,441 |
280 |
Stocks 2m bottles of wine and owns Cutty Sark whisky |
69 |
ClearwayMetal recycler |
Portadown |
2002 |
46.30% |
5,701 |
44,330 |
142 |
Recycles metal from 180,000 cars a year in Ireland |
70 |
LGCAnalytical services laboratory |
Southwest London |
2003 |
45.66% |
5,245 |
52,252 |
531 |
Works with Defra to eradicate scrapie from British sheep |
71 |
Howarth Timber GroupTimber products maker |
Leeds |
2003 |
45.59% |
4,357 |
91,064 |
862 |
Imports 180,000 cubic metres of softwood each year |
72 |
Yuill GroupHousebuilder |
Hartlepool |
2003 |
45.05% |
5,905 |
37,171 |
192 |
Helped restore the Queen Mary hospital in Newcastle to listed status |
73 |
Fat FaceClothing retailer |
Hampshire |
2003 |
44.90% |
3,382 |
30,547 |
545 |
Ski fanatics convert lifestyle into outdoor clothing brand with 78 shops |
74 |
Cordant GroupManpower services provider |
West London |
2002 |
44.87% |
4,477 |
63,431 |
3,936 |
Provides 4,000 security guards to clients such as BSkyB and Sainsbury |
75 |
Carter Thermal IndustriesRefrigeration manufacturer |
Birmingham |
2002 |
44.72% |
6,998 |
89,899 |
1,030 |
Founded by man who was a prisoner of war in the second world war |
76 |
Hammersmith Medicines ResearchPharmaceutical tester |
West London |
2003 |
44.69% |
3,859 |
11,069 |
125 |
Conducts about 45 clinical trials a year for pharmaceutical companies |
77 |
Vitacress SaladsWatercress grower |
Andover |
2002 |
44.11% |
4,368 |
64,046 |
889 |
Produces over a million bags of salad for supermarkets each week |
78 |
C G Fry & SonHousebuilder |
Dorchester |
2002 |
43.72% |
5,454 |
23,614 |
78 |
Helped build the Prince of Wales's model village at Poundbury |
79 |
Great Bear DistributionWarehouser and distributor |
Chester |
2002 |
43.50% |
4,929 |
37,112 |
450 |
Stores more than 7m bottles for an American wine producer |
80 |
Story HomesHousebuilder |
Carlisle |
2003 |
43.47% |
5,148 |
30,040 |
492 |
Founder started company with loan from his mother-in-law |
81 |
Stannah LiftsStairlift maker |
Andover |
2002 |
42.77% |
9,400 |
110,468 |
1,463 |
Claims to install a stairlift somewhere in the world every 10 minutes |
82 |
Deloro StelliteAlloy component maker |
Bicester |
2002 |
42.38% |
7,413 |
81,558 |
1,198 |
Produces wear-resistant alloy parts for Rolls-Royce and General Electric |
83 |
Anwyl ConstructionHousebuilder |
Rhyl |
2002 |
42.02% |
5,907 |
30,511 |
170 |
Family construction business now run by fourth-generation members |
84 |
Alfred Franks & BartlettSunglasses supplier |
St Albans |
2002 |
41.91% |
4,896 |
29,868 |
56 |
Imports children's sunglasses featuring Winnie the Pooh and Barbie |
85 |
BaumaticKitchen products supplier |
Reading |
2003 |
41.88% |
3,207 |
37,820 |
106 |
Imports and distributes more than 400,000 kitchen products each year |
86 |
Pets At HomePet products retailer |
Cheshire |
2003 |
41.79% |
10,377 |
203,135 |
1,862 |
Provides free in-store health checks for pets |
87 |
Stoneacre Motor GroupCar dealer |
Doncaster |
2003 |
41.44% |
6,194 |
99,190 |
439 |
Multi-brand dealerships sell about 400 cars each week |
88 |
Millgate HomesHousebuilder |
Berkshire |
2003 |
41.34% |
6,129 |
22,792 |
27 |
Founder sold car and remortgaged house to raise funds |
89 |
Gala GroupBingo and casino operator |
Nottingham |
2002 |
41.31% |
99,822 |
432,862 |
9,626 |
Claims to pay out £18m in prize money each week |
90 |
Drayton GroupCar dealer |
West Midlands |
2002 |
40.59% |
3,583 |
131,644 |
348 |
Sold 4,000 new Mercedes from seven showrooms in 2003 |
91 |
J & J OrmerodFitted kitchen manufacturer |
Lancashire |
2003 |
40.49% |
3,250 |
27,124 |
356 |
Sells 2,000 kitchens and bedrooms each month |
92 |
PPEMerchandising display maker |
Essex |
2003 |
40.41% |
3,460 |
21,587 |
261 |
Twin brothers make retail displays for Tesco and Gallaher |
93 |
RFIB HoldingsInsurance and reinsurance broker |
Central London |
2003 |
40.27% |
4,910 |
25,259 |
267 |
Management took control of firm from Robert Fleming Holdings in 2001 |
94 |
Lynx ExpressParcel carrier |
Warwickshire |
2002 |
39.98% |
5,670 |
160,342 |
3,051 |
Operates home delivery service for Selfridges and Marks & Spencer |
95 |
InterportPharmaceuticals wholesaler |
South London |
2003 |
39.59% |
3,943 |
87,821 |
82 |
Supplies 85% of Britain's chemists through its wholesale customers |
96 |
Roper RhodesBathroom furniture supplier |
Bath |
2002 |
39.56% |
4,063 |
23,011 |
64 |
Supplies bathroom fittings to more than 2,000 shops nationwide |
97 |
H TempestPortrait photographer |
St Ives |
2002 |
38.86% |
5,252 |
27,798 |
1,006 |
Photographed the Queen with her staff for the Golden Jubilee celebrations |
98 |
Caudwell HoldingsMobile phone retailer |
Stoke-on-Trent |
2002 |
38.29% |
32,252 |
2,036,344 |
6,018 |
Runs 334 Phones4U stores across Britain |
99 |
Metal & Waste RecyclingMetal recycler |
North London |
2002 |
37.79% |
5,053 |
34,090 |
148 |
Handles a tenth of all scrap metal recycled in Britain |
100 |
Phoenix IT GroupIT service provider |
Northampton |
2003 |
37.64% |
7,643 |
52,730 |
648 |
Plans to float on the London Stock Exchange this summer |