1 |
Virgin MoneyBank |
Edinburgh |
2005 |
147.00% |
9,117 |
258,221 |
371 |
Manages £2.6billion of savings and investments for customers |
2 |
Special Steel GroupSteel processor |
Sheffield |
2006 |
123.15% |
8,979 |
30,120 |
154 |
Treats more than 1,000 tonnes of steel each week |
3 |
City InnHotel chain operator |
Central London |
2006 |
111.18% |
6,410 |
32,096 |
485 |
Is building a £100m, 550-bed hotel in central Amsterdam |
4 |
ABS Industrial ResourcesMetal processor and supplier |
South Yorkshire |
2005 |
104.94% |
8,159 |
83,230 |
128 |
Supplies raw materials for high-tech alloys used in the aerospace industry |
5 |
McCann HomesHousebuilder |
Milton Keynes |
2005 |
103.45% |
7,154 |
48,649 |
87 |
Builds eco-friendly social housing in partnership with local authorities |
6 |
Virgin ActiveHealth club operator |
Central London |
2005 |
98.38% |
29,797 |
154,378 |
4,084 |
Says its 165 clubs have more than 900,000 members worldwide |
7 |
Caledonian AlloysMetal recycler |
West Lothian |
2006 |
96.87% |
9,195 |
53,591 |
209 |
Supplies the aircraft industry from 10 processing facilities around the world |
8 |
GladedaleHousebuilder |
Dunfermline |
2005 |
95.85% |
77,849 |
474,879 |
924 |
Redeveloping Edinburgh's Royal Infirmary into homes, offices and restaurants |
9 |
Pentland GroupBrand manager and retailer |
Central London |
2005 |
94.71% |
31,986 |
735,300 |
12,018 |
Owns brands such as Red or Dead, Speedo and Berghaus |
10 |
ESRI (UK)Software developer |
Aylesbury |
2005 |
93.29% |
6,410 |
64,036 |
426 |
Remapped the tsunami disaster areas to help charities deliver aid |
11 |
Barchester HealthcareCare home operator |
Southwest London |
2005 |
93.01% |
43,614 |
289,172 |
12,556 |
Says its new Irish care home will feature a bistro, a hairdresser and a chapel |
12 |
ICS TriplexControl systems provider |
Essex |
2006 |
91.81% |
4,446 |
58,339 |
417 |
Supplies safety systems for oil rigs and power stations |
13 |
Ping EuropeGolf club manufacturer |
Lincolnshire |
2005 |
90.34% |
3,847 |
34,800 |
185 |
Makes more than a million types of customised golf clubs |
14 |
HT DrinksDrinks wholesaler |
Northwest London |
2005 |
85.77% |
3,244 |
100,570 |
39 |
Unusual imported drinks such as Bombay Pilsner have boosted profits |
15 |
aquilaheywoodFinancial software developer |
Surrey |
2006 |
85.56% |
10,964 |
31,929 |
224 |
Provides software for nearly half the nation's 100 largest pension schemes |
16 |
4D InteractiveDating services provider |
SW London |
2006 |
85.18% |
5,446 |
17,998 |
69 |
Claims to connect over 200m voice minutes a year |
17 |
H&B FoodsFood wholesaler |
South London |
2006 |
79.99% |
3,149 |
36,769 |
223 |
Sells 8m blocks of farmhouse cheese a year |
18 |
Caffè NeroCoffee house operator |
Central London |
2006 |
77.45% |
9,110 |
90,689 |
1,969 |
Owns 299 Italian-style coffee houses across Britain |
19 |
Beal HoldingsHousebuilder |
Hull |
2005 |
77.40% |
6,742 |
24,990 |
82 |
Beal family boasts seven generations of entrepreneurial builders |
20 |
Duck and Cover ClothingClothing manufacturer |
Northwest London |
2005 |
76.86% |
3,657 |
11,852 |
22 |
X Factor’s Leona Lewis sang her way to victory in Duck and Cover jeans |
21 |
The Mottram GroupMetal recycler |
Cheshire |
2005 |
76.44% |
6,114 |
58,782 |
161 |
Has recycled drinks cans into metal used in Rolls-Royce cars |
22 |
Fairline BoatsYacht builder |
Peterborough |
2005 |
76.04% |
5,472 |
95,367 |
1,130 |
Has built more than 11,000 boats since it was founded 40 years ago |
23 |
SpreadexSpread betting operator |
St Albans |
2006 |
75.82% |
6,375 |
12,255 |
64 |
Average bet size has rocketed more than 20-fold to £300 since 2001 |
24 |
DysonAppliance manufacturer |
Wiltshire |
2005 |
73.32% |
128,107 |
470,410 |
1,679 |
Claims one in three British households now owns a Dyson |
25 |
Cumbrian SeafoodsSeafood supplier |
County Durham |
2006 |
73.24% |
6,338 |
116,171 |
596 |
Supplies seafood for Tesco’s Finest and Morrisons' Eat Smart brands |
26 |
Wordsworth HoldingsMachinery manufacturer |
Lincolnshire |
2005 |
71.48% |
3,083 |
33,178 |
350 |
Makes everything from tipper trailers to prison furniture |
27 |
Graig Shipping GroupShip manager and owner |
Cardiff |
2006 |
70.11% |
4,445 |
22,453 |
90 |
Commissioned the largest ship ever built in Vietnam |
28 |
RMJMArchitect |
Edinburgh |
2006 |
70.00% |
3,142 |
34,358 |
596 |
Won the 2005 Stirling Prize for architecture for the Scottish Parliament building |
29 |
Stan JamesBookmaker |
Oxfordshire |
2005 |
69.88% |
5,480 |
283,514 |
181 |
Claims to process half a million betting slips a month |
30 |
Barrett Design & BuildSteelwork subcontractor |
Bradford |
2006 |
69.73% |
3,501 |
25,363 |
97 |
Made the steel frames for Leeds Bradford Airport’s new terminal |
31 |
Wedge Group GalvanizingGalvanizer |
West Midlands |
2006 |
69.30% |
7,051 |
75,213 |
940 |
Galvanized parts for the Pepsi Max roller coaster in Blackpool |
32 |
HalcrowEngineering consultancy |
West London |
2005 |
69.24% |
13,855 |
280,548 |
4,291 |
Is helping to plan the £10billion Crossrail link under central London |
33 |
UKIP Media & EventsMagazine publisher |
Surrey |
2005 |
68.73% |
4,106 |
17,860 |
118 |
Promotes its niche magazines via exhibitions across three continents |
34 |
MalthurstPetrol station operator |
Essex |
2006 |
67.98% |
11,810 |
498,193 |
67 |
Runs 155 petrol stations from Aberdeen to Plymouth |
35 |
Southdale HomesHousebuilder |
Halifax |
2006 |
66.90% |
3,668 |
39,061 |
110 |
Has won three regeneration awards for its biggest housebuilding project |
36 |
Care PrinciplesMental healthcare provider |
Newmarket |
2006 |
66.16% |
†8,661 |
63,020 |
1,333 |
Its 1,500 staff care for patients with challenging behaviour |
37 |
Titan AirwaysAirline |
Stansted Airport |
2006 |
65.76% |
6,526 |
41,041 |
177 |
Operates 13 planes carrying VIPs by day and mail by night |
38 |
CastlebeckSpecialist healthcare provider |
Darlington |
2005 |
65.61% |
9,854 |
25,350 |
483 |
Runs 17 hospitals and treatment centres for adults with learning disabilities |
39 |
IDISPharmaceuticals supplier |
Weybridge |
2005 |
65.45% |
4,438 |
29,142 |
81 |
Sources 20 new medicines a day from all parts of the world |
40 |
BES ConsultingAsbestos risk consultancy |
Huddersfield |
2005 |
64.87% |
3,640 |
8,715 |
181 |
Manages asbestos data for more than 140,000 British properties |
41 |
Azzurri CommunicationsTelecoms services provider |
Walsall |
2006 |
64.72% |
13,354 |
101,010 |
723 |
Has made 16 acquisitions in the past six years |
42 |
Ossian Retail GroupClothing and homeware retailer |
Glasgow |
2006 |
64.65% |
6,000 |
124,438 |
2,453 |
Based in Scotland, it is now expanding its two store chains southward |
43 |
Mark GroupEnergy efficiency specialist |
Leicester |
2006 |
64.09% |
†4,670 |
36,097 |
491 |
Says it has insulated more than a million British homes |
44 |
Incisive MediaMagazine publisher |
Central London |
2005 |
64.02% |
13,838 |
57,456 |
470 |
Doubled turnover in just six weeks by snapping up rivals |
45 |
AardmanAnimated film producers |
Bristol |
2005 |
62.91% |
6,810 |
45,988 |
195 |
Won a fourth Oscar with Wallace & Gromit in The Curse of the Were-Rabbit |
46 |
NP AerospaceProtective equipment maker |
Coventry |
2005 |
62.62% |
5,380 |
26,356 |
172 |
Keeps news crews safe in war zones with its protective materials |
47 |
Argus MediaEnergy information provider |
Central London |
2006 |
62.33% |
4,004 |
15,377 |
187 |
Sells data on world energy prices to national governments |
48 |
MoussaieffLuxury jeweller |
Central London |
2006 |
62.04% |
11,390 |
54,441 |
25 |
Owns the £3m Moussaieff Red, the world's largest red diamond |
49 |
Fat FaceClothing retailer |
Hampshire |
2006 |
61.69% |
14,308 |
80,791 |
1,328 |
Named after a Val d'Isere black ski run, Le Face |
50 |
Ceuta HealthcareSales and marketing agency |
Bournemouth |
2006 |
61.57% |
3,006 |
13,548 |
141 |
Puts Signal toothpaste, Pond’s cream and Brut onto supermarket shelves |
51 |
Firth RixsonAerospace manufacturer |
Sheffield |
2006 |
61.50% |
*55,045 |
444,502 |
1,981 |
Provides aerospace components for the likes of GE and Rolls-Royce |
52 |
Tuffnells Parcels ExpressExpress parcel courier |
Sheffield |
2005 |
61.03% |
4,810 |
78,187 |
1,695 |
Founded in 1914 by Harold Tuffnell, who made deliveries with a horse and cart |
53 |
Mactaggart & MickelHousebuilder |
Glasgow |
2006 |
61.02% |
14,252 |
37,787 |
268 |
Has been building homes in Scotland for four generations |
54 |
The Risk Advisory GroupRisk management consultancy |
Central London |
2005 |
60.75% |
†4,137 |
18,096 |
72 |
Advises companies on risks from employee fraud to terrorism |
55 |
BetfairOnline bookmaker |
West London |
2006 |
60.70% |
34,576 |
144,701 |
608 |
Claims to process 6m bets a day for online gamblers |
56 |
2 Sisters Food GroupFood producer |
Birmingham |
2005 |
60.36% |
21,266 |
315,345 |
2,540 |
Processes free-range chicken at its state-of-the-art Scunthorpe plant |
57 |
Park ResortsCaravan park operator |
Hemel Hempstead |
2006 |
60.35% |
26,555 |
152,559 |
1,427 |
Bought by GI Partners last month for a reported £440m |
58 |
Wood MackenzieEnergy research consultancy |
Edinburgh |
2005 |
59.62% |
13,021 |
49,257 |
343 |
Stockbroker turns into research expert for the energy and life science sectors |
59 |
ACISTransport software developer |
Buckinghamshire |
2006 |
58.58% |
3,261 |
17,894 |
122 |
Designs software that uses GPS to predict arrivals at bus stops |
60 |
Yearsley GroupFrozen food supplier |
Lancashire |
2006 |
58.29% |
6,692 |
69,368 |
494 |
Supplies frozen foods to Tesco, Sainsbury's and the Prison Service |
61 |
First OilOil and gas producer |
Aberdeen |
2006 |
58.25% |
12,475 |
27,185 |
8 |
Produces 5,000 barrels of oil a day for customers such as BP and Shell |
62 |
RBGEnergy services provider |
Aberdeen |
2005 |
57.82% |
11,682 |
165,202 |
2,328 |
Created by merging three companies with a joint value of £45m |
63 |
KeltruckTruck dealer |
West Bromwich |
2005 |
57.60% |
3,441 |
94,378 |
470 |
Claims to be Britain’s largest independent Scania dealer |
64 |
Penta ConsultingRecruitment consultancy |
South London |
2006 |
57.58% |
3,245 |
45,633 |
72 |
Deploys IT and telecoms staff across five continents |
65 |
EntecEnvironmental consultancy |
Newcastle upon Tyne |
2006 |
57.13% |
5,854 |
45,070 |
633 |
Has advised on 60 renewable energy projects, including wind and tidal power |
66 |
ActeonSubsea services provider |
Norwich |
2005 |
56.89% |
†8,298 |
67,139 |
417 |
Develops hydraulic hammers designed to work 2km underwater |
67 |
KeepmoatHousing regeneration specialist |
South Yorkshire |
2006 |
56.79% |
41,255 |
468,737 |
2,550 |
Sponsors Doncaster Rovers’ new 15,000-seat stadium next door to its offices |
68 |
RPVValve distributor |
Bury St Edmunds |
2006 |
56.60% |
5,919 |
15,458 |
24 |
Created on the back of a bright idea and a £6,000 redundancy cheque |
69 |
Andrews Marbles & TilesTiling importer, contractor |
Leeds |
2005 |
56.42% |
4,389 |
14,948 |
118 |
Tiled the Millennium Grandstand at Newmarket racecourse |
70 |
Yeo ValleyYoghurt and dairy maker |
Bristol |
2005 |
56.18% |
†6,027 |
120,317 |
973 |
Sells 8m pots of yoghurt each week |
71 |
John Lawrie GroupMetal recycler and trader |
Aberdeen |
2005 |
56.10% |
6,379 |
54,864 |
89 |
Trades enough metal each year to build four QE2 cruise liners |
72 |
MaximuscleSports nutrition supplier |
Watford |
2006 |
55.55% |
3,320 |
13,986 |
41 |
Sells high protein sports foods to athletes and 'body beautiful' enthusiasts |
73 |
CCGBuilding contractor |
Glasgow |
2006 |
54.26% |
6,640 |
90,510 |
565 |
Heats its own HQ with sawdust from joinery and construction operations |
74 |
J&J HaslettFood wholesaler |
Belfast |
2005 |
53.97% |
3,237 |
188,908 |
359 |
Opened the first Mace store in Northern Ireland in 1960 |
75 |
DCKJewellery retailer |
Essex |
2006 |
53.78% |
17,233 |
128,652 |
1,683 |
Operates more than 3,000 concessions in 22 countries |
76 |
Ogilvie GroupVehicle lessor |
Stirling |
2006 |
53.64% |
7,057 |
176,635 |
453 |
Set up by the Ogilvie family 60 years ago with just £100 |
77 |
Simons GroupBuilding contractor |
Lincoln |
2006 |
53.27% |
7,039 |
203,748 |
684 |
Founded to repair RAF runways in the second world war |
78 |
Senad GroupSpecial education provider |
Derbyshire |
2006 |
52.88% |
*6,716 |
32,870 |
956 |
Cares for children on behalf of 125 local authorities |
79 |
Moneysupermarket.comFinancial website operator |
Wales |
2005 |
51.94% |
23,424 |
68,036 |
306 |
Claims it can save customers up to £7,000 on a new car |
80 |
NisbetsCatering equipment supplier |
Bristol |
2005 |
51.06% |
10,158 |
70,112 |
386 |
Handles 3,000 orders a day for a broad range of catering equipment |
81 |
SorexPest control manufacturer |
Cheshire |
2005 |
50.25% |
6,811 |
49,069 |
192 |
Sells its pest control products to customers in 45 countries |
82 |
RobertsonConstruction services provider |
Stirling |
2005 |
50.02% |
11,303 |
159,134 |
703 |
Won an environmental award for building the Scottish Natural Heritage HQ |
83 |
TJ HughesDepartment store operator |
Liverpool |
2006 |
49.82% |
11,988 |
214,528 |
1,725 |
Will sell you a video recorder for £35 or a toaster for a tenner |
84 |
WSHCatering & restaurant business |
Reading |
2005 |
48.58% |
5,885 |
122,902 |
3,675 |
Its consultant chef John Campbell holds two Michelin stars |
85 |
Regard PartnershipCare home operator |
Southwest London |
2006 |
48.05% |
5,465 |
32,444 |
1,115 |
Runs 101 residential care homes for people with learning disabilities |
86 |
Watson PetroleumFuel distributor |
Wiltshire |
2006 |
48.03% |
5,844 |
307,784 |
353 |
Supplies fuel to customers from households to hen hatcheries |
87 |
Drive AssistCar lessor |
Tamworth |
2006 |
47.85% |
18,699 |
85,664 |
1,102 |
Recently bought by Charterhouse for a reported £250m |
88 |
Allam MarineGenerator/football club |
Hull |
2005 |
47.24% |
3,580 |
40,001 |
27 |
Its generators helped restore power across Asia after the 2005 tsunami |
89 |
British SeafoodSeafood wholesaler |
Central London |
2005 |
46.89% |
11,868 |
135,379 |
60 |
Sources fish from 27 locations throughout Asia and eastern Europe |
90 |
SPC HoldingsMetal recycler and trader |
Norwich |
2006 |
46.46% |
9,444 |
95,512 |
401 |
Is one of Britain’s largest metal recyclers, with 13 sites nationwide |
91 |
TJ MorrisDiscount retailer |
Liverpool |
2006 |
46.38% |
22,801 |
273,404 |
2,732 |
Sells brands from Lego to Vidal Sassoon at bargain prices |
92 |
Hanbury HoldingsHaulier |
Suffolk |
2006 |
46.15% |
4,132 |
55,683 |
614 |
Transports nearly a quarter of a million shipping containers a year |
93 |
LFF GroupOil equipment supplier |
Basildon, Essex |
2005 |
45.48% |
5,762 |
82,504 |
132 |
Opened offices in Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan to boost overseas business |
94 |
FircroftTechnical Recruitment Specialist |
Warrington |
2005 |
45.26% |
4,097 |
149,778 |
136 |
Has 21 offices worldwide, including five branches in Kazakhstan |
95 |
ReissBranded fashion retailer |
Central London |
2006 |
44.42% |
7,213 |
44,518 |
587 |
Aspirational clothing retailer has plans for 250 stores worldwide |
96 |
UnicomTelecoms services provider |
Manchester |
2006 |
44.36% |
5,156 |
30,976 |
466 |
Says it supplies more than 400m minutes of calls a year to 60,000 small firms |
97 |
Superglass InsulationInsulation manufacturer |
Stirling |
2005 |
44.14% |
8,374 |
38,047 |
213 |
Makes insulation products using 80% recycled glass |
98 |
Jimmy ChooLuxury accessories designer |
Central London |
2005 |
43.77% |
3,674 |
36,943 |
72 |
Plans to expand the brand beyond shoes and bags into perfume and eyewear |
99 |
Retlan ManufacturingTrailer manufacturer |
Antrim |
2006 |
43.21% |
8,282 |
92,254 |
511 |
Recently signed a £13m deal to supply Eddie Stobart with 700 trailers |
100 |
BayfordFuel distributor |
West Yorkshire |
2006 |
43.07% |
3,520 |
392,135 |
201 |
Has introduced an eco-friendly heating oil with a scent of vanilla |