1 |
PartnershipLife assurance specialist |
Central London |
Dec 10 |
210.53% |
37,701 |
587,877 |
273 |
Provides financial products for people whose illness has cut their life expectancy |
2 |
Auden Mckenzie GroupPharmaceuticals maker |
Northwest London |
Sep 10 |
168.18% |
15,815 |
32,047 |
58 |
Constructing a new R&D building to accommodate its expansion |
3 |
NewDayCredit card operator |
Kent |
Dec 10 |
148.80% |
30,949 |
93,763 |
51 |
Bought by Varde Partners in September 2011 for £472m |
4 |
WorldmarkElectronic component manufacturer |
Lanarkshire |
Dec 10 |
141.69% |
13,228 |
93,436 |
1,705 |
Employs 1,700 people at facilities in Hungary, Mexico, China, America and Britain |
5 |
Quercus PublishingPublisher |
Central London |
Dec 10 |
128.25% |
8,538 |
31,784 |
41 |
Biggest seller is Stieg Larsson’s Millennium Trilogy |
6 |
DiGiCoAudio equipment maker |
Southwest London |
Dec 10 |
112.92% |
6,251 |
18,757 |
64 |
Its equipment has been used on Madonna and U2 tours |
7 |
Red Bee MediaMedia services provider |
West London |
Jun 11 |
111.68% |
19,882 |
145,652 |
1,395 |
Claims to manage online on-demand TV content for the majority of UK broadcasters |
8 |
Dr MartensShoe manufacturer and retailer |
Northamptonshire |
Mar 11 |
107.17% |
18,781 |
110,229 |
299 |
Its shoes were worn by Rihanna and her backing dancers at The Grammys |
9 |
Airline ServicesAirline services provider |
Manchester |
Oct 10 |
106.15% |
4,984 |
40,872 |
609 |
Last month LDC bought a stake in a deal that valued the company at about £40m |
10 |
Joseph JosephHousehold goods manufacturer |
Central London |
May 11 |
105.70% |
6,860 |
22,414 |
37 |
Its distinctive-colour kitchenware was showcased in the Big Brother house |
11 |
Direct WinesWine merchant |
Reading |
Jul 11 |
99.12% |
14,724 |
343,904 |
921 |
Has recently started selling wine to India |
12 |
PCMSIT services provider |
Coventry |
Sep 10 |
96.07% |
9,004 |
40,281 |
377 |
Claims that even competitors use its IT services to host their products |
13 |
Regent GasCommercial gas supplier |
West London |
Mar 11 |
95.52% |
9,016 |
48,169 |
9 |
Founded with an investment of £30,000, now makes profits of almost £9m |
14 |
Forward Internet GroupMedia developer and investor |
Central London |
Dec 10 |
94.79% |
16,435 |
118,650 |
149 |
Recently acquired one of Europe's largest publishers for biking enthusiasts |
15 |
JacTravelTravel services provider |
West London |
Oct 11 |
93.48% |
6,465 |
103,511 |
158 |
Supplies tour operators with 7,000 hotels in 550 cities worldwide |
16 |
Baird & CoBullion merchant |
East London |
Dec 10 |
93.40% |
4,662 |
417,167 |
53 |
Makes 50,000 wedding rings a year |
17 |
KilfrostDe-icing fluid manufacturer |
Newcastle |
Sep 11 |
92.85% |
3,880 |
54,930 |
87 |
Produced 44,000 tonnes of environmentally friendly de-icing fluid in 2011 |
18 |
GO OutdoorsOutdoor equipment retailer |
Sheffield |
Jan 11 |
92.42% |
7,035 |
115,238 |
651 |
Online sales are being helped by an improved website design |
19 |
Britax ChildcareChild car seat maker |
Surrey |
Dec 10 |
92.25% |
30,076 |
231,748 |
1,067 |
Works with more than 40 car companies in R&D to develop innovative products |
20 |
Balmoral GroupPolymer engineer and manufacturer |
Aberdeen |
Mar 11 |
88.19% |
15,263 |
73,392 |
369 |
Claims to be one of four firms worldwide making deep-water buoyancy products |
21 |
Cellar TrendsAlcoholic drinks wholesaler |
Derbyshire |
May 11 |
85.37% |
7,682 |
86,086 |
105 |
Promotes Jägermeister by sending events team on tour around the country |
22 |
Plexus CottonCotton merchant |
Liverpool |
Dec 10 |
83.58% |
8,263 |
259,211 |
1,389 |
Successfully managed the cotton industry's price volatility between 2008 and 2011 |
23 |
Beggars GroupMusic producer |
Southwest London |
Dec 10 |
83.03% |
5,383 |
25,118 |
101 |
Its biggest success is 21, by Adele, named best album at February’s Brit Awards |
24 |
Europa Support ServicesFacilities maintenance provider |
Salford Quays, Manchester |
Dec 10 |
82.65% |
5,619 |
103,303 |
2,126 |
Clients include the Welsh assembly government and Coca-Cola |
25 |
Sun MarkConsumer products wholesaler |
West London |
Aug 11 |
81.20% |
7,483 |
109,052 |
47 |
Received Queen’s Award for Enterprise in 2009, 2010 and 2011 |
26 |
Wireless LogicWireless data services provider |
Buckinghamshire |
Apr 11 |
80.49% |
3,236 |
11,623 |
18 |
Was part of Dragons’ Den’s Peter Jones’s Phones International until 2009 |
27 |
Harvard EngineeringLighting controls manufacturer |
Wakefield |
Oct 10 |
77.95% |
3,414 |
14,350 |
116 |
Supplies the components that illuminate Piccadilly Circus and Blackpool Promenade |
28 |
InterportPharmaceuticals wholesaler |
South London |
Mar 11 |
77.01% |
5,494 |
70,564 |
58 |
Is now venturing outside Europe to explore markets in Africa and South America |
29 |
Cope Allman JaycareHealthcare products supplier |
Portsmouth |
Dec 10 |
76.66% |
3,487 |
25,150 |
276 |
Bought by Swedish firm Nolato in April 2012 for an initial price of £16.6m |
30 |
Total Security ServicesSecurity services provider |
East London |
Oct 10 |
76.52% |
5,128 |
42,668 |
2,439 |
Helps retailers who are facing more shoplifting in the recession |
31 |
HampdenInsurance consultancy |
Central London |
Dec 10 |
76.27% |
31,603 |
40,271 |
167 |
Grew profits despite one of the worst years on record for natural catastrophes |
32 |
MarkitFinancial information services |
City of London |
Dec 10 |
76.22% |
88,528 |
432,524 |
1,736 |
Recently launched an iPad app to help clients monitor financial data on the move |
33 |
Accrol PapersTissue products manufacturer |
Blackburn |
Apr 11 |
75.63% |
5,351 |
50,045 |
103 |
Produces more than 1.25m toilet rolls and 500,000 kitchen rolls a day |
34 |
EssenceDigital marketing agency |
Central London |
Mar 11 |
75.11% |
3,988 |
74,185 |
69 |
Overseeing the global marketing for Harry Potter website Pottermore.com |
35 |
KelwayIT services provider |
Central London |
Mar 11 |
75.05% |
9,615 |
260,875 |
697 |
Microsoft, Bank of America and Oxford University Press are among its 2,000 clients |
36 |
Holyhead GroupWorkboat builder and operator |
North Wales |
Sep 10 |
74.43% |
13,577 |
32,683 |
249 |
Supplies Royal Marines with patrol boats |
37 |
Global Reach PartnersForeign exchange broker |
Central London |
Dec 10 |
74.35% |
3,205 |
9,997 |
51 |
Says that moving offices to the City has boosted staff morale and productivity |
38 |
History & HeraldryGift maker |
Rotherham |
Dec 10 |
73.67% |
7,416 |
23,550 |
77 |
Brings out five new ranges each year to retain appeal with impulse purchasers |
39 |
99p StoresDiscount retailer |
Northampton |
Jan 11 |
72.40% |
7,166 |
231,007 |
2,970 |
Is expanding internationally with its first shop in Dublin |
40 |
MDSSoftware developer |
Warrington |
Dec 10 |
71.63% |
4,095 |
32,076 |
336 |
Created software so American firm Gogo Inflight can provide internet access on planes |
41 |
Halewood Wines and SpiritsAlcoholic drinks maker |
Liverpool |
Jun 11 |
70.76% |
17,636 |
264,355 |
1,020 |
About to launch its Crabbie’s Alcoholic Ginger Beer in America |
42 |
Nexus Vehicle RentalVehicle rental broker |
Leeds |
Sep 11 |
69.63% |
4,555 |
38,289 |
90 |
Profits boosted by providing its vehicle-rental technology to blue-chip companies |
43 |
Rebound ElectronicsElectronic components distributor |
Newbury |
Dec 10 |
68.51% |
7,610 |
80,283 |
177 |
The owners are looking to exit within 12 months |
44 |
Brookfield RoseTemporary workforce manager |
Cheshire |
Dec 10 |
68.45% |
3,796 |
298,673 |
60 |
Provides temporary contract labour worth more than £500m each year |
45 |
M-SportRacing car developer |
Cumbria |
Dec 10 |
68.16% |
6,797 |
48,278 |
207 |
Designs and sells rally cars, which cost from £45,000 to £400,000 |
46 |
ID Business SolutionsSoftware developer |
Guildford |
Dec 10 |
66.69% |
6,367 |
30,175 |
240 |
Won the 2011 Queen's Award for International Trade |
47 |
Cath KidstonLifestyle retailer |
West London |
Apr 11 |
66.50% |
†15,621 |
†67,264 |
518 |
Now has 21 shops in Japan, 8 in South Korea, 2 in Thailand and one in Taiwan |
48 |
Noble FoodsEgg products manufacturer |
Hertfordshire |
Sep 10 |
66.11% |
26,973 |
558,845 |
1,921 |
Its egg brands include Eggs for Soldiers, which supports Help for Heroes |
49 |
XLN Business ServicesBusiness services provider |
Central London |
Mar 11 |
63.00% |
11,714 |
57,466 |
255 |
Now also offers small businesses credit- and debit-card processing services |
50 |
Chain Reaction CyclesOnline bike retailer |
County Antrim |
Dec 10 |
63.00% |
13,490 |
109,420 |
365 |
Offers 90,000 bike accessories and processes 6,000 orders a day from Belfast |
51 |
CatalystSecurity tag supplier |
High Wycombe |
Mar 11 |
62.62% |
3,395 |
12,529 |
45 |
Claims that more than 200m of its tags were used by retailers last year |
52 |
SMP GroupPrinter |
Southeast London |
Dec 10 |
60.77% |
3,319 |
28,419 |
155 |
84-year-old printing company targeting growth in digital products |
53 |
OneE TaxTax planning specialist |
Bolton |
Dec 10 |
60.35% |
†7,601 |
†17,536 |
35 |
Its latest tax solution cost £1m to create, most of which went on barristers' fees |
54 |
Leisure Pass GroupTourism smartcard developer |
Central London |
Dec 10 |
60.31% |
†3,661 |
†18,402 |
9 |
Its top London attractions are the Tower of London and Westminster Abbey |
55 |
Texthelp SystemsIT software developer |
County Antrim |
Sep 10 |
59.61% |
4,359 |
12,339 |
93 |
Has recently diversified to target those for whom English is a second language |
56 |
SMS ElectronicsElectronics manufacturer |
Nottingham |
Sep 11 |
59.48% |
4,235 |
50,369 |
135 |
Its video-conferencing systems helped double international sales over four years |
57 |
State OilFuel wholesaler |
Weybridge |
Feb 11 |
58.28% |
3,086 |
419,681 |
92 |
Blends imported diesel with up to 50% biofuel in its facility on the Thames |
58 |
Veetee RiceRice wholesaler and distributor |
Rochester |
Dec 10 |
56.91% |
5,018 |
60,262 |
106 |
Imports rice from around the world, including India, Pakistan, Thailand and America |
59 |
TolunaOnline market research provider |
West London |
Dec 10 |
56.86% |
15,412 |
73,641 |
787 |
Claims its online consumer panels generate 1m votes and opinions a day |
60 |
Tangerine ConfectioneryConfectionery manufacturer |
Blackpool |
Dec 10 |
56.85% |
13,680 |
153,816 |
1,349 |
Is Britain’s largest privately owned confectionery manufacturer |
61 |
Phase EightFashion retailer |
West London |
Jan 11 |
56.40% |
15,661 |
92,881 |
1,329 |
Opened its first shop in Wandsworth in 1979 and now has 235 outlets |
62 |
B&M RetailDiscount retailer |
Liverpool |
Dec 11 |
56.14% |
49,422 |
712,572 |
8,864 |
Has recently acquired 11 outlets from the collapsed DIY chain Focus |
63 |
Keystone LegalInsurance provider |
Hampshire |
Dec 10 |
56.07% |
9,880 |
18,386 |
75 |
HQ was formerly the stable where Winston Churchill underwent cavalry training |
64 |
MatconPowder machinery manufacturer |
Worcestershire |
Dec 10 |
55.71% |
3,721 |
21,313 |
122 |
Founded in 1980 by a baronet and a Ukrainian refugee |
65 |
Trad GroupScaffolding contractor |
East London |
Nov 10 |
54.99% |
3,963 |
14,802 |
138 |
Scaffolding projects have included the BT Tower and Olympic energy plants |
66 |
APC OvernightParcel courier |
Wolverhampton |
Mar 11 |
54.93% |
3,848 |
57,939 |
290 |
Delivers more than 1.5m parcels a month nationwide |
67 |
Charles Tyrwhitt ShirtsClothing retailer |
Central London |
Jul 11 |
53.48% |
9,483 |
78,629 |
400 |
Company named after the two middle names of its founder Nick Wheeler |
68 |
Poundworld RetailValue retailer |
West Yorkshire |
Mar 11 |
52.85% |
5,495 |
132,944 |
2,009 |
Has recently opened the second of its smaller Express convenience stores |
69 |
The APM GroupCertification scheme administrator |
High Wycombe |
Mar 11 |
52.70% |
5,226 |
27,374 |
108 |
Plans further international expansion in 2012 in France, Japan and Brazil |
70 |
OfficeShoe retailer |
Central London |
Jan 11 |
52.47% |
21,028 |
165,062 |
2,009 |
Has launched concessions in Top Shop's New York, Las Vegas and Chicago stores |
71 |
Fullers FoodsFrozen food supplier |
Leeds |
Jan 11 |
52.14% |
7,798 |
141,466 |
30 |
2012 sales are likely to exceed £200m on the movement of 200,000 tonnes of food |
72 |
Star PerfumesFragrance wholesaler |
Salford |
Apr 11 |
52.05% |
†9,918 |
†62,511 |
128 |
Stocks more than 4,000 fragrances, perfumes, aftershaves and colognes |
73 |
Natural ProductsGift maker |
West London |
May 11 |
51.93% |
4,305 |
15,710 |
39 |
Profits boosted through US expansion after deals with retailers such as Gap |
74 |
The Lawrence GroupPrecious metals dealer |
Central London |
Feb 11 |
51.77% |
6,795 |
245,745 |
24 |
Buys scrap metal in virtually any form, from jewellery to gold teeth |
75 |
Willmott Dixon GroupConstruction contractor |
Hertfordshire |
Dec 10 |
51.43% |
28,222 |
989,517 |
2,949 |
Celebrates its 160th anniversary in 2012 |
76 |
BOCM PAULS (Agricola Group)Animal feed manufacturer |
Ipswich |
Dec 10 |
49.95% |
15,131 |
428,315 |
961 |
Acquired by Dutch group ForFarmers for €85m, subject to EU approval |
77 |
Vue Entertainment InternationalCinema operator |
West London |
Nov 10 |
49.91% |
38,058 |
308,415 |
3,234 |
Opened a 17-screen all-digital cinema at Stratford in east London last September |
78 |
ITRS GroupFinancial software developer |
Central London |
Mar 11 |
49.61% |
7,298 |
16,419 |
75 |
Claims its software is used by eight of the world's 10 biggest investment banks |
79 |
Patisserie ValeriePatisserie and cafe operator |
Birmingham |
Sep 11 |
48.37% |
5,637 |
40,483 |
1,292 |
Claims to serve on average 300 customers in each store each day |
80 |
Travel CounsellorsTravel agency |
Bolton |
Oct 10 |
47.93% |
4,460 |
74,821 |
221 |
Employs 1,200 ‘travel counsellors’ in six countries to offer tailor-made holidays |
81 |
Jack WillsFashion retailer |
Northwest London |
Jan 11 |
47.68% |
12,989 |
92,230 |
1,870 |
Company was named after a grandfather of one of the co-founders |
82 |
Otter ControlsThermostatic control manufacturer |
Derbyshire |
Dec 10 |
47.57% |
7,611 |
51,016 |
996 |
Founder Eric Taylor designed electrically heated second-world-war flying suits |
83 |
Lowell GroupDebt collector |
Leeds |
Aug 10 |
47.46% |
42,924 |
62,412 |
385 |
States it typically recovers 10%-15% of the total amount of debt that it buys |
84 |
Aston Manor BreweryBeer and cider brewery |
Birmingham |
Dec 10 |
47.35% |
6,117 |
79,253 |
182 |
Claims to produce 1m pints of cider a day |
85 |
ChessTelecoms services provider |
Cheshire |
Apr 11 |
47.04% |
5,424 |
32,772 |
143 |
Says that 60% of employees have share options |
86 |
The Staffing GroupRecruitment consultancy |
Walsall |
Nov 10 |
46.90% |
3,902 |
87,081 |
163 |
Provides teams of flexi-workers to help clients cope with busy times of the year |
87 |
BritpartCar parts supplier |
Shropshire |
Mar 11 |
46.69% |
7,835 |
47,604 |
196 |
Sponsors the MSA British Cross-Country Championship rally-driving competition |
88 |
HutchinsonsAgronomy adviser |
Cambridgeshire |
Dec 10 |
46.35% |
9,118 |
148,268 |
327 |
Company says that one of its biggest challenges is Britain’s sustained lack of rain |
89 |
WiggleOnline sports goods retailer |
Portsmouth |
Jan 11 |
45.82% |
10,912 |
86,787 |
131 |
Sold a stake to Bridgepoint last December in a deal that valued the firm at £180m |
90 |
Audley TravelTour operator |
Oxfordshire |
Dec 10 |
45.11% |
8,840 |
62,868 |
158 |
New staff spend their first four to six weeks in the destination in which they specialise |
91 |
World FirstInternational payments provider |
Central London |
Jan 11 |
44.82% |
3,847 |
11,996 |
97 |
Claims to have completed a currency transfer to Germany in under seven minutes |
92 |
Argus MediaEnergy information provider |
Central London |
Jun 11 |
44.34% |
21,518 |
53,994 |
351 |
Operates from offices in 17 countries and plans to expand into South America |
93 |
Oliver ValvetekSubsea valve manufacturer |
Cheshire |
Sep 10 |
44.22% |
5,236 |
16,143 |
60 |
Its HQ houses a steam engine formerly owned by cult TV presenter Fred Dibnah |
94 |
GrocontinentalFood and drink distributor |
Shropshire |
Oct 10 |
43.28% |
3,800 |
25,670 |
283 |
Founded by a young widow in 1941 as a cattle-transport business |
95 |
Intelligent EnvironmentsTechnology and outsourcing provider |
Central London |
Dec 10 |
42.64% |
3,882 |
16,445 |
379 |
Processes 47m transactions a year for clients including British Gas and Barclaycard |
96 |
FM ConwayInfrastructure services provider |
Dartford |
Mar 11 |
42.46% |
12,883 |
128,015 |
732 |
Says it recycles up to 95% of construction waste from its road-building projects |
97 |
Sprue AegisSafety products manufacturer |
Coventry |
Dec 10 |
42.45% |
3,795 |
29,873 |
72 |
Has developed a carbon-monoxide sensor the size of a pound coin |
98 |
Mono ConsultantsTelecoms network support |
Glasgow |
Aug 11 |
42.10% |
3,663 |
37,963 |
207 |
Provides temporary mobile masts for Glastonbury and the London Olympics |
99 |
EBC BrakesBrake components manufacturer |
Northampton |
Oct 10 |
41.98% |
8,741 |
28,828 |
183 |
Claims to be a world leader in developing non-toxic brake pads, free from sulphides |
100 |
Richmond GroupFinancial services provider |
Bournemouth |
Mar 11 |
41.93% |
32,432 |
63,865 |
396 |
Its offices include sleep pods, chill-out areas and a Moroccan-themed meeting room |