1 |
The Hut GroupOnline retailer |
Northwich |
Dec 13 |
178.03% |
*10,853 |
*184,830 |
746 |
Trades in six languages and 50% of its sales are now overseas |
2 |
JCBConstruction equipment manufacturer |
Staffordshire |
Dec 12 |
169.10% |
288,400 |
2,712,000 |
8,806 |
Sold its one millionth machine in 2013 and launched a £150m growth plan |
3 |
Acorn StairliftsStairlift manufacturer |
West Yorkshire |
Sep 12 |
142.09% |
11,986 |
106,619 |
828 |
Designs, manufactures and installs more than 50,000 stairlifts a year |
4 |
Wetherby Building SystemsInsulation systems manufacturer |
Greater Manchester |
Oct 12 |
124.59% |
11,765 |
61,092 |
80 |
Government initiatives such as ECO and CERT helped to triple sales in 2012 |
5 |
Thomsons Online BenefitsEmployee benefits software developer |
Central London |
Dec 12 |
120.61% |
8,610 |
32,687 |
271 |
Last year secured funding from American private equity firm ABRY |
6 |
Dawnus ConstructionCivil engineering contractor |
Swansea |
Dec 12 |
120.51% |
19,880 |
177,989 |
1,587 |
Almost half of this firm’s £178m sales are generated in Africa |
7 |
CentekOilfield equipment manufacturer |
Devon |
Oct 12 |
116.84% |
6,982 |
21,443 |
140 |
Generated 94% of its sales overseas and opened a plant in Oklahoma |
8 |
Express EngineeringPrecision engineer |
Gateshead |
Mar 13 |
111.23% |
7,232 |
29,443 |
218 |
Private equity firm LDC invested last October to accelerate growth |
9 |
Immediate Media CoMagazine publisher |
West London |
Mar 13 |
106.90% |
13,807 |
150,743 |
846 |
Owns 36 websites, 58 magazines and over 70 brands read by 25m people |
10 |
Pret A MangerSandwich shop operator |
Central London |
Dec 12 |
104.59% |
†24,114 |
†435,436 |
7,144 |
Has 352 shops worldwide, including four American cities, Hong Kong and Paris |
11 |
Cory EnvironmentalWaste management provider |
Central London |
Dec 12 |
99.54% |
45,477 |
260,333 |
1,246 |
Its new anaerobic digestion plant creates energy to power 1,000 homes |
12 |
Nectar GroupBulk cargo handler |
Romford |
Dec 12 |
96.07% |
4,817 |
21,257 |
301 |
Its specialist bagging machines unload 4m tons of bulk cargo each year |
13 |
Innovative TechnologyCash-handling machine manufacturer |
Oldham |
Dec 13 |
95.32% |
4,312 |
22,644 |
202 |
Its cash-handling machines are approved by the European Central Bank |
14 |
Burnt Tree Vehicle RentalVehicle rental provider |
Shrewsbury |
Oct 12 |
94.94% |
10,282 |
77,408 |
342 |
Has a fleet of 16,500 vehicles, from small cars to 44-ton tractors |
15 |
Enra GroupSpecialist loan provider |
Borehamwood |
Dec 13 |
94.59% |
4,499 |
7,742 |
20 |
The group was spun out of a similar business that collapsed in 2009 |
16 |
The GymGym operator |
Central London |
Dec 12 |
90.84% |
3,706 |
22,632 |
72 |
The gym operator is merging with the rival Pure Gym |
17 |
Rowland HomesHousebuilder |
Lancashire |
Aug 13 |
88.94% |
7,023 |
35,988 |
35 |
Sold 123 properties last year with 95% built on brownfield sites |
18 |
FoundOceanOffshore grouting specialist |
Buckinghamshire |
Dec 12 |
85.46% |
3,940 |
18,277 |
97 |
Profits boosted by the construction of offshore wind farms |
19 |
CV-LibraryOnline job site |
Hampshire |
Jun 13 |
84.76% |
3,860 |
8,791 |
54 |
Stores more than 7m CVs on its website |
20 |
Special Piping MaterialsPipes and fittings supplier |
Manchester |
Dec 12 |
80.11% |
5,562 |
35,769 |
46 |
Opened a warehouse in Texas and plans to expand into South America |
21 |
Oliver James AssociatesRecruitment consultancy |
Central London |
Dec 12 |
77.23% |
4,395 |
46,658 |
92 |
Recently opened an office in Amsterdam to add to its international network |
22 |
Gravity MediaTV production equipment provider |
Watford |
Dec 12 |
77.00% |
8,135 |
54,975 |
117 |
Helped televise the Australian Open tennis earlier this year |
23 |
CSPVenue & event services |
Wembley |
Dec 12 |
76.37% |
6,094 |
23,604 |
474 |
Has managed the car parking at Wembley Stadium for the past 20 years |
24 |
Vero SoftwareManufacturing software designer |
Cheltenham |
Dec 12 |
74.86% |
8,212 |
43,470 |
384 |
More than 80% of its sales are generated overseas |
25 |
Perfect HomeHousehold goods retailer |
Warwickshire |
Mar 13 |
72.53% |
8,323 |
72,119 |
540 |
US firm Aaron's bought a minority stake in 2011 valuing the group at £87m |
26 |
JacTravelTravel services provider |
West London |
Oct 13 |
70.11% |
*8,089 |
*150,181 |
215 |
Wholesales 12,000 hotels in 800 locations and is growing internationally |
27 |
JEB Engineering DesignPrecision engineer |
Suffolk |
Oct 12 |
69.52% |
3,100 |
33,434 |
174 |
Its training munitions business tripled international sales to £30m in 2012 |
28 |
A1 PharmaceuticalsPharmaceutical product distributor |
Essex |
Apr 13 |
67.75% |
3,328 |
52,012 |
41 |
Was founded in 1986 with only £2,250 of start-up capital |
29 |
Quattro PlantMobile plant hire |
East London |
Nov 12 |
66.83% |
5,008 |
36,794 |
127 |
David Callé led a management buyout from the founder last year |
30 |
The Imagination GroupDesign consultancy |
Central London |
Aug 12 |
66.45% |
6,346 |
175,108 |
561 |
Provided a blinking eye for Sydney Harbour Bridge on New Year’s Eve |
31 |
Adler and AllanOil and environmental services provider |
Harrogate |
Sep 12 |
66.21% |
3,678 |
44,676 |
308 |
Helps clients limit damage from oil spills and flooding incidents |
32 |
Global Energy GroupEnergy services provider |
Inverness |
Mar 13 |
64.66% |
28,083 |
357,930 |
4,410 |
Sold a 25% stake in the group to giant Japanese company Mitsui in 2012 |
33 |
Côte RestaurantsRestaurant operator |
Central London |
Jul 13 |
63.51% |
10,685 |
64,729 |
1,479 |
Private equity firm CBPE backed a £100m buyout last September |
34 |
Global PersonalsOnline dating service provider |
Windsor |
Aug 13 |
62.69% |
5,134 |
42,189 |
135 |
Operates 13,000 dating sites across America, Europe and Australia |
35 |
Nasmyth GroupPrecision component manufacturer |
Coventry |
Jan 13 |
62.39% |
3,546 |
61,494 |
692 |
Has made 14 bolt-on acquisitions in the past 10 years |
36 |
LeasedriveVehicle hire and fleet manager |
Wokingham |
Dec 12 |
62.09% |
13,398 |
131,775 |
299 |
Is merging with rival Zenith after being acquired by HgCapital |
37 |
GM CommunicationsTravel services provider |
Central London |
Dec 12 |
61.83% |
14,211 |
479,276 |
1,146 |
Founded in 1967 to exploit the Japanese fondness for holidays in Europe |
38 |
Nando’sRestaurant operator |
Southwest London |
Feb 13 |
61.47% |
58,528 |
485,167 |
10,245 |
Is popular with celebrities including David Beckham and Beyoncé |
39 |
Bifold GroupMechanical engineer |
Manchester |
Sep 13 |
60.92% |
8,674 |
38,376 |
262 |
Private equity firm LDC backed a £70m buyout in 2012 |
40 |
VerdErgPipeline connection supplier |
Surrey |
Mar 13 |
60.88% |
3,553 |
22,977 |
62 |
Is developing technology to generate renewable energy from the tides |
41 |
LWCDrinks distributor |
Manchester |
Sep 12 |
59.76% |
4,336 |
126,191 |
393 |
Supplies 4,820 different drinks, including VHF and Bangla Beer |
42 |
Kirkwood HomesLuxury housebuilder |
Aberdeenshire |
Mar 13 |
59.67% |
4,926 |
26,539 |
134 |
Plans to acquire 300 plots over the next three years |
43 |
Jamie’s ItalianRestaurant operator |
Central London |
Dec 12 |
59.31% |
8,964 |
93,870 |
2,314 |
Has restaurants in Britain and abroad, including in Dubai and Sydney |
44 |
GAP GroupPlant and tool hire |
Glasgow |
Mar 13 |
59.29% |
10,735 |
97,616 |
957 |
Hires out construction equipment such as trucks and mechanical diggers |
45 |
Control RisksRisk management consultancy |
Central London |
Mar 13 |
59.12% |
15,171 |
211,722 |
2,367 |
Is experiencing high demand for its services in the Middle East and Asia |
46 |
Morgan MarineModular building engineer |
Carmarthenshire |
Jun 13 |
58.66% |
3,777 |
17,573 |
238 |
Received £100,000 from the Wales Economic Growth Fund for HQ expansion |
47 |
QABusiness training provider |
Central London |
May 13 |
57.45% |
17,510 |
123,047 |
865 |
Runs 1,500 courses teaching IT and professional skills |
48 |
Towergate InsuranceInsurance underwriter and broker |
Maidstone |
Dec 12 |
56.05% |
139,993 |
439,055 |
5,334 |
Has grown through almost 200 acquisitions |
49 |
BenxEnergy efficiency product supplier |
Stoke-on-Trent |
Dec 12 |
56.01% |
3,984 |
23,155 |
63 |
Has benefited from government initiatives such as the Green Deal |
50 |
Boss Design GroupOffice furniture manufacturer |
Dudley |
Mar 13 |
55.10% |
3,056 |
30,461 |
239 |
Has factories in the West Midlands, Middle East, America and Australia |
51 |
Writtle HoldingsMedia investment company |
Central London |
Dec 12 |
54.97% |
6,729 |
88,865 |
837 |
Holds majority stakes in 15 independent design and marketing businesses |
52 |
City & County HealthcareHome care provider |
Wembley |
Mar 13 |
54.49% |
7,357 |
76,434 |
4,985 |
Private equity firm Graphite backed buyout from Sovereign Capital in December |
53 |
Penta ConsultingRecruitment consultancy |
South London |
Mar 13 |
54.06% |
4,754 |
46,750 |
88 |
Started the business in 1998 with a £127,000 loan from the chairman |
54 |
Unipart GroupManufacturing, logistics and consultancy |
Oxford |
Dec 12 |
53.35% |
27,589 |
905,900 |
7,521 |
Has opened a fifth logistics centre in China and a third in India |
55 |
Crew ClothingClothing retailer |
Southwest London |
Oct 12 |
52.83% |
4,040 |
48,541 |
363 |
TV personality Ben Fogle is a brand ambassador for the business |
56 |
A-Gas InternationalChemicals and gases distributor |
Bristol |
Dec 12 |
52.21% |
17,748 |
87,967 |
254 |
Supplies environmentally friendly replacements for CFC chemicals |
57 |
Audio NetworkOnline music publisher |
Central London |
Jun 13 |
52.13% |
5,866 |
12,511 |
61 |
Has a catalogue of 70,000 original music tracks and 50,000 sound effects |
58 |
PeninsulaEmployment law consultancy |
Manchester |
Mar 13 |
51.68% |
10,293 |
92,028 |
936 |
Has grown its Australian client base from 100 to 1,600 in 18 months |
59 |
VolacDairy nutrition supplier |
Hertfordshire |
Feb 13 |
51.67% |
13,582 |
143,209 |
290 |
Makes a fresh protein drink, Upbeat, stocked by Tesco and Waitrose |
60 |
Napp Pharmaceutical HoldingsPharmaceuticals maker |
Cambridge |
Dec 12 |
51.64% |
64,686 |
289,291 |
768 |
Is branching out into respiratory and cardiovascular medication |
61 |
Tunnock’sBiscuit and cake maker |
Glasgow |
Feb 13 |
51.61% |
6,080 |
42,249 |
514 |
Founded in 1890 and has its factory 100 yards from the original site |
62 |
QTSEngineering services provider |
Lanarkshire |
Mar 13 |
51.49% |
3,368 |
27,791 |
105 |
Founded as a tree surgery business with £300 borrowed from his parents |
63 |
On the BeachOnline travel agency |
Manchester |
Sep 13 |
51.31% |
8,481 |
37,548 |
169 |
Inflexion Private Equity paid £73m for the group in October last year |
64 |
Gullivers Truck HireTruck hire |
Bristol |
Apr 13 |
51.03% |
12,828 |
62,955 |
274 |
Has a fleet of more than 4,000 vehicles for hire |
65 |
Saltire EnergyOil drilling equipment provider |
Aberdeen |
Jun 13 |
50.89% |
19,073 |
32,993 |
52 |
Bought supplier OMM to expand its presence in Africa and Norway |
66 |
Charles Tyrwhitt ShirtsClothing retailer |
Central London |
Jul 13 |
50.88% |
*†24,112 |
*†118,571 |
578 |
Takes its name from the middle names of its founder |
67 |
William Cook Cast ProductsMetal engineer |
Sheffield |
Mar 13 |
50.35% |
14,963 |
83,662 |
816 |
Its specialist steel parts were used in Heathrow Terminal 5 |
68 |
Berwin GroupRubber and PVC manufacturer |
Manchester |
Jul 13 |
49.99% |
4,401 |
62,724 |
234 |
Supplies automotive, building and oil and gas sectors in Europe and America |
69 |
Ideal ShoppingHome shopping retailer |
Peterborough |
Dec 12 |
49.52% |
8,593 |
142,576 |
680 |
Chief executive Mike Hancox led a turnaround following the financial crisis |
70 |
FDM GroupIT services provider |
Brighton |
Dec 12 |
49.52% |
21,579 |
103,443 |
1,205 |
Provides its services to more than 200 clients worldwide |
71 |
Clearview HomesResidential housebuilder |
Northwest London |
Apr 13 |
49.51% |
3,846 |
16,123 |
18 |
Developing a former pub in Ealing to provide 44 apartments and retail space |
72 |
WEC GroupMetal fabricator |
Lancashire |
Dec 12 |
49.40% |
6,636 |
37,647 |
402 |
Has recently launched a new division that makes wood-burning stoves |
73 |
KeltruckTruck dealer |
West Bromwich |
Dec 12 |
49.17% |
5,596 |
108,280 |
426 |
Profits reached a record £5.6m bolstered by strong sales of used vehicles |
74 |
GammaTelecoms network operator |
Newbury |
Dec 12 |
49.11% |
10,141 |
137,218 |
369 |
Counts Fujitsu and Vodafone among its customers |
75 |
TLC GroupCare home operator |
Northwest London |
Apr 13 |
48.72% |
5,491 |
19,466 |
543 |
Expansion plans include a further 180 care beds in 2015 |
76 |
Wireless LogicWireless data services provider |
Buckinghamshire |
Apr 13 |
48.61% |
5,389 |
18,833 |
24 |
ECI Partners backed a £35m management buyout in 2011 |
77 |
Fork RentConstruction equipment hire |
Ipswich |
Mar 13 |
48.61% |
6,821 |
17,350 |
59 |
Bought 900 new JCB vehicles last year at a cost of £53m |
78 |
Hyperion Insurance GroupInsurance broker and underwriter |
Central London |
Sep 13 |
48.32% |
31,365 |
163,601 |
1,431 |
Valued at £250m last year after General Atlantic bought a 29% stake |
79 |
IESASupply chain manager |
Warrington |
Mar 13 |
48.13% |
3,952 |
117,764 |
260 |
Helps clients to manage procurement efficiently, saving some up to 40% |
80 |
Albourne PartnersAlternative investment consultancy |
Central London |
Mar 13 |
47.59% |
12,169 |
44,967 |
242 |
Advises clients with £200bn invested in alternative assets worldwide |
81 |
Alexander DennisBus and coach manufacturer |
Falkirk |
Dec 12 |
47.24% |
30,155 |
481,127 |
2,400 |
New hybrid buses promise a 40% cut in fuel consumption and emissions |
82 |
Better BathroomsBathroom products and tiles retailer |
Lancashire |
Mar 13 |
47.19% |
4,049 |
31,192 |
125 |
Last year secured £10m of funding from the Business Growth Fund |
83 |
Close EngineeringEngineer and steel fabricator |
Newcastle-upon-Tyne |
Mar 13 |
47.16% |
3,749 |
17,044 |
116 |
Specialises in steel fabrication for clients operating on and under the sea |
84 |
Hawkes Bay HoldingsInsurance broker and underwriter |
Central London |
Dec 12 |
47.07% |
9,396 |
40,535 |
233 |
Set up in 2007 to effect the management buyout of 200-year-old Tysers |
85 |
Forward Internet GroupMedia developer and investor |
Central London |
Dec 12 |
46.96% |
25,271 |
198,985 |
460 |
Sold a majority holding in uSwitch to private equity firm LDC last August |
86 |
Great Rail JourneysTour operator |
York |
Sep 13 |
46.84% |
8,868 |
82,751 |
119 |
Its group-escorted rail holiday passengers were up 28% to 64,000 in 2013 |
87 |
Hastings Insurance GroupCar insurance provider |
East Sussex |
Dec 13 |
46.60% |
*62,498 |
*309,500 |
1,396 |
Valued at £700m after Goldman Sachs bought a 50% stake in January |
88 |
The EntertainerToy retailer |
Buckinghamshire |
Feb 13 |
46.35% |
†5,673 |
†92,493 |
992 |
Donates 10% of its profits to charity |
89 |
Abbey Forged ProductsSteel products forger |
Sheffield |
Oct 12 |
46.26% |
10,584 |
41,247 |
164 |
Is able to offer a seven-day express service from its site in Sheffield |
90 |
Status InternationalLighting and electrical manufacturer |
West Yorkshire |
Jul 12 |
46.20% |
4,668 |
26,395 |
60 |
Managing director was awarded the Freedom of London in November 2013 |
91 |
Inspired Gaming GroupGaming technology provider |
Central London |
Sep 12 |
45.60% |
†19,438 |
†116,975 |
1,312 |
Its slot-machine “bet buttons” receive more than 3.3bn plays a year |
92 |
Travel CounsellorsTravel agency |
Bolton |
Oct 12 |
45.01% |
5,357 |
96,138 |
234 |
Uses 1,300 self-employed “travel counsellors” to arrange holidays |
93 |
Dr MartensShoe manufacturer and retailer |
Northamptonshire |
Mar 13 |
44.65% |
26,082 |
160,399 |
500 |
Private equity firm Permira completed a £300m buyout of the footwear brand |
94 |
Logson GroupCorrugated packaging manufacturer |
Leicestershire |
Dec 12 |
44.40% |
17,768 |
168,547 |
905 |
Investment in new technology has given it greater flexibility in lead times |
95 |
Sauflon PharmaceuticalsContact lens maker |
Southwest London |
Oct 12 |
43.82% |
13,462 |
84,176 |
823 |
Its factory in Budapest has helped the firm to cut costs and increase profits |
96 |
Arun EstatesEstate agency |
West Sussex |
Sep 12 |
43.55% |
11,015 |
55,876 |
872 |
Established after Paul Rooney bought a chain of 100 agencies from Prudential |
97 |
Imagine PublishingPrint and online publisher |
Bournemouth |
Mar 13 |
43.23% |
5,774 |
18,553 |
148 |
Publishes magazines, including How It Works and Digital Photographer |
98 |
Kans and KandyExcess inventory wholesaler |
South Shields |
Jun 13 |
42.17% |
3,798 |
17,111 |
20 |
Buys surplus health and beauty brands which it resells to discount stores |
99 |
HartwellCar dealer |
Oxford |
Nov 12 |
42.08% |
8,659 |
253,135 |
682 |
Operates 27 franchised car dealerships across 12 sites from Bristol to Grimsby |
100 |
Leisure Pass GroupTourism smartcard developer |
Central London |
Dec 13 |
41.41% |
*10,351 |
*53,375 |
15 |
Sells smartcards providing cheaper entry to tourist attractions in major cities |