Rank Company Location Year end % annual profit growth Latest profits £000 Latest sales £000 Staff Comment
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