1 |
The Hut GroupOnline retailer |
Northwich |
Dec 14 |
216.58% |
*15,959 |
*248,000 |
1,049 |
Private equity firm KKR paid £100m for a 20% stake in the group last year |
2 |
moneyPrice comparison website |
Gloucestershire |
Oct 13 |
148.60% |
10,724 |
16,365 |
20 |
Chris Morling taught himself to code websites in order to start the business |
3 |
SkyscannerTravel search engine |
Edinburgh |
Dec 13 |
139.87% |
17,736 |
65,819 |
377 |
Its app has been downloaded more than 30m times |
4 |
Thomsons Online BenefitsEmployee benefits software developer |
Central London |
Dec 13 |
127.12% |
8,259 |
36,732 |
336 |
Opened its first American office in 2013 |
5 |
Global Energy GroupEnergy services provider |
Inverness |
Mar 14 |
124.79% |
40,670 |
471,840 |
5,102 |
Sold a 25% stake in the group to giant Japanese company Mitsui in 2012 |
6 |
Immediate Media CoMagazine publisher |
West London |
Mar 14 |
122.02% |
15,826 |
150,596 |
844 |
Paid £24m to acquire a cycling media portfolio in July last year |
7 |
Macdonald HumfreyTechnology systems integrator |
Luton |
Dec 13 |
111.32% |
8,674 |
43,840 |
265 |
Counts most UK airports as well as Aston Martin and Rolls-Royce as customers |
8 |
Glass Recycling UKGlass recycler |
Barnsley |
Sep 13 |
111.21% |
6,327 |
20,165 |
60 |
Has 7,000 bottle banks across Britain |
9 |
MFGFuel retailer |
St Albans |
Dec 13 |
105.67% |
4,473 |
239,143 |
19 |
Acquired 228 petrol stations when it bought Murco in October |
10 |
ChildrensalonChildrenswear retailer |
Tunbridge Wells |
Dec 14 |
100.35% |
*5,663 |
*28,347 |
140 |
Stocks children’s clothes from 270 brands, including Dior, Gucci and Burberry |
11 |
Jato DynamicsMotor industry information |
Harrow |
Dec 13 |
98.30% |
7,608 |
56,024 |
553 |
Provides automotive research covering 50 international markets |
12 |
Ainscough Crane HireCrane hirer |
Wigan |
May 14 |
95.72% |
17,530 |
116,202 |
983 |
Hires out more than 460 cranes from its 30 depots across Britain |
13 |
Kirkwood HomesLuxury housebuilder |
Aberdeenshire |
Mar 14 |
95.08% |
6,891 |
38,980 |
140 |
Designs and builds luxury homes in northeast Scotland |
14 |
Tangle TeezerHair products supplier |
South London |
Mar 14 |
93.64% |
4,286 |
14,413 |
15 |
Its famous fans include Victoria Beckham and Rihanna |
15 |
Abbey Forged ProductsSteel products forger |
Sheffield |
Oct 13 |
90.99% |
17,188 |
42,186 |
245 |
Has installed new forging hammers and heat-treatment furnaces |
16 |
EndavaIT services provider |
Central London |
Jun 14 |
90.38% |
9,927 |
63,913 |
1,415 |
Signed a £50m deal to help publisher Trinity Mirror shift from print to digital |
17 |
CentekOilfield equipment manufacturer |
Devon |
Oct 13 |
88.56% |
14,825 |
37,077 |
223 |
Sells 97% of its products to overseas markets, including America and the Middle East |
18 |
Paultons ParkTheme park operator |
Hampshire |
Dec 13 |
85.58% |
6,735 |
20,301 |
338 |
Its Hampshire theme park has more than 60 attractions over 140 acres |
19 |
Krispy KremeDoughnut retailer and wholesaler |
Surrey |
Feb 14 |
84.49% |
6,240 |
52,393 |
1,037 |
Its 16 varieties of doughnuts include Chocolate Dreamcake and Caramel Crunch |
20 |
Riviera TravelTravel agency |
Burton-on-Trent |
Nov 13 |
82.73% |
9,944 |
106,295 |
84 |
Its escorted holidays and cruises carried more than 100,000 passengers last year |
21 |
The EntertainerToy retailer |
Buckinghamshire |
Feb 14 |
81.57% |
6,843 |
106,771 |
1,197 |
Says it is the biggest independent toy retailer in Britain, with 98 stores |
22 |
Peter VardyCar dealer |
Glasgow |
Dec 13 |
81.17% |
6,476 |
340,740 |
768 |
Donates 10% of annual profits to charity through the Vardy Foundation |
23 |
HuntswoodCustomer service provider |
Reading |
Sep 14 |
81.02% |
*44,027 |
*250,135 |
1,379 |
Handles customer complaints for banks, pension firms and insurance companies |
24 |
Alexander Mann SolutionsRecruitment consultancy |
Central London |
Dec 13 |
80.70% |
19,030 |
617,400 |
1,759 |
Provides outsourcing and consulting services to clients in more than 80 countries |
25 |
The GymGym operator |
Central London |
Dec 14 |
79.30% |
*8,351 |
*45,875 |
157 |
Opened 15 new gyms last year with a further nine in the pipeline |
26 |
Tunnock’sBiscuit and cake maker |
Glasgow |
Feb 14 |
78.14% |
6,189 |
47,846 |
489 |
Was founded by Thomas Tunnock in 1890 after he paid £80 for a shop near Glasgow |
27 |
Kebbell HomesEstate developer |
Watford |
Dec 13 |
77.43% |
4,106 |
28,127 |
50 |
Is building 1,300 homes on a development south of Scarborough |
28 |
Expro InternationalOilfield services provider |
Reading |
Mar 14 |
75.95% |
101,642 |
874,923 |
5,823 |
Employs more than 5,400 people across 50 countries |
29 |
Edwards CoachesTour operator and coach hire |
Pontypridd |
Mar 14 |
75.78% |
3,143 |
32,791 |
402 |
Its fleet of 230 coaches consume £15,000 of diesel every day |
30 |
The Trade Centre WalesCar supermarket |
West Glamorgan |
Nov 14 |
75.02% |
*5,581 |
*57,045 |
115 |
Plans to open a third car supermarket in Cardiff later this year |
31 |
Equal ExpertsSoftware developer |
Central London |
Mar 14 |
73.21% |
3,040 |
23,315 |
200 |
Using private sector experience to help the government with its digital strategy |
32 |
The Edinburgh Woollen MillClothing retailer |
Dumfriesshire |
Mar 14 |
72.87% |
70,935 |
551,904 |
10,290 |
Bought both Peacocks and Jane Norman out of administration |
33 |
Story ContractingConstruction and civil engineering contractor |
Carlisle |
Mar 14 |
72.64% |
5,505 |
52,404 |
309 |
Plans to recruit 40 staff this year after securing £100m of work from Network Rail |
34 |
Taziker IndustrialIndustrial painter and scaffolder |
Bolton |
Mar 14 |
72.07% |
10,354 |
54,211 |
525 |
Has an annual contract for the specialist painting of Jodrell Bank telescope |
35 |
Addison LeeMinicab and courier services provider |
Central London |
Aug 14 |
71.61% |
32,846 |
196,618 |
640 |
Its 5,000 minicabs transport more than 10m passengers each year in London |
36 |
Silverline ToolsTool distributor |
Yeovil |
Jul 13 |
69.30% |
4,018 |
31,180 |
139 |
Supplies more than 5,000 hand and power tools to 13,500 merchants and traders |
37 |
Acorn StairliftsStairlift manufacturer |
West Yorkshire |
Sep 13 |
68.15% |
16,664 |
127,114 |
973 |
An Acorn Stairlift is installed somewhere in the world every nine minutes |
38 |
solarcenturySolar technology developer |
Central London |
Mar 14 |
67.48% |
4,043 |
109,192 |
132 |
Installed 4,400 roof-mounted solar panels on Blackfriars Bridge, crossing the Thames |
39 |
Marshall GroupEngineering and motor retail |
Cambridge |
Dec 13 |
66.86% |
24,177 |
1,292,522 |
4,498 |
Is based at Cambridge airport, which it also owns and operates |
40 |
Fine IndustriesCustom chemical manufacturer |
Middlesbrough |
Sep 13 |
66.67% |
6,912 |
41,022 |
275 |
Private equity firm NorthEdge Capital backed a £53m management buyout in 2013 |
41 |
TotalstayTravel services provider |
North London |
Dec 13 |
66.12% |
†4,346 |
†27,778 |
190 |
Has opened regional offices in Sweden and Romania |
42 |
IESASupply chain manager |
Warrington |
Mar 14 |
66.10% |
3,416 |
142,538 |
300 |
Helps clients to manage procurement efficiently, saving some up to 40% |
43 |
GAP GroupPlant and tool hire |
Glasgow |
Mar 14 |
65.93% |
14,793 |
118,400 |
1,049 |
Opened in 26 new locations in 2014 |
44 |
Randox LaboratoriesMedical diagnostics manufacturer |
County Antrim |
Dec 13 |
65.31% |
16,335 |
90,929 |
989 |
Each year 350m people are diagnosed using one of its medical instruments |
45 |
MON Motors GroupCar dealer |
Cwmbran |
Dec 13 |
64.52% |
4,316 |
258,458 |
626 |
Has 10 showrooms in South Wales and west England |
46 |
Peter DuffyCivil engineering and utility services |
Wakefield |
May 14 |
62.87% |
4,629 |
38,275 |
484 |
Maintains sewage networks for Yorkshire Water, Northumbrian and Welsh Water |
47 |
288 GroupCoin and stamp distributor |
Poole |
Apr 14 |
61.99% |
5,670 |
27,515 |
150 |
Its mainstay is stamps and coins, but it also runs a babysitting website sitters.co.uk |
48 |
City & CountryHousebuilder |
Essex |
Mar 14 |
61.88% |
11,646 |
49,550 |
97 |
Specialises in the restoration and conversion of historic and listed buildings |
49 |
CV-LibraryOnline job site |
Hampshire |
Jun 14 |
60.62% |
*6,275 |
*12,522 |
82 |
Launched its Resume Library job site in America last year |
50 |
BI Electrical ServicesElectrical services provider |
County Antrim |
Dec 13 |
59.99% |
3,918 |
16,442 |
47 |
Has expanded to provide electrical engineering services in China and Saudi Arabia |
51 |
Strata HomesHousebuilder and developer |
Doncaster |
Dec 13 |
59.41% |
9,439 |
80,388 |
115 |
The government’s help-to-buy scheme has helped to kick-start growth |
52 |
Senator InternationalOffice furniture manufacturer |
Lancashire |
Dec 13 |
59.38% |
7,956 |
107,683 |
1,017 |
Has offices in Holland, Dubai and a manufacturing plant in Ohio, America |
53 |
Oliver ValvetekSubsea valve manufacturer |
Cheshire |
Sep 14 |
58.13% |
11,997 |
34,806 |
103 |
Its HQ houses a steam engine formerly owned by cult TV presenter Fred Dibnah |
54 |
NiftyliftLift manufacturer |
Milton Keynes |
Dec 13 |
57.66% |
3,888 |
62,022 |
283 |
Sells through a dealer network spanning more than 40 countries |
55 |
LeithsConstruction materials manufacturer |
Aberdeen |
Dec 13 |
57.22% |
5,243 |
67,568 |
530 |
Did the road markings for street races at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow |
56 |
Lovering FoodsFood distributor |
Surrey |
Mar 14 |
55.55% |
3,026 |
54,629 |
22 |
Tuna from Indonesia and water chestnuts from China feature among its imports |
57 |
L LynchPlant hirer and haulage |
Northwest London |
Feb 14 |
55.06% |
4,083 |
44,204 |
80 |
Its vehicles have been used to help build the new 118km Crossrail railway line |
58 |
G2V Recruitment GroupRecruitment consultancy |
Central London |
Mar 14 |
54.36% |
4,909 |
52,531 |
100 |
Plans to open another office in America and one in the Far East |
59 |
Principal HotelsHotel operator |
Harrogate |
Dec 13 |
53.89% |
*27,488 |
*160,982 |
3,039 |
Its hotel portfolio includes Hotel Russell in London and The George in Edinburgh |
60 |
XeretecManaged print service provider |
Wokingham |
Aug 14 |
53.83% |
4,025 |
46,422 |
207 |
Says it is Xerox's largest partner and provider of managed print services in Europe |
61 |
bet365Online bookmaker |
Stoke-on-Trent |
Mar 14 |
53.55% |
317,030 |
1,370,887 |
2,875 |
In 2014 it donated £105.5m to the charitable bet365 Foundation |
62 |
CHP ConsultingIT consultancy |
Central London |
Dec 13 |
53.48% |
†11,460 |
†33,106 |
149 |
Has offices in Paris, Sydney and Detroit |
63 |
Audio NetworkOnline music publisher |
Central London |
Jun 14 |
52.74% |
5,823 |
15,409 |
81 |
Has a catalogue of 87,000 original music tracks and 50,000 sound effects |
64 |
InfliteAerospace component manufacturer |
Stansted |
Mar 14 |
52.49% |
5,135 |
66,819 |
623 |
Has five UK sites with 600,000 sq ft of warehousing, equivalent to 10 football stadiums |
65 |
Clancy DocwraContractor and developer |
Uxbridge |
Mar 14 |
52.42% |
3,773 |
269,527 |
2,040 |
Clients range from Transport for London, to Scottish Power and Thames Water |
66 |
Tobermore Concrete ProductsConcrete products supplier |
County Londonderry |
Apr 14 |
51.27% |
3,052 |
22,745 |
150 |
Founded more than 70 years ago as a sand and gravel business |
67 |
Cambridge Education GroupEducational services provider |
Cambridge |
Aug 14 |
51.07% |
8,732 |
90,580 |
1,092 |
Attracts students from more than 95 countries |
68 |
Loake BrothersShoe manufacturer |
Kettering |
Feb 14 |
50.83% |
†3,763 |
†23,224 |
139 |
The fifth generation family shoemaker still uses the same factory it built in 1894 |
69 |
Mick GeorgeEarthworks, haulage and plant hirer |
St Ives |
May 14 |
49.57% |
5,334 |
54,202 |
359 |
Has expanded from a single tipper truck in 1978 to a fleet of more than 190 vehicles |
70 |
Dams InternationalOffice furniture maker |
Knowsley |
Sep 14 |
49.56% |
3,650 |
30,070 |
209 |
Has more than 150,000 office furniture items in stock at any one time |
71 |
Sequel Business SolutionsInsurance software |
Central London |
Jun 14 |
49.35% |
*6,735 |
*17,935 |
114 |
Private equity house HgCapital invested last year to accelerate software development |
72 |
ANS GroupHosting services provider |
Manchester |
Mar 14 |
48.86% |
4,245 |
47,298 |
164 |
Was listed on the stock market from 2000 to 2011, when it was taken private again |
73 |
GatenbySandersonExecutive recruiter |
West Yorkshire |
Dec 13 |
48.79% |
3,300 |
24,494 |
65 |
Says it places 40% of all permanent and interim executives into central government |
74 |
Universal MeatsMeat distributor |
Kent |
Mar 14 |
48.77% |
5,280 |
121,721 |
18 |
Imports its meat predominantly from the Continent, South America and the Far East |
75 |
Blaze SignsRetail sign manufacturer |
Kent |
Mar 14 |
48.45% |
4,664 |
31,284 |
286 |
Used 52 tonnes of steelwork to make signs for the Olympic Park for 2012 games |
76 |
PDG HelicoptersHelicopter fleet operator |
Inverness |
Sep 14 |
48.35% |
3,570 |
15,620 |
88 |
Registers 10,000 hours of flight time every year from its four UK bases |
77 |
GemporiaHome shopping jewellery retailer |
Worcestershire |
Mar 14 |
48.26% |
3,214 |
99,592 |
579 |
The co-founders starred in an ITV documentary about the business, shown last year |
78 |
Callcredit Information GroupConsumer data analyst |
Leeds |
Dec 13 |
47.78% |
26,117 |
125,764 |
1,044 |
Private equity firm GTCR paid a reported £480m to acquire the group last year |
79 |
Design BridgeBrand design agency |
Central London |
Dec 13 |
47.48% |
3,377 |
35,447 |
350 |
Has 350 staff speaking 30 languages in London, Amsterdam, Singapore and New York |
80 |
Zaha HadidArchitect |
Central London |
Apr 14 |
47.37% |
5,852 |
47,570 |
418 |
The Middle East is this architectural practice's biggest market |
81 |
Victoria plumOnline bath equipment retailer |
Hull |
Feb 14 |
47.21% |
12,027 |
53,785 |
100 |
Private equity firm TPG Capital backed a £200m buyout in April last year |
82 |
Brompton BicycleBicycle manufacturer |
West London |
Mar 14 |
47.02% |
3,457 |
27,198 |
200 |
Operates a bike hire scheme, with 40 docking stations in 20 UK cities |
83 |
FloPlastPlastic materials manufacturer |
Kent |
Dec 13 |
46.64% |
4,163 |
49,959 |
185 |
Distributes its plastic building and plumbing systems to more than 25 countries |
84 |
UKFastInternet hosting provider |
Manchester |
Dec 14 |
46.33% |
*11,000 |
*28,900 |
200 |
Its customers include Kellogg’s and UKTV |
85 |
XLN Business ServicesBusiness services provider |
Central London |
Mar 14 |
46.21% |
12,760 |
63,778 |
254 |
Last year, private equity firm Blackstone backed a secondary buyout worth £150m |
86 |
GT GroupPrecision engineer |
County Durham |
Oct 13 |
46.13% |
5,103 |
33,976 |
266 |
Sells to more than 50 countries |
87 |
Story HomesHousebuilder |
Carlisle |
Mar 14 |
45.74% |
6,277 |
47,891 |
141 |
The housebuilder completed 251 properties last year, up 67% on 2013 |
88 |
Leisure Pass GroupTourism smartcard developer |
Central London |
Dec 14 |
45.47% |
*14,930 |
*61,602 |
16 |
2m visitors have used this firm's smartcards to get into 60 attractions in London |
89 |
Advanced InsulationInsulation products manufacturer |
Gloucester |
Sep 14 |
45.26% |
9,040 |
43,998 |
228 |
Private equity firm Growth Capital Partners acquired a minority stake last year |
90 |
Alliance MedicalDiagnostic imaging services |
Warwick |
Mar 14 |
45.23% |
*24,200 |
*210,200 |
1,417 |
Claims to operate the largest fleet of mobile medical scanners in Britain |
91 |
Nimax TheatresTheatre management |
Central London |
Sep 13 |
45.09% |
5,574 |
16,434 |
251 |
Paid £21m in 2012 to acquire London’s Palace theatre from Andrew Lloyd Webber |
92 |
Control RisksRisk management consultancy |
Central London |
Mar 14 |
44.88% |
21,770 |
218,237 |
2,544 |
Is experiencing strong demand for its services in Iraq |
93 |
CaptecSpecialist computer manufacturer |
Hampshire |
Dec 13 |
44.86% |
4,061 |
16,106 |
77 |
Has said it plans to list on the stock market by 2018 |
94 |
Osprey MaritimeMaritime freight transporter |
Bristol |
Mar 14 |
44.42% |
3,505 |
14,745 |
23 |
Clients include Siemens and GE Energy |
95 |
The White CompanyHome accessories retailer |
West London |
Mar 14 |
44.37% |
6,505 |
143,780 |
1,113 |
Opened nine new stores and its American website last year |
96 |
CALA GroupBuilder |
Edinburgh |
Jun 14 |
44.28% |
37,754 |
285,438 |
642 |
Expects to treble pre-acquisition 2014 sales of £236m by 2016 |
97 |
Nexus IndustriesElectrical products manufacturer |
Telford |
Dec 14 |
44.12% |
*7,909 |
*82,260 |
1,536 |
Manufactures all electrical products at its factory in China |
98 |
Alexander DennisBus and coach manufacturer |
Falkirk |
Dec 13 |
43.98% |
29,013 |
541,082 |
2,464 |
Is opening a factory in Ontario after winning a deal to supply 250 buses to the area |
99 |
ThwaitesDumper truck manufacturer |
Leamington Spa |
Aug 13 |
42.85% |
3,970 |
35,552 |
154 |
Makes articulated dumper trucks capable of carrying up to 10 tonnes |
100 |
ReynoldsFood distributor |
Hertfordshire |
Dec 13 |
42.54% |
3,009 |
178,512 |
694 |
Delivers more than 3,000 orders every day to restaurants, pubs and hotels in Britain |