10,000 Champions: king of UK wind
Amazing deals in exciting new sectors. Will private companies run your GP's surgery? Just one deal in this week's 10,000 Champion, where we highlight UK entrepreneurs with a clear mandate to grow their innovative businesses.
Every week, in compiling 10,000 Champions, I'm struck by the diversity of the businesses that are being grown by entrepreneurs across the UK. No change this week, though the UK's ongoing strength in healthcare-related businesses is notable - from health clubs to pharmaceuticals businesses to walk-in GPs. Also, the performance of 200-year-old conglomerate Bibby Group is a really striking story, showing how a diverse strategy can support performance in tougher times. The group's shipping business will have suffered in recent years, with the global trade slowdown; however, its offshore business, which does subsea construction and maintenance, is clearly performing strongly and worthy of new investment. You'll read more about it in the upcoming Hot 100 ranking of fast-growing companies.
- Spotlight on: David Sharman, the unusual CEO (and long-time blogger) of Ampair Energy that’s just raised serious money to scale up his remarkable “micro-wind” business. A great tale of British innovation.
- Sir Michael Bibby runs the largest business in this year's annual Real Business Hot 100 (our ranking of fast-growing companies that's out in the next few days). Bibby Offshore, part of the 200-year-old, £1bn group, is about to invest £34m to acquire a dive-support vessel for its Aberdeen offshore operation, creating 200-plus jobs.
- Peter Ashdown-Barr's InterResolve cuts out the lawyer middleman in injury claims. He's put together £30m to fund the business's future acquisitions strategy. (More on Real Deals, subscription-only.)
- "Radio doctor"/CEO Dr Laurence Gerlis and chairman Layton Tamberlin have bought back the Manchester franchise of their privately owned walk-in clinic group, samedaydoctor.
- MD John Wales and director Ashley Herman have led a £20m management buyout of Encore Tickets, the online ticket distributor.
- Serial entrepreneur John Davies has raised £2m specialist VC money to fund the expansion of his pharmaceuticals licensing business Neolab. (More on Real Deals, subscription-only.)
- Richard Hilton has built his health club Gymbox to a £4.2m turnover (profits of £1m). This week he announced major news at the London-based firm.