Interviews
Interviews
The UK’s fastest growing private companies: The Hot 100 2015
50 min read
26 June 2015
For the 17th year, the Real Business Hot 100 returns – bringing with it the centurion club of the most impressive private companies in Britain when it comes to turnover and profit growth.
We’re very excited to unveil this year’s community of fast-growth companies, it really is a reflection of how diverse the landscape of British business is.
Using information from Companies House, in partnership with Jordans, The Hot 100 is based on compound growth rates measured over a four-year period. Put simply, this is the single rate at which the starting value would have to grow each year to reach the final value.
To be featured in the ranking, the latest accounts needed to show sales of more than £10m and EBITDA of more than £1m. All were to be in the private sphere and actively trading, accounts had to be filed in the past two years and a credit rating available. We also did not consider, holding companies, property portfolios or investment firms.
Detailed individual features have been created by the Real Business team for each company featured, where you’ll also be able to find out the most recent turnover and EBITDA figures – as well as where it was based, when it was founded and who’s in charge of operations.
Below we’ve got the grand unveil video, giving a snapshot of what this year has revealed. (Video produced by Shoot You Video Production: enabling companies to harness the power of video and animation).
To shed more light on what the figures show, we’ve produced individual pieces analysing sector breakdown, which regions are flourishing and some other takeaway thoughts.
(1) Whitworths
A business now over 125 years-old, Whitworths is a provider of dried fruit, nuts and seeds that has achieved impressive growth though supplying major supermarkets such as Tesco and Sainsbury’s – and is now shaking up the way it handles factory operations to further boost turnover.
Industry/sector: Food and drink
Three-year compound growth rate (%): 235.69
Read the full profile on Whitworths, including complete turnover and profit figures.
(2) ESP Systex
Climbing up the ranks having hit number three in the Hot 100 2014, ESP Systex, which develops smart solutions for the likes of TfL, is in at number two.
Industry/sector: Outsourcing
Three-year compound growth rate (%): 109.77
Read the full profile on ESP Systex, including complete turnover and profit figures.
(3) Hamiltons Galleries
From Irving Penn to Helmut Newton, and from Annie Leibovitz to Herb Ritts, Hamilton Galleries has showcased some of the most important photographers of the 20th and 21st century and is showing that masterpieces can be bought for thousands, rather than millions.
Industry/sector: Retail and related services
Three-year compound growth rate (%): 108.36
Read the full profile on Hamiltons Galleries, including complete turnover and profit figures.
(4) LSE Retail Group
Importing from the Far East as well as buying stock from British lighting companies has created a diverse revenue stream for trade-focused supplier LSE Retail Group – which is dispatching in excess of 500,000 orders a year from its distribution centre.
Industry/sector: Retail and related services
Three-year compound growth rate (%): 88.7
Read the full profile on LSE Retail Group, including complete turnover and profit figures.
(5) Acturis Group
As the first pure technology play in this year’s Hot 100, Acturis is centred on the insurance market and is working to bring greater efficiency in what is a huge global market.
Industry/sector: IT, software and telecoms
Three-year compound growth rate (%): 83.99
Read the full profile on Acturis Group, including complete turnover and profit figures.
(6) Clipper Contracting Group
As a business led by a team with a quarter of a century operating in the recruitment sector, Clipper is tapping into the trend of more temporary workers and provides services relating to wage administration and organisation.
Industry/sector: Outsourcing
Three-year compound growth rate (%): 81.22
Read the full profile on Clipper Contracting Group, including complete turnover and profit figures.
(7) JB Global
While companies such as MADE, Loaf or MyDeco have moved into the furniture ecommerce space in recent years, JB Global has been a resident since 2002 having started life on eBay – and now owns three well-known brands.
Industry/sector: Retail and related services
Three-year compound growth rate (%): 77.75
Read the full profile on JB Global, including complete turnover and profit figures.
(8) Plan B Healthcare
Another recruitment-based business in the top ten of this year’s Hot 100, Plan B Healthcare has carved out a niche in the nursing space and deals with a combination of NHS, private, care home and even prison clients.
Industry/sector: Recruitment
Three-year compound growth rate (%): 69.9
Read the full profile on Plan B Healthcare, including complete turnover and profit figures.
(9) The Design Museum
Nestled on the bank of the River Thames, The Design Museum showcases innovation from decades of world and British history and is showing what kind of business can be built by harnessing local and overseas interest.
Industry/sector: Leisure and travel
Three-year compound growth rate (%): 68.62
Read the full profile on The Design Museum, including complete turnover and profit figures.
(10) E-Act
Under David Cameron’s coalition, and now majority governments, a big focus has been placed on academy schools. This is where E-Act comes in, providing sponsorship, management and maintenance to the growing stock.
Industry/sector: Miscellaneous
Three-year compound growth rate (%): 68.39
Read the full profile on E-Act, including complete turnover and profit figures.
(11) 3FiveTwo Medical
As the highest placed of three Northern Ireland-based businesses in Hot 100, 3FiveTwo Medical has achieved impressive revenue and profit growth by focusing on customer service and providing the full cycle of diagnosis, education and treatment for patients.
Industry/sector: Pharmaceuticals, medical and related services
Three-year compound growth rate (%): 67.24
Read the full profile on 3FiveTwo Medical, including complete turnover and profit figures.
(12) Huntswood CTC
Securing the custom of banks, building societies, insurers and small retail firms, Huntswood CTC takes an entrepreneurial approach to retail conduct risk and was once a portfolio company of major investment firm 3i.
Industry/sector: Outsourcing
Three-year compound growth rate (%): 67.13
Read the full profile on Huntswood CTC, including complete turnover and profit figures.
(13) Luton Engineering Services
From electrical substations to road construction, Luton Engineering Services works with the private sector and government organisations around the world to provide engineering services and has built up a solid track record.
Industry/sector: Manufacturing and engineering
Three-year compound growth rate (%): 67.08
Read the full profile on Luton Engineering Services, including complete turnover and profit figures.
(14) Metapack
As the ecommerce market continues to grow, so does the demand for MetaPack’s services – which sees the business partner with the likes of Marks & Spencer, John Lewis and ASOS to make sure deliveries are made on time.
Industry/sector: IT, software and telecoms
Three-year compound growth rate (%): 64.54
Read the full profile on Metapack, including complete turnover and profit figures.
(15) G&P Group
When you have clients including Aston Martin and BMW, you know things are going in the right direction. West Midlands-based G&P Group provides a range of services including project management and logistics for the manufacturing and components industry.
Industry/sector: Outsourcing
Three-year compound growth rate (%): 62.67
Read the full profile on G&P Group, including complete turnover and profit figures.
(16) Ed’s Easy Diner
Enjoying a bit of a renaissance against a backdrop of growing popularity in American food, Ed’s Easy Diner has been around for a while service burgers and milkshakes but is soon expected to exceed the 50 site count.
Industry/sector: Retail and related services
Three-year compound growth rate (%): 62.43
Read the full profile on Ed’s Easy Diner, including complete turnover and profit figures.
(17) Angus Montgomery
Describing itself as a global events company “with a difference”, Angus Montgomery runs in excess of 50 events in 15 countries and has its own consultancy firm to back up the offering.
Industry/sector: Leisure and travel
Three-year compound growth rate (%): 62.18
Read the full profile on Angus Montgomery, including complete turnover and profit figures.
(18) Verderg Connectors (now renamed AFGlobal’s Connectors & Sealing Technologies)
A specialist in subsea engineering since 1979, VerdErg Connectors achieved renewed growth in 2014 when acquired by AFGlobal and integrated into the Connectors & Sealing Technologies group.
Industry/sector: Manufacturing and engineering
Three-year compound growth rate (%): 59.41
Read the full profile on Verderg Connectors, including complete turnover and profit figures.
(19) Chartway Group
Chartway Group has a dual-track revenue stream pulling together the residential housing market and both housing associations and private developers. With 250 residential units per year being completed, the business is firmly nestled in the Hot 100 top 20.
Industry/sector: Construction, property and related services
Three-year compound growth rate (%): 58.61
Read the full profile on Chartway Group, including complete turnover and profit figures.
(20) Global Merchandising Services
As the brainchild of founder and former worldwide CEO of Bravado International Group Barry Drinkwater, Global Merchandising Services fuses design, product development, manufacturing and sales.
Industry/sector: Retail and related services
Three-year compound growth rate (%): 58.23
See page two for companies 21-40.
(21) Strongvox
Strongvox develops homes around the West Country, supporting the buying and building process in picturesque locations including Cornwall and Dorset. It has plans to be completing 200 homes a year by 2016.
Industry/sector: Construction, property and related services
Three-year compound growth rate (%): 57.24
Read the full profile on Strongvox, including complete turnover and profit figures.
(22) Flynn Pharma
Having established a business model centred on acquiring and commercialising branded products in secondary healthcare markets, Flynna Pharma has used a combination of acquisitive and organic growth to develop operations in the UK, Ireland and Germany.
Industry/sector: Retail and related services
Three-year compound growth rate (%): 56.05
Read the full profile on Flynn Pharma, including complete turnover and profit figures.
(23) Maindec Computer Solutions
The need for bigger and more complex IT infrastructure within British companies created an opportunity for Maindec to step in as a support and services provider, with strategic partnerships with the likes of Microsoft, IBM and HP providing great credibility.
Industry/sector: IT, software and telecoms
Three-year compound growth rate (%): 55.67
Read the full profile on Maindec Computer Solutions, including complete turnover and profit figures.
(24) City & Country Group
Still a family-owned business, City & Country is another construction-orientated business in this year’s Hot 100 – with joint venture partnerships involving landowners or financial institutions key to its offering.
Industry/sector: Construction, property and related services
Three-year compound growth rate (%): 54.93
Read the full profile on City & Country Group, including complete turnover and profit figures.
(25) T.O.M Vehicle Rental
Big contracts have served as a catalyst for T.O.M Vehicle Rental’s growth, with one of its most recent involving a £6m deal to provide and manage a commercial fleet of 200 vans and specialist vehicles for Scotland’s Land Engineering.
Industry/sector: Miscellaneous
Three-year compound growth rate (%): 53.33
Read the full profile on T.O.M Vehicle Rental, including complete turnover and profit figures.
(26) ID Medical Group
Locum doctors, nurses allied health professionals and clerical staff are all key to the operation of the British health service, meaning ID Medical can provide a recruitment consultancy offering attractive enough to be the preferred supplier contact for 80 per cent of NHS hospitals and private medical organisations.
Industry/sector: Recruitment
Three-year compound growth rate (%): 53.24
Read the full profile on ID Medical Group, including complete turnover and profit figures.
(27) Sewells Reservoir Construction
Boasting solid ties across Essex, SRC provides construction and waste materials across London and the South East, while 2015 marks the firm’s entry to the Hot 100.
Industry/sector: Construction, property and related services
Three-year compound growth rate (%): 52.98
(28) Watch Shop
Watch Shop has successfully transitioned from the high street to being a dominant online retailer, and now stocks 100,000 watches – displaying live stock levels for customers online to drive sales.
Industry/sector: Retail and related services
Three-year compound growth rate (%): 52.03
Read the full profile on Watch Shop, including complete turnover and profit figures.
(29) Sadie Coles
The entrepreneur in Sarah Coles meant she very quickly wanted to have her own operation after working at a renowned London gallery. Nearly two decades later, her business has represented and supported some of the seminal young artists of our time.
Industry/sector: Retail and related services
Three-year compound growth rate (%): 51.19
Read the full profile on Sadie Coles, including complete turnover and profit figures.
(30) Interbev UK
Another corporate to entrepreneur story, Steve Brogan set up his drinks distribution business in 2008 and has been so successful that he’s established an online consumer sales business called Drinks21.
Industry/sector: Food and drink
Three-year compound growth rate (%): 49.45
Read the full profile on Interbev UK, including complete turnover and profit figures.
(31) World First
As one of a number of firms riding the crest of the recent surge in financial technology innovation, World First is a currency exchange broker working with private individuals and companies and has transacted over £10bn since setting up shop.
Industry/sector: Financial and professional services
Three-year compound growth rate (%): 49.27
Read the full profile on World First, including complete turnover and profit figures.
(32) Tomlinson’s Dairies
This family-run business is bringing fresh milk to the masses, with 300 outlets across Wales, the Midlands and North West England requiring 25m litres of the white stuff to be made each year.
Industry/sector: Food and drink
Three-year compound growth rate (%): 48.91
Read the full profile on Tomlinson’s Dairies, including complete turnover and profit figures.
(33) Tandom Metallurgical
The creation of Tandom Metallurgical in 2008 was facilitated by bringing together AL Resources and Integrali – forming a metal business producing aluminium alloys for the decanting and steel industries.
Industry/sector: Manufacturing and engineering
Three-year compound growth rate (%): 47.18
Read the full profile on Tandom Metallurgical, including complete turnover and profit figures.
(34) CHI & Partners
CHI & Partners describes itself as being formed by three familiar advertising personalities: a planner; a suit; and a creative. However, over a decade later, the business has constantly innovated to a position where it has an enviable list of blue chip clients and is part-owned by WPP.
Industry/sector: Miscellaneous
Three-year compound growth rate (%): 46.68
Read the full profile on CHI & Partners, including complete turnover and profit figures.
(35) Perform Group
Sport is the name of the game for Perform Group, a British business that creates a range of multimedia-ready content for the space – including video. editorial and data.
Industry/sector: Miscellaneous
Three-year compound growth rate (%): 45.6
Read the full profile on Perform Group, including complete turnover and profit figures.
(36) Global Personals
Now part of Venntro Media Group, Global Personals operates its DatingAgency.com and Singles365.com dating websites alongside some other more nice lifestyle destinations.
Industry/sector: Retail and related services
Three-year compound growth rate (%): 45.51
Read the full profile on Global Personals, including complete turnover and profit figures.
(37) John Good & Sons
John Good & Sons helps other businesses think globally – key to producing a diverse economy – by helping with shipping logistics, warehousing and distribution and corporate travel.
Industry/sector: Logistics and distribution
Three-year compound growth rate (%): 44.82
Read the full profile on John Good & Sons, including complete turnover and profit figures.
(38) B-Sporting
A great example of a company that has bolstered and improved its offering by creating an online sales mechanism, B-Sporting has its heritage firmly in sport after being founded by ex-footballer Bruce Bannister.
Industry/sector: Retail and related services
Three-year compound growth rate (%): 44.57
Read the full profile on B-Sporting, including complete turnover and profit figures.
(39) Wahaca
Mexican restaurant chain Wahaca is the brainchild of 2005 MasterChef winner Thomasina Miers, showing that good things can come from reality TV if you have an offering customers are keen to pay money for.
Industry/sector: Retail and related services
Three-year compound growth rate (%): 43.18
Read the full profile on Wahaca, including complete turnover and profit figures.
(40) Marine Specialised Technology
Marine Specialised Technology is one of the unsung businesses the Hot 100 loves to celebrate, and has become one of the world’s biggest suppliers of rigid inflatable and high-speed workboats for both military and professional users.
Industry/sector: Construction, property and related services
Three-year compound growth rate (%): 42.91
See page two for companies 41-60.
(41) Mobica
An engineering and consultancy service, Mobica now has operations in the UK, Poland and US, providing software development and integration services to sectors including automotive and finance.
Industry/sector: IT, software and telecoms
Three-year compound growth rate (%): 42.8
Read the full profile on Mobica, including complete turnover and profit figures.
(42) Malvern Tyres
Malvern Tyres has brought together all the big brands in the space and now has over 50 branches operating under five different divisions, adding to its consumer attraction by offering an online tyre retail service.
Industry/sector: Retail and related services
Date founded: 2000
Three-year compound growth rate (%): 42.77
Read the full profile on Malvern Tyres, including complete turnover and profit figures.
(43) BTS Group
Electricity distributor network operators in the utility industry use BTS Group to repair, maintain and construct overhead lines. It also provides a key service relating to vegetation management – meaning fewer shutdowns on the grid.
Industry/sector: Miscellaneous
Three-year compound growth rate (%): 42.68
Read the full profile on BTS Group, including complete turnover and profit figures.
(44) Better Bathrooms
Inclusion in the 2015 Hot 100 list is not the first accolade for Better Bathrooms, with a Real Business Growing Business Awards prize, National Business Awards gong and 2012 Fast Track 100 selection already on the mantlepiece for this venture capital-backed online bathroom retailer.
Industry/sector: Retail and related services
Three-year compound growth rate (%): 42.63
Read the full profile on Better Bathrooms, including complete turnover and profit figures.
(45) Interact Medical
The second locum doctor recruitment agency in this year’s list, Interact Medical is another example of how highly the industry places services like the one on offer from this nearly ten year-old company.
Industry/sector: Recruitment
Three-year compound growth rate (%): 41.77
Read the full profile on Interact Medical, including complete turnover and profit figures.
(46) Fluidata
Data connectivity enterprise Fluidata signalled how far it has come in terms of growth when, earlier in 2015, IT reseller SCC acquired an undisclosed stake in the company – obviously attracted by its strong profit generation.
Industry/sector: IT, software and telecoms
Three-year compound growth rate (%): 41.25
Read the full profile on Fluidata, including complete turnover and profit figures.
(47) Matthews Daniel
An energy claims adjuster, Matthew Daniels is another to have had a transformative year after its recent growth was recognised by French inspections firm Bureau Veritas – which acquired the business to add a string to its bow.
Industry/sector: Financial and professional services
Three-year compound growth rate (%): 41.01
Read the full profile on Matthews Daniel, including complete turnover and profit figures.
(48) DK Engineering
The team at DK Engineering is living the dream of many a small boy, by carving out a niche offering as specialists when it comes to all things Ferrari – from sales right the way though to race preparation.
Industry/sector: Miscellaneous
Three-year compound growth rate (%): 40.87
Read the full profile on DK Engineering, including complete turnover and profit figures.
(49) MacDonald Humfrey
From assembly lines for Rolls-Royce to passenger security screening at Asian airports, MacDonald Humfrey has tapped into a number of lucrative customer groups though its suite of technology systems services.
Industry/sector: Manufacturing and engineering
Three-year compound growth rate (%): 40.34
Read the full profile on MacDonald Humfrey, including complete turnover and profit figures.
(50) Bet365
Bet365 is one of the few big gambling companies to not make the leap to the capital markets, but is still making waves by bringing together sports betting and casino-type games for a reported 18m global users.
Industry/sector: Retail and related services
Three-year compound growth rate (%): 39.83
Read the full profile on Bet365, including complete turnover and profit figures.
(51) Newspace Containers
For use as an office or purpose store, Newspace’s container units have proved a popular offering and its custom products have been decked out in the colours of Liverpool and Barcelona.
Industry/sector: Manufacturing and engineering
Three-year compound growth rate (%): 39.82
Read the full profile on Newspace Containers, including complete turnover and profit figures.
(52) Grangewood Builders
Front and centre on Grangewood’s website is the declaration that it create’s London’s “finest homes”, but has also been involved with the Serpentine Gallery and The Society of British International Design – reflecting its broad range.
Industry/sector: Construction, property and related services
Three-year compound growth rate (%): 39.14
Read the full profile on Grangewood Builders, including complete turnover and profit figures.
(53) Peter Harrington
Rare book business Peter Harrington has put its name on the map by sourcing and selling pieces of work including Shakespeare’s first folio (1623) and the publisher’s copy of Mark Twain’s “Huckleberry Finn” – the first copy ever bound – proving there is still money to be made from books.
Industry/sector: Retail and related services
Three-year compound growth rate (%): 38.83
Latest EBITDA: £3,121,903
Read the full profile on Peter Harrington, including complete turnover and profit figures.
(54) The Premier Group
The Premier Group brings together five trading companies, which are all said to specialise in a separate field of fuel engineering. Big ticket organisations including Shell UK, Royal Mail and Toyota all trust the service on offer.
Industry/sector: Manufacturing and engineering
Three-year compound growth rate (%): 38.61
Latest EBITDA: £2,794,288
Read the full profile on The Premier Group, including complete turnover and profit figures.
(55) Woodlodge Products
Aiming its offering at the gardening and landscaping market, Woodlodge Products provides pottery, garden art, display stands and trolleys from its large operation just outside of Gloucestershire.
Industry/sector: Retail and related services
Three-year compound growth rate (%): 38.41
Read the full profile on Woodlodge Products, including complete turnover and profit figures.
(56) Sureclean
Sureclean has developed a range of services in the energy and utility industries, mainly involving water jetting, and recently became part of the National Response Corporation.
Industry/sector: Miscellaneous
Three-year compound growth rate (%): 38.11
Read the full profile on Sureclean, including complete turnover and profit figures.
(57) Foundation Developments
Amongst Foundation Developments’ numerous major projects was the construction of the 2012 London Olympics cycling velodrome, a 6,000-seater sporting arena that involved a complex patterned fair face soffits and walls.
Industry/sector: Manufacturing and engineering
Three-year compound growth rate (%): 37.87
Read the full profile on Foundation Developments, including complete turnover and profit figures.
(58) Barrhead Travel
From a single high street designation in 1975, Barrhead Travel is now 850 employees-strong and is operating out of 56 outlets – booking 300,000 people on holiday each year.
Industry/sector: Leisure and travel
Three-year compound growth rate (%): 37.87
Read the full profile on Barrhead Travel, including complete turnover and profit figures.
(59) Lanchester Wine Cellars
The wine we find in off licences, pubs, bars and hotels has to come from somewhere, a demand that Lanchester Wines is taking advantage of through delivering orders ranging from a single case to an entire pallet.
Industry/sector: Food and drink
Three-year compound growth rate (%): 37.26
Read the full profile on Lanchester Wine Cellars, including complete turnover and profit figures.
(60) Advance Construction
After ten years of operation, in 2003, Advance Construction was turning over £8m. However, not content with that figure, the business plans to improve on its position as the largest privately-owned groundworks company in Scotland.
Industry/sector: Construction, property and related services
Three-year compound growth rate (%): 37.23
Read the full profile on Advance Construction, including complete turnover and profit figures.
See page four for companies 61-80.
(61) Allford Hall Monaghan Morris
AHMM projects can be found in Amsterdam, Ghana and Oklahoma City, showing the global appeal its architecture has secured – with its four founding partners now leading an RIBA London Building of the Year-winning team of over 200 people.
Industry/sector: Construction, property and related services
Three-year compound growth rate (%): 37.1
(62) A C Group
Entrepreneur Andrew Laing has built his flooring subcontractor company to a position where it has 90 office and field-based full-time staff and a position in the London Stock Exchange’s “1,000 Companies to Inspire Britain” 2015 list.
Industry/sector: Construction, property and related services
Three-year compound growth rate (%): 36.95
Read the full profile on A C, including complete turnover and profit figures.
(63) Severn Glocon
Severn Glocon was recently selected for a Queen’s Award for Enterprise in International Trade following a half century of activity as a provider of engineered valve products and services to plant operators globally.
Industry/sector: Manufacturing and engineering
Three-year compound growth rate (%): 36.89
Read the full profile on Severn Glocon, including complete turnover and profit figures.
(64) The7stars UK
Businesses including Iceland, Gumtree, Habitat and Hostelworld all use the7stars as a go-to for media campaigns – with millions of pounds now being billed a year. The agency was behind the promotion of Ed Sheeran’s globally-successful second album.
Industry/sector: Miscellaneous
Three-year compound growth rate (%): 36.87
Read the full profile on The7stars UK, including complete turnover and profit figures.
(65) Universal Meats
From an initial focus on meat imports, Universal Meats has expanded its offering and diversified into a group of companies with a turnover now in the hundreds of millions of pounds.
Industry/sector: Food and drink
Three-year compound growth rate (%): 36.61
Read the full profile on Universal Meats, including complete turnover and profit figures.
(66) Kin-Tec
Providing suitable candidates for businesses in sectors ranging from oil and gas to pharmaceutical, recruitment company Kin-Tec has operations in five continents and clients including Exxonmobil, Maersk and Amec.
Industry/sector: Recruitment
Three-year compound growth rate (%): 36.4
Read the full profile on Kin-Tec, including complete turnover and profit figures.
(67) Formaplex
The Formaplex injection-mould tooling offering is used by high-tech industries such as Formula 1 and aerospace, with the business gearing up for an attempt at the 24-hour endurance sub-500kg electric car world record.
Industry/sector: Manufacturing and engineering
Three-year compound growth rate (%): 36.24
Read the full profile on Formaplex, including complete turnover and profit figures.
(68) Kainos Software
Kainos has an impressive list of public sector clients, such as the Department for Transport, the DVLA and the Home Office, with an office opening in Boston marking its latest international expansion move.
Industry/sector: IT, software and telecoms
Three-year compound growth rate (%): 36.14
Read the full profile on Kainos Software, including complete turnover and profit figures.
(69) L J Fairburn and Son
If you had an egg or two for breakfast this morning, chances are L J Fairburn and Son might have had something to do with getting it to your plate, as the business is now the largest producer and packer of eggs in the UK.
Industry/sector: Food and drink
Three-year compound growth rate (%): 35.23
Read the full profile on L J Fairburn and Son, including complete turnover and profit figures.
(70) Oliver Valvetek
Oliver Valvetek is part of a group of businesses providing niche products for the oil and gas sector, and manufactures parts used in extraction and processing throughout the world.
Industry/sector: Manufacturing and engineering
Three-year compound growth rate (%): 35.18
Read the full profile on Oliver Valvetek, including complete turnover and profit figures.
(71) Audio Network
As music has become increasingly digital, Audio Network has built up a service providing high quality production music for TV, film, advertising and corporate video, with over 94,227 original music tracks available.
Industry/sector: Miscellaneous
Three-year compound growth rate (%): 35.12
Read the full profile on Audio Network, including complete turnover and profit figures.
(72) Saltire Energy
Another of this year’s Hot 100 to be supplying the lucrative oil and gas market, Saltire is in the rental game and has experienced rapid growth in recent years supplying pressure control and drilling tool products.
Industry/sector: Retail and related services
Three-year compound growth rate (%): 33.7
Read the full profile on Saltire Energy, including complete turnover and profit figures.
(73) McDermotts
As a family-founded SME, the management team of this groundworks business has recently invested in new plant equipment and machinery – bringing about a doubling in turnover between 2013 and 2014.
Industry/sector: Retail and related services
Three-year compound growth rate (%): 33.6
Read the full profile on McDermotts, including complete turnover and profit figures.
(74) Trilanco
With a 10,000-strong catalogue of animal health and equine products, Tirlanco has built itself as a technologically-sound commerce business so that it is always aware of customers needs.
Industry/sector: Retail and related services
Three-year compound growth rate (%): 33.53
Latest EBITDA: £1,322,030
Read the full profile on Trilanco, including complete turnover and profit figures.
(75) Williams Trade Supplies
Williams Trade Supplies is a trade wholesaler to the pluming sector founded 35 years ago that assembled a team of highly-experienced employees across 26 sites in the South East.
Industry/sector: Retail and related services
Three-year compound growth rate (%): 32.83
Read the full profile on Williams Trade Supplies, including complete turnover and profit figures.
(76) Daniel Katz
Daniel Katz have his self-titled business a new lease of life when, nearing retirement age, he expanded into a new Mayfair premises and assembled a formidable array of fine art and antiques.
Industry/sector: Retail and related services
Three-year compound growth rate (%): 32.63
Read the full profile on Daniel Katz, including complete turnover and profit figures.
(77) SMA Vehicle Remarketing
From cars to heavy commercial vehicles, SME Vehicle Remarketing is an auction business that has bases in Birmingham, Leeds, Newcastle, Edinburgh and Kinross.
Industry/sector: Retail and related services
Three-year compound growth rate (%): 32.4
Read the full profile on SME Vehicle Remarketing, including complete turnover and profit figures.
(78) Marla Tube Fittings
The last decade has seen Marla Tube Fittings open new warehouses and production facilities to provide a larger supply network for steel fittings and flanges – with computer hardware and software key to its recent success.
Industry/sector: Manufacturing and engineering
Three-year compound growth rate (%): 32.18
Read the full profile on Marla Tube Fittings, including complete turnover and profit figures.
(79) Busaba Eathai
Another restaurant chain in this year’s list, Alan Yau came up with Busaba Eathai in 1999 as a way of bringing pan-Asian food to the London public. It now has 12 locations throughout the capital.
Industry/sector: Retail and related services
Three-year compound growth rate (%): 32.09
Read the full profile on Busaba Eathai, including complete turnover and profit figures.
(80) Nigel Fredericks
This is a business which has been handed down through generations of the same business, with Nigel Tottman now leading the charge for the meat, poultry and game supplier.
Industry/sector: Food and drink
Three-year compound growth rate (%): 32.07
Read the full profile on Nigel Fredericks, including complete turnover and profit figures.
See page five for companies 81-100.
(81) Softcat
Software provider Softcat could be on the brink of a truly transformative move to the public markets, demonstrating just how far it’s offering has come under the guidance of founder Peter Kelly.
Industry/Sector: IT, software and telecoms
Three-year compound growth rate (%): 32.05
Read the full profile on Softcat, including complete turnover and profit figures.
(82) GP Bullhound
Delivery Hero, Klarna, MyOpitque and Cupid have all turned to GP Bullhound in recent year for advice in the corporate finance space, as the firm helped growing companies throughout Europe close big deals.
Industry/Sector: Financial and professional services
Three-year compound growth rate (%): 31.63
Read the full profile on GP Bullhound, including complete turnover and profit figures.
(83) Tallis Amos Group
As a dealership for John Deere heavy machinery, Tallis Amos has roots going back 150 years and supplies agricultural, professional turf and homeowner equipment.
Industry/Sector: Retail and related services
Three-year compound growth rate (%): 31.61
Read the full profile on Tallis Amos Group, including complete turnover and profit figures.
(84) Eclipse
Acquisitions have been the main source of growth for this technology business, allowing it to ramp up revenues alongside a recent rebrand and new corporate website.
Industry/Sector: IT, software and telecoms
Three-year compound growth rate (%): 31.41
Read the full profile on Eclipse, including complete turnover and profit figures.
(85) Hyperion Insurance Group
Hyperion operates as an international insurance group offering services in the wholesale retail and reinsurance broking, as well as underwriting, space – and is an employee-owned enterprise.
Industry/Sector: Financial and professional services
Three-year compound growth rate (%): 31.39
Read the full profile on Hyperion Insurance Group, including complete turnover and profit figures.
(86) TCL
TCL operates though three divisions: TCL Landscapes, Clean Estates, and Admiral Play – with its services seeing it signed up as part of the team that put together the garden for hit TV show Big Brother.
Industry/Sector: Outsourcing
Three-year compound growth rate (%): 31.32
Read the full profile on TCL, including complete turnover and profit figures.
(87) Sevacare
Sevacare has declared it is at the “forefront” of a change occurring in the way care and support in people’s homes is being delivered, providing greater choice and flexibility to those in need.
Industry/Sector: Care services
Three-year compound growth rate (%): 31.09
Read the full profile on Sevacare, including complete turnover and profit figures.
(88) Independent Transition Management
From its base in London, ITM offers data, administration consulting and IT support services to those in the financial services industry and has bolstered its team of directors in recent years to fuel new growth.
Industry/Sector: IT, software and telecoms
Three-year compound growth rate (%): 30.99
(89) Direct Medics
Direct Medics is a healthcare recruitment firm, and places doctors and nurses varying degrees of experience and specialities into positions inside both the public and the private sectors of the UK and Ireland.
Industry/Sector: Recruitment
Three-year compound growth rate (%): 30.91
Read the full profile on Direct Medics, including complete turnover and profit figures.
(90) Studwelders
Studwelders has worked across over 1,000 design projects totalling 1.5m square metres of decking over the past five years, with recent projects including Westfield Stratford City.
Industry/Sector: Manufacturing and engineering
Three-year compound growth rate (%): 30.57
Read the full profile on Direct Medics, including complete turnover and profit figures.
(91) Ikon Science
The oil and gas industry is increasingly becoming aware of the value-add services Ikon Science can bring though its technology, namely evaluating well and seismic data to determine value.
Industry/Sector: IT, software and telecoms
Three-year compound growth rate (%): 30.52
Read the full profile on Ikon Science, including complete turnover and profit figures.
(92) Quanta Consultancy Services
Another from the recruitment sector to feature in 2015’s list, Quanta operates in the life sciences, energy and technologies spaces – with clients now found in 20 countries around the world.
Industry/Sector: Recruitment
Three-year compound growth rate (%): 30.5
(93) Greencroft Bottling Company
Green croft is now one of the largest wine bottlers in Europe, filling 50,000 bottles an hour though its state-of-the-art facility that is also going a long way towards keeping the business a carbon-negative drinks company.
Industry/Sector: Food and drink
Three-year compound growth rate (%): 30.38
(94) AVTrade
Global component service provider Avtrade started by trading B737 aircraft Rotables, but branched out its inventory to expand the business and its reputation – bringing with it turnovers soon expected to breach £100m.
Industry/Sector: Retail and related services
Three-year compound growth rate (%): 30.32
Read the full profile on AVTrade, including complete turnover and profit figures.
(95) Kingdom Security
Contributing to the North West contingent of this year’s list, Kingdom Security is a provider of manned guarding services that has expanded operations through strategic acquisitions.
Industry/Sector: Outsourcing
Three-year compound growth rate (%): 30.23
Read the full profile on Kingdom Security, including complete turnover and profit figures.
(96) Peter Duffy
Civil engineering firm Peter Duffy has boosted turnover in recent years though a number of lucrative contract wins, building on four decades of experience in the space.
Industry/Sector: Manufacturing and engineering
Three-year compound growth rate (%): 30.19
Read the full profile on Peter Duffy, including complete turnover and profit figures.
(97) Danbro
Contractor businesses throughout the UK use Danbro for accountancy and payroll services and is a fervent advocator of the Living Wage – signed up since 2014.
Industry/Sector: Financial and professional services
Three-year compound growth rate (%): 30.11
Read the full profile on Danbro, including complete turnover and profit figures.
(98) Off-Piste Wines
Wine is big business these days, and Off-Piste Wines has carved out an enviable share of the market. Each bottle sold by the business claims to its own USP.
Industry/Sector: Food and drink
Three-year compound growth rate (%): 30.06
Read the full profile on Off-Piste Wines, including complete turnover and profit figures.
(99) H Docherty
Founded in 1960 by current chairman Barry Moorcroft, Docherty Group is the largest independent manufacturer and distributor of flue and chimney products and renewable fuel appliances in the UK.
Industry/Sector: Manufacturing and engineering
Three-year compound growth rate (%): 30.05
Read the full profile on H Docherty, including complete turnover and profit figures.
(100) Hays Travel
Hays Travel founder John Hays opened the first branch with no industry experience and with a desk at the back of his mother’s children’s wear shop in Durham – but is now pulling in hundreds of millions pounds in turnover.
Industry/Sector: Leisure and travel
Three-year compound growth rate (%): 30.04
Read the full profile on Hays Travel, including complete turnover and profit figures.