Top Track 250 national press release
Sunday 2 October 2016
BRITAIN’S 250 PRIVATE MID-MARKET GROWTH COMPANIES
ARE BOOSTING PROFITS & JOBS
Published today, the 12th annual Sunday Times Grant Thornton Top Track 250 league table ranks Britain’s
private mid-market growth companies with the biggest sales.
The 250 companies achieved combined sales of £58.1bn, a 14% increase year-on-year, profits of £4.9bn, up
26%, and an 11% growth to a total of 354,000 people. There are 146 companies that were not on the league
table in 2015, including London City Airport, Reiss and Yeo Valley, and 96 firms feature for the first time.
These companies feature alongside other well-known established brands including Arsenal, Barbour and
Baxters, and new brands which include Oak Furniture Land, Pure Gym and Skyscanner.
Seven of the top 10 companies with biggest profits are headquartered outside of London and the southeast of
England, including The Edinburgh Woollen Mill; as are six of the top 10 with the fastest-growing sales, such
as gym operator Pure Gym, located in Leeds.
The league table and awards programme is sponsored by Grant Thornton, and compiled for the 12th year by
Fast Track, the Oxford-based research and networking events firm.
Sacha Romanovitch, chief executive of Grant Thornton UK LLP, the title sponsor of the league table, praised
the companies for their performance:
“In the wake of the EU referendum it is more important than ever that businesses, and the public
and the third sectors work together to help the UK to build on its strengths and ensure that the
economy continues to grow. I am heartened to see how these businesses are embracing a
collaborative approach to drive prosperity throughout the UK and wider society.”
Top 10 private mid-market growth companies in the UK
Rank
[2015
rank]
Company
Activity
HQ location
and county
Virgin Active
Health club operator
London
*631
Pertemps Network
Group
Recruitment consultancy
Meriden
Warwickshire
3
Morrison Utility Services
Utility services provider
Stevenage
4
Alexander Dennis
Bus and coach
manufacturer
Larbert
Stirlingshire
602
26
5
[14]
Nando's
Restaurant operator
London
587
6
[19]
Opus Energy
Energy supplier
Oxford
7
[33]
IM Group
Car distributor
Coleshill
West Midlands
1
2
[11]
Sales
£m
Profit
£m‡
Staff
Year
end
*68
13,629
Dec 15
Brait (80%), Sir Richard Branson
(20%)
*614
*18
1,438
Dec 15
Management and employees (75%),
LDC and others (25%)
614
19
3,882
Mar 16
First Reserve (80%), management
(20%)
2,314
Dec 15
Highland Global Transport fund
(55%), Noble Grossart Investments
(33%), Colin Robertson (6%),
Deborah Robertson (5%)
69
12,126
Feb 15
Dick Enthoven and family (100%)
573
36
693
Mar 16
GDF Suez (29.99%), Telecom Plus
plc (20%), management (50.01%)
571
115
397
Dec 15
Lord Edmiston (100%)
Main shareholders
Rank
[2015
rank]
Company
Activity
HQ location
and county
8
[15]
mydentist
Dental care provider
Kearsley
Bolton
566
30
7,145
Mar 16
Carlyle & Palamon Capital Partners
(85%) management (15%)
9
[12]
Edinburgh Woollen Mill
Clothing retailer
Langholm
Dumfriesshire
563
83
10,205
Feb 15
Philip Day (100%)
10
[25]
Travelodge
Budget hotel operator
Thame
Oxfordshire
560
63
9,080
Dec 15
Institutional investors (>50%),
management (<50%)
Sales
£m
Profit
£m‡
Staff
Year
end
Main shareholders
‡ Profits = operating profits * Supplied by the company
KEY FINDINGS
This year’s league table shows that Britain’s private mid-market growth companies prospered ahead of the UK’s
Brexit vote and, despite increased uncertainty, they have positioned themselves for growth.
The league table complements the Top Track 100 league table of Britain’s biggest private companies by listing
the next 250 growth firms that meet our growth and operating margin criteria.
Themes
Vibrant cities & regions: Many of the companies have headquarters located close to large conurbations
across the UK, including Manchester with 22 businesses and Leeds with 17. The companies are tapping into a
pool of university talent, and benefit from close proximity to major roads and ports, such as those at Liverpool
and Hull. Other thriving cities and areas include Birmingham, which boasts 15 HQs, The Thames Valley, which
has 12, and Glasgow with nine.
Overall, London is home to 62 companies, the southeast 47 and the Midlands 33. The remainder are
headquartered in the northeast and Yorkshire (31), Scotland (29), northwest (24), southwest (16), Northern
Ireland (4), the East (3), and Wales (1).
Support from Westminster: Asked what priorities the government should focus on in the wake of Britain’s vote
to leave the European Union, senior directors from 14 of the companies, including Kurt Geiger, The Hut
Group, Foster + Partners and this year’s No. 1 company, Virgin Active, identified investment in education
and infrastructure, as well as the need for leadership and a clear plan from Westminster.
International activity: More than half the companies trade overseas, with 97 operating at least one overseas
subsidiary. Western Europe is the home to the highest number (77) subsidiaries.
Sectors: Services and retail are the two largest sectors with 96 and 68 companies respectively, representing
two thirds of the league table (66%). There are 40 manufacturers, 32 wholesalers, and 28 construction firms,
while 14 operate in more than one sector.
Majority ownership: A third of the companies (84) are majority-owned by their founders or entrepreneurs; 78
are majority-owned by one or more private-equity firms, and 65 are family-owned. The remaining are owned by
their management and staff (23).
The full league table is published as an eight-page broadsheet supplement with the business section of The
Sunday Times on 2 October, both in print and in the digital edition, and on www.fasttrack.co.uk.
See Appendix 1 for the full league table
THE TOP TRACK 250 ONES TO RECOGNISE
The Top Track 250 ‘Ones to Recognise’ is a programme that features 10 private, mid-market companies from a
variety of industries whose sales were not high enough to feature on the main league table, but deserve
recognition for their innovation, sustained growth or contribution to the communities in which they are based.
They include online food retailer Graze, which launched its direct customer subscription model in the US two
years ago – the country now accounts for 50% of sales, which grew 29% to £68.1m in 2015; and RSK, the
environmental consultancy which last year grew sales 23% to £90.4m, and expects to hit £125m in 2017 driven
by demand for services such as contaminated land testing in Iraq.
See Appendix 2 for the 10 Ones to Recognise companies
ENDS
PLEASE CREDIT IN FULL: THE SUNDAY TIMES GRANT THORNTON TOP TRACK 250
For further information, please contact:
Mike Harding, senior research manager, Fast Track 01865 297015, [email protected].
Follow us on Twitter @ST_FastTrack #TopTrack250
Notes for editors
Fast Track has published league tables of top-performing private companies with The Sunday Times for the
past 20 years. The company was founded and is run by Dr Hamish Stevenson, who also holds an associate
fellowship at Green Templeton College, Oxford University.
Previous Top Track 250 success stories include B&M which first featured in 2009 with sales of £256m. The
value retailer floated in June 2014 with a market capitalisation of £2.7bn. Financial information services provider
Markit first featured in 2010 with sales of £305m, before listing its shares on Nasdaq in June 2014, and in
March merged with IHS in a £9bn ($13bn) deal. Sophos first featured in 2011 with sales of £197m. The security
software developer floated in July 2015 with a market capitalisation of £1bn, and is currently valued at £1.2bn.
Appliance manufacturer Dyson featured on the first Top Track 250 in 2005 with sales of £277.1m, and this year
featured on Top Track 100 with sales of £1.7bn.
League table criteria:
Companies are ranked by sales in their latest available accounts. The league table complements the Top Track
100 league table of Britain’s biggest private companies by listing the next 250 growth firms.
New criteria introduced this year required companies to have operating margins that exceed 2%; and sales
must also be growing year-on-year by 5% or more for the highest turnover companies, graduated to 10% or
more for those with the lowest turnover; as opposed to previous years which required a minimum 10% growth in
sales or profits. If sales growth was insufficient we considered profit growth using the same procedure.
Companies have to be limited and registered in the UK, unquoted, and not subsidiaries. Companies may have
their ultimate holding company offshore. Companies where the majority of turnover is generated by a quoted
subsidiary are excluded, as are not-for-profit companies, cooperative societies, member-owned buying groups,
mutual societies, provident associations, betting exchanges, and partnerships such as lawyers and
accountants.
The research was carried out by Fast Track and accounts filed later than 22 July 2016 may not have been
considered in compiling the league table.
The sponsor does not endorse, guarantee or recommend investment in any of the companies and some
exceptions were made to the qualification criteria.
About Grant Thornton UK LLP
Grant Thornton is a leading financial and business adviser. Our focus is on unlocking growth for dynamic
organisations – those changing, growing and shaping the economy, from start-ups through to large corporates.
Our underlying purpose is to build a vibrant economy, based on trust and integrity in markets, dynamic
businesses, and communities where businesses and people thrive. We work with banks, regulators and
government to rebuild trust through corporate renewal reviews, advice on corporate governance, and
remediation in financial services. We work with dynamic organisations to help them grow. And we work with the
public sector to build a business environment that supports growth, including national and local public services.
www.grant-thornton.co.uk @GrantThorntonUK
Appendix 1
Top Track 250: The UK’s private mid-market growth companies
Rank
[2015
rank]
1
2
[11]
3
4
Company
Activity
HQ location
and county
Virgin Active
Health club operator
London
Sales
£m
Profit
£m‡
Staff
Year
end
*631
*68
13,629
Dec 15
Brait (80%), Sir Richard Branson
(20%)
Main shareholders
Pertemps Network
Group
Recruitment consultancy
Meriden
Warwickshire
*614
*18
1,438
Dec 15
Management and employees (75%),
LDC and others (25%)
Morrison Utility Services
Utility services provider
Stevenage
Hertfordshire
614
19
3,882
Mar 16
First Reserve (80%), management
(20%)
Alexander Dennis
Bus and coach
manufacturer
Larbert
Stirlingshire
602
26
2,314
Dec 15
Highland Global Transport fund
(55%), Noble Grossart Investments
(33%), Colin Robertson (6%),
Deborah Robertson (5%)
587
69
12,126
Feb 15
Dick Enthoven and family (100%)
5
[14]
Nando's
Restaurant operator
London
6
[19]
Opus Energy
Energy supplier
Oxford
Oxfordshire
573
36
693
Mar 16
GDF Suez (29.99%), Telecom Plus
plc (20%), management (50.01%)
7
[33]
IM Group
Car distributor
Coleshill
West Midlands
571
115
397
Dec 15
Lord Edmiston (100%)
8
[15]
mydentist
Dental care provider
Kearsley
Bolton
566
30
7,145
Mar 16
Carlyle & Palamon Capital Partners
(85%) management (15%)
9
[12]
The Edinburgh Woollen
Mill
Clothing retailer
Langholm
Dumfriesshire
563
83
10,205
Feb 15
Philip Day (100%)
10
[25]
Travelodge
Budget hotel operator
Thame
Oxfordshire
560
63
9,080
Dec 15
Institutional investors (>50%),
management (<50%)
Rank
[2015
rank]
Company
Activity
HQ location
and county
11
[31]
Harwoods
Car dealer
Pulborough
West Sussex
12
Associated British Ports
Port operator
London
13
[2]
The Miller Homes Group
Housebuilder
Edinburgh
Midlothian
14
[34]
Helston Garages
Car dealer
15
[21]
16
Sales
£m
Profit
£m‡
Staff
553
15
867
Year
end
Dec 15
Main shareholders
Guy Harwood and family (100%)
Borealis (30%), Canada Pension
Plan Investment Board (30%), GIC
Special Investments (20%), Kuwait
Investment Authority (10%), Hermes
Infrastructure (6.1%), Canada Inc
(3.9%)
GSO Capital Partners (Blackstone)
(56%), Lloyds Banking Group &
Shackleton Capital Partners (31%),
Miller family and employees (13%)
537
281
2,164
Dec 15
*526
*76
722
Dec 15
Helston
Cornwall
518
17
945
Dec 15
David and Betty Carr (90%), Andy
Barrett (10%)
CALA Group
Housebuilder
Edinburgh
Midlothian
512
73
655
Jun 15
Legal & General & Patron Haut LP
(95.3%), management (4.7%)
City Electrical Factors
Electrical parts wholesaler
Kenilworth
Warwickshire
504
33
3,015
Apr 15
Mackie family trusts (100%)
17
[48]
Southall Travel
Travel agency and tour
operator
Southall
Middlesex
*491
*21
43
Mar 16
Kuljinder Bahia (54%), Raybon
(28%) and Geomex Holding (18%)
18
[36]
Car Giant
Car dealer
London
466
37
644
Dec 14
Geoffrey Warren (100%)
19
[30]
McLaren Automotive
Sports car maker
Woking
Surrey
451
24
1,492
Dec 15
Bahrain Mumtalakat Holding
Company (57%), TAG Group (12%),
Ron Dennis (10%), other investors
(21%)
20
[39]
Park's Motor Group
Car dealer
Hamilton
South Lanarkshire
448
17
1,267
Mar 15
Douglas Park and family (100%)
21
[84]
Robertson
Construction services
Stirling
Stirlingshire
*438
*19
1,637
Mar 16
Robertson family (100%)
22
[53]
Peter Vardy
Car dealer
Glasgow
Strathclyde
437
10
777
Dec 15
Sir Peter Vardy (55%), Peter Vardy
(40%), Lady Margaret Vardy (5%)
23
[46]
Poundworld Retail
Value retailer
Normanton
West Yorkshire
422
15
5,590
Mar 15
TPG (majority), management
(minority)
24
[62]
Glyn Hopkin
Car dealer
Romford
Essex
419
9
702
Dec 15
Glyn Hopkin (61%), other
management (39%)
25
[49]
Kaspersky Lab
Internet security software
London
414
59
3,259
Dec 15
Management, including Eugene
Kaspersky (100%)
26
[55]
Turner & Townsend
Construction consultancy
Leeds
West Yorkshire
*409
*39
4,278
Apr 16
Vincent Clancy (6%), Tom Harrison
(6%), RBC CEES Trustee (EBT)
(19%), others (69%)
27
Aurum
Jewellery retailer
Braunstone,
Leicester
Leicestershire
407
20
1,589
May 15
Apollo (>50%), management
(<50%)
28
[58]
Dick Lovett Companies
Car dealer
Swindon
Wiltshire
402
10
619
Dec 15
Peter Lovett (100%)
Rank
[2015
rank]
Company
Activity
HQ location
and county
29
[249]
Parkdean Resorts
Holiday parks operator
30
[65]
Sales
£m
Profit
£m‡
Staff
Year
end
Newcastle upon
Tyne
Tyne and Wear
401
107
5,043
Dec 15
Electra Private Equity Partners,
Alchemy Partners, Management,
Others
telent
Infrastructure services
provider
Warwick
Warwickshire
397
22
1,803
Mar 16
Tusk Investments (100%)
31
Almac Group
Pharmaceuticals maker
Craigavon
County Armagh
394
29
3,554
Sep 15
McClay Foundation (100%)
32
Chime Communications
PR and advertising
London
390
18
2,012
Dec 14
Providence Equity (80%), WPP
(20%)
33
[54]
Zenith
Vehicle lessor
Leeds
West Yorkshire
383
30
497
Mar 16
HgCapital (61%), management
(32%), LDC (7%)
34
[68]
Lloyd Motors
Car dealer
Carlisle
Cumbria
380
9
766
Dec 15
Barry & Bryan Lloyd (100%)
35
[47]
Meadow Foods
Dairy product producer
Chester
Cheshire
376
14
275
Mar 15
Simon Chantler (65%), Paine &
Partners (35%)
36
Tennants Consolidated
Chemicals supplier
London
374
24
1,061
Dec 15
Alexander family (78%), others
(22%)
37
Arsenal Holdings
Football club operator
London
345
8
605
May 15
Stan Kroenke (67.05%), Alisher
Usmanov (30.04%), others (2.91%)
38
[77]
Robinsons Motor Group
Car dealer
Norwich
Norfolk
341
7
634
Dec 15
Robinson family (90%),
management (10%)
39
Westbridge Foods
Food service and logistics
Malvern
Worcestershire
340
7
159
Dec 15
Peter McNeil (55%), James McNeil
(16%), Evelyn McNeil (15%), other
(14%)
40
[110]
The Hut Group
Online retailer
Northwich
Cheshire
333
18
1,231
Dec 15
Founders & management (40%),
private equity consortium & other
investors (60%)
41
[71]
Lotus Group
Travel organiser
London
331
21
470
Oct 15
Peter Stephens (75%), Christine
Burrowes (25%)
42
[76]
Principal Hotels
Hotel operator
Harrogate
North Yorkshire
*328
*69
5,510
Dec 15
Starwood Capital Group (92%),
Management (8%)
Lush
Cosmetics manufacturer
and retailer
Poole
Dorset
326
12
5,762
Jun 15
Mark Constantine (38%), Margaret
Constantine (24%), Andrew Gerrie
(22%), others (16%)
321
74
4,036
Sep 15
Employees (65%), Südzucker AG
(35%)
43
44
ED & F Man
Commodities and logistics
manager
London
Main shareholders
45
[85]
Air Charter Service
Aircraft charter broker
Surbiton
Surrey
316
7
345
Jan 16
Leach family (84.8%), others
(15.2%)
46
[83]
Wyevale Garden Centres
Garden centre operator
Brentford
Middlesex
311
31
6,006
Dec 15
Terra Firma (100%)
47
[94]
Study Group
Education service provider
London
*308
*23
3,154
Dec 15
Providence Equity Partners,
Bromlee Superannuation Pty,
management
Rank
[2015
rank]
Company
Activity
HQ location
and county
48
[108]
Huntswood
Customer services
provider
49
[105]
Sales
£m
Profit
£m‡
Staff
Reading
Berkshire
307
50
Hays Travel
Travel agency
Sunderland
Tyne and Wear
306
50
[90]
Day Lewis
Pharmaceuticals retailer
Croydon, South
London
Surrey
51
[98]
Hill
Housebuilder
Waltham Abbey
Essex
52
[157]
Hyperion Insurance
Group
Insurance broker and
underwriter
53
[89]
Caffè Nero
Coffee house operator
54
[80]
Adelie Foods
Food producer and
distributor
55
London
London
Heathrow
Middlesex
Year
end
Main shareholders
919
Sep 15
David Brownlow (62%),
management (44%)
6
977
Oct 15
John Hays (56%), Irene Hays (44%)
*305
*22
2,146
Mar 16
Patel family (100%)
304
31
335
Dec 15
Hill family (82%), employee trust
and management (18%)
299
34
2,994
Sep 15
Management & staff (65%), General
Atlantic (35%)
*299
*27
4,500
May 16
Gerry Ford (60%), Paladin Partners
(30%), staff (10%)
295
10
2,649
Mar 15
HIG Capital (>50%), others (<50%)
*292
*20
2,071
Dec 15
Cinven (>50%), management
(<50%)
*289
*16
517
Oct 15
Vitruvian Partners (55%),
management (45%)
Kurt Geiger
Shoe retailer
London
56
[204]
JacTravel
Travel services provider
London
57
Yeo Valley
Yoghurt and dairy maker
Blagdon
Somerset
284
7
1,821
May 15
Mead family (100%)
58
[100]
AvailableCar
Car dealer
Winsford
Cheshire
281
9
546
Dec 15
Graham & Alison Bell (100%)
59
[109]
Westover Group
Car dealer
Bournemouth
Dorset
279
6
728
Dec 15
Peter Wood and family trust (100%)
60
[93]
William Jackson Food
Group
Food producer
Hessle
East Yorkshire
276
18
2,067
Apr 15
Jackson family (89%), former
employees (11%)
61
[119]
Oasis Dental Care
Dental care provider
Bristol
Avon
275
13
3,521
Mar 16
Bridgepoint (>50%), management
(<50%)
62
[138]
Keltbray Group
Civil engineering
contractor
272
12
1,078
Oct 15
Brendan Kerr & family trust (100%)
63
[193]
Morris Group
Housebuilder
Wilmslow
Cheshire
*268
*42
229
Mar 16
Management (62%), Quayle Munro
(23%), GSO (15%)
64
Global Radio
Radio broadcaster
London
265
35
1,210
Mar 15
Private shareholders (100%)
65
Voicevale
Dried foods importer
London
261
9
82
Dec 15
Roby Danon (80%), Toyota Tsusho
Corporation (20%)
255
28
1,186
Dec 15
Andrew Nisbet (96%), Management
(4%)
66
[128]
Nisbets
Catering equipment
supplier
Esher
Bristol
Avon
Rank
[2015
rank]
Company
Activity
HQ location
and county
67
[115]
Peoples
Car dealer
Falkirk
Stirlingshire
Stewart Milne Group
Housebuilder & timber
systems maker
Sales
£m
Profit
£m‡
Staff
Year
end
Main shareholders
*255
*7
397
Jul 16
Brian Gilda (85%), Stewart Ramsay
(15%)
Aberdeen
Aberdeenshire
253
12
793
Jun 15
Stewart Milne and family (100%)
Redfern Travel
Business travel agent
Bradford
West Yorkshire
252
4
112
Mar 16
Mark Bowers (18%), Neil Hopwood
(18%), management (64%)
70
[139]
MKM Building Supplies
Builders' merchant
Hull
East Yorkshire
252
16
938
Sep 15
Management (51%), 3i (37%), LDC
(12%),
71
[155]
JRL Group
Construction contractor
Borehamwood
Hertfordshire
252
6
600
Dec 15
John Reddington (34%), Peter
Moran (33%), Kevin Keegan (33%)
72
[118]
FM Conway
Infrastructure services
provider
Dartford
Kent
248
18
1,262
Mar 16
Michael Conway (95%), Kim
Conway (5%)
Holiday Extras
Airport hotel, parking
provider
Hythe
Kent
247
7
736
Mar 15
Gerry and Carol Pack (30%),
Matthew Pack (13%), Jeremy Pack
(12%) oters (45%)
74
Sky Betting and Gaming
Bookmaker
Leeds
West Yorkshire
*247
n/a
1,100
Jun 15
CVC Capital Partners (80%), Sky
plc (20%)
75
[149]
Foster + Partners
Architectural consultancy
London
*243
n/a
1,480
Apr 16
Partners, including Lord Norman
Foster (100%)
76
[113]
CNG
Commercial gas supplier
Harrogate
North Yorkshire
241
9
88
Apr 15
Jacqui Hall (28.33%), Tim Jones
(28.33%), Chris England (28.33%),
other management (15%)
Pentagon Freight
International freight
forwarder
Orpington
Kent
241
6
527
Apr 15
Geoffrey Smith (84%), management
(16%)
Ferndale Foods
Ready-meals producer
Chard
Somerset
240
17
2,707
Mar 15
Bigwood family (96%), S Harmer
(4%)
Paragon
Business process
manager
Sunderland
Tyne and Wear
240
7
2,859
Jun 15
Patrick Crean (100%)
The Emerson Group
Builder, property
developer
Alderley Edge
Cheshire
*240
*76
617
Apr 16
Jones family trusts (100%)
81
[163]
Oak Furniture Land
Furniture retailer
Swindon
Wiltshire
239
7
996
Sep 15
Jason Bannister (100%)
82
[182]
Resource Solutions
Group
Recruitment consultancy
Bristol
Avon
239
12
216
Jun 15
Keith Dawe (89%), Sanderson
Computer Recruitment Executive
Scheme (10%), Joanna Dawe (1%)
Wrights Group
Bus manufacturer
Ballymena
County Antrim
†238
†13
1,553
Dec 14
Jeffrey Wright (100%)
84
[111]
Maplin Electronics
Electronic equipment
retailer
Rotherham
South Yorkshire
237
12
2,500
Mar 15
Rutland Partners (>50%),
management (<50%)
85
[144]
Dr Martens
Shoe manufacturer and
retailer
Wollaston
Northamptonshire
235
26
831
Mar 15
Permira (70%), Griggs family and
settlements (20%), management
(10%)
68
69
73
77
78
79
80
83
Rank
[2015
rank]
Company
Activity
HQ location
and county
86
[116]
Volac
Dairy nutrition supplier
Royston
Hertfordshire
Civica
IT services provider
London
87
88
89
90
[161]
91
92
93
Durkan Holdings
Building developer and
contractor
Borehamwood
Hertfordshire
Martin-Baker
Ejection seat manufacturer
Nr. Uxbridge
Middlesex
Wagamama
Noodle bar operator
London
Kitwave Wholesale
Group
Food and drink wholesaler
Marex Spectron
Commodities and futures
broker
North Shields
Tyne and Wear
London
Sales
£m
Profit
£m‡
Staff
Year
end
†235
†14
391
Dec 14
Family & charitable trusts (77.4%),
Neville family (22.6%)
234
12
2,665
Sep 15
Omers (74%), management (26%)
†233
†21
225
Nov 15
Durkan family (100%)
232
66
840
Mar 15
James Martin (18%), John Martin
(16%), management (66%)
Main shareholders
230
18
4,483
Apr 16
Duke Street Capital and Hutton
Collins (82%, Duke Street majority
partner), management & other
shareholders (18%)
228
5
456
Apr 15
Paul Young (>50%), Pricoa Capital
Group and Allstate Investments
(<50%)
228
15
524
Dec 15
>50% Amphitryon
226
10
1,600
May 15
Audrey Baxter (38%), Baxter family
trust (36%), Andrew Baxter (25%),
James Baxter (1%)
*226
*11
598
Jul 16
Stuart Moore (73%), management
(27%)
Baxters
Food producer
Fochabers
Moray
Encon
Insulation distributor
Wetherby
West Yorkshire
Dreams
Bed retailer
High Wycombe
Buckinghamshire
226
15
1,563
Dec 15
Sun Capital (94%), management
(6%)
Rydon Group
Builder and maintenance
provider
Forest Row
East Sussex
224
10
692
Sep 15
Management (67%), Cavendish
Square Partners (33%)
97
[135]
Advanced
Software developer
Datchet
Berkshire
221
22
2,083
Feb 15
Vista Equity Partners
98
[211]
Chiltern International
Group
Contract research provider
Slough
Berkshire
218
25
2,310
Dec 15
Galaxy Limited Partnership
(representing a consolidated
investment group of individuals)
(90%), management (10%)
99
ProCam Europe
Crop protection specialist
Cambridge
Cambridgeshire
217
8
527
Dec 15
Tony White (67%), Ian Beswick
(18%), Chris Butt (11%), White
discretionary trust (4%)
100
Busy Bees
Nurseries operator
Burntwood
Staffordshire
217
15
6,776
Dec 15
Ontario teachers Pension Plan
(80%), management (20%)
Malcolm Group
Logistics and construction
services
Linwood
Renfrewshire
216
8
1,921
Jan 15
Malcolm family (78%), Caird Capital
(19%), other (3%)
Norbrook Laboratories
Pharmaceuticals
manufacturer
Newry
County Down
216
26
2,152
Jul 15
The Lord Ballyedmond family trust
(100%)
215
12
965
Apr 15
Exponent and Electra Partners
(>50%), management (<50%)
214
6
687
Aug 15
Gary Withers, founder & chairman,
other management and employees
(100%)
94
[130]
95
96
101
[162]
102
103
[183]
104
Photobox Group
Personalised product
retailer
The Imagination Group
Creative agency
London
London
Rank
[2015
rank]
Company
Activity
HQ location
and county
105
[212]
Anesco
Energy efficiency
consultancy
Reading
Berkshire
106
[247]
T.O.M. Vehicle Rental
Rental vehicle provider
Airdrie
North Lanarkshire
The Swift Group
Caravan and motorhome
manufacturer
108
[167]
Sales
£m
Profit
£m‡
Staff
214
25
111
Mar 16
CBPE (70%), management (22%),
Alcentra (7%), Generation (1%)
*213
*14
575
Mar 16
Rafferty family (50%), Hugh Stewart
(25%), Grier family (25%)
Cottingham
East Yorkshire
211
7
978
Aug 15
Management (40%), Smith family
(28%), other (32%)
LA International
IT recruitment consultancy
Stoke-on-Trent
Staffordshire
*210
*10
103
Jun 16
Paul Luckic (93%), other
management (7%)
109
[143]
LGC
Analytical services
laboratory
Teddington
Middlesex
210
12
2,009
Mar 15
KKR, management
110
[170]
BSW Timber
Timber supplier
Earlston
Berwickshire
210
10
1,042
Mar 15
Brownlie family (93%), other (7%)
111
[96]
Whitworth Bros
Flour miller
Wellingborough
Northamptonshire
209
9
333
Mar 16
Martin George and family (100%)
112
Car Shop
Car supermarket
Northampton
Northamptonshire
209
5
508
Dec 15
Paul Dunkley (78%), David
Hammond (15%), Sir Geoffrey
Whalen (7%)
113
[177]
Hatfields
Car dealer
Wakefield
West Yorkshire
208
7
370
Jan 16
Williams family (100%)
114
[147]
Tinopolis
Film and television
producer
Llanelli
Carmarthenshire
206
18
612
Sep 15
Vitruvian Partners (70%),
management (30%)
115
QHotels
Hotel operator
Leeds
West Yorkshire
*206
*33
5,249
Jan 16
Bain Capital Credit and Canyon
Capital Advisors (90%),
management (10%)
116
O'Halloran & O'Brien
Construction contractor
Morden
Surrey
204
18
109
Mar 16
O'Brien Family (100%)
FES
Construction support
services
Stirling
Stirlingshire
204
7
1,905
Aug 15
Duncan S Fletcher & family (98%),
other (2%)
118
Voyage Care
Care home operator
Lichfield
Staffordshire
*203
*35
8,417
Mar 15
Partners Group, Duke Street Capital
(>50%), management (<50%)
119
Toomey Group
Car dealer
Basildon
Essex
201
8
467
Dec 15
Michael Toomey (100%)
120
Claranet
IT services provider
London
*200
*18
1,200
Jun 16
Nasser family (> 50%), other
shareholders (< 50%)
121
[174]
Sertec
Automotive engineer
Birmingham
West Midlands
*198
*15
1,278
Mar 16
Management (100%)
122
[173]
Dawsongroup
Asset rental operator
Milton Keynes
Buckinghamshire
197
49
711
Dec 15
Peter Dawson & family (100%)
Bulkhaul
Specialist chemical
logistics
Middlesbrough
North Yorkshire
195
25
877
Jun 15
Stephen Gibson (75%), Michael
O'Neill (25%)
107
117
123
Year
end
Main shareholders
Rank
[2015
rank]
Company
Activity
HQ location
and county
124
[160]
Timpson
Retail services provider
125
Sales
£m
Profit
£m‡
Staff
Year
end
Manchester
Greater
Manchester
195
16
3,226
Sep 15
John Timpson and family trusts
(100%)
TGI Friday's
Restaurant operator
Guildford
Surrey
194
8
2,998
Dec 15
Electra Partners (44%),
management team (56%)
126
Pentagon Investments
Van dealer
Derby
Derbyshire
193
4
316
Dec 15
Marshall Family Trusts (100%)
127
[192]
Yearsley Group
Frozen food supplier
Heywood
Lancashire
189
5
1,264
Mar 15
Yearsley family (100%)
128
[210]
Mulalley
Construction contractor
Woodford Green
Essex
188
14
605
Mar 16
O'Malley family (80%), Teresa
Taylor (20%)
188
7
211
Jun 15
Great Hill Partners (55%), Glenn
Elliott (28%), management & staff
(17%)
187
7
47
Feb 15
Kirti Patel (50%), Bhanumati Patel
(50%)
*187
*9
493
Dec 15
Michael and Mo Sacoor (90%),
Deenu Patel (10%)
186
11
2,544
Mar 16
Management, employees and exemployees (100%)
129
130
131
Reward Gateway
Employee engagement
services
Smartway
Pharmaceuticals
Pharmaceutical wholesaler
ID Medical
Recruitment consultancy
London
London
Milton Keynes
Buckinghamshire
Main shareholders
132
[136]
Control Risks
Risk management
consultancy
133
[166]
Randall Parker Food
Group
Meat distributor
Towcester
Northamptonshire
186
4
495
Sep 15
Ron Randall & family (67%), W & J
Parker (33%)
DCS Group (UK)
Toiletry products
distributor
Stratford-uponAvon
Warwickshire
186
5
301
Dec 15
Denys Shortt (100%)
135
[225]
Charles Tyrwhitt
Clothing retailer
London
*185
*17
802
Aug 15
Nick Wheeler (95%), Peter Higgins
(5%)
136
[209]
The White Company
Home accessories retailer
London
*184
*17
1,437
Mar 16
Chrissie Rucker (99%), Nick
Wheeler (1%)
137
[171]
Taylor Maxwell
Building products supplier
Bristol
Avon
183
6
164
Mar 15
Management and employees
(100%)
FP McCann
Civil engineering
contractor
Magherafelt
Londonderry
†183
†14
1,027
Dec 15
McCann family (100%)
139
[220]
Symphony
Furniture supplier
Barnsley
South Yorkshire
183
12
1,423
Dec 15
Douglas Gregory (100%)
140
[231]
Yeomans
Car dealer
Worthing
West Sussex
182
6
368
Dec 15
Smith family (100%)
141
[172]
JJ Food Service
Food distributor
Enfield
Middlesex
182
11
779
Mar 15
Kiamil family (100%)
142
GO Outdoors
Outdoor equipment retailer
Sheffield
South Yorkshire
181
5
1,896
Jan 15
3i and YFM (38%), Paul Caplan
(33%), John Graham (13%), other
management (16%)
134
138
London
Rank
[2015
rank]
143
144
Company
Activity
HQ location
and county
Brett Group
Building materials supplier
Canterbury
Kent
Element
Testing & certification
services provider
London
Sales
£m
Profit
£m‡
Staff
Year
end
181
10
662
Dec 15
Brett family and trusts (100%)
*180
*30
1,778
Dec 15
Bridgepoint (>50%), management
(<50%)
Main shareholders
145
[221]
Fairview
Housebuilder
Enfield
Middlesex
178
65
210
Dec 15
Employee benefit trust (100%)
146
[181]
Suttons Group
Logistics & supply chain
services
Widnes
Cheshire
176
8
1,131
Apr 15
Sutton family trusts (100%)
147
Lakeland
Kitchen accessory retailer
Windermere
Cumbria
176
6
1,886
Dec 14
Samuel Rayner (33%), Martin
Rayner (33%), Julian Rayner (33%)
148
QA
Business training provider
London
*175
*28
1,391
May 16
Bregal Capital (80%), management
(20%)
149
[187]
Dune London
Footwear retailer
London
174
7
2,233
Jan 15
Daniel Rubin (44%), Anne Rubin
(43%), others (13%)
150
[222]
Search Consultancy
Recruitment consultancy
Glasgow
Strathclyde
174
6
625
Jan 16
Saints Capital (65%), management
(35%)
Churchill Retirement
Living
Retirement housebuilder
Ringwood
Hampshire
†*173
†*57
484
May 16
Clinton McCarthy (49.15%),
Spencer McCarthy (49.15%), others
(1.7%)
152
[200]
The Car People
Car dealer
Wakefield
West Yorkshire
*173
*7
450
Apr 16
Carnell family (76%), other
management (24%)
153
BMT Group
Engineering consultancy
Teddington
Middlesex
171
4
1,544
Sep 15
EBT (100%)
154
Arora Group
Hotel operator
Hounslow
Middlesex
171
41
1,317
Mar 15
Surinder Arora (100%)
155
[197]
Hillarys
Window coverings retailer
Colwick
Nottinghamshire
†170
†14
1,527
Oct 15
European Capital (75%),
management (25%)
156
[234]
Callcredit Information
Group
Consumer data analyst
Leeds
West Yorkshire
170
28
1,123
Dec 15
GTCR and co-investors (75%),
management (25%)
157
[238]
P D Hook
Poultry producer
Bampton
Oxfordshire
169
25
925
Oct 15
Hook family (100%)
158
Howarth Timber Group
Timber products maker
Cross Green,
Leeds
West Yorkshire
*169
*9
913
Mar 16
Howard family (100%)
Megger
Electrical products
manufacturer
Dover
Kent
169
16
1,235
Nov 15
TBG AG (100%)
160
[203]
Barbour
Clothing manufacturer
South Shields
Tyne and Wear
167
29
989
Dec 14
Dame Margaret Barbour (51%),
Barbour family trust (46%), other
(3%)
161
[219]
Toolbank
Tool distributor
Dartford
Kent
167
15
810
Dec 15
John Twallin (13%), estates &
settlements trust (47%), other (40%)
151
159
Rank
[2015
rank]
Company
Activity
HQ location
and county
Sales
£m
Profit
£m‡
Staff
Year
end
Main shareholders
162
Travel Counsellors
Travel services provider
Manchester
Greater
Manchester
166
11
272
Oct 15
Equistone Private Equity (>50%),
Speakman family (<50%)
163
Together
Specialist lender
Cheadle
Cheshire
166
122
373
Jun 15
Equistone, Standard Life
Investments, Moser Family Trust,
management
164
Shanly Group
Housebuilder
Beaconsfield
Buckinghamshire
164
51
152
Dec 14
Michael Shanly (100%)
165
[226]
Dalziel
Butchers' supplier
Bellshill
Lanarkshire
163
14
542
Oct 15
Stuart Dalziel (43%), John Darroch
(21%), EBT (15%), other (21%)
166
[208]
Kingsland
Alcoholic drinks distributor
Manchester
Greater
Manchester
163
4
271
Jun 15
Management (100%)
167
Eric Wright Group
Construction contractor
Preston
Lancashire
161
5
541
Dec 14
Eric Wright charitable trust (100%)
168
John Cotton Group
Bed-fillings manufacturer
Mirfield
West Yorkshire
161
10
1,066
Mar 15
Cotton family (100%)
169
Country Style Foods
Baker
Leeds
West Yorkshire
160
7
1,546
Apr 15
Wood family (100%)
170
Gap Group
Plant and tool hire
Glasgow
Strathclyde
158
18
1,454
Mar 16
Douglas Anderson (37.5%), Iain
Anderson (37.5%), Maureen Smith
(20%), other family and
management (5%)
171
Constantine Group
Conglomerate
Godalming
Surrey
156
5
541
Dec 15
Vernon family (49%), Constantine
family (23%), others (28%)
172
Gregory Distribution
Distribution services
Exeter
Devon
156
7
1,776
Oct 15
John Gregory and family (100%)
173
[240]
Meyer Timber Group
Wood panel distributor
Blythe Bridge,
Stoke on Trent
Staffordshire
156
8
334
Dec 15
The Meade Family Office (80%),
Chris Rudd (20%)
174
Keltruck
Truck dealer
West Bromwich
West Midlands
156
6
418
Dec 15
Chris Kelly (100%)
175
Masterson Holdings
Building contractor
Borehamwood
Hertfordshire
155
12
314
Aug 15
Michael Masterson (47%), Mona
Masterson (27%), Michael
Masterson Trust (26%)
176
Hammer
IT storage distributor
Basingstoke
Hampshire
155
6
164
Jan 16
James Stidwell (40%), Paul
Matravers (20%), Jason Beeson
(20%), Jason Goddard (20%)
177
Wain Group
Housebuilder
Warrington
Cheshire
153
39
210
Jun 15
William Ainscough (75%),
management (25%)
178
Audley Travel
Tour operator
Witney
Oxfordshire
152
19
371
Dec 15
3i (>50%), management (<50%)
179
[250]
The Works
Value retailer
Sutton Coldfield
West Midlands
†151
†10
1,259
May 16
Endless (>50%), Dean Hoyle
(>10%), management team (<20%)
180
[216]
Davies Turner
Logistics, freight operator
Coleshill
Warwickshire
*151
*6
840
Mar 16
Stephenson family (94%), other
(6%)
Rank
[2015
rank]
181
182
Company
Activity
HQ location
and county
James Walker
Timber merchant
Bo'ness
West Lothian
Axis Europe Holdings
Property maintenance
contractor
London
Sales
£m
Profit
£m‡
Staff
Year
end
*151
*11
600
Mar 16
Walker family (70%), John Campbell
(24%), employees (6%)
*149
*7
893
Mar 16
John Hayes (95%), Sally Hayes
(5%)
Main shareholders
183
Acorn Stairlifts
Stairlift manufacturer
Steeton
West Yorkshire
149
17
1,192
Sep 15
John Jakes (100%)
184
Lexon
Pharmaceuticals supplier
Redditch
Worcestershire
149
8
564
Apr 15
Sodha family (77%), Sonpal family
(23%)
185
[237]
Norkem
Chemical exporter
Knutsford
Cheshire
148
4
104
Dec 14
Lynne Colling (64%), Alan
Nicholson (5%), other (31%)
186
CitySprint
Logistics provider
Redhill
Surrey
146
3
723
Dec 15
Management (>50%), LDC and
Dunedin (<50%)
187
Edinburgh Airport
Airport operator
Edinburgh
Midlothian
145
45
552
Dec 15
Global Infrastructure Partners
(>50%), management (<50%)
188
Reiss
Branded fashion retailer
London
145
20
1,401
Jan 16
Warburg Pincus (>50%), David
Reiss and family (<50%)
189
White Stuff
Fashion retailer
London
145
13
1,885
Apr 16
Co-founders (71%), management &
others (29%)
190
Steven Eagell
Car dealer
Milton Keynes
Buckinghamshire
144
4
285
Dec 15
Steven Eagell (85%), management
(15%)
WP Group
Fuel and lubricant
distributor
Southampton
Hampshire
142
3
137
Dec 15
David Fairchild and management
(52%), Barry Fairchild (24%), Sylvia
Fairchild (24%)
Colt
Ventilation systems
provider
Havant
Hampshire
142
7
985
Dec 15
O'Hea family (75%), Colt
Foundation (22%), other (3%)
141
13
1,646
Feb 16
Mark Neale (85%), others &
management (15%)
*140
*11
1,856
Mar 16
Employees (>50%), Mindenhall and
Badale families (<50%)
139
27
659
Mar 15
Sir Cameron Mackintosh (100%)
191
192
[239]
193
Mountain Warehouse
Outdoor clothing retailer
London
194
Agilisys
IT services provider
London
195
Cameron Mackintosh
Theatrical producer
London
Grosvenor Contracts
Leasing
Vehicle contract hirer
Kettering
Northamptonshire
139
6
266
Dec 15
Brian Johnson (100%)
197
Weston Group
Housebuilder
Takeley
Essex
138
16
268
Jul 15
Robert Weston (40%), management
and other (60%)
198
EH Smith
Builders' merchant
Shirley, Solihull
West Midlands
138
7
566
Jun 15
Parker family (27%), Ensall family
(27%), Michael Hodgskin-Brown
(24%), Kenneth Avery-Smith (22%)
199
Silentnight Group
Bed manufacturer
Barnoldswick
Lancashire
137
8
1,018
Jan 16
HIG Capital (75%), management
(25%)
196
Rank
[2015
rank]
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
Company
Activity
Numatic International
Cleaning products
manufacturer
HQ location
and county
Somerset
Sales
£m
Profit
£m‡
Staff
Year
end
137
13
953
Dec 15
Christopher Duncan (100%)
Main shareholders
Natures Way Foods
Fresh salad producer
Selsey
West Sussex
137
6
912
Mar 15
Langmead family (88%), Susan
Barratt (5%), others (7%)
Consolidated Timber
Holdings
Lumber wholesaler
Shepperton
Surrey
137
4
223
Mar 15
Meyer family (68%), management
(29%), others (3%)
Balmoral Group
Polymer engineer and
manufacturer
Aberdeen
Aberdeenshire
137
31
557
Mar 15
Jim Milne & family (100%)
Dingbro
Automotive component
distributor
Aberdeen
Aberdeenshire
136
9
1,281
Sep 15
James Dingwall (51%), Kenneth
Dingwall (49%)
GRS Roadstone Group
Aggregate distributor and
waste removal
Nuneaton
Warwickshire
*136
*6
283
Dec 15
Management (75%), Tarmac
Trading (25%)
135
67
700
Aug 15
Dutch pension fund (60%), Chinese
investment fund (40%)
*135
*22
1,690
Mar 16
Fred and Peter Done (100%)
UPP
University accommodation
provider
London
Peninsula
Employment law
consultancy
Manchester
Greater
Manchester
NRS Healthcare
Healthcare equipment &
services provider
Coalville
Leicestershire
135
6
705
Mar 15
H2 Equity Partners (52%), LDC
(33%), management (15%)
Advance Construction
Group
Construction services
Bellshill
North Lanarkshire
133
8
1,047
Mar 15
Seamus Shields (50%), Daniella
Shields (50%)
Fish Brothers
Car dealer
Swindon
Wiltshire
133
3
244
Dec 15
Mike Fish (50%), Tim Fish (50%)
Belfield Furnishings
Furniture and furnishings
manufacturer
Ilkeston
Derbyshire
133
6
1,548
Dec 15
NorthEdge (>60%), management
(<40%)
Ecotricity
Green energy supplier
Stroud
Gloucestershire
*131
*7
729
Apr 16
Dale Vince (100%)
Everest Home
Improvements
Home improvement
supplier
Cuffley
Hertfordshire
131
5
696
Dec 14
Better Capital (90%) management
and others (10%)
214
Nexus
Construction services
Braintree
Essex
131
8
624
Sep 15
Michael Morris (50%), Keith Breen
(33%), others (17%)
215
TES Global
Educational publisher
London
130
38
435
Aug 15
TPG (85%), management (15%)
216
Tusker
Car benefit specialists
Watford
Hertfordshire
*130
*7
119
Dec 15
ECI Partners (76%) and
management (24%)
Wedge Group
Galvanizing
Galvanizer
Willenhall
West Midlands
130
15
1,054
Mar 15
Woolridge family (95%),
management (5%)
Lanes Group
Drainage services provider
Leeds
West Yorkshire
128
7
1,170
Jul 15
Wayne Earnshaw (47%),
management and other (53%)
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
217
218
Rank
[2015
rank]
Company
Activity
HQ location
and county
Sales
£m
Profit
£m‡
Staff
Year
end
John Guest
Tubing and pipe
manufacturer
West Drayton
Middlesex
127
23
1,174
Dec 14
Guest family (100%)
James Donaldson Group
Timber merchants
Markinch
Fife
127
6
680
Mar 16
Donaldson family (85%), employees
(15%)
Crown Oil
Fuel and lubricant
distributor
Bury
Greater
Manchester
126
5
210
Aug 15
Greensmith family (100%)
222
Riviera Travel
Travel agency
Burton-on-Trent
Staffordshire
126
11
109
Nov 15
Phoenix Private Equity (60%),
management (40%)
223
Robert Dyas
Household goods retailer
Leatherhead
Surrey
125
5
1,397
Mar 15
Theo Paphitis (100%)
224
CCG
Building contractor
Glasgow
Strathclyde
125
7
609
Mar 15
Alastair Wylie (67%), Bernie
Rooney (33%)
225
Pure Gym
Gym operator
Leeds
West Yorkshire
125
14
960
Dec 15
CCMP (>50%), Management
(<50%)
Gray & Adams
Trailer & vehicle
manufacturer
Fraserburgh
Grampian
*125
*8
700
Apr 16
James Gray Jnr (43%), Peter Gray
(43%), Marie Gray (14%)
124
32
668
Jun 15
General Atlantic (>50%),
management and others (<50%)
219
220
221
226
227
Argus Media
Energy information
provider
London
Main shareholders
Bathstore
Bathroom retailer
Welwyn Garden
City
Hertfordshire
124
3
567
Jul 15
Warren Stephens and family (86%)
management and other (14%)
The Delivery Group
Mail and parcel services
provider
Warrington
Cheshire
124
3
306
Dec 15
Next Wave Partners (63%),
management (37%)
CCS Media
IT & services reseller
Chesterfield
Derbyshire
124
3
349
Dec 15
Robert Tomlinson (80%), Alan
Honarmand (10%), Terrence Betts
(10%)
Carter Thermal
Industries
Refrigeration manufacturer
Birmingham
West Midlands
123
3
908
Dec 14
Carter family trust (28%), Scott
family trust (26%) Elizabeth Scott
(11%), Jane Chamberlain (11%),
Mary Rennison (11%), other (13%)
232
Ainscough Crane Hire
Crane hirer
Wigan
Lancashire
122
25
1,005
May 15
Oaktree Capital Management,
management
233
National Lighting
Light fitting designer
Poole
Dorset
122
9
527
Dec 14
Meyer Maslo (30%), J Schimmel
(22.5%), Elizabeth Maslo (22.5%),
others (25%)
234
Willerby Holiday Homes
Mobile home maker
Hull
East Yorkshire
†122
†6
845
Oct 15
Cavendish Square Partners (75%),
management (25%)
235
Moneycorp
Foreign exchange services
London
122
13
799
Dec 15
Bridgepoint
236
Tomlinson Group
Construction contractor
Derby
Derbyshire
122
3
241
Dec 15
Barry Sewards (66%), Andrew
Sewards (34%)
CLC Group
Painting and maintenance
contractor
Southampton
Hampshire
121
9
1,009
Dec 15
Hilbre Holdings Limited
228
229
230
231
237
Rank
[2015
rank]
Company
Activity
HQ location
and county
238
Russell & Bromley
Shoe retailer
239
240
241
Sales
£m
Profit
£m‡
Staff
Year
end
Main shareholders
Bromley
Kent
121
24
1,078
Dec 14
Bromley family (100%)
Castle View
Leisure services manager
Stirling
Stirlingshire
120
6
5,171
Mar 15
Martin Bell (95%), Caroline Bell
(5%)
Skyscanner
Travel search engine
Edinburgh
Midlothian
120
13
674
Dec 15
Venture capital, including Sequoia
Capital & Scottish Equity Partners
(>50%), founders & management
(<50%)
119
5
2,006
Jan 16
Primary Capital Partners (79%),
management (21%)
119
10
1,369
Aug 15
Better Capital (82%), management
(18%)
Paperchase Products
Stationery and card
retailer
London
Gardner Aerospace
Aerospace components
manufacturer
Derby
Derbyshire
Beaverbrooks the
Jewellers
Jewellery retailer
Lytham St Anne's
Lancashire
*119
*12
904
Feb 16
Brown family (54%), Adlestone
(39%), other (7%)
244
Spark Energy
Energy supplier
Selkirk
Scottish Borders
119
5
246
Jun 15
Numerous minority shareholders
(100%)
245
Trainline
Train ticket retailer
London
118
21
345
Feb 15
KKR (>50%), management (<50%)
246
Scott Group
Industrial supplier
Dunfermline
Fife
117
4
878
Dec 14
John Scott (76%), Norman Scott
(24%)
247
Stanmore Contractors
Specialist subcontractor
Erith
Kent
117
13
237
Mar 15
Rajbir Manak (99%), Harbhajan
Manak (1%)
248
London City Airport
Airport operator
London
249
Crisp Maltings Group
Malt producer
250
Cormar Carpets
Carpet manufacturer
242
243
117
9
498
Dec 15
Fakenham
Norfolk
117
13
249
Dec 14
Bury
Lancashire
116
8
259
Sep 15
Institutional investors (inc. Ontario
Teachers’ pension fund, AIMCo,
OMERS & Wren House) (>50%),
management (<50%)
Edward Iliffe (24%), Ernest Travis
(14%), David Thompson (7%),
Christoper Johnson (7%), others
(48%)
David Cormack (25%), John
Cormack (25%), Helen Polito (25%),
other management and employees
(25%)
Appendix 2
The Top Track 250 Ones to Recognise
The Top Track 250 ‘Ones to Recognise’ features 10 companies from a variety of industries that did not have
high enough sales to rank on this year’s Top Track 250 league table, but deserve recognition for their
innovation, sustained growth or the contribution they make to the communities in which they are based.
Company
Activity
HQ location
Sales
£m
Profit
£m‡
Barber's
Cheesemaker
Somerset
90.5
6.3
257
Mar 15
Cartwright Group
Motor vehicle body
manufacturer
Cheshire
100.5
3.0
600
Mar 15
Erith Group
Demolition contractor
Southeast London
114.9
6.9
407
Sep 15
Framestore
Visual effects maker
Central London
81.4
2.8
968
Mar 15
Graze
Online food retailer
Richmond
68.1
4.4
306
Feb 15
Great Rail Journeys
Tour operator
York
86.5
7.0
153
Oct 15
Jigsaw
Clothing retailer
Surrey
†87.9
†3.9
853
Oct 15
RSK
Environmental consultancy
Cheshire
90.4
6.0
1,015
Mar 15
Steelite International
Tableware maker
Stoke-on-Trent
102.0
7.4
1,147
Dec 15
Strata Homes
Housebuilder and developer
Doncaster
98.9
10.0
162
Dec 15
‡ Operating profit before exceptional items † Annualised figure
Staff
Year end