Top Track 250 regional press release
Thursday 29 Sep 2016
FORTY-SEVEN COMPANIES IN THE SOUTHEAST FEATURE IN LEAGUE TABLE
OF BRITAIN’S LEADING PRIVATE MID-MARKET GROWTH COMPANIES
Published this weekend, 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 47 companies headquartered in the southeast (compared to 44 last year) have made a strong contribution
to the regional economy. The companies increased combined sales 15% to £10.6bn and operating profits 35%
to £856m, and they employ more than 50,000 people.
The biggest mid-market growth company in the region is Morrison Utility Services, based in Stevenage, which
repairs, replaces and maintains infrastructure for clients including Thames Water, National Grid and BT. It grew
sales 5% to £614m in 2016 and profits 14% to £19m, and employs almost 3,900 people.
There are 29 entrants in the southeast that were not on the league table last year, including Dreams, the bed
retailer based in High Wycombe; McLaren Automotive, the Woking-based sports car maker; and Guildford’s
TGI Friday, which has 66 cocktail and burger bar outlets nationwide, and whose sales rose 11% to £194m.
The companies in the southeast appear with businesses from around the UK, including Arsenal, Barbour,
Dr Martens, Nando’s, Skyscanner and Wagamama.
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 company.
Norman Armstrong, Partner at 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.”
Ordered by county: Mid-market private growth companies in the Southeast
HQ location and
county
Rank
[2015
rank]
Company
Activity
Reading
Berkshire
48
[108]
Huntswood
Customer services
provider
307
50
Datchet
Berkshire
97
[135]
Advanced
Software developer
221
22
Slough
Berkshire
98
[211]
Chiltern
International Group
Contract research
provider
218
25
Reading
Berkshire
105
[212]
Anesco
Energy efficiency
consultancy
214
Dreams
Bed retailer
226
High Wycombe
Buckinghamshire
95
Sales
£m
Profit
‡
£m
Year
end
Main shareholders
919
Sep 15
David Brownlow (62%),
management (44%)
2,083
Feb 15
Vista Equity Partners
2,310
Dec 15
Galaxy Limited Partnership
(representing a consolidated
investment group of individuals)
(90%), management (10%)
25
111
Mar 16
CBPE (70%), management
(22%), Alcentra (7%), Generation
(1%)
15
1,563
Dec 15
Sun Capital (94%), management
(6%)
Staff
HQ location and
county
Rank
[2015
rank]
Company
Activity
Milton Keynes
Buckinghamshire
122
[173]
Dawsongroup
Asset rental operator
Milton Keynes
Buckinghamshire
131
ID Medical
Recruitment
consultancy
Beaconsfield
Buckinghamshire
164
Milton Keynes
Buckinghamshire
Sales
£m
Profit
‡
£m
Staff
Year
end
Main shareholders
197
49
711
Dec 15
Peter Dawson & family (100%)
*187
*9
493
Dec 15
Michael and Mo Sacoor (90%),
Deenu Patel (10%)
Shanly Group
Housebuilder
164
51
152
Dec 14
Michael Shanly (100%)
190
Steven Eagell
Car dealer
144
4
285
Dec 15
Steven Eagell (85%),
management (15%)
Forest Row
East Sussex
96
Rydon Group
Builder and
maintenance provider
224
10
692
Sep 15
Management (67%), Cavendish
Square Partners (33%)
Waltham Abbey
Essex
51
[98]
Hill
Housebuilder
304
31
335
Dec 15
Hill family (82%), employee trust
and management (18%)
Basildon
Essex
119
Toomey Group
Car dealer
201
8
467
Dec 15
Michael Toomey (100%)
Takeley
Essex
197
Weston Group
Housebuilder
138
16
268
Jul 15
Robert Weston (40%),
management and other (60%)
Braintree
Essex
214
Nexus
Construction services
131
8
624
Sep 15
Michael Morris (50%), Keith
Breen (33%), others (17%)
Ringwood
Hampshire
151
Churchill
Retirement Living
Retirement
housebuilder
†*173
†*57
484
May 16
Clinton McCarthy (49.15%),
Spencer McCarthy (49.15%),
others (1.7%)
Basingstoke
Hampshire
176
Hammer
IT storage distributor
155
6
164
Jan 16
James Stidwell (40%), Paul
Matravers (20%), Jason Beeson
(20%), Jason Goddard (20%)
Southampton
Hampshire
191
WP Group
Fuel and lubricant
distributor
142
3
137
Dec 15
David Fairchild and management
(52%), Barry Fairchild (24%),
Sylvia Fairchild (24%)
Havant
Hampshire
192
[239]
Colt
Ventilation systems
provider
142
7
985
Dec 15
O'Hea family (75%), Colt
Foundation (22%), other (3%)
237
CLC Group
Painting and
maintenance
contractor
121
9
1,009
Dec 15
Hilbre Holdings Limited
614
19
3,882
Mar 16
First Reserve (80% ),
management (20%)
252
6
600
Dec 15
John Reddington (34%), Peter
Moran (33%), Kevin Keegan
(33%)
Southampton
Hampshire
Stevenage
Hertfordshire
Top 3
Morrison Utility
Services
Utility services
provider
Borehamwood
Hertfordshire
71
[155]
JRL Group
Construction
contractor
HQ location and
county
Rank
[2015
rank]
Company
Activity
Royston
Hertfordshire
86
[116]
Volac
Dairy nutrition
supplier
†235
†14
391
Dec 14
Family & charitable trusts
(77.4%), Neville family (22.6%)
Borehamwood
Hertfordshire
88
Durkan Holdings
Building developer
and contractor
†233
†21
225
Nov 15
Durkan family (100%)
Borehamwood
Hertfordshire
175
Masterson Holdings
Building contractor
155
12
314
Aug 15
Michael Masterson (47%), Mona
Masterson (27%), Michael
Masterson Trust (26%)
Cuffley
Hertfordshire
213
Everest Home
Improvements
Home improvement
supplier
131
5
696
Dec 14
Better Capital (90%)
management and others (10%)
Welwyn Garden City
Hertfordshire
228
Bathstore
Bathroom retailer
124
3
567
Jul 15
Warren Stephens and family
(86%) management and other
(14%)
Dartford
Kent
72
[118]
FM Conway
Infrastructure
services provider
248
18
1,262
Mar 16
Michael Conway (95%), Kim
Conway (5%)
Sales
£m
Profit
‡
£m
Staff
Year
end
Main shareholders
Hythe
Kent
73
Holiday Extras
Airport hotel, parking
provider
247
7
736
Mar 15
Gerry and Carol Pack (30%),
Matthew Pack (13%), Jeremy
Pack (12%) oters (45%)
Canterbury
Kent
143
Brett Group
Building materials
supplier
181
10
662
Dec 15
Brett family and trusts (100%)
Dover
Kent
159
Megger
Electrical products
manufacturer
169
16
1,235
Nov 15
TBG AG (100%)
Dartford
Kent
161
[219]
Toolbank
Tool distributor
167
15
810
Dec 15
John Twallin (13%), estates &
settlements trust (47%), other
(40%)
Erith
Kent
247
Stanmore
Contractors
Specialist
subcontractor
117
13
237
Mar 15
Rajbir Manak (99%), Harbhajan
Manak (1%)
Heathrow
Middlesex
54
[80]
Adelie Foods
Food producer and
distributor
295
10
2,649
Mar 15
HIG Capital (>50%), others
(<50%)
Nr. Uxbridge
Middlesex
89
Martin-Baker
Ejection seat
manufacturer
232
66
840
Mar 15
James Martin (18%), John Martin
(16%), management (66%)
Teddington
Middlesex
153
BMT Group
Engineering
consultancy
171
4
1,544
Sep 15
EBT (100%)
Oxford
Oxfordshire
6
[19]
Opus Energy
Energy supplier
573
36
693
Mar 16
GDF Suez (29.99%), Telecom
Plus plc (20%), management
(50.01%)
Thame
Oxfordshire
10
[25]
Travelodge
Budget hotel operator
560
63
9,080
Dec 15
Institutional investors (>50%),
management (<50%)
HQ location and
county
Rank
[2015
rank]
Company
Activity
Bampton
Oxfordshire
157
[238]
P D Hook
Poultry producer
169
25
Witney
Oxfordshire
178
Audley Travel
Tour operator
152
19
Woking
Surrey
19
[30]
McLaren
Automotive
Sports car maker
451
24
Guildford
Surrey
125
TGI Friday's
Restaurant operator
194
Godalming
Surrey
171
Constantine Group
Conglomerate
Redhill
Surrey
186
Leatherhead
Surrey
Sales
£m
Profit
‡
£m
Year
end
Main shareholders
925
Oct 15
Hook family (100%)
371
Dec 15
3i (>50%), management (<50%)
1,492
Dec 15
Bahrain Mumtalakat Holding
Company (57%), TAG Group
(12%), Ron Dennis (10%), other
investors (21%)
8
2,998
Dec 15
Electra Partners (44%),
management team (56%)
156
5
541
Dec 15
Vernon family (49%),
Constantine family (23%), others
(28%)
CitySprint
Logistics provider
146
3
723
Dec 15
Management (>50%), LDC and
Dunedin (<50%)
223
Robert Dyas
Household goods
retailer
125
5
1,397
Mar 15
Theo Paphitis (100%)
Pulborough
West Sussex
11
[31]
Harwoods
Car dealer
553
15
867
Dec 15
Guy Harwood and family (100%)
Worthing
West Sussex
140
[231]
Yeomans
Car dealer
182
6
368
Dec 15
Smith family (100%)
Selsey
West Sussex
201
Natures Way Foods
Fresh salad producer
137
6
912
Mar 15
Langmead family (88%), Susan
Barratt (5%), others (7%)
Staff
‡ Profits = operating profits * Supplied by the company † Annualised figure
The national picture
The Sunday Times Grant Thornton Top Track 250 complements the Top Track 100, published in July, which
features Britain’s biggest private companies. It ranks the next 250-biggest companies by sales, provided they
meet our growth and profitability criteria (see below). The 250 companies grew combined sales by 14% to
£58.1bn, operating profits by 26% to £4.9bn, and staff by 11% to 354,000.
There are 146 companies that were not on the league table in 2015, 50 of which have appeared on the league
table previously, while the remaining 96 make their debuts this year.
The 250 companies are headquartered across the country. London is home to 62 companies and the southeast
47. The Midlands boast 33, Yorkshire and the northeast 31. Scotland has 29, the northwest 24, the southwest
16, the East 3, Wales 1 and Northern Ireland 4.
The full league table will be published as a 8-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.
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, and is currently valued at £2.6bn.
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 which featured on the first Top Track
250 in 2005 with sales of £277.3m, 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
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organisations – those changing, growing and shaping the economy, from start-ups through to large corporates.
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