Which NW firms made the national profit track league table?
SOME 13 companies headquartered in the North West have been listed in the annual Sunday Times BDO Profit Track 100 league table, which ranks UK firms with the fastest growing profits over three years.
Although this is the same number of companies from the region to make the list as last year, 12 of those companies are new entrants.
Together these North West companies employ 6,800 staff and have combined profits of £116m.
Among the companies listed is Wilmslow-based software engineer Mobica. International customers, such as Intel, use its technology in smartphones, cars and devices such as set-top boxes. Offices in Poland, Silicon Valley and Mexico helped profits grow by an average of 95% a year to £11.2m in 2015.
Featuring on the league table for a record sixth time and the only returning company from the region is Carlisle-based Story Homes. The housebuilder strengthened its land bank during the recession and has been expanding into Scotland, and across the North of England. It grew profits by an average of 81% a year to £22m in 2016, when it completed on 565 properties.
The North West companies appear with businesses from around the UK, including domestic appliance designer Gtech, bottled drinks manufacturer Radnor Hills and gym operator PureGym.
These companies have achieved a higher average rate of profit growth (83%) than any previous Profit Track 100 league table, which have typically ranged from 50%-75% pa. The minimum rate of profit growth to secure a place has also risen to 57% pa – annual growth in the mid-40s has typically been sufficient to feature on previous tables.
London is the most popular location for company headquarters with 25, followed by the South East (15). Of the remainder, 13 are based in the North West, eight in Scotland, seven in the West Midlands, seven in Yorkshire, seven in the South West, five in Wales, four in the East Midlands, four in the East, four in Northern Ireland, and one in the North East.
The league table is compiled by Fast Track, the Oxford-based research firm. The full list will be published in the Sunday Times this weekend.
