Local companies centre stage in SundayTimes Grant Thornton Top Track 250
SOME 18 companies based in the West Midlands will feature in the 11th annual Sunday Times Grant Thornton Top Track 250 league table which is published this weekend.
The table ranks the UK’s private mid-market growth companies with the largest sales.
The 18 companies headquartered in the West Midlands have made a strong contribution to the local economy. These companies increased combined sales 20% to £5.3bn and operating profits 33% to £261m, and they employ nearly 15,000 people.
The biggest mid-market growth company in the region is Warwick-based First Utility, placed at 9 in the table. The energy supplier almost doubled its turnover to £562m in 2014, helped by a television and online advertising campaign.
There are seven entrants in the West Midlands that were not on the league table last year, including Birmingham automotive engineer, Sertec (174), which benefited from bumper orders from customers such as Jaguar Land Rover to grow sales 32% to £181m in 2015.
Warwickshire-based Pertemps Network Group (11) achieved the highest profit growth in the West Midlands, up 88% to £15m. The recruitment consultancy was formed in 2012 when Pertemps merged with Network Group, then an AIM-listed company, in a £20m management buyout.
The league table and awards programme is sponsored by Grant Thornton and Barclays, and compiled for the 11th year by Fast Track, the Oxford-based research and networking events company.
David Hillan, regional managing partner at Grant Thornton UK, the title sponsor of the league table, praised the companies for their performance:
He said: “It’s inspiring to see such a diverse range of businesses creating growth opportunities both at home and abroad and positively contributing to the UK economy.
“The fact that over half of the Top Track 250 businesses are headquartered outside of London and the South East speaks to the growing influence of the UK’s regional business hubs and the opportunity these present in the creation of a more vibrant UK economy, where business and people can thrive.”
The other West Midlands firms to feature are Gaydon car manufacturer Aston Martin, in 20th place with £519.2m in sales, Coleshill car distributor IM Group (33/£471.6m), Warwick car dealer Rybrook (42/£438m), Warwick communications support group Telent (65/£331.8m), Bromsgrove recruiter The Best Connection (79/£301.4m), Redditch car dealer Johnsons Cars (91/£270.3m), Birmingham car dealer Drayton Group (112/£241.3n), Telford automotive components supplier Stadco (122/£232.4m), Warwick diagnostics imaging services firm Alliance Medical (142/£210.7m), Lichfield logistics firm Palletways (146/£208.2m), Stoke-on-Trent recruiter LA International (167/£188.8m), Wolverhampton car dealer Brindley Garages (214/£158.4m), Coleshill logistics firm Davies Turner (216/£158m), Stoke-on-Trent wood panel distributor Meyer Timber Group (240/£145.8m) and Sutton Coldfield discount retailer The Works (250/£141.7m).
