Supercharged NW companies in latest ranking of UK’s fastest growing private firms
Ten North West firms have made it on to the list of the UK’s fastest growing private firms, published this weekend.
The 24th annual Sunday Times Virgin Atlantic Fast Track 100 league table ranks Britain’s private companies with the fastest-growing sales.
The 10 North West firms, down from 11 last year, include five new entrants.
Their sales have grown by an average of 71% a year over three years to a total of £311m, all are profitable, and they employ more than 3,700 people. The figures relate to financial periods before COVID-19 struck.
The region’s top-ranked company is a new entrant, National Care Group, based in Accrington in Lancashire, which ranks in the top three nationally, having grown sales by an average of 183% a year to £60.8m in 2019.
It supports individuals with complex care needs, providing supported living and residential services, and has recruited 650 staff since March.
It was co-founded in 2016 by Faisal Lalani, who previously helped set up 99p Stores.
Another new entrant is Manchester fashion brand Manière de Voir (No 86), launched in 2013 by former Manchester City and England U20 footballer Reece Wabara, 28, who retired from the game in 2017 to concentrate on the business.
That decision has paid off, with its sales growing 42% a year to reach £10.3m in 2019, with America now accounting for more than a quarter of revenues.
The companies from the region appear with businesses from around Britain, including BrewDog, the brewers, and fitness clothing brand Gymshark, both valued at more than £1bn.
Past star alumni include chip designer ARM, which featured in 1997 with sales of £16.7m and is in the process of being bought by American technology giant Nvidia for £31bn, and drinks maker Fever-Tree, which floated in 2014 at £154m and is now worth £2.9bn.
Sir Richard Branson, founder of Virgin Atlantic and Virgin Group, which has supported Fast Track 100 for all 24 years, said: “While we are living in extremely uncertain and challenging times, there is one thing I am certain of – entrepreneurs are the dreamers, the doers, and the innovators that have the power to have a positive impact on society.
“There are so many inspiring examples of this on the Fast Track 100 league table showing this is just as true, if not more so, in 2020 as it ever has been.”
