Recruiters dominate in Top Track 250 league
MORE than 30 companies from the region, led by Fircroft, the Warrington industrial recruiter, have been ranked among the UK’s top mid-market private companies.
Fircroft ranked 10th overall, which sold a stake to private equity firm Equistone earlier this year, is one of a clutch of recruitment businesses making the Sunday Times Grant Thornton Top Track 250.
The others are Morson (23rd) NES Global Talent (64th place), Air Energi (191st), Morson Group (23rd), Rullion (142) and recruitment process outsourcer de Poel (65th).
Interestingly all bar de Poel and Rullion have gone through significant corporate deals this year, with NES and Air Energi completing multi-million buyouts this month and Morson being taken private from AIM,
Despite tough economic conditions, the 32 North West companies achieved combined sales of £10.4bn and employ 39,835 people.
Now in its eighth year, the Top Track 250 champions Britain’s leading mid-market private companies. To be included, companies must have reported increased sales or operating profit in their latest available accounts.
David Maxwell, partner at Grant Thornton, said : “It is great to see privately owned companies – including many which Grant Thornton has helped to support – making such a positive contribution to the UK economy.
“Impressive leadership is ensuring they prosper despite tough trading conditions, with many companies expanding through their international operations and all making sure they retain and engage talented people in the UK.”
Other major North West businesses ranked in the table’s top 100 are: fast-growing retailer Pets at Home in 22nd spot; Warburtons, the Bolton-based baker in 26th position with sales of £495.5m and James Hall, the Preston-based grocery wholesaler in 37th.
Warrington-based Electricity North West (54th), Crewe’s Bargain Booze (61st); Peel Ports is in 72nd spot while another Liverpool firm S Norton, the recycling company is in 75th place with sales of £352.3m.
Cumbria’s Innovia Films is ranked 82nd ; Cheshire-based dairy products specialist Meadow Foods is in 85th place with annual sales of £341m; pharmaceutical wholesaler Mawdsley is 87th; cotton merchant Plexus Cotton in 98th and newly-floated Luxfer Group in 99th slot.
