‘Inspirational’ spirit abounds throughout North West

Almost 100 North West firms have been recognised as ‘inspirational’ in the latest London Stock Exchange Group listing of the UK’s most dynamic and fastest growing small firms.

‘1,000 Companies to Inspire Britain’ features 94 firms from throughout the region for its 2019, and sixth annual listing, an increase of three compared with last year’s 91 companies.

Thirty six of the North West businesses are based in Greater Manchester, making it a ‘stand out’ city, while 19 are based in Cheshire and Chester and 13 are based in Lancashire.

Liverpool-based construction firm Vermont Group has appeared in the listing again, and chief executive Mark Connor said:  “This is quite an achievement for the business as it is the second time we have been featured in this report. We’re absolutely thrilled to be recognised and it really is testament to the hard work and vision of our team.”

Nick Goodwin, managing director of Knowsley-based Standard Fuel Oils, said: “Through continued investment in not only our people, but in each aspect of our business, we hope to keep Inspiring Britain for many years to come.”

Steve Watmough, founder of MediaCityUK-based IT consultancy Mason Advisory, added: “This recognition is such a huge honour for us and the whole team is so excited to be featured in the report. In the last five years we’ve had consistent revenue growth, expanded the team and developed our customer base in the UK and abroad.

“We have grown from a specialist player to a leading IT advisory company, competing with the industry heavyweights in the £8.2bn UK management consultancy sector.

“We are in a position to build on our success, and accolades such as this one strengthen our reputation in the marketplace and allow us to take the business to the next level.”

Publication of the report was celebrated by the opening of the London market this morning with Nicky Morgan MP, chair of the Treasury Select Committee, David Schwimmer, CEO London Stock Exchange Group, and more than 40 companies featured in the 2019 report.

Philip Hammond, Chancellor of the Exchequer, said: “Small businesses not only generate over 50% of all private sector turnover in the UK, they also account for 60% of all UK private sector employment.

“SMEs are the backbone of the UK economy and we are dedicated to supporting these high growth companies to achieve their potential. I congratulate all the companies that are included in this year’s 1000 Companies to Inspire Britain report.”

David Schwimmer, London Stock Exchange Group chief executive, added: “Congratulations to all the companies selected for inclusion in the sixth edition of London Stock Exchange Group’s 1,000 Companies to Inspire Britain report, which identifies the UK’s most dynamic SMEs.

“SMEs drive growth, innovation and job creation and are the lifeblood of the British economy.

“We believe that supporting the growth of these businesses is critical to the UK economy and the creation of a society that works for everyone.”

Overall average annual revenue growth of the 1,000 UK companies featured in the report was 108%, up from 70% in 2018.

The top five industries represented by the 1,000 UK companies are engineering & construction, retail, manufacturing, information technology, and healthcare, accounting for 44% of the overall list.

The 1,000 companies in this year’s report together created 95,827 jobs over the past two-year period, a 39% increase compared with last year’s report.

London and South East England continue to have the greatest number of companies, followed by North West England, East of England and the West Midlands.

The North West firms featured in this year’s report are: The Blackpool Pier Company, The Alchemist Group, Gusto Restaurants Group, Inspired Energy, Potensial, Signature Living Hotel, Acepark, Active Flooring Solutions, Akw Group, Alderburgh, Althams Travel Services, Burke Investments, Beechfield Brands Holdings, Bhid Group, Blue Prism Group, Guy Fennell Holdings, Cheshire West & Chester Leisure Cic, Candour Logistics, Benefit Holdings, Carfinance247, Carrs Foods Holdings, Cheshire Mouldings & Woodturnings, Chrystal Holdings, Control Valve Solutions, Easy-Trim Roofing And Construction Products, Simginuity, Fairhome Group, Fcms, Fletchers Solicitors, Flowtech Fluidpower, Gaskells, Gladman Developments, Grosvenor Farms, Inxpress Global, Jackson Lees Group, James Hargreaves Holdings, J & K Confectionery, Capital Group, Kenny Waste Management, Kindertons Topco, Mast Group, Sidcot Group, Hugh L S Mcconnell, Medtrade Products, Merlin Diesel Systems, Neuven Solutions Holdings, Norwest Foods International Group, Pct Healthcare (Holdings), Portal Construction, Premier Care, Proseal UK, Recycling Lives Holdings, Renaker Build, Republic Of Media, Rinus Roofing Supplies, The Rosebery Group Holdings, Russell Taylor Holdings, Safeguard World International Holdings, Southerns, Standard Fuel Oils, Steel Dynamics, Story Contracting, Story Homes, Sapphire Utility Solutions, The Bridge (IT Recruitment), Vermont Property Group, Wealth At Work Group, Mission Mars, Next Generation Travel, Ikon Hardware, Aftab Currency Exchange, A Pearson Holdings, Cybele Solutions Holdings, Footasylum, Dotcom Retail, Cardinal Maritime Holdings, Cmac Group, Denim Merchants, Eddie Rockers, GBA Services, Granada Material Handling, Hexagon Care Services, Kinaxia, Medlock Frb, H Newton Hale & Sons, Rainy City Investments, Pentre Group Holdings, Rowe Hankins, Sykes Cottages Holdings, M & S Logistics, Tiger Trailers, Up Global Sourcing Holdings.