Six firms make Tech Track list

SIX North West technology firms have made it on to a list of the UK’s fastest growing firms in the sector.

Sunday Times Hiscox Tech Track 100, a league table that ranks Britain’s private technology, media and telecoms (TMT) companies with the fastest-growing sales over three years, has singled out Music Magpie, The Hut Group, m-hance, WEMSinternational, Metronet and ANS Group.

The six firms – down from eight last year – employ 1,748 people and have achieved combined sales of £279m.

Tech Track has singled out:

• Macclesfield-based online entertainment trader musicmagpie.co.uk was founded in 2007 by Steve Oliver and Walter Gleeson, and chaired by Allan Leighton. It lets users sell unwanted entertainment and electrical goods, and is backed by LDC. Sales grew 191% a year, from £2.6m in 2009 to £63.2m in 2012. Rank: 6, down from 3.
• The Hut Group, based in Northwich, is another online retailer that has grown rapidly in recent years. It has around 500 staff and annual sales of £142m. Rank: 36, down from 8.
• m-hance, the Stockport software developer, was launched last year by Mark Thompson. He brought together a number of business and has continued to build the business by acquisition. It has sales of £9.6m and 126 staff. Rank: 80. New entrant.
• WEMSinternational, also in Stockport, makes and installs wireless energy management systems. Last week private equity fund manager WHEB Partners bought a majority stake for £13m along with Hermes GPE through the Hermes GPE Environmental Innovation Fund. It has sales of £12m and 63 staff. Rank: 61. New entrant.
• Manchester-based Metronet is a wireless internet service provider that was snapped up by private equity investor LDC in June, in a deal understood to be worth £15m. It has sales of £5.8m and 37 staff. Rank: 87. New entrant.
• Scott Fletcher’s ANS Group, an IT services and cloud computing provider, has grown by acquisition and organic sales. It has revenue of £46.7m and 130 staff. Last week it announced an £8m investment at east Manchester’s Sharp Project. Rank: 57, up from 81.

Steve Langan, UK managing director of Tech Track sponsor, said: “Just as London 2012 will inspire young athletes, so too should the stories behind these Tech Track companies inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs.  

“Brainy, tenacious and above all hard working, these privately-owned businesses deserve every bit of recognition for their important contribution to our economy.”