Host of region’s businesses stake their place on elite profit table

Carpet manufacturer Brintons, which ran into financial difficulties in 2011, is among seven West Midlands businesses to have made it onto an elite list ranking Britain’s private companies with the fastest-growing profits over three years.

The seven companies headquartered in the West Midlands, compared to four last year, include six new entrants to the Sunday Times BDO Profit Track 100. They have made a strong contribution to the local economy, together employing 2,300 staff and have achieved combined profits of £63m.

Brintons Carpets, a 230-year-old business based in Kidderminster, has returned to strength in its key residential markets of Britain, Australia and Poland, and won commercial projects such as the P&O Britannia, Britain’s biggest ship. Profits grew by an average of 72% a year to £9m in 2016.

Featuring for the second time is Worcestershire-based Gtech. The appliance manufacturer makes cordless vacuum cleaners, sweepers, garden tools and an electric bicycle. The popularity of its flagship AirRam vacuum helped profits grow by an average of 106% a year to £9m in 2016.

The companies in the West Midlands appear with businesses from around the UK, including restaurant operator Bill’s, bottled drinks manufacturer Radnor Hills and gym operator PureGym.
The league table and awards programme is sponsored by BDO and UBS Wealth Management, and is compiled by Fast Track, the Oxford-based research and networking events firm.

Richard Rose, partner and head of the Midlands at BDO, said: “High-growth, mid-sized businesses played a leading role in the UK economic recovery after the global financial crisis. With Brexit and more uncertainty looming, it is companies like these with their natural energy, ambition and entrepreneurial spirit that will help the UK economy thrive. By supporting their growth, government would also be helping to achieve a more regionally balanced economy that ‘works for all’.”