Yorkshire firms get Top Track 100 listing
A trio of Yorkshire-based companies have been ranked on the Sunday Times HSBC Top Track 100 league table, which lists Britain’s top private companies with the biggest sales.
The three companies headquartered in Yorkshire have made a significant contribution to the regional economy. Together they achieved sales of £3.4bn and profits of £681m in their last financial year, and collectively employ more than 8,700 people.
The highest-ranked company in the region is Bradford-based JCT600 at No 47 with sales of £1.2bn in 2016, up 7%. The Bradford-based car dealer now operates 50 showrooms across northern England, selling 19 marques including Audi, VW, BMW and Mercedes-Benz, as well as prestige cars including Ferrari, Porsche and Aston Martin.
Doncaster-based Keepmoat, at No 50 with sales of £1.1bn, is the second-biggest private company in Yorkshire having built 2,925 new homes last year. In April, the firm completed the sale of its regeneration arm to French energy provider ENGIE for £330m.
At 52 is Yorkshire Water (Kelda), the water services provider, with sales of £1.063bn.
The companies in Yorkshire appear with businesses from around the UK, including high-profile national brands such as Dyson, JCB, Specsavers and Virgin Atlantic.
Despite the economic and political uncertainty facing the UK following the decision to leave the EU, almost three quarters of the table (72 companies) increased sales in their last financial year.
The league table is sponsored by HSBC and Linklaters, and is compiled by Fast Track, the Oxford-based research and networking events company.
Dan Howlett, head of corporate banking at HSBC UK,said: “It’s encouraging to see so many businesses not only thriving in these uncertain times, but achieving a higher growth rate than in 2016. These companies embody the very best of UK entrepreneurialism with their determination to grow, succeed and seek out new opportunities. And it’s not just young companies eagerly chasing opportunities, we’re seeing long established companies exercising similar rigour and refusing to become complacent. I look forward to both helping and watching these businesses continue to go from strength to strength.”
