Five companies recognised for exporting excellence in Export Track

FIVE Yorkshire companies have made the Sunday Times Heathrow SME Export Track 100 – a list which aims to showcase the best of small and medium businesses who are trading on a global platform.

Three of the five are new entrants to the list, and between them they employ nearly 500 people with a combined turnover of £42m.

First on the list in 16th place is pensions communications consultancy AHC is a Wakefield company specialising in cartoons and animations with international sales growing 118% over the past two years, topping the Yorkshire delegation on the list.

Doncaster’s Turbine Efficiency saw 98% sales growth over two years, replaced a turbine in the Burmese jungle. The growing business, a new entrant to the list, came in at 26th place.

Dewsbury-based Pet Brands sells to 62 countries throughout the world, and has been named in 35th place this year whilst Leeds’ Search Laboratory, an online marketing agency employing 128 staff also made the list, with international sales growing 68%.

Last but not least, safety barrier manufacturer A-Safe is installing barriers as far away as Ohio. It is supplying Volkswagen there and in Germany, with sales topping £12.5m.

John Holland-Kaye, chief executive of Heathrow Airport, headline sponsor of the league table, commented: “For many small businesses exporting starts with a single box on a plane, not a container on a ship. As Britain’s biggest port by value Heathrow recognises the significant economic contribution that SMEs make to the UK through international trade.

“That’s why access to the new and growing markets of the world is so important – and why expansion at Heathrow is key, generating £211 billion in economic benefit and 180,000 jobs across the whole of the UK.”