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7 North East firms ranked among top 250 UK private mid-market growth companies

Seven North East companies have been recognised amongst the UK’s fastest growing firms.

Published this weekend, the 11th annual Sunday Times Grant Thornton Top Track 250 league table ranks the UK’s private mid-market growth companies with the biggest sales.

The seven companies have increased combined sales 36% to £1.4bn and operating profits 25% to £79m, and they employ more than 6,000 people.

The biggest mid-market growth company in the region is Durham-based Esh Group. Improved market confidence, the acquisition of Border Construction for an undisclosed sum, and investment in Yorkshire, where it doubled its office space, helped sales rise 44% to £277m last year.

There are five entrants in the region which were not on the league table last year, including Simpsons Malt, a malt producer in Berwick upon Tweed, and Newcastle-based Parkdean, which runs 24 holiday parks in Scotland, Wales and the southwest. The company announced plans last month to merge with rival caravan parks operator Park Resorts in a deal worth a reported £1bn, including debt.

South Shields-based clothing manufacturer Barbour achieved the highest profits in the North East, of £29m on sales of £167m, up 10%.

The league table and awards programme is sponsored by Grant Thornton and Barclays, and compiled for the 11th year by Fast Track, the Oxford-based research and networking events company.

Andy Wood, Partner at Grant Thornton UK LLP, the title sponsor of the league table, praised the companies for their performance: “It’s inspiring to see such a diverse range of businesses creating growth opportunities both at home and abroad and positively contributing to the UK economy.

“The fact that over half of the Top Track 250 businesses are headquartered outside of London and the southeast speaks to the growing influence of the UK’s regional business hubs and the opportunity these present in the creation of a more vibrant UK economy, where business and people can thrive.”

The companies with businesses from around the UK, including Chelsea Football Club, Nando’s, Caffè Nero, Foster + Partners, Graff and Travelodge.