Sales up but profits remain elusive for some Solent 250 companies


Turnovers have risen at the Solent 250 grouping of the top private companies – but there are many businesses that are making small or negligible profits or, indeed, none at all


The downturn has taken its toll on the bottom line of the top independent businesses in the region as margins have been squeezed across diverse sectors.


Our top 250 list has a combined turnover of £11.94 billion, up from £11.1b. Employing 82,000 people, these companies make a significant contribution to the economy of the South East.


At the top of the list is Arqiva, the Winchester-headquartered leader in communications infrastructure. With sales of more than £800 million, Arqiva is a major WiFi provider for businesses, providing services for key clients such as Heathrow Airport.


The company provided the transmission capability for the Government’s first Budget broadcast in 1928, and was behind the first satellite TV tests in 1978. Other ’firsts’ included the world’s first digital terrestrial TV launch in 1998 and the world’s first outsourced mobile phone network in 2001.


The Solent 250 represents a wealth of locally-headquartered businesses, including household names such as Fitness First, Fat Face, Sunseeker and Lush.


Fitness First is second in the list with a turnover of more than £600m. With over 80 UK clubs, Fitness First is the largest privately- owned health and fitness group in the world, with over one million members globally.


Recently, Andy Cosslett, former CEO of InterContinental Hotels Group, has been appointed to the top job at Fitness First, and aims to get the company back into profit. He has already said he wants the Poole- based company, as it grows, to remain privately owned.


Third in the list is the University of Southampton, posting profits of £14.2m on £438m turnover. The university has always been at the forefront of innovation and recently switched on one of the most powerful supercomputers in the UK, cementing its pre-eminent position in high-performance computing (more on page 31).


See next month's issue of The Business Magazine for coverage of the Solent 250 annual awards.


Rules of engagement


• Solent 250 companies must be private, independent businesses


• Listed companies (either LSE or foreign markets) are excluded


• Companies must be trading in the Solent region, with their main headquarters located in the region


• Companies that list their registered office in the region, but don’t trade from that address, are excluded


• Companies that are foreign-owned are excluded


• Universities are included, although it is accepted that some of their income is derived from the public purse


• Businesses in last year’s 250 were asked to submit their latest results; some of these are included as they are more current than our other sources


• Otherwise, Companies House records are used, provided by FAME and OneSource


• In some cases, last year’s turnover has been subsequently updated


• The Solent region is defined as most of Hampshire (south of Basingstoke) and parts of Dorset, Wiltshire and West Sussex.


Sponsored by Santander, law firm Paris Smith and business adviser Grant Thornton, the Solent 250 is a campaign run by The Business Magazine.


The Solent 250 excludes some companies featured last year as further research has revealed foreign ownership, public placement of shares, or that the company is a subsidiary of a group headquartered elsewhere. Companies that have lost their place on the list include Avient, Whitequay and Thierry’s Wine Services.


But new names appearing this year include OneCom, Merlin Entertainments and Trimline.


Solent 250 sponsors


THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE – SOLENT & SOUTH CENTRAL – NOVEMBER 2013


www.businessmag.co.uk


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