100GROWTH


Property dominates top of Growth Index


This month The Business Magazine launches the new SME 100 Growth Index – a listing of the region’s fast-growing small and medium-sized enterprises


The list, based on increase in turnover, highlights the SMEs that have grown significantly in the past year. And, since ‘growth is the word’, SMEs were invited to a breakfast seminar this month at Donnington Valley Hotel, near Newbury, where the theme was ‘growth’.


Supported by HSBC, James Cowper Kreston, Henley Business School, VitalSix and Thames Valley Berkshire Business Growth Hub, the Growth Index is a barometer of the region’s economy.


It shows, unsurprisingly, that property and construction is a sector driving the Thames Valley forward as the recovery takes hold. Technology, particularly cloud, is also a growth sector, while there are notable successes in insurance and legal services.


This month, SMEs were being recognised at a breakfast seminar with Mark Berrisford-Smith, head of economics at HSBC, painting a picture of what the next 12 months was likely to reveal – and Barinder Hothi, co-founder of The Knowledge Academy, telling the story of the growth of her highly successful Thames Valley business.


With a 33% growth in sales in the past year, The Knowledge Academy, founded by Barinder and Dilshad Hothi, is typical of the fast-moving entrepreneneurial businesses that pervade in the Thames Valley.


Also presenting was Ed Cooper of the Business Growth Hub, a focal point for ambitious businesses who are seeking the information, guidance, support, expertise, finance,


knowledge and experience they need to scale up and grow, boost performance and find new ways of working.


Focusing on companies with £15 million turnover or less, the Growth Index ranks businesses by sales growth, and includes only private independent entities. Public companies and foreign-owned enterprises are excluded.


David Murray, publisher of The Business Magazine, said: “The Index shows that, despite the years of recession, many companies have continued to grow – and some in a spectacular fashion. To see businesses with more than 80% growth year-on-year is outstanding.”


At the top of the Growth Index are:


Loxwood Holdings – a group that includes specialist companies operating within the security, development, electrical and aviation markets. Based at Begbroke, Oxford, Loxwood has helicopter services; owns Toure International, a private security company; and has an award-winning developer in its portfolio. Loxwood Developments was the first company in the UK to use energy-efficient Thermohouse Insulated Concrete Form (ICF) to build two substantial houses in the Cotswolds.


Beaufield Homes – a property developer formed in 1989 with a reputation for superior quality houses. Building largely in Surrey and London, Beaufield is based at Guildford and has won a number of industry awards.


If you are an SME in the region and would like to come to an event, contact Linda Morse at linda@elcot.co.uk.


Rules of engagement


• SME 100 companies must be private, independent businesses


• SME 100 Growth companies are those showing positive turnover growth – with turnover below £15m


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


• Companies must be trading in the Thames Valley 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


• Companies House records are used, provided by FAME and Experian.


The Thames Valley region is defined as Berkshire, most of Oxfordshire, plus south Bucks, parts of Surrey and northern parts of Hampshire. It follows the circulation of the Thames Valley edition of The Business Magazine.


THAMES VALLEY SME TM


SPONSORS


THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE – THAMES VALLEY – NOVEMBER 2015


www.businessmag.co.uk


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