SOUTHERN TECH 100


TM


Top tech turnover is southern success


The top 100 private technology companies in the south increased turnover overall by half a billion pounds in the past year


The latest Southern Tech 100 listing, compiled by The Business Magazine, showed overall sales up from just under £5.3 billion to £5.8b.


Big risers in the year were Brandpath, Anesco, IRIS Software, Bell Microsystems, GreenTech Distribution, Xeretec, Vohkus, Timico and UKCloud, among others.


Among those missing off the list this year are Airwave, which was acquired by Motorola, and Sophos, which went public.


The list, sponsored by business advisers Moore Stephens, Barclays, insurance group Hiscox and IP specialist Marks & Clerk, includes diverse businesses from innovative software firms that own their intellectual property to IT hardware distributors and telecoms companies.


Brandpath (number 4) is the Marlow-based company that takes a client’s products and delivers them to the customer quickly, using an end-to-end solution. The company began in 1998 and last year signed major agreements with Samsung, Sony, Alcatel, Huawei and Google. Chairman and CEO is Peter Jones, best known as a dragon on BBC’s Dragons’ Den.


Anesco (number 5) is a cleantech company based in Reading. One of the UK’s fastest- growing private companies, it is supported by the private equity firm CBPE Capital. Anesco specialises in solar, batter storage, ECO delivery and renewable maintenance, and has 150 permanent staff and up to 600 contractors.


IRIS Software (number 8) is the UK’s leading provider of business critical payroll software and accountancy solutions for accountants in business and practice. Recently it has acquired financial management software firm PS Financials as it continues to grow. More than three million tax returns are filed on IRIS software every year. Based at Datchet, IRIS appointed Kevin Dady as its new CEO at the start of 2016.


At the top of the list, as in previous years, is Westcoast. With turnover of £1.6 billion, the IT products supplier dwarfs other companies on the list. Based at Theale, Westcoast was established more than 30 years ago and has built strong relationships with major brands such as Apple and Microsoft.


The Southern Tech 100 companies together employ nearly 19,000 people.


Rules of engagement


The 100 listing is ranked by turnover. The key criteria for inclusion are: •


• •


• •


It is headquartered with its main trading address in the region


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


Foreign-owned companies are excluded


• Companies House records are used, provided by FAME


Multinationals are excluded. Event


Next month, The Business Magazine and the Southern Tech 100 sponsors, host an invitation- only dinner at Oakley Hall near Basingstoke for technology companies. For further details, email our events manager Linda Morse at linda@elcot.co.uk


The company is independent and private


See page 32 for Ones to Watch


Business THE TM MAGAZINE THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE – SOLENT & SOUTH COAST – FEBRUARY 2017 businessmag.co.uk 29


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