The Business Magazine March 2024

Thames Valley SME 100 Growth Index 2022

The annual Thames Valley SME Growth 100 index recognises and promotes the region’s high-growth small and medium-sized enterprises, and is ranked by year on year growth.

To be included in the listing, businesses need to be based in the Thames Valley and to have grown their turnover significantly in the past year. The listing only includes independent, privately-owned companies, headquartered in the region, with a turnover of no more than £20m.

The 2022 edition of the Thames Valley SME Growth 100 index is sponsored by law firm Herrington Carmichael, commercial property consultants Hicks Baker and audit, tax, advisory and risk firm Crowe UK

This year, more than half of the listing’s top 100 companies are newcomers, demonstrating the impressive growth that so many businesses have managed to achieve, particularly with so many newcomers appearing toward the top of the listing.

Top of the index this year is Oxford BioTherapeutics with a substantial growth of 154.5%. Based in Abingdon, this clinical stage oncology company has made great progress in the development of immunotherapies for cancer, focusing on ‘first-in-class immune therapies’ that aim to improve the outcomes for patients.

Though new to the listing, Porthaven Group, based in Windsor, takes second place. An independent company, this group specialises in building and operating ‘market leading care homes’ that offer ‘exceptional surroundings’, fine dining, and dementia care.

In third place is the Winnersh-based FullCircl, previously on the listing as Artesian Solutions, supporting businesses with customer lifecycle intelligence that will help to engage with customers to keep them on for life, encouraging its clients to ‘own the market’.

Despite being another newcomer, UK Land Group takes fourth place and exhibits the highest turnover statistics in the listing’s top 5. Based in Hungerford, this company owns properties throughout the UK and specialises in the acquisition of ‘privately and publicly owned property companies’ as well as venturing into land where there are perceived ‘medium to long term’ opportunities.

Fifth place is filled by yet another newcomer – The Hartley Wintney-based IMSL (Industrial Microbiological Services) provides a testing and consultancy service that specialises in the microbiology of materials. IMSL is customer and service driven, producing claims that are supported by ‘fully robust, scientifically and statistically sound data’.

The Business Magazine congratulates all the companies that qualified for this year’s TV SME Growth 100 Index.

Got a question?

Ranking

Published: 27 September 2022

  



				
									﻿2022
									Company
									Town
									Description
									Turnover £m
									YoY Growth %
									Employees
									Year-end
				
			

				
									1
									Oxford BioTherapeutics
									Abingdon
									Clinical stage oncology
									5.6
									155
									13
									31/12/20
				
			

				
									2
									Porthaven Group
									Windsor
									Care Homes
									6.5
									150
									146
									31/12/20
				
			

				
									3
									FullCircl
									Winnersh
									Customer lifecycle intelligence platform
									9.5
									116
									72
									31/12/21
				
			

				
									4
									UK Land Group
									Hungerford
									Property aquisition & development
									12.2
									103
									29
									30/04/21
				
			

				
									5
									IMSL (industrial microbiological services)
									Hartley Wintney
									Testing & consultancy services
									1.4
									100
									15
									31/01/21
				
			

				
									6
									Square Health
									Windsor
									Health technology solution provider
									11.5
									95
									59
									31/03/21
				
			

				
									7
									Greens Catering
									Chalgrove
									Event caterer
									9.6
									92
									4
									31/03/21
				
			

				
									8
									Yospace
									Staines-upon-Thames
									Ad insertion solutions
									12.6
									80
									39
									31/12/20
				
			

				
									9
									Walker Logistics
									Reading
									Logistics provider
									14.0
									65
									150
									31/08/21
				
			

				
									10
									MEL Science
									Amersham
									DIY chemistry sets
									14.6
									64
									10
									31/12/20
				
			

				
									11
									M4 Recruitment
									Thatcham
									Recruitment agency
									19.8
									61
									180
									31/03/21
				
			

				
									12
									Metropolis Capital
									Amersham
									Investment management
									6.1
									56
									11
									30/11/21
				
			

				
									13
									Blue Apple Contract Catering
									Reading
									Catering services
									7.9
									52
									218
									31/03/22
				
			

				
									14
									Aurora Energy Research
									Oxford
									Analytic and advisory services
									13.5
									50
									131
									31/12/20
				
			

				
									15
									Bridewell Consulting
									Reading
									Cyber Security
									13.8
									48
									170
									21/04/22
				
			

				
									16
									Matrix Electronics
									Theale
									Electronics distributor
									6.8
									48
									15
									31/12/21
				
			

				
									17
									Puzzle Freight
									West Drayton
									Courier & logistics solutions
									5.9
									37
									-
									31/12/21
				
			

				
									18
									Inside Out Group
									Bicester
									Multi-trade construction
									17.6
									35
									74
									31/05/21
				
			

				
									19
									Hawkins Group of Companies
									Banbury
									Construction
									27.4
									35
									89
									30/09/21
				
			

				
									20
									Labcold
									Basingstoke
									Medical & scientific refridgeration
									13.9
									35
									65
									30/11/21
				
			

				
									21
									AYM Services
									Uxbridge
									Roofing contractors 
									15.3
									34
									-
									30/09/21
				
			

				
									22
									Hazlemere 
									High Wycombe
									Double glazing fabricators
									15.1
									34
									105
									31/01/22
				
			

				
									23
									Deanfield Homes
									High Wycombe
									Housebuilder
									16.3
									34
									17
									31/03/21
				
			

				
									24
									Cyberfort Group
									Thatcham
									Cyber security solutions
									19.1
									34
									126
									31/12/21
				
			

				
									25
									Warner Surveys
									Theale
									Underground utility services
									0.8
									33
									7
									31/12/21
				
			

				
									26
									QHS (Quality Heating Services)
									High Wycombe
									Heating services 
									9.0
									32
									115
									31/03/21
				
			

				
									27
									Bower & Bailey 
									Witney
									Legal services
									17.2
									32
									126
									31/05/21
				
			

				
									28
									Charterhouse Muller UK
									Reading
									Secure IT asset disposal
									2.1
									31
									20
									30/06/21
				
			

				
									29
									Haes Technologies
									West Drayton
									Fire alarm system control manufacturers
									1.8
									29
									17
									31/12/21
				
			

				
									30
									GB Fleetcare
									Banbury
									Fleet maintenance
									16.7
									28
									113
									30/09/21
				
			

				
									31
									Country Estates
									Reading
									Office space & commercial property provider
									8.7
									28
									36
									31/12/20
				
			

				
									32
									GBR Technology
									Silchester
									Lubricant/fluid supplier
									3.7
									28
									15
									30/06/21
				
			

				
									33
									WG Carter
									Abingdon
									Specialists in the renovation and construction
									19.2
									27
									69
									30/09/21
				
			

				
									34
									Mar Facilities Management
									Binfield
									Facilities management
									16.2
									27
									575
									31/12/20
				
			

				
									35
									Aston Chemicals
									Aylesbury
									Speciality chemicals distributor
									14.8
									26
									42
									30/06/21
				
			

				
									36
									Oneplm
									Eynsham
									Digital software reseller
									19.6
									26
									71
									30/09/21
				
			

				
									37
									5G Communications
									High Wycombe
									Telecoms services
									18.5
									26
									98
									30/09/21
				
			

				
									38
									Glenholme Healthcare
									Eton
									Care services
									13.3
									25
									415
									31/03/21
				
			

				
									39
									FG Alden
									Kidlington
									Building service engineers
									13.4
									25
									81
									30/09/21
				
			

				
									40
									S4labour
									Banbury
									Labour management software
									2.5
									25
									46
									31/03/22
				
			

				
									41
									Gigaclear
									Abingdon
									Broadband provider
									14.1
									25
									387
									31/12/20
				
			

				
									42
									Ilecsys Group
									Princes Risborough
									Electrical distribution
									16.2
									25
									75
									30/06/21
				
			

				
									43
									Christopher Ward London
									Maidenhead
									English-Swiss watchmaker
									13.2
									25
									59
									31/03/21
				
			

				
									44
									bChannels
									Oxford
									Channel & partner network specialist
									9.9
									24
									115
									31/12/20
				
			

				
									45
									T A Fisher
									Theale
									Building & development
									17.5
									23
									75
									30/06/21
				
			

				
									46
									CIPHR
									Marlow
									Human resources software solutions
									19.2
									23
									200
									31/12/21
				
			

				
									47
									Hewland Engineering
									Maidenhead
									Gearboxes & component parts
									9.2
									23
									101
									31/08/21
				
			

				
									48
									Ktwo
									Aylesbury
									Manufacture of muck spreaders & trailers
									9.8
									23
									87
									31/12/21
				
			

				
									49
									Mediafleet
									Witney
									Vehicle branding
									4.4
									22
									37
									30/06/21
				
			

				
									50
									Meech International
									Witney
									Specialist manufacturing 
									15.7
									22
									107
									30/09/21
				
			

				
									51
									Craft Buddy
									Chesham
									Art & craft trade supplier
									6.8
									21
									24
									31/12/21
				
			

				
									52
									Adamson Construction
									Slough
									Construction
									7.4
									21
									47
									31/03/21
				
			

				
									53
									Bauer Group
									Datchet
									Commercial property developers
									6.3
									21
									24
									31/12/20
				
			

				
									54
									Ecoserv Group
									Wallingford
									Sustainable FM Services
									16.7
									21
									682
									31/12/20
				
			

				
									55
									Arcum
									Theale
									IT products supplier
									16.7
									21
									30
									30/09/21
				
			

				
									56
									Frog Bikes
									Ascot
									Childrens bike manufacturers
									12.9
									19
									73
									28/02/21
				
			

				
									57
									Wingfield and Hodgkin
									Great Missenden
									Housebuilder
									1.9
									19
									-
									30/06/21
				
			

				
									58
									Rivar Group
									Thatcham
									Housebuilder
									10.8
									19
									26
									31/03/21
				
			

				
									59
									Avco Systems
									Slough
									Software developers
									3.2
									19
									41
									30/06/21
				
			

				
									60
									Jubilee Building Supplies
									Bracknell
									Builders merchant
									5.3
									18
									19
									30/04/21
				
			

				
									61
									Takesi t/a Nicholsons
									Oxford
									Forestry & gardening services
									12.7
									18
									159
									31/07/21
				
			

				
									62
									Sovrin Plastics
									Slough
									Injection moulding and manufacturing services
									12.1
									17
									110
									31/12/20
				
			

				
									63
									TBI Financial Services
									Reading
									Financial services
									4.2
									17
									23
									30/04/21
				
			

				
									64
									Greenfords
									Eversley
									Park homes and storage solutions
									1.4
									17
									19
									31/08/21
				
			

				
									65
									Bridgwater Bros
									Haslemere
									Masons tools and memorials
									17.7
									16
									248
									30/09/21
				
			

				
									66
									Acorah Software t/a TaxCalc
									Wokingham
									Accountancy software solutions
									9.3
									16
									97
									31/03/21
				
			

				
									67
									Birchman Group
									Hare Hatch
									Business consulting and IT services
									15.2
									16
									23
									31/12/20
				
			

				
									68
									Select Car Leasing
									Reading
									Car leasing
									19.3
									16
									157
									31/03/21
				
			

				
									69
									Cherwell Laboratories
									Bicester
									Microbiological products 
									7.5
									15
									78
									28/02/22
				
			

				
									70
									Validus Risk Management
									Eton
									Risk management advisory
									6.9
									15
									51
									31/01/22
				
			

				
									71
									Courtiers
									Henley-on-Thames
									Wealth management
									16.9
									15
									97
									31/03/21
				
			

				
									72
									Ceta Insurance
									Chipping Norton
									Insurance broker
									10.5
									14
									110
									30/09/21
				
			

				
									73
									Langley Engineering
									Theale
									Voltage distribution equipment/accessories
									3.3
									14
									6
									31/03/21
				
			

				
									74
									Swift Group of Companies
									Newbury
									Courier
									10.3
									13
									103
									30/09/21
				
			

				
									75
									Berkshire Labels
									Hungerford
									Adhesive label printers
									12.9
									12
									77
									31/07/21
				
			

				
									76
									Buzz Gym
									Reading
									Gym
									4.0
									11
									9
									31/12/20
				
			

				
									77
									PRS Distribution
									West Drayton
									Distribution and storage
									16.1
									11
									98
									31/09/21
				
			

				
									78
									Strongbyte Solutions t/a VoCoVo
									Shipton-under-Wynchwood
									Communications solution provider
									14.4
									11
									43
									31/12/20
				
			

				
									79
									Drennan International
									Oxford
									Manufacturer of fishing tackle
									11.6
									10
									67
									31/12/20
				
			

				
									80
									Advanced Fibreoptic Engineering
									Carteton
									Mechanical, electronic, software specialists
									6.4
									10
									49
									30/06/21
				
			

				
									81
									Glazpart
									Banbury
									Plastic glazing accessories
									10.0
									10
									83
									31/05/21
				
			

				
									82
									MM Bellinger & Sons
									Wantage
									Motor dealerships
									16.2
									9
									53
									31/12/21
				
			

				
									83
									Vail Williams 
									Reading
									Commercial property agents
									16.9
									9
									149
									31/05/21
				
			

				
									84
									Rankin Brothers & Sons
									Aylesbury
									Bottle closure manufacturer
									13.4
									9
									53
									30/04/21
				
			

				
									85
									BMG (Business Moves Group)
									Reading
									Removals and storage
									11.4
									9
									103
									31/10/21
				
			

				
									86
									New Model Venture Capital
									Gerrards Cross
									Investment solutions
									3.1
									8
									5
									31/12/20
				
			

				
									87
									Tax Systems
									Staines-upon-Thames
									Tax system solutions
									15.5
									8
									90
									31/12/20
				
			

				
									88
									Faulkners
									Arborfield
									Central heating specialists
									10.4
									8
									61
									30/06/21
				
			

				
									89
									Kosnic Lighting
									Newbury
									Lighting specialist
									15.6
									8
									41
									31/03/21
				
			

				
									90
									Monodraught
									High Wycombe
									Energy efficient systems manufacture & design
									12.2
									8
									94
									31/12/20
				
			

				
									91
									Shorts Group
									Bracknell
									Plant hire & demolition
									15.5
									8
									124
									31/05/21
				
			

				
									92
									Cognito iQ
									Newbury
									Software providers
									11.9
									7
									123
									31/12/20
				
			

				
									93
									EV (EValue)
									Newbury
									Financial Solutions
									7.5
									7
									80
									30/09/21
				
			

				
									94
									Pressbeau
									Stoke poges
									Care homes
									4.4
									7
									101
									30/06/21
				
			

				
									95
									X-Pharm (t/a Touchwood Pharmacy)
									Slough
									Pharmacy
									16.2
									7
									145
									31/03/21
				
			

				
									96
									Sunbeam Fostering Group
									Slough
									Fostering agency
									18.7
									6
									102
									31/03/21
				
			

				
									97
									Wolfram Research
									Long Hanborough
									Software products & solutions
									10.5
									6
									43
									31/12/20
				
			

				
									98
									Intralink Group
									Abingdon
									International Business Development
									9.5
									6
									80
									31/03/21
				
			

				
									99
									Wellington Health & Fitness Club
									Crowthorne
									Health & fitness club
									3.9
									5
									3
									31/07/21
				
			

				
									100
									Deacon Holdings (John George & Sons)
									Reading
									Building, roofing, fencing
									10.9
									5
									66
									31/12/20
				
			

2022	Company	Town	Description	Turnover £m	YoY Growth %	Employees	Year-end
1	Oxford BioTherapeutics	Abingdon	Clinical stage oncology	5.6	155	13	31/12/20
2	Porthaven Group	Windsor	Care Homes	6.5	150	146	31/12/20
3	FullCircl	Winnersh	Customer lifecycle intelligence platform	9.5	116	72	31/12/21
4	UK Land Group	Hungerford	Property aquisition & development	12.2	103	29	30/04/21
5	IMSL (industrial microbiological services)	Hartley Wintney	Testing & consultancy services	1.4	100	15	31/01/21
6	Square Health	Windsor	Health technology solution provider	11.5	95	59	31/03/21
7	Greens Catering	Chalgrove	Event caterer	9.6	92	4	31/03/21
8	Yospace	Staines-upon-Thames	Ad insertion solutions	12.6	80	39	31/12/20
9	Walker Logistics	Reading	Logistics provider	14.0	65	150	31/08/21
10	MEL Science	Amersham	DIY chemistry sets	14.6	64	10	31/12/20
11	M4 Recruitment	Thatcham	Recruitment agency	19.8	61	180	31/03/21
12	Metropolis Capital	Amersham	Investment management	6.1	56	11	30/11/21
13	Blue Apple Contract Catering	Reading	Catering services	7.9	52	218	31/03/22
14	Aurora Energy Research	Oxford	Analytic and advisory services	13.5	50	131	31/12/20
15	Bridewell Consulting	Reading	Cyber Security	13.8	48	170	21/04/22
16	Matrix Electronics	Theale	Electronics distributor	6.8	48	15	31/12/21
17	Puzzle Freight	West Drayton	Courier & logistics solutions	5.9	37	-	31/12/21
18	Inside Out Group	Bicester	Multi-trade construction	17.6	35	74	31/05/21
19	Hawkins Group of Companies	Banbury	Construction	27.4	35	89	30/09/21
20	Labcold	Basingstoke	Medical & scientific refridgeration	13.9	35	65	30/11/21
21	AYM Services	Uxbridge	Roofing contractors	15.3	34	-	30/09/21
22	Hazlemere	High Wycombe	Double glazing fabricators	15.1	34	105	31/01/22
23	Deanfield Homes	High Wycombe	Housebuilder	16.3	34	17	31/03/21
24	Cyberfort Group	Thatcham	Cyber security solutions	19.1	34	126	31/12/21
25	Warner Surveys	Theale	Underground utility services	0.8	33	7	31/12/21
26	QHS (Quality Heating Services)	High Wycombe	Heating services	9.0	32	115	31/03/21
27	Bower & Bailey	Witney	Legal services	17.2	32	126	31/05/21
28	Charterhouse Muller UK	Reading	Secure IT asset disposal	2.1	31	20	30/06/21
29	Haes Technologies	West Drayton	Fire alarm system control manufacturers	1.8	29	17	31/12/21
30	GB Fleetcare	Banbury	Fleet maintenance	16.7	28	113	30/09/21
31	Country Estates	Reading	Office space & commercial property provider	8.7	28	36	31/12/20
32	GBR Technology	Silchester	Lubricant/fluid supplier	3.7	28	15	30/06/21
33	WG Carter	Abingdon	Specialists in the renovation and construction	19.2	27	69	30/09/21
34	Mar Facilities Management	Binfield	Facilities management	16.2	27	575	31/12/20
35	Aston Chemicals	Aylesbury	Speciality chemicals distributor	14.8	26	42	30/06/21
36	Oneplm	Eynsham	Digital software reseller	19.6	26	71	30/09/21
37	5G Communications	High Wycombe	Telecoms services	18.5	26	98	30/09/21
38	Glenholme Healthcare	Eton	Care services	13.3	25	415	31/03/21
39	FG Alden	Kidlington	Building service engineers	13.4	25	81	30/09/21
40	S4labour	Banbury	Labour management software	2.5	25	46	31/03/22
41	Gigaclear	Abingdon	Broadband provider	14.1	25	387	31/12/20
42	Ilecsys Group	Princes Risborough	Electrical distribution	16.2	25	75	30/06/21
43	Christopher Ward London	Maidenhead	English-Swiss watchmaker	13.2	25	59	31/03/21
44	bChannels	Oxford	Channel & partner network specialist	9.9	24	115	31/12/20
45	T A Fisher	Theale	Building & development	17.5	23	75	30/06/21
46	CIPHR	Marlow	Human resources software solutions	19.2	23	200	31/12/21
47	Hewland Engineering	Maidenhead	Gearboxes & component parts	9.2	23	101	31/08/21
48	Ktwo	Aylesbury	Manufacture of muck spreaders & trailers	9.8	23	87	31/12/21
49	Mediafleet	Witney	Vehicle branding	4.4	22	37	30/06/21
50	Meech International	Witney	Specialist manufacturing	15.7	22	107	30/09/21
51	Craft Buddy	Chesham	Art & craft trade supplier	6.8	21	24	31/12/21
52	Adamson Construction	Slough	Construction	7.4	21	47	31/03/21
53	Bauer Group	Datchet	Commercial property developers	6.3	21	24	31/12/20
54	Ecoserv Group	Wallingford	Sustainable FM Services	16.7	21	682	31/12/20
55	Arcum	Theale	IT products supplier	16.7	21	30	30/09/21
56	Frog Bikes	Ascot	Childrens bike manufacturers	12.9	19	73	28/02/21
57	Wingfield and Hodgkin	Great Missenden	Housebuilder	1.9	19	-	30/06/21
58	Rivar Group	Thatcham	Housebuilder	10.8	19	26	31/03/21
59	Avco Systems	Slough	Software developers	3.2	19	41	30/06/21
60	Jubilee Building Supplies	Bracknell	Builders merchant	5.3	18	19	30/04/21
61	Takesi t/a Nicholsons	Oxford	Forestry & gardening services	12.7	18	159	31/07/21
62	Sovrin Plastics	Slough	Injection moulding and manufacturing services	12.1	17	110	31/12/20
63	TBI Financial Services	Reading	Financial services	4.2	17	23	30/04/21
64	Greenfords	Eversley	Park homes and storage solutions	1.4	17	19	31/08/21
65	Bridgwater Bros	Haslemere	Masons tools and memorials	17.7	16	248	30/09/21
66	Acorah Software t/a TaxCalc	Wokingham	Accountancy software solutions	9.3	16	97	31/03/21
67	Birchman Group	Hare Hatch	Business consulting and IT services	15.2	16	23	31/12/20
68	Select Car Leasing	Reading	Car leasing	19.3	16	157	31/03/21
69	Cherwell Laboratories	Bicester	Microbiological products	7.5	15	78	28/02/22
70	Validus Risk Management	Eton	Risk management advisory	6.9	15	51	31/01/22
71	Courtiers	Henley-on-Thames	Wealth management	16.9	15	97	31/03/21
72	Ceta Insurance	Chipping Norton	Insurance broker	10.5	14	110	30/09/21
73	Langley Engineering	Theale	Voltage distribution equipment/accessories	3.3	14	6	31/03/21
74	Swift Group of Companies	Newbury	Courier	10.3	13	103	30/09/21
75	Berkshire Labels	Hungerford	Adhesive label printers	12.9	12	77	31/07/21
76	Buzz Gym	Reading	Gym	4.0	11	9	31/12/20
77	PRS Distribution	West Drayton	Distribution and storage	16.1	11	98	31/09/21
78	Strongbyte Solutions t/a VoCoVo	Shipton-under-Wynchwood	Communications solution provider	14.4	11	43	31/12/20
79	Drennan International	Oxford	Manufacturer of fishing tackle	11.6	10	67	31/12/20
80	Advanced Fibreoptic Engineering	Carteton	Mechanical, electronic, software specialists	6.4	10	49	30/06/21
81	Glazpart	Banbury	Plastic glazing accessories	10.0	10	83	31/05/21
82	MM Bellinger & Sons	Wantage	Motor dealerships	16.2	9	53	31/12/21
83	Vail Williams	Reading	Commercial property agents	16.9	9	149	31/05/21
84	Rankin Brothers & Sons	Aylesbury	Bottle closure manufacturer	13.4	9	53	30/04/21
85	BMG (Business Moves Group)	Reading	Removals and storage	11.4	9	103	31/10/21
86	New Model Venture Capital	Gerrards Cross	Investment solutions	3.1	8	5	31/12/20
87	Tax Systems	Staines-upon-Thames	Tax system solutions	15.5	8	90	31/12/20
88	Faulkners	Arborfield	Central heating specialists	10.4	8	61	30/06/21
89	Kosnic Lighting	Newbury	Lighting specialist	15.6	8	41	31/03/21
90	Monodraught	High Wycombe	Energy efficient systems manufacture & design	12.2	8	94	31/12/20
91	Shorts Group	Bracknell	Plant hire & demolition	15.5	8	124	31/05/21
92	Cognito iQ	Newbury	Software providers	11.9	7	123	31/12/20
93	EV (EValue)	Newbury	Financial Solutions	7.5	7	80	30/09/21
94	Pressbeau	Stoke poges	Care homes	4.4	7	101	30/06/21
95	X-Pharm (t/a Touchwood Pharmacy)	Slough	Pharmacy	16.2	7	145	31/03/21
96	Sunbeam Fostering Group	Slough	Fostering agency	18.7	6	102	31/03/21
97	Wolfram Research	Long Hanborough	Software products & solutions	10.5	6	43	31/12/20
98	Intralink Group	Abingdon	International Business Development	9.5	6	80	31/03/21
99	Wellington Health & Fitness Club	Crowthorne	Health & fitness club	3.9	5	3	31/07/21
100	Deacon Holdings (John George & Sons)	Reading	Building, roofing, fencing	10.9	5	66	31/12/20

Awards Categories

SME 100 Growth Award (below £10m)

SPONSORED BY

SME 100 Growth Award (above £10m)

SPONSORED BY

Resilience Award

SPONSORED BY

Tech Company of the Year

SPONSORED BY

Workforce of the Year

SPONSORED BY

Owner-managed Business of the Year

SPONSORED BY

Contact us

Meet the Winners

SME 100 Growth Award (below £10m)

Winner: FullCircl

“A lot of organisations were interested in buying us but then I had a call with a CEO at another company who I knew and we talked about working together as our businesses are complementary. So, one plus one equalled three. We have extended our value proposition for both sets of customers; we can cross-sell, upsell and focus on customer retention, as well as customer expansion and growth. We used the Entrepreneurial Operating System to bring the businesses together with a common vision and collective core values. There may be future acquisitions and we are also really excited about strategic partnerships we are working on, including with Google.” Andrew Yates, CEO

Judge’s comments: “Another very strong category, with those short-listed having a minimum of 15% growth during the qualifying period, which in a ‘normal’ year would be excellent, but with Covid-19 and Brexit headwinds thrown in makes it even more impressive. Our winner grew by an amazing 115% during the qualifying period and has grown since, too. Throw in an acquisition and a rebranding, and it has been a very busy past year or two for them.”

Alistair McArthur, Herrington Carmichael (right) presents SME Growth 100 Award (below £10m) to Andrew Yates (centre) and Taylor Hart from FullCircl

SPONSORED BY

FINALISTS

Cherwell Laboratories
Craft Buddy
FullCircl

SME 100 Growth Award (above £10m)

Winner: Square Health

“Covid-19 had a big impact on the acceleration in adapting digital healthcare. It allowed us to mobilise huge amounts of resources across the UK and deploy them in areas of need. The UK has had to reinvent the delivery of healthcare and this was an open door for us. A catalyst was in people being able to access GPs when practices were closed and there have also been growing areas of healthcare provision, such as mental health services for younger people. We have been more-or-less doubling our year-on-year revenue. Our staff are the most critical part of the business and we have a culture of working hard, promoting teamwork and supporting each other.” Dr Bippon Vinayak, Co-founder and Monisha Vinayak, Commercial Director

Judges’ comments: “One of the fastest growing companies in our list, they have continued the rapid level of growth over the last year. By leveraging technology, they have quickly built solutions that complement and expand more traditional healthcare models. Their clear and focused vision and long-term client commitments suggest that we are only seeing the start of their success.”

Stuart Weekes, Crowe (right) presents SME Growth 100 Award (above £10m) to Dr Bippon Vinayak and Monisha Vinayak from Square Health

SPONSORED BY

FINALISTS

Bridewell Consulting
Cyberfort Group
Square Health

Resilience Award

Winner: Shorts Group

“We are always diversifying our business and the Covid-19 pandemic led us to add more services, like the provision of portable toilets and staff welfare offerings. We jumped into this market and growth here continues. We listen to our customers and our people as we expand. One of our biggest challenges is recruiting and retaining staff as skip and plant hire, along with waste collection, is a very hands-on business. One way we do this is through the apprenticeship scheme we set up six years ago. We also maintain strong links with our community, for example, with local rugby clubs. Many of our employees’ children play sports and we feel it is important to support the next generation. It’s an approach that is in the DNA of our family-owned business.” Gary Short, Owner, and David Guest, Finance Director

Judges’ comments: “A strong owner-managed family business, who have successfully grown and diversified their operations since the pandemic, while maintaining very strong links to each of the local communities in which they operate. They have overcome both internal and external challenges to refine and maintain their core business, while also developing multiple new service lines to complement their customer offering.”

Giles Blagden, Hicks Baker (right) presents the Resilience Award to Gary Short and David Guest from Shorts Group

SPONSORED BY

FINALISTS

BMG (Business Moves Group)
Country Estates
Shorts Group

Tech Company of the Year

Winner: Oxford BioTherapeutics

“Our business is about identifying new ways to tackle cancer and working with major pharmaceutical companies to develop therapies. We use a lot of technology in our approach, including mass spectrometry and analytical biochemistry. What drives the company is the passion we all have for what we do. We are striving for the same thing: to help cancer patients who don’t have other methods of treatment available to them.” Ben Thomas, Senior Director, and Lindsey Hudson, Director of Business Development & Partnership Alliance

Judges’ comments: “An exemplary business in its field, specialising in immunotherapies for cancer, with significant rates of success and continued business growth in recent years, they scored highly across several award categories. Their advancements in using technology to innovate ‘T cell therapies’, harnessing immune cells to help cure cancer, are industry leading and quite remarkable.”

Dominic Faires, Hicks Baker (right) presents Tech Company of the Year to Lindsey Hudson and Ben Thomas from Oxford BioTherapeutics

SPONSORED BY

FINALISTS

Bridewell Consulting
Cyberfort Group
Oxford BioTherapeutics

Workforce of the Year

Winner: Bridewell Consulting

“For us, it is always about getting the right quality of people. We have focused a lot on building our internal talent recruitment team that constantly maps out the best cybersecurity talent in the UK. When we interview people, if they are not quite right for us at the time, we keep in touch so if a role opens up we can bring them in. We focus a lot on learning and development, and we also recruit people who are ex-armed forces or on career transitions. We developed our company values in consultation with our staff and we all try to live by them.” Anthony Young and Scott Nicholson, Co-founders

Judge’s comments: “This was an incredibly strong category. Our winner has experienced a period of particularly rapid growth, hiring 15 people a month to now be a 200+ employee organisation. It was clear that the company values of ‘do the right thing’, ‘one team’ and ‘going above and beyond’ are key elements during the recruitment process and beyond, and it was this that gave our winner the edge.”

Alistair McArthur, Herrington Carmichael (right) presents Workforce of the Year to Antony Young and Scott Nicholson from Bridewell

SPONSORED BY

FINALISTS

Bridewell Consulting
Hawkins Group of Companies
Walker Logistics

Owner-managed Business of the Year

Winner: Craft Buddy

“I had worked for our father’s arts and craft business that imported goods from India and Gary had worked for a DIY chain where he gained experience sourcing products from China. We combined our knowledge to establish Craft Buddy. Our licenced product ranges with major brands began almost by accident when Disney visited our stand at a trade fair in Birmingham in 2020. We retail through a range of channels, including online, direct to consumers, to trade and distributors, and through TV shopping. We aim to continue on the same growth trajectory as we build the brand and get in front of more consumers.” Dino and Gary Wadhwani, Co-founders

Judges’ comments: “A strong group of family and owner-managed businesses made judging very difficult. Our winner impressed with their passion and commitment in a challenging sector. Their pragmatic and timely strategies alongside a genuine bootstrapped approach is an ideal lesson in how to navigate the myriad channels of retail. What was started by two brothers in their aunt’s house is now winning new customers in over 30 countries with their innovative brand and licence portfolio.”