Last night (Thursday 11 July) saw the annual Sandwell Business Awards dinner and the launch of our Sandwell Top 50 Fastest Growing Companies Index for 2019.

For the fifth year running Think Sandwell has published details of the borough’s 50 fastest growing businesses. In our report four companies reveal how they grew their turnover, even through a time of political and economic uncertainty.

The Top 50 Fastest Growing Companies Index 2019 was released last night (Thursday 11 July) at the Sandwell Business Awards, presented by actor, singer and weather presenter Des Coleman at Sandwell College in West Bromwich.

Des opened the proceedings with a toe-tapping rendition of Billy Ocean’s ‘Love Really Hurts Without You’, lifting the audience into a celebratory mood.

Acknowledging the achievements of Sandwell’s rising stars, the index lists the 50 top-ranked companies in Sandwell in terms of rate of growth in turnover.

Sandwell’s stars for 2019 have a combined revenue of £2.44bn. Collectively they employ over 11,400 people. Every one of the 50 companies featured demonstrated 10 per cent or greater growth in turnover over the past year. Eleven of them showed growth of more 30 per cent.

Topping the index (and therefore taking the Sandwell Top 50 prize during the evening) is Direct Corporate Clothing Plc in Oldbury. The company, which supplies many of the country’s largest businesses with workwear, uniform, safety footwear and specialised head-to-toe PPE (personal protective equipment) – has grown by a staggering 70 per cent.

According to DCC’s head of business development Graham Dobson, this is down to the company’s ‘super product portfolio’, innovation and excellent customer service.

“Our manufacturing capability in Sri Lanka sets us apart from our competition, offering flexibility, expertise and full control over our costings,” he explained. “We also have an amazing supply chain partner portfolio with whom we are continually bringing new streams of innovative products to market”.

In the report three further businesses reveal what boosted their turnover this year, citing investments in premises and people, new product launches, a change in strategy and, in the case of manufacturers Ash & Lacy, a commitment to exceeding regulatory requirements.

Councillor Yvonne Davies, Leader of Sandwell Council, congratulated all businesses listed in the Top 50.

“It is wonderful to see businesses thriving and creating jobs for local people in Sandwell, which continues to be an ideal place to set up, run and grow any enterprise, large or small. Located at the centre of England with excellent access to major motorway networks, and close to the UK’s second city, our borough is a gateway to the rest of the world. We are blessed with a skilled workforce,” she said.

“Something I find particularly remarkable is that 46 of the Top 50 this year are categorised as small to medium sized enterprises. SMEs are the lifeblood of our UK economy; one of the many reasons Sandwell Council works hard throughout the year to nurture them”.

You can read the Top 50 index, which contains a full table of statistics and four case studies, at https://archive.sandwellbusinessgrowth.com/top-50-fastest-growing-companies-index/.

 

 

 

 

The evening’s other winners were:

Business Start-up Award
Winner – Gender Equality Matters
Finalist – Blossom Ink

Business Innovation Award
Winner – On Call Opticians
Finalist – Sirus

Contribution to the Community Award
Winner – Creative Academies Network
Finalist – Widening participation, Sandwell & West Birmingham Hospital NHS

Education Business Award
Winner – Phoenix Collegiate

Commitment to Apprenticeships Award
Winner – Sirus
Finalist – Howells Patent Glazing

Sandwell Business Person of the Year Award
Winner – Lee Farrington of Winner Dolphin Lifts (Midlands) Ltd
Finalist – Anita Patel Sahota of Kangaroo Pouch Ltd
Finalist – Guy Perry of A Perry Ltd.

The awards were organised by Sandwell College, Sandwell Council, the Black Country Chamber of Commerce and Sandwell Business Solutions Centre. We have the shared aim of celebrating businesses and individuals who are boosting the economy and making a positive contribution to the skills and life chances of local people and their wider community.

Congratulations to all finalists and thank you to everyone who took part!