National Business Awards: the 10 mid-cap finalists

Thursday, August 04, 2011 | Posted by: Fiona Cullinan
Categories: Thought Leadership | Tags: business, Grant Thornton, UK, awards, National Business Awards, shortlist, Scott Barnes, mid-cap, NBA, finalists, ceremony

This week, our CEO Scott Barnes announced the shortlist for the Grant Thornton sponsored Mid-Cap category of the prestigious National Business Awards. So who are the top 10 mid-market players? Here’s a preview…

The National Business Awards are the UK’s premier business awards with 160 UK businesses vying for top place in 18 categories. Now in its 10th year, the National Business Awards rewards companies for their excellence, innovation and ethical business. Winners will be announced in November.

The nomination-only Grant Thornton Mid-Cap Business of the Year Award is designed to “recognise the achievements of listed companies or mutuals with a turnover up to £500 million who have attained market prominence in their sector. The ultimate winner of this award will be held up as an example of excellent practice and an inspiration to all listed companies or mutuals in the mid-cap range, with judges considering past achievement, current performance and future potential.”

On behalf of the shortlist panel, Alex Evans, Editorial Director of the National Business Awards, rounds up the reasons the 10 companies in this year’s competition have qualified as finalists.

The 2011 Grant Thornton Mid-Cap Business of the Year finalists are:

1. Rightmove plc, London
The UK’s most popular property portal, Rightmove is used by more than 90% of estate agents and has grown by adding value for advertisers and establishing a market-leading position through subscriber services. Despite challenging market conditions in 2010, revenue increased by 26%, underlying operating profit increased by 39% and website traffic reached record levels.

2. Moneysupermarket Group plc, Chester
The UK’s most popular comparison website, claiming to have saved customers £750 million last year, Moneysupermarket.com saw revenues increase by 9% in 2010. An investment in brand, product, site design and usability has all boosted commercial performance while increasing customer engagement.

3. Supergroup plc, Cheltenham
Owner of the Superdry brand, UK and internet retailer and one of the fastest-growing international branded clothing companies, SuperGroup Plc has demonstrated exceptional financial performance. As the brand consolidates in the UK it is expanding rapidly overseas and now has a presence in 22 countries worldwide (including Asia and the Middle East). Future growth is also supported by its multi-lingual internet operation, with sales more than doubling over the year in 2010.

4. Majestic Wine plc, Hertfordshire
It’s been a great year for Majestic Wine, the UK’s largest wine warehouse chain, which took full advantage of the celebrations around the Royal Wedding to boost its champagne sales. Reducing its minimum case to six bottles in 2009 was a masterstroke, resulting in a 26% increase in profit and sales up more than 10%. Future growth is supported by a 14% increase in active customers to half a million, and plans to double the number of its stores.

5. Harvey Nash plc, London
Despite challenging conditions in a highly competitive sector, recruitment specialist Harvey Nash achieved significant market share gains with multiple contract wins in 2010. Demand for flexible labour boosted its contractor numbers by 20%, while net fee income from permanent recruitment increased by more than 23%. Expansion into Norway and Finland has consolidated its position in Europe, with a second multi-year telecomm outsourcing contract secured in Germany.

6. Renishaw Group plc, Wooton-Under-Edge
A global company with core skills in measurement, motion control, spectroscopy and precision machining, Renishaw helps its customers to improve operational performance. Achieving substantial increases in turnover and profit in 2009 and 2010, it is rapidly expanding into China. It is also supporting a competition that encourages British export innovation – offering entrepreneurs and businesses in the South West the chance to win a £50,000 prize fund of money, advice and professional services to help launch a new innovative idea, product or service business internationally.

7. EMIS Group plc, Leeds
Named Healthcare Technology Group of the Year at the Health Investor Awards 2011 for its launch of EMIS Web and the creation of Healthcare Gateway, EMIS has achieved an impressive growth in profit and revenue, while improving patient care and NHS efficiency.

8. Fidessa Group plc, London
A leading supplier of multi-asset trading, portfolio analysis, decision support, compliance, market data and connectivity solutions for firms trading in the world’s financial markets, Fidessa Group makes it easier to buy, sell and own financial assets of all types on a global basis. It’s been a strong year for the company, not only winning a raft of financial awards, but achieving a 10% rise in revenue with no debt and a 28% rise in pre-tax profit. Future growth is supported by more than 100 new clients across regions and sectors, and increased market share across a range of metrics.

9. Hargreaves Services plc, Durham
The UK’s leading energy support services provider, Hargreaves Services has boosted its own organic growth through some major acquisitions in 2010. Underlying profit before tax for the year increased by an impressive 20.1% – despite a drop in revenue due to falling commodity prices.

10. Cineworld Group plc, London
The number one cinema operator in the UK for 2010 with a box office market share of 26.2% (according to Rentrak/EDI), Cineworld Group’s box office rose by 4.1% and screen advertising revenues grew by almost 21%. Laying the foundations for future growth, it has converted more than 50% of its estate to digital projectors and rolled out a new site at The O2.

Scott Barnes, CEO, Grant Thornton UK, announced the shortlist, saying:

“It has been no mean feat to whittle down the list of finalists for this award given the quality of mid-market businesses, especially in the face of the recent economic adversities. It is heartening to see the spread both geographically and across business type of the finalists, exemplifying the diversity and strength of UK mid-market business. We wish them all the best of luck.”

Who’ll be Grant Thornton’s Mid-Cap Business of the Year in 2011? Find out on 8 November when the winners are announced. Visit www.nationalbusinessawards.co.uk for a full list of all 2011 finalists.

You might also find these posts useful:

* TelecityGroup is Grant Thornton’s Mid-Cap winner 2010 in the National Business Awards
* Secret of our mid-cap leaders’ success
* International Track 100 – who’s in the Top 10?