Firms among 1,000 to inspire Britain

From traditional foundry and engineering firms such as Vanguard in Dudley and Cornwall Holdings, owner of Darcast Crankshafts in Smethwick, to Wolverhampton-based care group Sevacare and management services group G&P in Walsall, they have been named in the London Stock Exchange Group's (LSEG) list of the most exciting and dynamic small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the UK.

The landmark report, entitled '1,000 Companies to inspire Britain', aims to raise the profile of the businesses, part of the UK's 4.5 million strong SME sector that ranges from local retailers to technology companies.

The faster growing and more dynamic of the UK's SMEs are now said by the LSEG to be largely responsible for the creation of new jobs in the country. Through the report the LSEG says it "intends to raise awareness of the importance of this elite band of companies", which it believes to be the 'lifeblood' of UK economic growth.

The businesses are referred to by the CBI as 'gazelle' companies and collectively by think-tank Nesta as 'the vital six percent'.

A total of 81 companies were identified in the West Midlands, 33 of them in engineering, defence and aerospace, and they showed average growth of 80 per cent.

One of the firms highlighted in the list is fans and ventilation group Elta, based on the Pensnett Estate in Kingswinford, one of the biggest in terms of its £90 million turnover.

David Ball, chairman of the Elta Group, said: "I understand that the report took London Stock Exchange Group over six months to research and selection criteria required companies to have shown growing revenue and to have outperformed their competitors.

"We are delighted to have the success we have been enjoying confirmed and recognised in such a prestigious publication by an outside source. But we fully agree with LSEG that more needs to be done in the UK to support and encourage other SMEs like ourselves."

Among the other firms listed are EC Hopkins in Bilston, JH Lavender and Metal Assemblies in West Bromwich, Midland Oil Refinery and Sterling Power Group in Halesowen, Walsall Pressings, Apollo Chemicals, RAM Cellular Products, Boseco - parent company of office furniture maker Boss Design – and Brandenburg in Dudley, HVC Supplies in Stourbridge, halal supplier Janan Meat in Kingwinford, Brierley Hill jewellers TH Baker, Alpha Manufacturing in Hixon, Newby Holdings in Wednesbury, Albert Jagger and Rubery Owen in Walsall, Steel Processing in Burntwood, Unitech Industries in Burntwood, Davro Iron & Steel in Bridgnorth, EJ Bowman Holdings, Fablink, Nuclear Engineering Services and Smethwick Drop Forge in Wolverhampton and Wolverhampton Electro Plating.

As well as identifying 1,000 emerging successful companies, the report examines in detail the opportunities and challenges facing the UK' small and medium sized enterprises. '1000 Companies to inspire Britain' also considers the commercial trends and factors it believes will potentially have an effect on the UK economy in future. To see the report in detail, go to: www.lseg.com/resources/1000-companies-inspire-britain