SME Export Track 100 press release

28 COMPANIES IN LONDON WIN PLACES ON A NEW LEAGUE TABLE

OF BRITAIN’S FASTEST-GROWING SME EXPORTERS

Published this weekend, the Sunday Times BT Business SME Export Track 100 league table ranks for the first time Britain’s private small and medium-sized companies (SMEs) with the fastest-growing international sales over the last two years.

The 28 companies headquartered in London have made a significant contribution to the economy. Together their international sales have grown by an average of 57% a year over the last two years to a total of £235m, and they now employ a total of 2,388 people.

London’s highest-ranked company is Rattling Stick, which is placed at No 13. The Central London firm makes TV commercials and movie title sequences, including for 6 of the last 7 James Bond films. The

company’s overseas sales topped £7.3m in 2014, thanks to an office in Los Angeles and co-productions with agencies as far-flung as Brazil and New Zealand.

Other entrants include Tangle Teezer, which sells 800,000 hairbrushes each month to customers in more than 110 countries, and online music publisher Audio Network, which provided the music tracks use on 'Dancing with the Stars' in the US.

The businesses in London feature on the league table alongside companies from around the UK, including emerging brands such as herbal tea maker Pukka, goat milk producer Delamere Dairy and smart materials developer D3O.

The SME Export Track 100 is sponsored by BT Business and is supported by the Business is GREAT Britain campaign. It is compiled by Fast Track, the Oxford-based research and networking events company. Danny Longbottom, Managing Director UK SME at BT Business, commented:

“I would like to congratulate the businesses recognised in the inaugural Export Track 100, who are proving that it’s not necessarily size that determines international success. These businesses have used a combination of self-starting ambition, smart use of technology, and sheer hard work to punch well above their weight in the global market. The fruits of their labour are contributing to a strong and diverse UK economy, which we can all be thankful for.”

SME companies in London with the fastest-growing int’l sales, ordered by rank

Rank Company Activity Location of HQ Annual int’l sales growth over 2 yrs Int’l sales (£000) Total sales (£000) Staff Latest FYE Comment 13 Rattling Stick TV commercials producer Central London 109% 7,333 20,332 18 Mar 14

Directed the title sequences for 6 of the last 7 James Bond films, including Skyfall and Golden Eye 14 Tangle Teezer Hair products supplier South London 108% 10,286 14,413 15 Mar 14

Its hairbrushes feature in magazines globally, including OK! China and Australian Vogue

SME Export Track 100 press release

Rank Company Activity Location of HQ Annual int’l sales growth over 2 yrs Int’l sales (£000) Total sales (£000) Staff Latest FYE Comment 15 Parallel Consulting IT recruitment consultancy Central London 99% 5,486 19,605 61 Dec 13

Plans to open an office in Sydney at the start of 2016

16 Mind Gym Corporate learning provider West London 87% 9,301 16,465 123 Mar 14

Has offices in New York, Singapore and Dubai and works in 60 countries 21 TranslateMedia Translation services provider Central London 82% 3,853 8,812 93 Mar 14

Has offices in New York, Paris, Munich and Hong Kong

28 Kinapse Pharmaceutical regulations consultancy Southwest London 76% 13,757 17,126 232 Mar 14

Nine of the world's top ten pharmaceutical companies use its services

34 Peter Harrington

Rare book seller

Southwest

London 70% *15,817 *20,243 35 Dec 14

Builds its brand overseas by exhibiting at book fairs in Tokyo, Paris and New York 38 Apical Imaging technology developer Central London 67% 12,795 12,795 54 Mar 14

Has offices in the US, China and Japan 42 Cordium Regulatory compliance consultancy Central London 63% 8,595 18,853 180 Jun 14

Advises and supports over 1,500 investment firms worldwide 45 Emoderation Social media management agency Central London 60% *7,145 *8,892 303 Mar 14

Manages online reputations for multinational brands such as the Lego Group and HSBC

49 MVF Digital marketing services North London 58% 10,277 18,147 156 Mar 14

Helps international brands win customers worldwide 51 Firefish Market research provider Central London 54% 3,429 9,524 60 Jan 14

Carries out market research for international brands such as Danone, Unilever and HTC

53 Green Man Gaming Online games retailer Central London 54% 14,577 16,305 59 Dec 14

Has launched its own publishing label to help bring new video games to the market 54 Open Destinations Travel software developer North London 54% 3,124 5,860 35 Dec 13

Plans to open an office in South East Asia later this year

58 Tech21 Device impact protection maker Southwest London 52% 19,718 22,551 34 May 14

Its impact protection

smartphone cases and screen films are sold in Apple stores globally 68 Reevoo Consumer review software developer Central London 44% 1,809 5,378 75 Mar 14 Recently raised £6.5m in equity funding to push overseas expansion

72 Jestico + Whiles

Architect

Central

London 42% *2,639 *8,345 112 Aug 14

Designed the interior of a luxury Abu Dhabi hotel which overlooks the Formula One racetrack 73 Phi Partners Financial services IT consultancy Central London 42% 3,603 6,433 80 Dec 13

The company's founder previously started and sold two other financial services IT consultancies 75 SCM World Training course provider Central London 41% *5,431 *6,197 40 Dec 14

Earlier this year it opened an office in Boston to service key customers in North America

Rank Company Activity Location of HQ Annual int’l sales growth over 2 yrs Int’l sales (£000) Total sales (£000) Staff Latest FYE Comment 76 TCS Europe Promotional gifts supplier Central London 40% †5,956 †12,984 29 Nov 13

Supplies promotional gifts sourced in China across the world, from rucksacks to cosmetics 78 TMC Marine Marine salvage advisor Central London 40% 2,993 5,543 50 Mar 14

Has helped salvage ships and cargoes across the world, from Korea and India to Bahrain and Brazil 79 Séraphine Maternity clothing retailer Central London 40% 5,125 8,280 53 Mar 14 Opened a flagship international store in New York at the end of 2014 80 Flixmedia Digital content management North London 39% 5,096 5,309 63 Mar 14

Creates and manages online content for global brands such as Microsoft and Samsung 81 Audio Network Online music publisher Central London 39% 10,345 15,409 81 Jun 14

Bought-out its joint venture partner in Australia in July 2014 82 Translate Plus Translation services provider Central London 39% *5,289 *6,762 120 Aug 14

Translates social media, apps and documents into more than 200 languages 84 RBM Consumer products distributor East London 37% 12,203 23,270 22 Dec 13

Has expanded into Eastern Europe and Germany as discount retailers have developed there 88 Bluecube Seating manufacturer East London 37% †9,885 †10,814 12 Dec 13

Installed seating for four of the 2014 FIFA World Cup venues in Brazil

† Annualised figure

*

The national picture

The SME Export Track 100 companies increased their overseas sales by an average of 73% a year over two years to a total of £705m. They employ more than 8,000 people, having added more than 2,500 during this time, some as a result of acquisitions.

The majority of the companies on the league table are headquartered in London (28), the southeast (21), the northwest (10) and Yorkshire (8). Of the remainder, the West Midlands, the southwest and Scotland are home to six league table companies each, followed by the East Midlands (4), northeast (4), Wales (3) and the East (3). One company is based in Northern Ireland.

The full league table is published in a four-page broadsheet supplement in the business section of The Sunday Times on 17 May, both in print and on the digital edition, and on www.fasttrack.co.uk. Follow us on Twitter @ST_SMEExport #SMEExport100

ENDS

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Notes for editors

Fast Track has published league tables of top-performing private companies with The Sunday Times for the past 18 years. Its invitation-only dinners provide a valuable opportunity for entrepreneurs to network and meet its sponsors. The company was founded and is run by Dr Hamish Stevenson, who also holds an associate fellowship at Green Templeton College, Oxford University.

League table criteria:

Companies had to be registered in the UK and be independent, unquoted and ultimate holding companies. Companies are ranked according to the compound annual growth in their international sales over two years, based on their latest figures (predominately 2011 to 2013 or 2012 to 2014). The research therefore carries the caveat that their performance may have changed since.

Total sales had to be between £5m and £25m in their latest financial year, and exports have to account for at least 20% of total sales. The research was carried out by Fast Track principally between January and April 2015 and the majority of companies were interviewed for this league table. Companies filing abbreviated accounts are not required to disclose any geographical breakdown of sales, while firms that file full accounts may not disclosure a geographical breakdown of sales on the grounds that it may be prejudicial to their interests.

The sponsors do not endorse, guarantee or recommend investment in any of the companies. About BT Business

BT Business is the title sponsor of the league table in its inaugural year.

The Sunday Times SME Export Track 100 recognises, as BT Business does, that small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are at the heart of the business community and the driving force behind the UK’s economic recovery. BT Business helps over 900,000 UK SMEs, ranging from sole traders to larger enterprises, use the power of communications and technology to enable their businesses to thrive and prosper.

The technology needs of businesses have changed dramatically, even in just the past few years. The Internet is now at the heart of most businesses, and BT Business is working hard to support that.

To find out more about how BT Business is helping SMEs get the most out of technology visit BT Business Insights. www.btbusiness.com

About Business is GREAT Britain

The ‘Business is GREAT Britain’ campaign is supporting the league table in its inaugural year. It aims to build confidence amongst small businesses by showcasing inspirational examples of similar sized businesses, and encourages businesses to plan, hire and export as drivers to future business success. The Department for Business, Innovation & Skills (BIS) is the department for economic growth. The department invests in skills and education to promote trade, boost innovation and help people to start and grow a business. BIS is a ministerial department, supported by 49 agencies and public bodies.

For the latest Business is GREAT news, ideas and activity please join our LinkedIn Group, visit our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter and on YouTube. You can also find out more at www.greatbusiness.gov.uk

The campaign is also supporting Export Week (May 18-22), which is run by our partner UK Trade and Investment (UKTI). Export Week enables businesses to access the knowledge and experience of experts from UKTI and its regional partners. Whether businesses are taking their first steps overseas, or are already established exporters, Export Week will equip them with the knowledge and tools they need to succeed in international markets. To find out more, visit www.exportweek.ukti.gov.uk