Crafting specialists, online fashion retailers, engineers and recruitment consultants from the region have been singled out on a list of the most successful exporters in the 海角视频.
A total of five North East businesses have made the 12th annual Sunday Times HSBC International Track 200 league table, which ranks Britain’s mid-market private companies with the fastest-growing international sales.
Some are regulars on Sunday Times league tables and the overall list comprises a range of firms from different sectors.
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And while the figures largely relate to financial periods before Covid-19 struck, they include sectors which have fared especially well during the pandemic, including hobby companies and online retail.
The North East firms form part of a list of 19 North East and Yorkshire stars which have grown their international sales by an average of 40% a year over the last two years to a total of £746m. All are profitable and together they employ more than 8,500 people.
The region’s top-ranked company is subsea equipment engineer Express Engineering, a new entrant which makes the list at number 11. The Gateshead company, which has 217 employees, saw international sales grow an average of 131% per year over its last two years to reach £21.3m in the year to September 2020, on gross total sales of £36.1m.
In Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, craft products retailer Crafter’s Companion – which was founded by Dragons’ Den panelist Sara Davies – saw international sales grow at 27% a year, reaching £21.4m in 2020, on total sales of £34.1m. The firm, which is at number 154, sells 4,000 craft items across 40 countries, both online and through retailers including its own network of shops, and via TV shopping channels.
Meanwhile, Oil Consultants based in Washington, which has 49 staff, comes in at number 134 with growth of 30%. Its overseas offices from Aberdeen to Indonesia help place energy sector technicians. It had international sales of £49.1m, out of £53.8m.
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Frank Recruitment, otherwise known as Tenth Revolution Group, is at 194 with a sales increase of £189.1m out of total sales of £197.1m. The group, which has just opened its latest global office in Switzerland, now has 1,640 staff.
Sunday Times list regular END. clothing, based in Washington, also makes a reappearance at 189, with an export sales increase of 20% to £101.6m, from total sales of £170.5m. The luxury trainer company, renowned for the long queues that form outside its shops outside of lockdown, when limited edition trainers are unveiled, now has 628 staff and its menswear website and apps receive more than 10m visitors each month.
The companies in the North East appear alongside well-known British brands based across the 海角视频 including Sweaty Betty, the women’s activewear brand sold in 195 countries; BrewDog, which was valued at £1bn in 2017 and now has 100 bars worldwide; and Brompton, the bicycle manufacturer, which ships to 47 markets.
The league table programme is sponsored by HSBC and DHL Express, and compiled by Fast Track, the Oxford-based research and networking events firm.
Amanda Murphy, head of commercial banking, HSBC 海角视频, said: “After a challenging start to 2021, all eyes are on the companies that will drive a return to growth in 2021. We are confident that the innovation and entrepreneurial spirit of businesses such as those in the Northeast listed on International Track 200 will carry them forward.
“These companies show the strength, ambition and resilience of businesses across the 海角视频 and are the sort of businesses we are proud to support every day.”