Botanical brewers, online fashion retailers, scrap metal merchants and recruitment consultants from the region have been named on a list of the most successful exporters in the 海角视频.
A total of seven North East businesses have been singled out in the 11th annual Sunday Times HSBC International Track 200 league table, which ranks Britain鈥檚 mid-market private companies with the fastest-growing international sales.
And while some are regulars on Sunday Times league tables, the list comprises an eclectic mix of firms from more modern sectors 鈥 including online retail and energy consultancy 鈥 which rub shoulders with more traditional, established enterprises.
The seven companies headquartered in the North East include three new entrants to the league table and collectively the regional stars have grown their overseas sales by an average of 80% over the last two years to a total of 拢350m, while employing more than 2,000 people between them.
The region鈥檚 top-ranked company is Gateshead鈥檚 Northern Gas & Power, which appears on the league table for the first time, at number 4.
Founder Fokhrul Islam set up this energy consultancy in 2013, winning its first customers from his bedroom. Now international sales have reached 拢11.4m, on total sales of 拢29.6m, growing an average of 248% per year over two years.
Mr Islam said: 鈥淲e have grown the business to become a successful global group of companies and such achievement on an international league level is testament to the dedicated commitment of everyone in the business.
鈥淗ere at Northern Gas and Power we have a very busy year ahead of us, with three global office moves being co-ordinated simultaneously.
鈥淲e are adding an additional office in Malta to accommodate the increased headcount of our development team, taking it from 30 to 50 heads, as well as the introduction of a new French and 海角视频 procurement team based out of Malta.
鈥淲e are also relocating the office of our hardware development team based out of India and growing its headcount from 60 to 100 and our biggest relocation is of our head office, where we are taking an additional three floors to increase our HQ capacity by 60% and will be recruiting an additional 240 heads over the next 12 months.鈥
Botanical drinks company Fentimans, based in Hexham, Northumberland, grew its international sales at an average annual growth rate of 39% over its last two years. The company has been botanically brewing soft drinks for over a century, and now sells to distributors in more than 80 countries.
CEO Ian Bray said: 鈥淎s a premium brand with big growth aspirations both in the 海角视频 and across the rest of the world, it鈥檚 great to be recognised alongside such a strong peer group and be included in the Sunday Times International Track 200 list for the third consecutive year.鈥
Darlington-based scrap metal processor Ward Bros features on the league table for the first time, at number 23.
Established in 1974, the company processes over 100,000 tonnes of metal a year, and grew its international sales an average of 106% per year over its last two years. Exporting 50,000 tonnes of this to steel producers in Turkey and mills in Europe helped international sales reach 拢18.2m in 2018, on total sales of 拢41.7m.
Also on the list is the Newton Aycliffe crafting company founded and run by TV Dragon Sara Davies. Crafter鈥檚 Companion makes it in at 122, with average sale growth of 43%.
Mrs Davies, founder and creative director of Crafter鈥檚 Companion, said: 鈥淭his is the first time that we have been eligible for the Sunday Times International Track 200, so to feature is a huge achievement for the company.
鈥淭hroughout the past couple of years, our team has worked tirelessly to support the investments we have made as our export growth overtakes that of our 海角视频 business.
鈥淲e have some really exciting, ambitious plans in the pipeline as we continue to increase our brand awareness with new and existing products, bolster our multiple sales channels and strengthen our network of international partners.鈥
Recruitment consultant Frank Recruitment, which sources IT professionals from 21 offices across the US, Asia, Australia and Europe, is ranked 105 with growth of 46%.
James Lloyd-Townshend, chairman and CEO, said: 鈥淲e鈥檙e naturally delighted to be included on this prestigious list and to have moved up the rankings since last year. We鈥檙e placed alongside some of the North East鈥檚 most inventive and progressive firms, so we鈥檙e in good company.
鈥淥ur success is thanks to the incredible dedication and professionalism shown by our staff every single day, and to see their efforts reflected by our placing on this list is hugely satisfying.鈥
Meanwhile, Oil Consultants, the Washington specialist recruiter which works across 95 countries to find oil and gas workers, is ranked at number 119.
END, the online fashion firm which receives more than 10 million visits to its website and apps every month, makes it in at number 177 with sales of 拢134.7m and average growth of 33%.
The companies in the North East appear alongside well-known brands including Mountain Warehouse, BrewDog, and Charlotte Tilbury.
The league table programme is sponsored by HSBC, DHL Express and Oracle NetSuite, and compiled by Fast Track, the Oxford-based research and networking events firm.
