Eight South West and Channel Isles companies have made it onto the 2020 list of the 海角视频鈥檚 biggest private sector companies 鈥 but based on figures compiled before the coronavirus pandemic struck.
The new Covid-19 edition of the Sunday Times HSBC Top Track 100 league table ranks Britain鈥檚 100 private companies with the biggest sales.
But the list, published in the newspaper on July 5, does not take into account the effects of the three-month lockdown.
But although some of the firms in the top 100 are now planning to make substantial job losses as a result of the coronavirus crisis, the list nevertheless highlights their continuing contribution to the economy.
Five of the South West companies - Ovo Energy, The Range, Specsavers, Clarks and Dyson 鈥 appeared on last year鈥檚 list, but are now joined by Cobham, Merlin Entertainments and New Look.
Combined, the eight have achieved sales of 拢15.8bn and profits of 拢2bn in their latest financial year, and employ 120,000 people.
The published list also gives examples of how firms have stepped up to support their communities and the NHS.
Examples include Bristol-based OVO Energy, at number 70 in the list, launching a 拢50million hardship fund for customers struggling to pay their bills.
Founded by chief executive Stephen Fitzpatrick in 2009, it is now the 海角视频鈥檚 third-largest energy provider, valued at 拢1billion last year, when Mitsubishi acquired a 20% stake.
Other examples include Cobham Plc, at number 30, the Dorset-based aerospace and defence company which adapted one of its fighter aircraft oxygen regulators for the 海角视频 Ventilator Challenge.
Meanwhile, Merlin Entertainments, at number 36, provided the car park at its Chessington World of Adventures resort for coronavirus testing.
The region鈥檚 top-ranked company is bag-less vacuum cleaner maker Dyson, at number nine, a drop of two places.
It is technically still based in Malmesbury, Wiltshire, but moved its headquarters to Singapore in 2019, though continuing to invest in its main Wiltshire research hub.
Sales of 拢4.4billion were recoded and the firm, owned 100% by Sir James Dyson and family, has announced a profit of 拢1.1774billion. But these figures were from December 2018.
It announced in March it would make 10,000 ventilators for the NHS but the Government later said they were not needed.
Other companies featured include Guernsey- headquartered Specsavers, at number 15 nationally, up two places. The high-street optician, which is still run by founders Mary and Doug Perkins and family, with joint venture partners employs 37,000 people worldwide. It recorded up-to-date sales of 拢2.92billion, but did not reveal profits.
At number 43 in the 海角视频 list, and down from 36, is shoe-maker Clarks, based in Street, Somerset, which boasted sales of 拢1.469billion and an increased profit of 拢81million. It is owned 85% by the Clark family, and the rest by some of its 11,760 employees and some institutions.
Down three places at number 82 is Plymouth-headquartered budget retailer The Range, which made 拢101million in profit on sales of 拢925million, in 2019. The firm, totally owned by Chris and Sarah Dawson, has 10,089 employees.
Meanwhile, Bristol鈥檚 Ovo Energy has risen 15 places to 70, as sales surged, but made a staggering loss of 拢59million on turnover of 拢1.042billion. The energy supplier has several owners including Stephen Fitzpatrick, with a controlling stake, Mitsubishi Corporation and Mayfair Private Equity. It employs 2,110 people, but in May 2020 said it was cutting 2,600 of those jobs.
New entry Cobham, at 30, made a profit of 拢272million on sales of 拢2.06billion and employs 10,185 people.
Merlin Entertainments, entering at 36, made a 拢569million profit on sales of 拢1,74billion. It employs 21,302 workers.
High street fashion retailer New Look, based in Weymouth, is at number 53, and made a profit of 拢69million on turnover of 拢1.221billion. It has a workforce of 15,528.
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Business Live's South West Business Reporter is William Telford. William has more than a decade's experience reporting on the business scene in Plymouth and the South West. He is based in Plymouth but covers the entire region.
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The companies in the South West appear alongside well-known British names, including bet365, Iceland, JCB, John Lewis Partnership and Nando鈥檚.
This year, the 100 companies reached a record 拢237billion in total sales, up 8% on the prior year, with total profits of 拢28billion, up by 7%. Three in four companies (74) increased sales in their latest financial year.
The league table programme is sponsored by HSBC and Linklaters, 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: 鈥淯ncertainty and volatility remain watchwords in the current climate but we at HSBC 海角视频 are confident that Britain鈥檚 business leaders, such as those at the helm of the companies in the South West and Guernsey on this year鈥檚 Top Track 100, will rise to the challenge.
鈥淭he country has found new reserves of energy in the face of adversity and the businesses that can harness that energy and pace of change will thrive in the 鈥榥ew normal鈥.鈥
