The Centre for Entrepreneurs and DueDil have launched the second annual Fortuna 50 – an index of the fastest growing women-led small businesses, initiated by Downing Street last year to tie in with International Women’s Day.
The growth of women-led small and medium-sized businesses has been a remarkable success story in the last few years. The Fortuna 50 Index aims to highlight this achievement and promote the diversity of successful businesses that are being run by women, as well as inspire other women to follow the route of entrepreneurship.
Matt Smith, Director of the Centre for Entrepreneurs said:
“Entrepreneurship is undoubtedly rising in popularity, and this list shows the breadth of sectors experiencing growth and job creation across the UK. These women are inspirational role models that will surely encourage a greater number of people to start and grow a business.”
Damian Kimmelman, CEO of DueDil said:
“We identified these enterprising businesses from DueDil’s database of over 10 million UK companies. The examples we’ve uncovered show that there are many exceptional women-led firms across the country.
I hope that the variety of companies we’ve revealed inspires others to follow in the footsteps of those on the Fortuna 50, encouraging more women entrepreneurs to play a vital role in driving the UK’s future economic success.”
The list is formulated from compound annual revenue growth using the last 3 years of reported Companies House data as of 15 February. They are the fastest growing small businesses and community interest companies in the UK with single or majority women listed as active founder directors. All have experienced positive growth in each year, and have reached £100,000 in turnover but not exceeded £5 million.
The Fortuna 50
- Archco Developments Limited
Essex-based property developers.
Growth: 1532%
Directors: Siobhan Cook - Marke2ing Limited
Professional marketing support for London SMEs
Growth: 364.5%
Directors: Sabine Popp & Linsay Duncan - Superstar Arts CIC
Not for profit organisation based in Worthing committed to delivering high quality, meaningful, creative projects for people with learning disabilities
Growth: 141%
Directors: Joanne Sullivan & Joanne Telling - Playing Out CIC
Not-for-profit organisation aims to build a culture of street play across the UK, through supporting residents and organisations.
Growth: 79%
Directors: Alice Ferguson - People Face2Face Limited
Learning and development company, providing tailored and accredited programmes for all levels in an organisation.
Growth: 78.1%
Directors: Patricia Stretton - Dealmania UK Limited
Online retail site selling electronics based in Essex.
Growth: 60.5%
Directors: Zelly Dulger - Blooming Scent Cafe Limited
A cafe and florist based in Tottenham.
Growth: 59.5%
Directors: Eugeina Moffatt - Oxygen Ventures Limited
A global startup accelerator.
Growth: 55.9%
Directors: Emma Myers
- Mental Health First Aid CIC
An educational course which teaches people how to identify, understand and help a person who may be developing a mental health issue.
Growth: 52.4%
Directors: Poppy Jaman - Homes Transformed Limited
A property renovator based in Suffolk.
Growth: 46.5%
Directors: Claire Bartley - X.Trax Arts
Supports inspirational outdoor performance, running projects, festivals and showcases designed to promote innovative outdoor work.
Growth: 40.8%
Directors: Fiona Gasper - Carr Foods Limited
Producers of probiotic drink products, based in London.
Growth: 39.9%
Directors: Deborah Carr - Samphire Restaurant Communications Limited
A restaurant, and lifestyle Public Relation agency in London.
Growth: 37.8%
Directors: Zoe Wilmer - Mainstream Cleaning Limited
A specialist cleaning company for commercial, industrial and retail cleaning, based in Surrey .
Growth: 37.3%
Directors: Dawn Shields - Irvins Amusements Limited
Specialists in fun fair hire based in Middlesex.
Growth: 36.5%
Directors: Lisa Irvin - Trade 2 Trade Windows Limited
Offers high quality windows, doors and conservatories covering Rochester and the surrounding areas.
Growth: 35.9%
Directors: Rebecca Cause - Respect4Us CIC
An alternative education provider working in partnership with schools across Norfolk and Suffolk.
Growth: 33.8%
Directors: Elizabeth Easton - Postsums Limited
A post production accounts service in the film industry.
Growth: 33.2%
Directors: Tarn Harper - Hogarths Hotel Limited
A luxury hotel and restaurant near Birmingham NEC and Airport.
Growth: 30.7%
Directors: Helena Hogarth - Alrahim Store Limited
A retail store based in Reading.
Growth: 30.1%
Directors: Rabia Khan - Create-I Limited
A training, communications and change management consultancy based in Fleet.
Growth: 29.8%
Directors: Fiona Coleman - Technical Drain Solutions Limited
A drainage company based in Essex.
Growth: 29.8%
Directors: Julie Hyde - Allied Health Professionals Suffolk CIC
Out-patient community services based in Suffolk.
Growth: 27.8%
Directors: Joanna Douglas - Justice Prince CIC
Delivers a range of community based services to local people throughout Longbenton.
Growth: 27.4%
Directors: Julie Cruddas & Karen Clark - Claudine Ickeringill Limited
An independent opticians in Chichester, West Sussex.
Growth: 26.7%
Directors: Claudine Ickeringill - Harmony House Dagenham CIC
Works in partnership with the local authority, community and voluntary organisations in delivering a range of community based services and projects.
Growth: 24.8%
Directors: Catherine Collins - Tissus D’Helene Limited
Boutique showroom specialising in artisanal fabrics and wallpapers from England, France, Belgium, Italy and America.
Growth: 24.7%
Directors: Helen Cormack - Lah Property Marketing Limited
Provides high-calibre front-desk reception, on-site marketing and telemarketing teams for commercial property developments.
Growth: 22.2%
Directors: Louise Hazelden - Gordon Springate Transport Training Services Limited
A driving school in Kent, providing a professional LGV/HGV training.
Growth: 22.1%
Directors: Julie Mcdonald - Nationwide Vehicle Deliveries Limited
A vehicle delivery service based in Manchester.
Growth: 21.8%
Directors: Muriel Smyth - Me Unlimited CIC
Providing personal development programmes for carers.
Growth: 20.5%
Directors: Noreen Kettyles - Lim Independent Living and Community Care Services
Care agency based in Surrey.
Growth: 19.9%
Directors: Marcia St. Clair-Morris - Northern Etchells Homes Limited
Real estate agency based in Cheshire.
Growth: 19.3%
Directors: Amanda Burns - Chiltern Directories Limited
Local magazine based in Buckinghamshire.
Growth: 18.4%
Directors: Coralie Bourke & Janet Ridley - Whole School Meals CIC
Providing school children with high quality and healthy school meals.
Growth: 18.2%
Directors: Stephanie Hayman & Gillian Chiverton - Learning Ladders Children’s Centre
Children’s centre based in Battersea.
Growth: 17.8%
Directors: Nikki Kirrage & Kim Bronock - The Montgomery Partnership Limited
Provides search and selection for private banks, asset management houses, and private client stockbrokers.
Growth: 17%
Directors: Marianne Montgomery & Kim Bronock - Amstecos Limited
Nursing home organisation.
Growth: 16.5%
Directors: Mary Macklin & Emer Bevan - Barclay Scaffolding Limited
Scaffolding business based in Essex.
Growth: 14%
Directors: Janet Burgess - Southall Black Sisters
Organisation set up in 1979 to meet the needs of black (Asian and African-Caribbean) and minority ethnic women.
Growth: 13%
Directors: Meenaxi Patel, Pragna Patel & Rahila Gupta - City Property Lets Limited
Provides a property service to investors in the Bristol area.
Growth: 12.6%
Directors: Susan Powell - Trigonos
Conference venue in Snowdonia.
Growth: 12.4%
Directors: Christine Harris & Sita Tennyson - Shine Therapy Services Limited
Private consultancy offering occupational therapy, speech and language therapy and physiotherapy for children and young people.
Growth: 11.2%
Directors: Lisa Hamer - Creanova Universal Closures Limited
Provides innovative bottle closure designs for a global network of licensees.
Growth: 11.1%
Directors: Deborah James - Babies Blessings Limited
High quality baby shop based in Hartlepool.
Growth: 10.7%
Directors: Deanne Malton - Distinctive Living Limited
London based construction and property maintenance company.
Growth: 10.5%
Directors: Amanda Grant - Burton Day Nursery Limited
Private nursery in Dorset.
Growth: 10.1%
Directors: Rosemarie Coleman - Track Right Equestrian Limited
Provides equestrian supplies.
Growth: 10.1%
Directors: Sandra Bartlett - Old Crown (Highgate) Limited
Pub & Inn in Highgate.
Growth: 10.1%
Directors: Patrizia Grison - Westbury Care Limited
Residential care services based in Bristol.
Growth: 9.5%
Directors: June Phillips & Sheila Wilson