Fortuna 50: The UK’s fastest growing women-led small businesses


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

  1. Archco Developments Limited
    Essex-based property developers.
    Growth: 1532%
    Directors: Siobhan Cook
  2. Marke2ing Limited
    Professional marketing support for London SMEs
    Growth: 364.5%
    Directors: Sabine Popp & Linsay Duncan
  3. 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
  4. 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
  5. People Face2Face Limited
    Learning and development company, providing tailored and accredited programmes for all levels in an organisation.
    Growth: 78.1%
    Directors: Patricia Stretton
  6. Dealmania UK Limited
    Online retail site selling electronics based in Essex.
    Growth: 60.5%
    Directors: Zelly Dulger
  7. Blooming Scent Cafe Limited
    A cafe and florist based in Tottenham.
    Growth: 59.5%
    Directors: Eugeina Moffatt
  8. Oxygen Ventures Limited
    A global startup accelerator.
    Growth: 55.9%
    Directors: Emma Myers
  9. 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
  10. Homes Transformed Limited
    A property renovator based in Suffolk.
    Growth: 46.5%
    Directors: Claire Bartley
  11. X.Trax Arts
    Supports inspirational outdoor performance, running projects, festivals and showcases designed to promote innovative outdoor work.
    Growth: 40.8%
    Directors: Fiona Gasper
  12. Carr Foods Limited
    Producers of probiotic drink products, based in London.
    Growth: 39.9%
    Directors: Deborah Carr
  13. Samphire Restaurant Communications Limited
    A restaurant, and lifestyle Public Relation agency in London.
    Growth: 37.8%
    Directors: Zoe Wilmer
  14. Mainstream Cleaning Limited
    A specialist cleaning company for commercial, industrial and retail cleaning, based in Surrey .
    Growth: 37.3%
    Directors: Dawn Shields
  15. Irvins Amusements Limited
    Specialists in fun fair hire based in Middlesex.
    Growth: 36.5%
    Directors: Lisa Irvin
  16. Trade 2 Trade Windows Limited
    Offers high quality windows, doors and conservatories covering Rochester and the surrounding areas.
    Growth: 35.9%
    Directors: Rebecca Cause
  17. Respect4Us CIC
    An alternative education provider working in partnership with schools across Norfolk and Suffolk.
    Growth: 33.8%
    Directors: Elizabeth Easton
  18. Postsums Limited
    A post production accounts service in the film industry.
    Growth: 33.2%
    Directors: Tarn Harper
  19. Hogarths Hotel Limited
    A luxury hotel and restaurant near Birmingham NEC and Airport.
    Growth: 30.7%
    Directors: Helena Hogarth
  20. Alrahim Store Limited
    A retail store based in Reading.
    Growth: 30.1%
    Directors: Rabia Khan
  21. Create-I Limited
    A training, communications and change management consultancy based in Fleet.
    Growth: 29.8%
    Directors: Fiona Coleman
  22. Technical Drain Solutions Limited
    A drainage company based in Essex.
    Growth: 29.8%
    Directors: Julie Hyde
  23. Allied Health Professionals Suffolk CIC
    Out-patient community services based in Suffolk.
    Growth: 27.8%
    Directors: Joanna Douglas
  24. Justice Prince CIC
    Delivers a range of community based services to local people throughout Longbenton.
    Growth: 27.4%
    Directors: Julie Cruddas & Karen Clark
  25. Claudine Ickeringill Limited
    An independent opticians in Chichester, West Sussex.
    Growth: 26.7%
    Directors: Claudine Ickeringill
  26. 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
  27. 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
  28. 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
  29. Gordon Springate Transport Training Services Limited
    A driving school in Kent, providing a professional LGV/HGV training.
    Growth: 22.1%
    Directors: Julie Mcdonald
  30. Nationwide Vehicle Deliveries Limited
    A vehicle delivery service based in Manchester.
    Growth: 21.8%
    Directors: Muriel Smyth
  31. Me Unlimited CIC
    Providing personal development programmes for carers.
    Growth: 20.5%
    Directors: Noreen Kettyles
  32. Lim Independent Living and Community Care Services
    Care agency based in Surrey.
    Growth: 19.9%
    Directors: Marcia St. Clair-Morris
  33. Northern Etchells Homes Limited
    Real estate agency based in Cheshire.
    Growth: 19.3%
    Directors: Amanda Burns
  34. Chiltern Directories Limited
    Local magazine based in Buckinghamshire.
    Growth: 18.4%
    Directors: Coralie Bourke & Janet Ridley
  35. Whole School Meals CIC
    Providing school children with high quality and healthy school meals.
    Growth: 18.2%
    Directors: Stephanie Hayman & Gillian Chiverton
  36. Learning Ladders Children’s Centre
    Children’s centre based in Battersea.
    Growth: 17.8%
    Directors: Nikki Kirrage & Kim Bronock
  37. 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
  38. Amstecos Limited
    Nursing home organisation.
    Growth: 16.5%
    Directors: Mary Macklin & Emer Bevan
  39. Barclay Scaffolding Limited
    Scaffolding business based in Essex.
    Growth: 14%
    Directors: Janet Burgess 
  40. 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
  41. City Property Lets Limited
    Provides a property service to investors in the Bristol area.
    Growth: 12.6%
    Directors: Susan Powell
  42. Trigonos
    Conference venue in Snowdonia.
    Growth: 12.4%
    Directors: Christine Harris & Sita Tennyson
  43. 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
  44. Creanova Universal Closures Limited
    Provides innovative bottle closure designs for a global network of licensees.
    Growth: 11.1%
    Directors: Deborah James
  45. Babies Blessings Limited
    High quality baby shop based in Hartlepool.
    Growth: 10.7%
    Directors: Deanne Malton
  46. Distinctive Living Limited
    London based construction and property maintenance company.
    Growth: 10.5%
    Directors: Amanda Grant
  47. Burton Day Nursery Limited
    Private nursery in Dorset.
    Growth: 10.1%
    Directors: Rosemarie Coleman
  48. Track Right Equestrian Limited
    Provides equestrian supplies.
    Growth: 10.1%
    Directors: Sandra Bartlett
  49. Old Crown (Highgate) Limited
    Pub & Inn in Highgate.
    Growth: 10.1%
    Directors: Patrizia Grison
  50. Westbury Care Limited
    Residential care services based in Bristol.
    Growth: 9.5%
    Directors: June Phillips & Sheila Wilson