‘1000 Companies to Inspire Britain’ is a celebration of some of the fastest-growing and most dynamic small and medium-sized enterprises in the UK. As well as identifying 1,000 companies, the report examines in detail the opportunities and challenges facing SMEs and looks at the sectors and trends that will shape the future of the UK economy.
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| Billy Walker - Managing Director of The BenRiach Distillery Co |
Over 100 sectors in total are represented; from manufacturing and engineering, to financial services and retail, with companies from across every region of the UK. Eight of the fastest-growing food and drink companies are based in Scotland.
The report points out that the success of SMEs has a disproportionate effect on our national economic output. The Scale-Up Report, published last year by Sherry Coutu, found that boosting this ‘sector‘ by just 1% would create as many as 230,000 new jobs and add £38bn to UK GDP.
To be considered for inclusion in the report, companies had to meet a range of criteria which included being UK-registered, having a turnover of between £6-£250 million in the last 12 months and a minimum of three years in operation.
Commenting on the news, Billy Walker, Managing Director of BenRiach, said: “It’s an enormous compliment and a very pleasant surprise to be included in this prestigious list,” he said. “This achievement is testament to the hard work, passion and commitment of our people across our four sites.”
Edinburgh-headquartered BenRiach markets three core brands – BenRiach, GlenDronach and Glenglassaugh single malts - from its three distilleries at Elgin, Forgue and Portsoy. Last year it announced a record pre-tax profit increase of 116% to £8.9m in its annual financial results alongside a turnover growth of 39.4% to £34.5m.
Source: The BenRiach Distillery Co