Derbyshire’s Top 200 businesses unveiled by University of Derby and Derby Telegraph

Derbyshire’s best-performing companies have been named at a ceremony to celebrate the county’s business success.

The University of Derby’s College of Business, Law and Social Sciences has produced a list of the Top 200 firms on behalf of the Derby Telegraph newspaper.

The list was unveiled at an event attended by members of the Derbyshire business community at the Morley Hayes Hotel, near Derby, on Wednesday (21 November).

Compiled using publicly available information, including data from Companies House, the list was further sense checked utilising data from the University’s Bloomberg trading room, which has been created for simulated trading and research.

Private sector, active businesses with registered offices in Derby and Derbyshire have been ranked according to turnover, as reported between 1 July 2016 and 30 June 2017.

Turnover - the total value of a company’s income – was determined by academics from the University as the simplest and best indicator of business growth.

The company topping this year’s list is the Rolls Royce Group, which recorded total revenues of £3.2bn and employs more than 12,000 people.

Professor Kathryn Mitchell, Vice Chancellor of the University of Derby, said: “The Top 200 Businesses event is a fantastic way to celebrate the success of Derby and Derbyshire’s array of businesses, and many congratulations go to Rolls Royce, which has been such a significant employer in Derbyshire and one of the drivers of our national economy for so long.

“It is encouraging to see so many Derbyshire companies continuing to thrive in their areas of business, even during uncertain political and economic times.

“The University of Derby is determined to work ever more closely with our local and regional business community, using our knowledge, research and technology to improve productivity and competitiveness in the global marketplace, and to help generate growth and job creation.

“We are also delighted to work alongside the Derby Telegraph and to let the people of Derby and Derbyshire know who are the key players in the economic growth of our city and county.”

The top ten companies in the list are:

1. Rolls Royce Group
2. Toyota Motor Manufacturing (UK) Ltd
3. Eco-Bat Technologies Ltd
4. Bloor Investments
5. Greencore
6. Bowmer and Kirkland Ltd
7. Bombardier Transportation UK Ltd
8. Motorpoint Group PLC
9. Pentagon Motor Holdings Ltd
10. Porterbrook Holdings Ltd

Alexandra Charles, Head of Derby Management School, said: “These companies are to be congratulated for achieving their position in the listing at a time when the economic outlook is still quite uncertain for business.

“The top ten shows the strength of the county’s manufacturing base, while there is real diversity throughout the whole list which should prove to be particularly beneficial to the region, as it is important for the Derbyshire economy to have this good spread of company activity including large national employers.

“Business confidence in the region appears good in spite of the continued uncertainty surrounding Brexit. The listing should provide interesting reading for companies who are considering relocating to the region, as it suggests that economic conditions in the region are healthy.

“The College of Business, Law and Social Sciences’ close association with business and practitioners throughout the East Midlands continues to enhance our reputation for high quality teaching and globally recognised research.”

Read the Derby Telegraph's coverage of the Top 200 list.

Find out about studying at our College of Business, Law and Social Sciences.

For further press information, please contact Rob James, University of Derby Corporate Communications Officer, on 01332 591043 or email: r.james@derby.ac.uk.