Welcome to the SoGlos Top 100 Businesses in Gloucestershire 2023, a list of the biggest county-headquartered businesses ranked in order of turnover, made possible by partners The Growth Hub, GFirst LEP, Lodders Solicitors and Gloucestershire College.
Using data from each company’s last set of published accounts, or information given directly to SoGlos, the definitive list features the top 100 businesses whose registered office, declared headquarters or centre of operations is right here in Gloucestershire.
To the best of our knowledge, this is a comprehensive list, but SoGlos would love to hear from any business that thinks it should be included, to ensure we build our records for now and the future. Any filed information published at Companies House after Friday 30 June 2023, or which reached SoGlos after that date, has not been included.
If you believe you should be included in future lists, please email editorial@sopublishing.com.
In partnership with:
GFirst LEP is the independent business voice for Gloucestershire striving to make the county the best place to live, work and play. It does this through sustainable economic activity and in partnership with the private, public and voluntary sectors. It has successfully bid for more than £113 million in infrastructure funding from central Government to invest in Gloucestershire.
GFirst LEP gfirstlep.com
The Growth Hub exists to help businesses of all sizes across Gloucestershire maximise their potential. Whether it's sourcing funding, developing your team or breaking into new markets; its experts can help. Offering business support, workshops, one-to-ones with sector experts and meeting room spaces, there's something for every Gloucestershire business. It has hubs in Tewkesbury, Gloucester, Mitcheldean, Stroud, Cirencester and Cheltenham.
The Growth Hub thegrowthubbiz.com
Lodders is full of excellent solicitors just as savvy about real-world complications: strong on the technicalities, but just as good at delivering creative solutions. It will help clients to grow businesses, sell a family one, resolve disputes, complete their deal on land or property, and address changes in personal or family life. Its team will tell you what you really need to know, to get the situation resolved.
Lodders Solicitors lodders.co.uk
Gloucestershire College is an innovative provider of professional and technical training, offering courses and apprenticeships for school leavers, adults and businesses across its campuses in Cheltenham, Gloucester and the Forest of Dean. The college works with more than 1,300 employers to deliver bespoke training programmes, ensuring businesses have the right skills and staff for growth.
Gloucestershire College gloscol.ac.uk
The Top 100 Businesses in Gloucestershire 2023
Spirax Sarco PLC
This group of engineering companies has its headquarters in Charlton Kings, Cheltenham. Spirax Sarco employs an estimated 1,000 people in Gloucestershire, 2,699 in the UK and 6,670 in the rest of the world. Staff numbers in the UK rose more than 500 in its last financial year. Its last set of published accounts, for 2022, shows a turnover of £1.61 billion.
EDF Energy
Although French-owned, this firm is long-standing in Gloucestershire and has its base at Gloucester Business Park. Its UK head office is London, but it has confirmed the centre of operations for the generation side of its business is in Brockworth. Turnover was £1.6 billion for the year ending Friday 31 December 2021 and its total number of staff was just over 1,000.
St James's Place Wealth Management
For some years now the acclaimed wealth management firm, founded in the Cotswolds town of Cirencester, has been one of the biggest firms in Gloucestershire by turnover. Its last set of accounts show revenues of £1.2 billion. Its St James's Place Foundation gives to thousands of charities across the UK annually — and is currently the third largest corporate foundation in the UK.
Mears Group PLC
Brockworth-headquartered public company Mears Group provides and manages 17,000 homes for local and central government and is responsible for keeping 750,000 social housing homes in the UK in good repair. It has an estimated 5,400 employees nationwide and in 2022 its turnover was £959.6 million — an increase of nine per cent on the previous year.
BASF Metals Recycling
If you've ever wondered where the catalytic converter from your car goes when it's done catching the various impurities and pollutants, this company could well be where it ends up. Formerly Engelhard Sales Ltd, the Cinderford firm specialises in recycling the devices — and for the year ending Friday 31 December 2021, it turned over £810.62 million.
Renishaw PLC
When it comes to adding real value to the economy, few can stand as proud as an engineering firm. Renishaw not only makes real products, it enables businesses around the globe to do the same — and better than ever before. The Wotton-under-Edge-based company is involved in sectors from aerospace to medical and employs an estimated 2,600 people in Gloucestershire, with a turnover of £671.1 million in the year to June 2022.
Superdry PLC
For fashionistas or followers of Gloucestershire’s most high-profile firms, the Cheltenham-headquartered listed company Superdry will be a familiar name. Famously founded by Julian Dunkerton on a market stall, its last set of published accounts show a turnover of £609.6 million, up from £556.1million. It expects to achieve between £615 million and £635 million in 2023.
Ecclesiastical Insurance Office PLC
This long-established firm may be famous for its insurance services, but it's so much more than that, too. It employs an estimated 500 staff in the county and, as part of the Benefact Group, achieved its long-standing goal of donating £100 million to charity since 2016. Gross written-premiums at the Brockworth-headquartered firm grew 15 per cent in the year to Saturday 31 December 2022 to £558.61 million.
BorgWarner Technologies
Known to all as Delphi Technologies until October 2020 when it was taken over by BorgWarner Technologies, the Stonehouse operation has gone from strength to strength as a leader in electrified propulsion systems – electric engines for vehicles. It remains a champion of apprentices and saw turnover rise from £450 million in 2021 to £543.11 million.
GE Aviation Systems
Part of the mighty American business GE Aerospace, GE Aviation Systems has its UK headquarters in Bishop’s Cleeve near Cheltenham, from where it is a market leader in technology for the aerospace and defence sectors. Its UK turnover is listed in American dollars, but we worked it out to be roughly £395 million ($498.15m).
Masstock Arable (UK)
For a county with so much history built on agriculture, it's inevitable that a firm embedded in the sector would make the list. This Andoversford-headquartered business provides agronomy services and technologies to support farming systems under the training name Agrii. Turnover was £392.88 million for the year ending Sunday 31 July 2022, up from £300 million in 2021.
NOV Downhole Eurasia
This Stonehouse-based business operates as a division of its parent company National Oilwell Varco, which has scores of bases worldwide. It is a market leader in providing traditional and bespoke tools for complex drilling projects, including 'directional drilling, fishing, well intervention and re-entry'. It has 115 staff and turned over £348.92 million in the year ending Friday 31 December 2021.
Ecotricity
Turnover at this Stroud-based green energy provider jumped an incredible 40 per cent for the year ending Saturday 30 April 2022 to £336 million, up from £239.7 million in 2021. Pre-tax profit remained at £9 million, with the firm saying it managed to maintain its margin due to 'a strong hedging strategy' which helped combat power and gas supplies reaching record highs.
International Plywood PLC
In an extremely competitive market, this Stonehouse-headquartered firm remains one of the largest independent importers in the sector, something it started doing in 1981 when David Attwood started the business. Run today by his son, Ian, turnover for the year ending Saturday 30 April 2022 was up 25 per cent to £244.52 million.
Nuvias Global Services
Cirencester-headquartered Nuvias Global Services provides IT distribution, specialising in advanced networking, unified communication, systems infrastructure, cyber security and other related services. It has customers worldwide; 4,880 staff across its business; and in the year ending Thursday 31 March 2022, reported a turnover of £190.06 million.
Portman Healthcare
This Cheltenham-headquartered dental business's ongoing growth plan continues to pay dividends. ln 2020, the company took over 28 businesses in the previous 12 months, growing turnover to £116.9 million. In the year to Thursday 30 September 2021, it saw that turnover figure grow again to £181.28 million, with gross profit also climbing from £54.57 million to £82.86 million. Staff numbers reached 1,957, too.
Cotswold Motor Group
This mighty dealership, positioned at the Cheltenham end of the Golden Valley, saw sales for the business, which is reliant on new vehicles from BMW and Mini, rise up from £151 million to £179 million for the year ending Friday 31 December 2021.
Sodra Wood
This Cirencester firm entered its year to Saturday 31 December 2022 with timber prices falling, but still enjoyed a strong first quarter, with adjustments in the marketplace causing a weaker second and third quarter. Sales fell 16 per cent as a result, but nevertheless the business, which employs 31 staff, managed a turnover of £163.3 million. It enjoyed a 'reasonable start' to 2023 with prices stabilising.
Corin Orthopaedics Holdings
A leader in quality joint replacements such as hip and knee joints, this Cirencester-based business employs 823 staff across all of its operations, making most of its money in the USA and Australia. Turnover for the year ending Friday 31 December 2021 was £157.51 million, up from £150.42 million, in spite of the continued supply chain and staffing challenges resulting from Brexit.
Mira Showers
One of Gloucestershire’s biggest manufacturers and success stories, Mira Showers employs an estimated 760 staff at its Cheltenham base, where it makes its highly regarded showers, bathroom taps and accessories. It has a share of the UK market estimated at more than 40 per cent and turnover increased to £154.77 million, according to its last published annual accounts for the year ending Friday 31 December 2021.
EV Downton
Once known as the mighty CM Downtown, this former family logistics firm is now under the wing of EV Cargo, but remains in Gloucester operating as EV Downton with its head office still in Moreton Valence. Turnover for the year ending Friday 31 December 2021 was £131.30 million, an increase of £25 million on the previous year, with the business employing 1,200 staff.
Howard Tenens
Accounts for the year ending Friday 31 September 2022 for this Stroud-based logistics firm highlight escalating global economic and UK political turmoil leading to 'difficult trading conditions'. Nevertheless, it lifted turnover by 11 per cent, reaching £124.24 million with staff numbers at almost 700. 70 per cent of revenues come from transport, with much of its fleet now running on hydrogenated vegetable oil.
G-TEKT European Manufacturing
Most people probably won't realise, but if you drive a BMW or Honda, chances are a large part of the car’s structure was designed and built in Gloucester by this company. Think of it as a white-label manufacturer of the very highest calibre. It employs an estimated 596 staff and in the year ending Thursday 31 March 2022, it turned over an estimated £115.17 million.
Dentsply IH
This Stonehouse-based dental implant specialist saw turnover for the year ending Friday 31 December 2021 rise from £80.37 million the previous year to £112.76 million. The company said the leap was the result of a move 'closer to business as usual' following the Covid-19 pandemic. Its parent company is USA-headquartered Dentsply Sirona Inc, a company with $5 billion of assets.
Futura Foods UK
This Dursley-based Mediterranean cheese specialist has battled increased costs due to the war in Ukraine affecting food prices for animal feeds, as well as 'dramatic every price increases'. Nevertheless, it increased profits from £165,000 to £173,000 and turnover from £93.5 million to £109.08 million for the year ending Saturday 31 December 2022. Staff numbers were estimated at 39.
Dairy Partners
This Stonehouse-based business supplies dairy products to the UK foodservice and export sectors, principally grated and block cheese. Turnover for the year ending Friday 31 December 2021 grew from £83.2 million in 2020 to £104.3 million, an increase of 25 per cent, even though profits were hit by the global pandemic and Brexit. The firm employs an estimated 179 staff.
Barnwood Group
A builder as synonymous with Gloucester as it is with quality, this mighty group of Gloucester-headquartered businesses saw turnover for the year ending Friday 31 December 2021 reach £101.6 million and staff numbers 192. It described its year as ‘satisfactory’ in what it called ‘a challenging year for the industry’.
Creed Foodservice
This Staverton-based firm provides a broad range of food products to the leisure, education, hospitality and care sectors and is run by the Creed family, employing almost 400 staff. SoGlos reported in June 2023 how this family firm had
achieved a significant milestone, passing £100 million turnover in its 50th
year — with total turnover for the year ending Friday 31 December 2021 reaching £101.42 million.
Bladeroom Holdings
This Staverton Technology Park-headquartered business is a leader in mission critical offsite construction of data centres and healthcare facilities. It posted record turnover of £98.6 million for the year ending Thursday 31 March 2022, growing from its previous record of £97.6 million in 2021. Staff numbers also grew from 75 to 83 during the same period.
Glatfelter Lydney
Turnover for the year ending Friday 31 December 2021 reached £94.86 million at this Forest of Dean-headquartered firm, with staff numbers topping 279. The Lydney business, which is a ‘leading global supplier of engineered materials', called the economic climate through 2021 'challenging', mainly due to inflation.
Trelleborg Sealing Solutions
A market leader in the manufacture of high-performance fluid seals and precision polymer mouldings for the automotive, aerospace and industrial markets, this Tewkesbury-based business is part of Trelleborg Group, which is part of the Japanese The Yokohama Rubber Company. It increased turnover to £94.6 million in the year ending Friday 31 December 2021.
Robert Hitchins
Formed over 60 years ago, this Boddington-based, family-owned property company is helping to transform the county — from the development work around Junction 9 of the M5 at Ashchurch to hundreds of houses just north of Gloucester. For the year ending Thursday 31 March 2022, turnover rose from £27.35 million to £89.33 million. Staff numbers were 48 at last count.
KW Bell Group
This incredible Forest of Dean family building firm invested heavily in the exciting AccXel construction school beside its Cinderford headquarters and continues to invest millions, leading the way in innovation in its industry as well as in community support. Its most up-to-date turnover figure for the group is £88.7 million, with staff numbers at 500 — and a vast army of sub-contractors, too.
Baylis (Gloucester)
Although its registered offices are in London, rather than Gloucestershire, this business, whose principal activity is motor vehicle distributor and garage proprietor, nevertheless regards Gloucester as its home. It increased turnover to £88.57 million for the year ending Friday 31 December 2021 — up from £67.8 million — and employs an estimated 319 staff.
Ontic Engineering and Manufacturing UK
It is hard to overestimate how significant this Bishop's Cleeve-based business is to the aerospace sector. It keeps ‘legacy aircraft’ – both civilian and military – in operation, producing the spares each plane needs as part of its portfolio of 6,500 products and 1,000,000 component parts. Turnover for the year ending Friday 31 December 2021 rose to £87 million ($107,896,000 US) with staff numbers reaching 346.
SPP Pumps
Another mighty Gloucestershire firm which sits safely in the keeping of a much larger group of worldwide businesses, this Coleford-based company makes pumps as big as you can imagine for businesses as big as they come. Turnover for the year ending Saturday 31 December 2022 reached £85.64 million, up from £73.2 million. Staff numbers were 336 for the same year.
EG Carter & Company
Family-run construction firm, EG Carter, was a winner of the SoGlos Gloucestershire Business Awards in 2022. It saw its turnover increase in the year ending Thursday 30 June 2022 from £72.4 million to £84.98 million. Net profits before tax doubled, too, in the year which the firm returned to what it called 'full capacity' following the Covid-19 pandemic. Staff numbers were 188.
Newland Homes
Another Gloucestershire-headquartered housebuilder fairing well is Barnwood-based Newland Homes. Turnover rose an incredible £34.19 million from the year ending Thursday 31 December 2020 to the same time in 2021, when it reached £83.35 million. Staff numbers were estimated at 77. In 2020, turnover was ‘depressed by the loss of two or three months production’, due to Covid-19.
IDEMIA UK
This firm is described as a global leader in 'trusted identities'. It helps us interact, pay, connect travel and vote in ways made possible only by our digital world. In operation since 1968 with nearly 300 staff and a manufacturing base in Tewkesbury, this firm saw turnover reach £81.28 million for the year ending Friday 31 December 2021.
University of Gloucestershire
Not just a leading UK university, but a catalyst for much good in the Gloucestershire economy, this business — with campuses in Gloucester and Cheltenham — saw turnover reach £80.99 million for the year ending Sunday 31 July 2022. It has big plans for further expansion, including the transformation of the former Debenhams building in Gloucester, as well as a new vice chancellor in Clare Marchant.
Gillman Electrical Group
This family firm with a well-established shop front off St Oswalds Way in Gloucester is actually a major operation, supplying white goods not just to customers in the county, but for new-build homes nationwide. In the year ending Friday 31 December 2021, it saw turnover rise almost £10 million to £77.26 million, while staff numbers stood at 201.
Smith’s (Gloucester)
This Stonehouse-headquartered business is dedicated to the collection, treatment and disposal of non-hazardous waste and construction of civil engineering projects. A family business founded by Alan Smith in 1982, it now employs two generations — and in the year ending Friday 30 September 2022 it turned over £74.48, up from £61.40 million the previous year. Staff numbers grew from 484 to 570, too.
Cotteswold Dairy
A winner of the SoGlos Gloucestershire Business Awards in 2022, this family firm has risen from one man and a van delivering milk, to one of Tewkesbury’s biggest employers. Turnover increased £10 million between 2021 and 2022 and for the year ending Saturday 1 January 2022, it rose to £68.29 million. During that year it employed an estimated 419 staff — up from 375 – all in production and distribution.
IONOS Cloud
This domain name hosting and website services specialist is based in the heart of Gloucester at 154 Southgate Street. For the year ending Friday 31 December 2021, turnover rose from £62.66 million to £67.99 million. Gross profit also rose 37 per cent from £19.64 million to £26.95 million. It said it was ‘well positioned to further strengthen itself in the small business hosting market’.
Urbaser
This company is the preferred bidder for Gloucestershire County Council’s waste management treatment contract, with the 25-year deal making it part of a consortium with Balfour Beatty, tied to the incinerator plant at Javelin Park. Revenue for the year ending Friday 31 December 2021 was up from £52.56 million to £67.8 million and staff numbers rose from 952 to 1,308, too.
UK Power Solutions
One of the UK’s leading multi-utility connection providers for new-build residential, industrial and commercial projects, this Stonehouse firm said it has continued to invest heavily by increasing headcount, providing a platform for further growth. Turnover was up 16 per cent to £66.91 million and staff numbers were up from 335 to 374 for the year ending Thursday 31 March 2022.
Commercial Corporate Services
If an office needs it, Commercial probably has it. Turnover for the Cheltenham firm was £65.48 million for the year ending Thursday 30 June 2022 and staff numbers were 284. In January its Commercial Foundation, which support young adults who have experienced barriers to work or education, also achieved sought-after B Corp status, given only to organisations which have met stringent criteria and committed to make the world a better place.
Advanced Innergy Holdings
A global leader in the engineering and manufacture of specialist materials, insulation and passive fire protection systems, Quedgeley-based AIS said it has seen 'significant improvements' in the year ending Friday 30 September 2022, despite the indirect impacts of the Ukraine conflict. Turnover was up from £47.19m to £62.96 million and staff numbers were estimated at 411.
Clarkson Evans Holdings
In January 2022, this family-run Staverton business announced a management buyout. In March of the same year, it was delivering its last set of full year accounts. In the year ending Thursday 30 September 2021, the electrical contractor increased turnover by 16 per cent to £62.2 million, with the firm now employing 850 staff across 21 national branches. It had wired more than 24,000 new UK homes in 2021.
Alderley PLC
This Wickwar-headquartered firm exists to ‘maximise the value and efficiency of customer’s energy assets’. The firm, which also trades in countries including Dubai, Singapore and India, said turnover rose ‘significantly’ from £40.46 million to £56.16 million for the year ending Friday 30 September 2022. Staff numbers were up from 319 to 327, too.
Panel Supplies
From its registered offices on Innsworth Technology Park, north of Gloucester, this firm's turnover for the year 'increased considerably, mostly due to price increase of goods' with overall profits increasing 'significantly as a result'. Turnover for the year ending Saturday 30 April 2022 rose 20.82 per cent to £55.70 million, with pre-tax profits up from £3.76 million to £6.88 million.
The Universities and Colleges Admission Service (UCAS)
Every application to UK universities is handled through this Cheltenham-headquartered business. According to its last published accounts for the year ending Sunday 31 July 2022, turnover rose 4.1 per cent to £53.8 million, with its website being visited by 32 million people from across the globe. Staff numbers were 480.
L3 Harris TRL Technology
This specialist defence electronics company focuses on the design, manufacture, supply and support of high-grade secure communication products, precision surveillance, monitoring and counter measures products. Operating across 12 UK sites, the Tewkesbury-headquartered firm has 1,400 staff and in the year ending Friday 31 December 2021 its turnover reached £53.74 million.
Moog Controls
The British arm of the American giant of the same name has been in Gloucestershire for 50 years and is a market leader in the manufacture and servicing of electro-hydraulic servo control mechanisms for use in aerospace and industry. In the year ending Sunday 31 October 2021, the Ashchurch firm turned over £52.84 million and employed 480 staff. This turnover excludes nearby Moog Inc.
P & M Group
This business is a market leader in the design, installation, servicing and maintenance of cold stores, fire walls, data centres and clean rooms and is headquartered at Llanthony Road, Gloucester. Turnover for the year ending Tuesday 31 January 2022 rose from £44.70 million to £52.74 million, with staff numbers for the same period growing from 121 to 177 for the group.
Adey Innovation
A specialist in the design, development and supply of heating products to the air conditioning industry, this Stonehouse firm saw turnover rise for the year ending Friday 31 December 2021 from £41.8 million to £52.57 million. Staff numbers also increased from 109 to 184.
Watts of Lydney Group
This family business announced a record turnover in its latest annual results for the year ending Friday 31 December 2021, rising from £33.98 million to £52.55 million. Profit for the Forest of Dean family firm was up too, from £1.9 million to £4.1 million after tax. The business also received the DAF Trucks Gold Award for 'outstanding achievement in all disciplines of the business'. It employs 200 staff.
Severn & Wye Smokery
A fascinating food business, Severn & Wye Smokery is a real champion for the environment and the Forest of Dean, running a respected restaurant in Westbury-on-Severn and exporting more than £5 million of produce to the rest of the world. Turnover for the year ending Thursday 31 March 2022 rose from £26.55 million the previous year, reaching £52.51 million.
Avon Metals
This Gloucester-based business dealing in scrap metals continues to forge a path to growth through its ability to identify precious and aircraft-grade metals. Turnover grew from £25.98 million in 2021 to £50.99 for the year ending Friday 30 September 2022. Net profits were also up from £1.1 million to £3.46 million, with staff numbers staying steady at 55 over two years.
Procurri Europe
This Cirencester-headquartered firm is a specialist in the refurbishment, trading and remarketing of IBM, Sun, Fujitsu, HP and Cisco computers. It operates on an international basis and for the year ending Friday 31 December 2021 it achieved a turnover of £50.20 million, up from £47.91 million. Staff numbers reached 186 for the same year.
Daylesford Organic
This Cotswolds-based attraction and upmarket organic shopping destination saw its turnover for the year ending Saturday 26 March 2022 grow by 15 per cent, from £42.73 million to £49.15 million. Staff numbers at the Moreton-in-Marsh business reached 454, too.
Hartpury University and Hartpury College
This incredible university and college can lay claim to being the biggest employer in the Forest of Dean. Student numbers continue to rise; Ofsted lauds it; and as vice-chancellor Andy Collop nears the end of his first year in post, turnover is £48.50 million, up from £41.39 million. Women’s rugby team, Gloucester-Hartpury, also became legends by winning the Allianz Premier 15s — and it won Sporting Venue of the Year at the SoGlos Gloucestershire Lifestyle Awards in 2023. Quite a year!
Off-Piste Wines
Although turnover for this wine import business fell from £58.4 million to £48.33 million for the year ending Thursday 31 March 2022, profit for the year before tax was £4.2 million and staff numbers rose from 29 to 35. The Cheltenham firm is forecasting 25 per cent growth in turnover in 2023, so it's one to watch!
Ruskin Mill
Educational charity Ruskin Mill Trust operates across England, Scotland and Wales, offering outdoor learning environments that help young people with autism and learning difficulties develop new skills. In the year ending Wednesday 31 August 2022, the trust saw a growth in student numbers of 12 per cent and a renew totalling £47.30 million. Staff numbers reached 1,093.
Hollingsworth and Vose Company (UK)
Dealing in paper and paperboard, this Winchcombe-based business is an arm of a vast and complex American-headquartered company, which describes itself as a global leader in filtration and energy. Its turnover reached £43.97 million for the year ending Friday 31 December 2021, up from £41 million, while its total number of staff reached 166.
BiGDUG
Known to many fans of Gloucester Rugby as its current sponsor, shelving and rack specialist BiGDUG is also headquartered in the city. For its last full year to Friday 31 December 2021, it saw its turnover rise 27.2 per cent to £43.10 million. Profits were also up and staff numbers reached 109 for the year.
Fasthosts Internet
While Fasthosts is most well-known for being founded by then A-Level student, Andrew Michael, in 2006 and sold for £61.5 million, today the Gloucester business continues to deliver internet hosting services and domain name registration — and in the year ending Friday 31 December 2021, its turnover was £42.14 million, twice what it was when Michaels sold it.
Gloucestershire College
In the last 12 months, Gloucestershire College has installed solar panels across its Cheltenham and Gloucester campuses; invested in training the electric vehicle technicians of tomorrow; and shared news of a new multi-million-pound sustainable construction centre for Cheltenham, too. Its total income for the year ending Sunday 31 July 2022 was £38.90 million, up from £32.94 million. Staff numbers also rose across its group from 815 to 838.
Hydro Building Systems UK
This Tewkesbury-based firm is part of the worldwide Hydro Group, which has over 33,000 employees in more than four countries — and has operations in Gloucester and Cheltenham. It makes aluminium door, window and curtain walling solutions and turned over £38.86 million in the year ending Friday 31 December 2021 with staff numbers of 125.
GR Lane Holdings
Family firm GR Lane Holdings continues to thrive by producing its popular and ever-changing range of products, from Olbas Oil to Pro Plus caffeine tablets. In the year ending Sunday 31 July 2022, the Gloucester firm turned over £38.44 million, with staff numbers at 235 — and this year, its new executive chairman, Jonathan Groves, took the reins.
Hazlewoods
With offices in Staverton, Cheltenham and Bristol, Hazlewoods is Gloucestershire's highest profile firm of accountants and nationally recognised as a leader in its field for many of its sector specialisms. Turnover for the year ending Saturday 30 April 2022 was £38.3 million, with the firm employing more than 480 staff, over a quarter of whom are apprentices.
Ubico
Cheltenham-headquartered Ubico is a company wholly owned by Gloucestershire County Council, Gloucester City Council, Cheltenham and Tewkesbury Borough Councils and Cotswold, Forest of Dean, Stroud and West Oxfordshire District Councils, providing a range of environmental services including waste collection, recycling and street cleansing. In the year ending Thursday 31 March 2022, turnover reached £37.56 million — up from £35.59 million — with staff numbers of 698.
Pegasus Planning Group
According to this Cirencester-headquartered planning consultancy, it remains in 'a highly competitive position with a clear focus on growth' with new services it has invested in including transport and infrastructure heritage. Turnover for the year ending Thursday 30 June 2022 was £37.40 million, up from £33.8 million, while staff numbers increased from 373 to 401.
Prima Dental Manufacturing
This specialist in dental burs is one of Gloucestershire’s biggest manufacturing success stories. Turnover for the year to Friday 31 December 2021 reached £36.6 million and staff numbers passed the 250 mark. The firm continues to create new positions and invest in its headquarters in Gloucester for growth, not least in its export markets to countries around the globe.
National Star Foundation
This much-loved, nationally recognised charity provides education, support, care and residential accommodation to help students from across the UK with disabilities to achieve their aspirations. Turnover for the charity increased by £4.1 million to £36.4 million for the year ending Wednesday 31 August 2022, with staff at the Ullenwood-headquartered operation reaching 1,173.
Weird Fish
This Tewkesbury-based fashion brand, founded in 1993, has a strong high street presence and continues to grow, with turnover for the year ending Sunday 26 December 2021 reaching £35.87 million, up from £22.20 million. Online revenues increased by 83 per cent to £22 million, marking its transition to ‘a digital-first multi-channel company’. It also recorded 153 staff for the year.
Gardner Garages
This family-owned petrol and convenience store retailer continues to thrive. Turnover for the year ending Sunday 31 July 2022 rose from £24.9 million to £34.5 million, with staff numbers reaching 93, up from 85. Founded in 1981 by Clive Gardner, the firm is now run by his daughter, Emma, who is the managing director, and son, Ashton.
Pro Global
While its registered head office is in London, Pro Global's operation headquarters is in Gloucester, where it has 350 staff. The firm, whose offices overlook the city's docks, works with some of the UK's biggest insurance firms, handling the most fascinating and challenging work in its sector so its clients' companies can grow. Turnover for the year ending Friday 31 December 2021 was £33.12 million.
Shipton Mill
Tetbury-based Shipton Mill is famous for the production and quality of its flour. Founded in 1979 to mill flours from 'the most fantastic grains' and support farmers who promote bio-diversity, it achieved a turnover of £31.25 million for the year ending Friday 1 April 2022, up from £29.64 million the year before. Staff numbers grew from 67 to 70.
GBE Converge Group
This Barnwood-based business specialises in the expert provision of independent and bespoke fire, security and IT system design, installation and support. It works across all market sectors and on major construction projects through the entire life cycle of a facility. Group turnover was £31.23 million for the period to Friday 31 December 2021 with staff numbers at 132.
IT and Cloud Solutions
In May 2022, the business which owns IT and Cloud Solutions underwent a complete rebranding exercise with the launch of a new website and change of name to Kubus Group. Turnover at its Gloucestershire operation, based in Kemble near Cirencester, leapt from £23.83 million to £30.36 million for the year ending Thursday 31 March 2022, with staff numbers reaching 68.
TBS Engineering
This Brockworth-headquartered operation is a specialist in the design and manufacture of lead-acid battery products for cars and trucks. In the year ending Friday 31 December 2021, it increased turnover from £26.2 million to £29.4 million and profit after tax from £2.60 million to £7.77 million. Sales totalled £10 million in Asia and £16 million in North America. Staff numbers were 151.
Specialist Aviation Services
This Staverton Airport-based business provides aviation services to police authorities, air ambulance charities and government agencies, as well as helicopter products and services. Founded in 1984, it has customers in the UK, Europe and the Middle East; 160 staff; and expects to see expansion across its business in the future. Turnover for the year ending Friday 31 December 2021 was £28.57 million with 156 staff.
Lodge Service International
This Cirencester-headquartered security firm specialises in ‘loss prevention and profit protection through services and solutions delivered using its specialist people, hardware and software’. Turnover increased nearly £7 million to £28.37 million in the year ending Sunday 31 July 2022, largely due to the government’s restrictions on non-essential retail due to the Covid-19. Staff numbers were at 933.
Socomec UK
This Cotswold firm has headquarters in South Cerney near Cirencester, from where it has established itself as a market leader in uninterrupted power supply to businesses. Turnover for the year ending Friday 31 December 2021 reached £28.28 million, up from £27.25 million, and staff numbers were 83 – despite what it called a ‘challenging climate'.
PBShop
What started as a single High Street bookshop is now a fully-fledged online operation based in Fairford, with its own in-house IT team running a website which saw demand skyrocket through the pandemic and turnover close in on £40 million. For the year ending Monday 31 January 2022, that figure was £27.90 million, with staff numbers reaching 72.
McGurk Group
This group of companies compiled by Gloucester-based brothers Eamonn and Brian McGurk recorded a turnover of £27.82 million for the year ending Wednesday 31 August 2022. Its core activities are the provision of plant and transport services, construction, land development, domiciliary care, supported accommodation, independent living, residential and commercial property letting.
JG Travel Group
The parent company of the High Street facing Just Go Holidays, National Holidays, Omega Breaks and Albion Journeys, this Cheltenham-based firm saw turnover grow £2.7 million from the Covid-19 affected 2020 to £27.26 million for the year ending Friday 31 December 2021. Staff numbers reached 99 in the same period, with the company expecting even higher revenues in 2023.
Markey Group
While it sees challenges in the construction sector, this Gloucester-based business said it was concentrating on markets including healthcare, social and supported housing 'enabling its plans for further growth'. Works streams in the building services business remained strong, with turnover for the year ending Thursday 31 March 2022 reaching £27.09 million. Staff numbers were 164, up from 157, too.
Rapid Racking
This Cotswold-based business specialises in the sale of racking, shelving and associated storage products and in the year ending Friday 30 September 2022, it saw turnover reach £26.88 — up from £23.54 million. The Cirencester firm said its increased investment in online activity had helped it continue increasing sales growth ahead of the current year, with sales growing fastest in Europe.
Livanova UK
Livanova UK Ltd saw turnover rise from £23.07 million in 2020 to £26.40 million for the year ending Friday 31 December 2021. The distributor of medical devices is part of the bigger London-headquartered global business Livanola plc, with the Gloucester- firm's principal activity being developing medical technologies for cardiac surgery and for managing heart failure. Staff numbers reached 46.
Greiner Bio-One
The principal activities of this Stonehouse-headquartered firm are the distribution of medical and scientific products. Although customer access has not returned to pre-Covid-19 levels yet, the firm still achieved a turnover of £26.08 million for the year ending Saturday 31 December 2022 with staff numbers at 46. The firm said the war in Ukraine has had a significant impact on its supply chain and energy costs.
PKL Group (UK)
For athletes at the Olympic Games, it's likely that the food that powered them through the event was cooked in a kitchen supplied by this Bishop's Cleeve firm. Turnover rose from £17.82 million to £25.733 million for the year to Friday 30 September 2022, with operating profit rising from £3.8 million to £7.3 million. Staff numbers were 110.
SLG Brands
Headquartered at The Brewery Quarter in Cheltenham, the creator and distributor of some of the High Street's most fashionable beauty and grooming brands knows a thing or two about how brands should present, as well as how to raise their profile. Turnover for the year to Friday 31 December 2021 was £25.7 million and it saw staff numbers grow by 38 to 138.
Freemans Event Partners (Logistics)
Turnover for this Gloucester-headquartered family firm in the incredibly competitive market supplying food, drinks and consumables to the event and stadium-going public — including the British F1 Grand Prix at Silverstone — grew from £22.65 million to £24.98 million for the year ending Monday 31 January 2022, with staff numbers reaching 17.
Two Rivers Housing
This supplier and manager of social housing is also a housebuilder and employs an estimated 160 staff at its headquarters in Newent. Turnover at the firm for the year ending Thursday 31 March 2022 reached £24.93 million. It also recorded a surplus of £3 million. Ian Atkinson became its new corporate director of property in June 2023, with Garry King stepping down as chief executive in January 2024.
Holland Cooper Clothing
Designer fashion house, Holland Cooper, completed its year ending Thursday 31 March 2022 in style, with turnover up 48 per cent to £22.7 million. Started by former Royal Agricultural College student, Jade Dunkerton, 14 years ago, the business continues to rise and rise, with average growth over the last five years of 57 per cent.
Warners of Gloucester
According to the business, which deals in motor vehicles, a post-Covid-19 pandemic shortage of semi-conductors had a substantial impact on the supply of new vehicles, but sales for the year ending Friday 30 September 2022 came in at £22.56 million, up on the previous year of £24.5 million, with 2023 looking 'more positive' for Warners of Gloucester.
Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust
Not many businesses can also claim to be the SGGLA Family Day Out of the Year, but the Gloucestershire-headquartered Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust can do just that. Turnover for the year ending Thursday 31 March 2022 was £22.24 million with staff numbers of 360. Also a force for good, its aim is to restore and conserve the wetlands — and it can count television presenter and environmentalist, Kate Humble, as its president.
Badhams Pharmacy
Despite a ‘tough environment’, one of Gloucestershire’s biggest family firms has revealed turnover rose to £22 million in the year to Thursday 31 March 2022 — and it is confident of more growth to come. The Bishop's Cleeve-based company saw most growth in its 'ethical pharmacy business', with sales up from £18.65 million to £20.5 million and pharmacy sales up from £1.6 million to £1.7 million.
