Welcome to the Yorkshire Business Roundup, your one-stop source for the latest and most noteworthy developments in the dynamic world of Yorkshire’s business landscape.
In this exclusive roundup, we’ll delve into the top 10 businesses that have been making waves, driving innovation, and contributing to the economic prosperity of this vibrant region in the north of England. From innovative startups to long-established enterprises, we have collated a comprehensive overview of the diverse and thriving business ecosystem that defines Yorkshire.
Fastest growing Yorkshire business 2023
Business: Powersheds Limited
Services: Bradford-based Powersheds Limited design a variety of sheds, summerhouses, garden storage and outdoor furniture.
Stocked in garden centres nationwide and online on Amazon and Wayfair, the West Yorkshire business prides itself on providing high-quality outdoor rooms and furniture to customers. Founded in 2019 by Jack Sutcliffe and Simon Hobson, Powersheds designed the world’s most adaptable shed, allowing customers to receive a custom-built shed with doors and windows where they choose. Their turnover increased by over 200% in 2023, highlighting their high-quality and professional work.
Highest turnover business (millions)
Business: Rhodar Industrial Services
Services: Based in Leeds, Rhodar provide demolition and remedial services, including asbestos abatement to blue chip public and private sector clients.
Since the addition of passive fire protection in 2021, Rhodar has repositioned as an enabling works provider.
With over 500 employees and 14 sites across the UK, they are recognised as an innovation leader in the demolition sector and frequently work on long-term projects such as the Houses of Parliament, Aire Park and the Royal Mint.
Between 2018-2021, the firms revenue grew by 237% to over £35million.
Highly commended family business
Business: Hudson Contract
Service: Hudson Contract are a key CIS payroll company that offer self-employment payroll services to those in the construction industry.
With their head office in Bridlington, Hudson are the industry’s biggest payer of subcontractors, working with over 2,600 construction firms a week. Founded in 1996 by local property developer David Jackson, the family firm pays subcontractors, sponsors over 150 apprentices in Yorkshire and represent the local area in talks with the Bank of England and national government.
Local property family firm
Business: Caddick Group
Service: Caddick Group are a Yorkshire construction powerhouse, developing commercial and residential areas in Leeds and Manchester and creating large warehouses across Lancashire.
Based near Wetherby, Caddick Group design, construct, manage and offer civil engineering services for large-scale infrastructure and housing projects. Founded by Paul Caddick in 1979, he has remained at the helm of the company since its beginning, overseeing projects such as the building of supermarkets, shopping parks and car garages, as well as schools, care facilities and homes.
Charitable business
Business: Search Laboratory
Service: Search Laboratory are digital marketers and data scientists based in Leeds.
Working with national companies such as Wren Kitchens, Unite Students and First Transport, and with companies in the United States out of their New York and Austin offices, they design growth strategies and provide channel management services, co-ordinated by a team of data experts.
Their fundraising efforts are vast and highlight how much they support their local area. From walking the distance between their Leeds, New York and Austin offices, running the Leeds Half Marathon and volunteering in local schools, Search Laboratory support charities including Leeds Mind and Leeds Hospitals Charity, giving back to their local area.
Additionally, their office is powered by 100% renewable energy and they send zero waste to landfill.
Online leaderboard, Great Place To Work, shares and compiles the best places to work for wellbeing in order of size, location and sector.
Best Business in the consulting and professional services sector
Business: IMA-Home
Service: IMA-Home are a global marketing agency with their head office in the heart of Leeds.
Supporting businesses such as Adidas, Jet2, co-op and Bumble, they create unique and eye-catching marketing strategies including influencer partnerships, out of home advertising and television advertisements, including the well-known ‘Hold my Hand’ Jet2 campaign.
With offices in America, the Netherlands, Australia, South Africa and Spain, IMA-Home has become a well-known marketing agency, recognisable for campaigns around the world.
Super Large Happiest Place to Work
Business: Insight Direct
Service: Insight Direct are solutions integrators, combining hardware and software to offer clients technical support, technology maintenance and consultancy services to improve the data and delivery of large-scale customers.
Located in Sheffield, the team of over 1,100 has been recognised as a Fortune 500 company. Following a Great Place To Work survey, Insight Direct received a rating of 81%, significantly higher than the 54% UK average.
Large Happiest Place to Work
Business: Phoenix Software
Service: Phoenix Software works with UK organisations to innovate and transform their company using cloud technology, data, AI, security and collaboration tools.
Phoenix is a signatory on the Race at Work Charter, and a Disability Confident and Living Wage employer. The company is also actively involved in encouraging more women into the IT industry.
Phoenix’s head office is in York, and they offer a fully paid monthly wellbeing hour to all employees to use doing something that makes them happy outside of work. They also have discounted access to a gym adjacent to their offices and in 2019 invested over £1 million into their office environment to create an inspirational working environment.
Medium Happiest Place to Work
Business: Simpson Associates
Service: York-based Simpson Associates deliver data strategy, data management and analytics projects to national companies.
Working with businesses such as Sheffield Hallam University, The Natural History Museum and Oxford University, Simpson Associates create data breakdowns, technology installations and support and forecastings to ensure companies work at the highest level.
Simpson Associates achieved 89% based on their employees’ feedback and offer benefits such as Simpson Academy, providing training and supported study to allow colleagues to grow.
Small Happiest Place to Work
Business: Hatmill
Service: Ripon headquartered Hatmill offer a range of services including supply chain management, warehouse automation, 3pl outsourcing and warehouse management systems to national companies.
With customers such as Boots, Asda, Burberry, Sony, NHS Supply Chain and Greggs, they have cemented themselves as a small but mighty business.
With a team of 30 supply chain and logistics consultants, they work across the UK supporting businesses with end-to-end supply chain and logistics support.
Hatmill is an employee-owned company, ensuring colleagues have autonomy and self-management within their work.
