The Greater Manchester Fastest 50 2015 revealed

Sponsored and organised by leading law firm Ward Hadaway and backed by the Manchester Evening News/Greater Manchester Business Week, the list highlights and celebrates companies in the region who have shown the largest growth over recent years with the aim of recognising high achieving companies and encouraging others to follow in their footsteps.

The companies are all from the Greater Manchester Business Week’s circulation area and have all seen their turnovers grow over the last three years whilst remaining profitable in each of those years.

Following today’s publication of the Fastest 50, an awards ceremony will take place at the Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester on Friday February 27 when the winners of the Greater Manchester Fastest 50 2015 will be revealed.

Awards will be given to the fastest growing small, medium and large business, as well as an overall award for the fastest growing business of the year.

Here is the Greater Manchester Fastest 50 for 2015 in alphabetical order:

1879 Holdings Ltd, Littlebrough, Lancashire
This manufacturing company develops and makes piping fluotoplyer lined systems, associated pipline equipment, bellow and sampling systems.

AIG Projects Limited, Wigan
Part of the Ainscough Industrial Group, AIG Projects provides integrated and professional industrial engineering services which range from the local installation of a single machine to the international relocation of an entire factory.

AMR Textiles Limited, Manchester
Making a return appearance after being in the 2014 list, AMR produces and supplies non-woven textiles used in a wide range of industrial applications including the automotive, aerospace, construction and civil engineering sectors as well as in furniture and bedding.

Aqua Fabrications Limited, Skelmersdale
Aqua Fabrications makes and supplies plastic products to a range of industries, including drainage systems to the rail industry and items to the agricultural and civil engineering sectors.

Assist FM, Blackburn
This company specialises in asbestos management services, offering surveys, testing and removal services to clients across the UK. The company also provides environmental consultancy services and health and safety audits.

ATG Access, Haydock
This company manufactures security bollards and vehicle barrier systems for customers across the UK and around the world. Its systems have been installed in locations including Heathrow Airport, the Shanghai Expo Centre and the New Doha International Airport.

Buckhurst Group Limited, Bolton
Based in Bolton, this company specialises in plant and machinery hire for a wide range of different sectors, including the agricultural and construction industries.

Cheshire Holdings Limited, Haydock
Another company returning from the 2014 Fastest 50, this company has a network of depots across the North West selling new and used Scania commercial vehicles as well as offering servicing, parts and aftersales services.

Crawford Healthcare, Knutsford, Cheshire
Crawford Healthcare has over 15 years’ experience in supplying specialist dermatology products to the NHS including sun protection, skincare, woundcare and diagnostic products for the care and repair of skin.

CVS (Commercial Valuers and Surveyors) Limited, Manchester
This company provides a range of advice and services to the commercial property sector, including advice on business rates. In addition to a base in Manchester, CVS also has operations in London and Bristol.

Danbro, Lytham St Annes, Lancashire
Established in 1999, Danbro is a firm of Chartered Management Accountants, providing umbrella and limited company services to contractors and freelancers across the UK.

Datum Monitoring Services, Bury
Datum specialises in remote monitoring of earthworks, structures and transport infrastructure, offering a range of geotechnical and structural expertise to sectors including the rail industry and mining, quarrying and demolition sectors.

Eaves Machining Ltd, Manchester
Eaves Machining provides heavy engineering and heavy CNC machining, specialising in the machining of large castings, forgings and fabrications. Its 72,000 sq ft Manchester facility is one of the largest heavy engineering and CNC engineering workshops in western Europe.

EMaC, Crewe
This company specialises in providing vehicle servicing plans for motorists based on monthly direct debits. Established in 2004, the company works with a number of main car dealerships across the country.

Exchequer Solutions, Chester
Established in 2003, Exchequer Solutions is a commercial contracting company which provides business services to recruitment agencies and contractors across the UK in sectors including construction, technical, engineering and IT.

Fircroft, Warrington
Originally set up to provide recruitment services to North Sea oil and gas companies, Fircroft is now a global provider of technical recruitment services to the automotive, oil and gas, power and energy, mining and minerals and engineering sectors. The company also appeared in the 2014 Fastest 50.

Flameproofings Limited, Bolton
As its name suggests, Flameproofings Limited is a specialist in the flame retardant coating of fabrics, which it supplies to the upholstery and household textile markets in a range of different applications.

Gen-X IT, Manchester
From its base in Manchester, Gen-X IT distributes network hardware IT products to customers across Europe. The company started out in 2002 with two employees and now has over 30 staff in the UK and overseas.

Globaltex Limited, Darwen, Lancashire
Making a return appearance to the Fastest 50, Globaltex designs and distributes a range of fabrics and wallcoverings for home interiors, trading as Clarke & Clarke. Its designs can regularly be seen in lifestyle magazines such as Country Living and Ideal Home.

Heatons Truck Group Ltd, Northwich, Cheshire
Heatons can trace its origins back to 1899 as a firm of furniture removers operating horse-drawn vans. Today the company specialises in new and used commercial vehicle sales, parts and servicing, operating from locations across the North West.

J Greenwood (Builders) Limited, Chadderton
This building company serves a diverse client base, building everything from schools to swimming pools and churches to industrial premises. As well as major new build projects, it also provides maintenance, joinery and restoration services.

JDS Trucks, Manchester
Established in 1965, JDS Trucks has grown to become one of the largest Renault truck and van dealerships in the UK. As well as its base in Manchester, the company also has operations in Blackburn and Leeds.

Kin-Tec Holdings, Salford Quays
Kin-Tec is a specialist recruiting agency for contract and permanent roles across the oil and gas, pharmaceutical and energy sectors. The company also appeared in the 2014 Greater Manchester Fastest 50.

LSE Retail Group Limited, Salford
LSE Retail Group Limited sells lighting and light bulbs to lighting retailers, wholesalers and other customers in the UK and Ireland. The company imports lighting products direct from factories in Europe and the Far East as well as buying stock from UK manufacturers.

Massey Feeds, Holmes Chapel, Cheshire
Animal feed specialist Massey Feeds has been operating in the agricultural industry for more than 125 years supplying feedstock and other products and services to the farming community.

Mobica, Manchester
This company provides engineering and consultancy services spanning software design, engineering and testing. It has customers in sectors including automotive, mobile, semiconductor, finance and banking, TV and broadcasting, marine and aviation.

Money Advice Group, Carrington
Established in 2001, Money Advice Group provides a range of personal financial management services, including advice on debt management, mortgages and remortgages and Individual Voluntary Arrangements (IVAs).

Morbaine, Widnes
This property development company specialises in food and non-food commercial retail developments and has clients including Tesco, Asda, Morrisons and B&Q. It has also developed a number of car showrooms.

MPM Products, Macclesfield
MPM Products produces pet food under the Applaws and Encore brands. From its base in Macclesfield, the company now exports to more than 40 countries across the world and recently chalked up its 100 millionth unit of wet cat food sold.

MULTIPLASTICS (Europe) Limited, Northwich, Cheshire
Established in 1989, this company supplies the UK, Europe and other worldwide destinations with rolls of plastic films used in the envelope, carton, label, print, and food industries.

Multistar Container Transport, Sandbach, Cheshire
Since its foundation in 1980, this company has grown to become a force in leasing tank containers, used by businesses to transport a range of different goods. It has over 6,000 tank containers and offices in Europe, America and Africa.

O’Connor Utilities Ltd, Manchester
Founded in 1994 by Tim and Tom O’Connor, O’Connor Utilities Ltd provides a range of business services to customers in the utility sector, including electricity, gas, water, railway and directional drilling.

Oliver Twinsafe, Knutsford, Cheshire
Winner of the fastest growing large business and fastest growing overall business in last year’s Greater Manchester Fastest 50, Oliver Twinsafe is part of the Oliver Valves group and specialises in designing, manufacturing and supplying large valves used in major projects in the oil and gas industries.

Oliver Valves, Knutsford, Cheshire
Started by current chairman Michael Oliver from a valve he developed in his garage, Oliver Valves has grown to become a major manufacturer and supplier of valves and equipment to oil, gas and petrochemical companies across the world with clients including Shell and Exxonmobil.

Oliver ValveTek, Knutsford, Cheshire
Making it a hat-trick for companies in the Oliver Valves stable in this year’s Fastest 50, Oliver Valvetek provides engineered-to-order gate valves, ball valves, needle valves and instrumentation products for the subsea industry.

PayStream, Altrincham, Cheshire
From its base in Altrincham PayStream provides a range of business services including umbrella company services, limited company services and tax advice and compliance.

SAT Business Travel Management, Bolton
This independent travel management company provides a range of services to business customers from air travel and hotel reservations to passport and visa assistance. It also has an event management division focused on conference packages.

Seemed Healthcare Ltd, Oldham
From its base in Oldham, Seemed offers pharmacy services including an online pharmacy, prescription service and health information advice and guidance.

Sense Network Limited, Knutsford, Cheshire
This network for Independent Financial Advisers (IFAs) returns to the Fastest 50 after appearing in the inaugural list last year. Sense Network offers a range of services to help IFA firms including technology, regulatory advice and general support.

Standwalk, Manchester
Established as a company in 1999, Standwalk provides person-centred support for adults who have a learning disability in a variety of settings from their own home to supported living services to Registered Care.

Steadfast Engineering Co Limited, Hyde
This manufacturer provides components including studbolts, fasteners and gaskets to customers in the oil, gas, power, water and construction industries. Its export markets include the Middle East, Europe, North America, Australia, Asia/Pacific and Japan.

Tandom Metallurgical Group Ltd, Congleton, Cheshire
Making a return to the Fastest 50 after featuring in last year’s list, Tandom Metallurgical Group Ltd is an international metal business. It produces aluminium alloys for the diecasting and steel industries and provides a range of toll and processing facilities for associated industries.

The 1st Stop Group Limited, Blackpool
The 1st Stop Group offers a wide range of loan products to retail clients including personal loans, car finance and home loans, specialising in loans to people who may find difficulty accessing traditional credit services.

Taziker Industrial Ltd, Bolton
Specialist contractor Taziker Industrial Ltd makes a return appearance to the Fastest 50 after featuring last year. The company’s divisions employ people across the UK serving a variety of markets in the road, rail, utilities and defence industries.

Trilanco Limited, Poulton-le-Fylde, Lancashire
Established in 1979, this company provides a wide range of goods and services to the equine, agricultural and pets sectors including animal care products, clothing, equipment and accessories.

Tuscor Lloyds (UK) Limited, Manchester
Shipping agent and freight forwarder Tuscor Lloyds has its HQ in Manchester but has offices around the world including in Mexico, Brazil, Spain, Hong Kong, Belgium, India, United Arab Emirates and the Netherlands. The company also appeared in the 2014 Fastest 50.

Walter Forshaw Ltd, Bolton
Established in 1921, Walter Forshaw Ltd provides demolition services to customers across the UK. Its main areas of operation include multi-storey deconstruction and demolition, traditional and city centre demolition, industrial demolition and dismantling and land reclamation.

Walton Summit Truck Centre Limited, Preston
This commercial vehicle dealership specialises in Iveco trucks and FIAT commercial vehicles, providing new and used vehicle sales, maintenance and recovery packages, parts and accessory distribution and hire and finance facilities. A family-run businesses, it can trace its origins back to 1887.

Woodall Nicholson, Bolton
Coachbuilder Woodall Nicholson started life in 1820 when its main market was the building of horse-drawn hansom cabs and carriages. These days, the company operates in a number of different fields including specialist vehicle manufacture and conversion, manufacturing accessible minibuses and limousine and hearse making.

WPI Group, Middlewich, Cheshire
Family company WPI Group was established in 1979 and offers a wide range of services including Civil Engineering, Surfacing and Adoption Management. The company’s clients include housebuilders, construction companies and local authorities.

* Find out more about the Fastest 50 Awards.

The companies in this list have been selected from a table of fastest growing profit-making, private, regional companies, based on turnover growth.
Information has been compiled by researchers at Durham University Business School using data which is publicly available at Companies House of UK listed companies.
The average turnover growth has been assessed on a percentage increase based on the difference between turnover figures filed for the last three years.
To qualify, companies must be trading entities and have turnover in excess of £1,000,000 in the last three years of filed accounts, which are up to date as at 31 October 2014. Companies must also have made profits in each of the past three years’ accounts and have filed new accounts since last year’s awards.
Private limited companies which are subsidiaries of listed companies do not qualify.
Subsidiaries of foreign-controlled companies have been accepted if they have headquarters or a decision-making function in the region.
Ward Hadaway and the Manchester Evening News do not accept any responsibility for any errors or omissions.