Fashion retailers listed as companies to “inspire Britain”

The London Stock Exchange has launched the second edition of its ‘1,000 Companies to Inspire Britain’ report, which identifies the fastest-growing and most dynamic small and medium sized businesses in the UK.

The report, which is backed by the three main political parties, lists the UK-based companies that have generated a turnover of between 6-250 million pounds in the last 12 months and have been trading for a minimum of three years, covering everything from retail to manufacturing and engineering, technology and digital, exports, food and drink, financial services, knowledge companies, the creative industries, and companies from the London Stock Exchange Group’s Elite platform.

Retail was highlighted in the report, as 9 percent of UK businesses are retailers, and a number of fashion brands were on the list including, swimwear and resort brand Orlebar Brown, Cornish womenswear and homewares brand Seasalt, womenswear retailer Cath Kidston, and kidswear retailer Childrensalon, who were all noted as some of the most inspiring companies in the UK.

Other fashion names include cycling brand Rapha, online sports retailer B Sporting, footwear e-tailer Legend Footwear, footwear retailer Footasylum, womenswear brand Joy, womenswear retailer Roman Originals, online retailer The Hut, and knitwear retailer Woolovers.

Orlebar Brown and Seasalt highlighted in London Stock Exchange report

Commenting on the report, Xavier Rolet, chief executive, London Stock Exchange Group said: “This report is a significant part of London Stock Exchange’s broader campaign to support UK high growth companies in their journeys from Start-up to Stardom and to create an entrepreneurship revolution. I’m delighted that a strong alliance between UK Government, financial market participants, investors, entrepreneurs and companies has been created to support these inspiring businesses.”

Business secretary Vince Cable added: “These 1,000 exemplary businesses show how SMEs punch above their weight – more than doubling their revenue over the past four years to deliver growth and create jobs across the UK.

“The government is backing innovative and ambitious companies like these to grow and export their products all over the world and I wish them continued success for the future. Access to finance is an important enabler to growth and the British Business Bank that the government has set up is playing a particularly important role in helping to ensure finance markets work more effectively for smaller businesses.”

The London Stock Exchange report, which was compiled by Lloyds Banking Group, Business Growth Fund and Cenkos Securities, also cites, shifts in consumer behaviour are “disrupting” the retail landscape and giving rise to new digital platforms and technologies that augment the shopping experience.

The report states that as smartphones become ubiquitous and social networks grow in sophistication, consumers are finding new ways to shop. They’re not just purchasing in store with brick-and-mortar retailers, but wherever and whenever they find inspiration. Shopping via a smartphone has reached 41 percent of internet users in the UK, according to figures from Mintel, and those that do venture into stores are finding their experiences increasingly interactive and immersive. It notes that 4 in 10 visits to e-retail websites are made via mobiles and tablets.

Images: Seasalt and Orlebar Brown